Interesting as well is the component list +HTC chose for the A9, which may allow them to get a better margin for a each unit sold than most.
When you think of it it's the same sensor as the OnePlus One (and it's hard to complain about its raw performance) not an expensive component as we've seen it in tons of sub-$200 Chinese phone last year)
But they complimented it with a stabilized lens – that's unfortunately making you motion sick with too much movement – and a better color profiling than before, cool and powerful camera features out of the box.
The panel too. Likely similar if not identical to what was on the Galaxy S4 2 years ago.
Same, it's found on pretty cheap Chinese phones like from Gionee.
The SoC might cost maybe half of the 810? a smaller battery won't cost much either…
But all that with better usage of the components than before, this is encouraging indeed for the Taiwanese manufacturer.
The bet on the price might or might not pay for them.
I'm sure that in the US $499 and later rebate will enable some sales. The European price point of 599€ is unrealistic however and I'm sure it's a technique to attempt to make it look premium while it will always sell with mail-in or other kinds or heavy rebates for the street price.
At 500$ you'd be better off with the Nexus 6P, and in Europe you can buy two last year flagships and get much more value than this iPhone clone can ever offer you