HTC has just recently released its new flagship, the HTC 10. Meanwhile, those who are into mid-range specs will most likely check out the flagship's step-down version, the HTC 10 Lifestyle.

However, HTC surprised its fans with an unannounced launch, as the company revives its One lineup with its own mid-range iteration.

HTC has made official the One S9. According to its specs sheet, the new mid-range offering stays true to the One lineup. Its form factor is reminiscent of previous One iterations like the One M9, rather than borrowing the build of the recently-released HTC 10. GSM Arena says that at first glance, even hardcore fans will not be able to tell the difference between the two One iterations. The One S9 uses the same Super LCD display, and at 5.0 inches, fits comfortably in the palm of the hand.

Under the hood, the One S9 is just like any other mid-range handsets currently out in the market, powered by a MediaTek Helio X10 chipset. The processor is paired with modest 2 GB of RAM. Onboard storage is a base 16 GB, though the new handset offers expandable storage via microSD, and HTC says the One S9 is capable of up to 2 TB of expanded storage.

Although looking like the One M9 flagship, the One S9 retains a regular 13-MP camera at the back, and not the previous flagship's 21-MP setup. The assembly for the main snapper is closer in specs to the One A9, as well as the UltraPixel setup for its selfie snapper.

According to The Verge, one drawback of the new HTC One S9 is its price. Looking to be exclusive only to the European market, the new HTC mid-ranger has a reported price tag of €499. The industry follower said this price point is an expensive tag for a mid-range device.