It turns out the upcoming HTC First handset pre-loaded with the Facebook Home launcher is actually running stock Android as its base. A HTC spokesperson confirmed that a user can disable Facebook Home to run stock Android on the handset instead.
The HTC First is the "first smartphone out of the Taiwanese-based company since the 2010 T-Mobile G2 handset not to run HTC's custom Sense overlay," Phandroid first discovered. Given HTC's commitment to Sense, whether customers dig it or not, this is a surprising move.
It's worth noting stock Android doesn't mean that the HTC First will get the executive treatment like the Nexus devices out of Google in terms of getting the latest version of Android. Stock Android means there's no extra OEM dazzle. Notifications, menus, and other elements of stock Android can be found baked in with Facebook Home.
Users will be able to make the switch to stock Android over Facebook Home in the settings.
The HTC First will be hitting AT&T in the US beginning April 12 for $99. A summer launch in the UK is expected, exclusively on EE.