HTC U11 review

For those who’re an HTC fan – excellent news. HTC has introduced you a telephone that, in some ways, is nearly as good as you may hope for.

Replace: The arrival of the HTC U11 Plus and U11 Life, as nicely a brand new flagships from Google, Apple and Samsung, have put the U11 into perspective. The HTC U12 is not too far off both, so in the event you’re contemplating the U11 you could wish to maintain on for a month or two.

It is bought a powerful spec checklist, distinctive design, innovation within the type of squeezable sides and a terrific digicam, and since launch it is bought that little bit higher, because of the addition of Amazon Alexa.

The chipset buzzes alongside properly inside a telephone that is neither too huge nor overly compact, and the interface is as slick as something HTC has ever made.

In reality, in the event you’re a fan of HTC above all different telephone producers, you may most likely skip this entire evaluate and simply purchase the factor (though we propose you learn the bit concerning the ‘squeezable’ Edge Sense component, as that takes a little bit of getting used to) and simply wait feverishly on the entrance door, ready on your HTC U11 to reach.

Nevertheless, for everybody else, issues are a bit extra difficult. Sure, HTC has just about nailed the spec checklist, however it’s doing so for a moderately excessive value – and one which pits it towards some robust different choices.

Even HTC has diluted the U11’s attain since its launch, with the arrival of the superior HTC U11 Plus in the direction of the tip of 2017 which packed in an even bigger display, bigger battery and a design which diminished the dimensions of the bezels across the show.

It is larger and dearer, however you may’t assist however assume that maybe it is the telephone HTC ought to have launched because the U11 within the first place.

HTC U11 value and availability

• HTC U11 present value: from £499
• HTC U11 launch value: £649, $649, AU$999 SIM free

The HTC U11 initially launched with a lofty price ticket of $649 (£649, AU$999), though right now it does not appear all that costly when in comparison with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S9 and iPhone X.

Because the U11 is sort of a 12 months outdated, its value has dropped and now you can choose it up for a much more palatable £499 within the UK, though related reductions seem to have evaded the US.

On contract you may be taking a look at paying much less thanr £30 a month within the UK, $29 per thirty days (with no upfront cost) within the US and round AU$59 per thirty days in Australia.

The HTC U11 continues to be broadly out there from main networks and retailers, so in the event you fancy dipping 

Design

• Two-tone shimmer impresses
• Properly-built chassis
• Again sucks in fingerprints massively

The design of the HTC U11 is one thing that takes a little bit getting used to – however it’s price taking the time to take action. Holding it within the hand for the primary time is a little bit underwhelming, because the polished Gorilla Glass is so gentle that it feels a little bit plasticky within the hand.

The bulbous nature is not as thrilling or really feel as premium because the steel construct on final 12 months’s HTC 10, however do not let that hassle you. After just a few days you may get used to the way in which it feels – and the HTC U11’s chassis is nicely constructed and strong.

Aesthetically, the U11 appeals in a method we have not seen with many telephones. The Liquid Floor design manages to supply two colours without delay, with the ‘Superb Silver’ and ‘Sensible Black’ fashions we examined wanting extra blue/purple and black/inexperienced respectively, relying on the way in which you maintain them.

There’s additionally Photo voltaic Crimson, Ice White and  Sapphire Blue – and the pink is well our favourite, as you may see under.

The shimmer is actually spectacular… however provided that you by no means contact this telephone, because the U11 is likely one of the most fingerprint-friendly telephones we have ever held. Ever. Ever.

The one saving grace is the truth that your prints wipe off simply, however the general impact is diminished considerably. There’s a clear plastic cowl within the field, which does not spoil the look of the telephone whereas holding it cleaner, however even that’s vulnerable to the odd smudge.

It is also annoying to place any telephone, designed to be held within the palm, in a case… and it is a specific challenge with a telephone you are going to should squeeze to make use of.

When it comes to the remainder of the design, the U11 does not reinvent something, with HTC as an alternative placing collectively a telephone with all the proper bits within the appropriate locations.

The fingerprint scanner on the entrance, within the (non-clickable) house key, is straightforward to hit and works nearly flawlessly. Maybe we’re keen to offer it extra credit score after Samsung performed ‘conceal the scanner’ on the again of its Galaxy S8, however this feels excellent.

The rounded glass on the HTC U11 might be probably the most hanging issues concerning the handset each day, and it is one thing HTC put quite a lot of effort into for good motive. 

Sure, that is nonetheless the identical ‘black rectangle’ design that so many different gadgets supply, however it’s bought a basis of high quality and hanging colours.

The amount rocker and energy buttons on the right-hand aspect match properly beneath a thumb or forefinger, relying in your dominant hand, and in any other case issues are very clear across the fringe of the U11.

That is partly as a result of the telephone is waterproof to IP67 ranking which means you may throw it into water, however in actual life you may simply dunk it in shallow water, deliver it within the bathe or wash it clear with out having to spend an awfully giant sum of money and disgrace getting it mounted.

One of many points we’ve got with this telephone is there is no headphone jack on this telephone, as HTC determined to comply with Apple and Motorola’s lead and drop the port in favor of a single slot. 

The USB-C port on the underside of the telephone will function the ability and sound portal for many, which suggests it will irk if you should get some juice in whereas listening to your high tunes.

General, we’re huge followers of the way in which that HTC has redefined its design technique. There are solely so some ways you can also make a telephone look iconic today, and HTC has constructed nicely on its design heritage within the smartphone house to ship one thing you would be proud to place down on the desk.

Display screen

• Excessive decision
• Barely dim
• Auto brightness not good

The display on the HTC U11 is one thing that’s tough to evaluate. Till lately the 5.5-inch show would have simply ticked all of the containers, because it does little or no unsuitable.

It is giant, shiny and clear, with the QHD (1440 x 2560) decision providing as a lot readability as anybody might need whereas nonetheless, seemingly, preserving sufficient battery life.

Nevertheless, with the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the LG G6 now in the marketplace, there’s one thing archaic about how the display on the HTC U11 seems. The bezels seem huge, the display boxy and it simply feels… outdated.

Nevertheless, in the event you’re not bothered about these different telephones, you then will not need for any higher options on the HTC U11’s display – however do not put it aspect by aspect with the Samsung Galaxy S8 in the event you don’t wish to be nagged by doubts about your telephone selection.

Whereas the display is obvious and shiny in most conditions, it may be reflective, and it isn’t as shiny as we have seen on different handsets. There have been instances when making an attempt to observe Netflix outdoors proved a problem when it comes to of angling the handset the proper method, and solely within the shade did it actually begin to exhibit the ability of what the HTC U11 can do.

It is also not the brightest display in the marketplace, which reveals that the brand new wave of shoving HDR compatibility into handsets is maybe one thing HTC ought to have regarded into.

The auto-brightness continues to be one thing HTC must work on, because it does not dynamically alter nicely sufficient in any respect – blinding within the evening and never shiny sufficient when heading outdoors. It ought to have the ability to work throughout all areas of the brightness spectrum, however we discovered ourselves heading into the notification bar to to tweak the degrees too many instances for our liking.

You will not miss an excessive amount of from the display on the HTC U11 – it is one of many higher choices in the marketplace because of utilizing the ever-evolving Tremendous LCD expertise – however it’s not as spectacular as different flagships in the marketplace.