HTC
Rhyme

The HTC Rhyme, unveiled in New York in September 2011, was one of the most specialised devices in HTC’s history. Originally developed under the codename "Bliss," the Rhyme was designed with a specific "lifestyle" focus, targeting a fashion-conscious demographic—predominantly women—who felt underserved by the increasingly large and aggressive "spec-heavy" smartphone designs of the era. The Rhyme was a mid-range Android handset that prioritised aesthetics and a complete "out-of-the-box" experience. It featured a sleek, tapered unibody design in a unique "Plum" colour, utilising a mix of metal and soft-touch plastics. Further colour variants were released later: Clearwater (a light blue/silver-blue colour) and Hourglass (a beige/warm-white colour). It boasted a 3.7-inch Super LCD display with a 480 x 800-pixel resolution and was the same size as the iconic HTC Desire but in a more compact, refined chassis. What truly set the Rhyme apart was its ecosystem of accessories, which were included in the retail box. The most famous was the "HTC Charm"—a small, translucent LED cube on a tangle-free cord that plugged into the headphone jack. The Charm was designed to dangle outside a handbag, glowing to alert the user of incoming calls or texts while the phone remained tucked away. The box also included a colour-matched docking station that transformed the phone into a bedside alarm clock and music centre, as well as a pair of tangle-free ribbon-cable headphones. On the software side, the Rhyme debuted HTC Sense 3.5. This version of the interface was intentionally "calmer" and less cluttered than previous iterations, featuring a unique home screen with clean icons and a refined "Action Bar." The phone also featured a five-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 lens, optimised for quick captures. While the "gendered" marketing of the Rhyme received mixed reviews from critics, the device itself was praised for its exceptional build quality and the thoughtfulness of its integrated accessories. It remains a fascinating case study in a manufacturer attempting to segment the market through lifestyle design rather than just specifications.