Replace: We could have seen the primary photographs of the HTC U12 within the flesh, with the handset probably having been proven off – albeit partially obscured – by HTC itself.

The HTC U11 is an enormously spectacular cellphone, however one with a headline function that doesn’t fairly persuade, particularly within the face of the flashy Samsung Galaxy S8.

So there’s room for enchancment, and we’ve obtained a complete listing of the way the HTC U12 (or no matter it finally ends up being referred to as) could possibly be the advance we need to see. If HTC implements all of our recommendations it may nicely have a five-star cellphone on its arms.

However earlier than we get to that there’s the necessary matter of when the HTC U12 is more likely to launch, what it’s more likely to price, and what specs and options it’d embody. We don’t have definitive solutions to any of these questions simply but, however we now have some concepts.

Minimize to the chase

• What’s it? HTC’s subsequent flagship cellphone
• When is it out? Most likely mid-2018
• What’s going to it price? Lots, count on round $649/£649/AU$999 

HTC U12 launch date and value

Don’t count on the HTC U12 any time quickly, because it was solely in Could 2017 that the HTC U11 was introduced and June that it hit shops.

Provided that new fashions sometimes come out round yearly we’re most likely a Could 2018 launch for the HTC U12, particularly because the HTC 10 additionally launched within the month of Could, and because the HTC U11 Plus has solely just lately arrived.

Then once more, the HTC One, HTC One M8 and HTC One M9 all launched in March of their respective years, so an earlier launch is feasible, however we’re fairly sure the U12 will launch in early to mid-2018 anyway.

One factor it most likely will not do is land at MWC 2018 in late February. If earlier launches weren’t sufficient proof for that, an “inside source” has now particularly mentioned to count on the cellphone at a separate occasion, most likely in March or April – so we’d at the least not have to attend till Could or June.

At any time when it launches it’s positive to price so much. The HTC U11 sells for $649/£649/AU$999, so that you’ll most likely need to pay at the least round that a lot for the HTC U12.

HTC U12 information and rumors

We don’t know a lot concerning the HTC U12 but, however we now have seen photos seemingly displaying the cellphone within the flesh, albeit partially obscured by stickers.

Taken at a 5G Trade Alliance occasion, the photographs present an unannounced HTC handset with a probable 18:9 display screen and no fingerprint scanner seen on the entrance.

The pictures match up with an earlier leaked image supposedly displaying the entrance of the cellphone.

The picture (under) could be very plain and it is laborious to make out many particulars, but it surely seems as if the U12 could have smaller bezels than most HTC handset and with no seen fingerprint scanner it could be on the again, constructed into the display screen or ditched altogether in favor of facial recognition.

Moreover, HTC has revealed that it’s going to begin making dual-lens telephones once more in 2018, so the HTC U12 could be certainly one of them – particularly as the corporate is supposedly only launching two phones this 12 months. 

We will additionally take some educated guesses concerning the upcoming cellphone. Edge Sense (the power to work together with the cellphone by squeezing it) will most likely make a return, since this can be a brand-new function and one which HTC closely hyped.

It hasn’t fully lived as much as the hype, however possibly the mandatory enhancements could have been made for the HTC U12 model.

The design of the HTC U11 and HTC U11 Plus can be new and usually spectacular, so we’d assume the same, although most likely refined, design shall be used for the HTC U12. Which means a rounded glass shell with a two-tone colour that adjustments relying on the angle you have a look at it.

We’d additionally count on HTC will maintain the water resistance from the HTC U11, whereas the corporate’s spectacular BoomSound audio is more likely to make a return in some type.

And HTC is probably going to make use of the newest flagship Snapdragon chipset, which may be the Snapdragon 845.

What we need to see

The HTC U11 is a 4 and a half star cellphone, however for the HTC U12 to get 5 stars the next adjustments would assist.

1. Enhancements to Edge Sense

HTC largely offered the U11 on the energy of Edge Sense, but whereas having the ability to do a brief or lengthy squeeze of the cellphone to launch apps, activate the torch and take photographs is a pleasant thought, it feels a bit half-baked.

It’s not delicate sufficient for one and whilst you can select what you need it to open or activate it doesn’t go deep sufficient proper now.

It’s set to get higher, with extra customization coming, however we hope it’s a very important function by the point the HTC U12 launches.

2. Higher battery

We don’t need to be too laborious on the HTC U11’s battery, it’s really fairly first rate. However it’s one of many many telephones that requires a each day cost, moderately than one of many only a few that may final two days or extra. It additionally didn’t do brilliantly in our video take a look at, the place we play a looped video for 90 minutes and document the battery drop.

So hopefully the HTC U12 will last more, both via a much bigger battery (topping the U11’s three,000mAh should certainly be doable) or by way of intelligent tweaks and optimizations.

three. A snappier snapper

The HTC U11 has a usually nice digicam, however there’s noticeable shutter lag. That is stunning from such a robust cellphone, but it surely’s an issue that’s lengthy plagued HTC’s handsets and may be irritating, even resulting in lacking the proper shot.

Total, the HTC U11 is certainly one of HTC’s finest digicam telephones ever, however we’d wish to see a better shutter velocity for the HTC U12. In truth, we don’t need to see any noticeable pause in any respect after we take a photograph, it must be immediate.

four. Smarter Sense Companion

Though not hyped as a lot as Edge Sense, HTC’s Sense Companion is simply as helpful – and exhibits simply as a lot room for enchancment.

This AI app screens the climate, your location, your calendar, your battery degree and the way a lot you’re utilizing your cellphone and provides you alerts accordingly. That would imply reminding you to cost your cellphone earlier than you head off to a gathering, or telling you once you’re utilizing your cellphone an excessive amount of.

It additionally provides you recommendations of locations you would possibly need to go for lunch close by, however these by no means really feel as helpful as turning to Google, whereas telling you you’re utilizing your cellphone so much isn’t that useful both if the app isn’t going to inspire you to make use of it much less. So growing these options extra for Sense Companion’s inevitable HTC U12 outing would make it a much more helpful app.

5. Fewer fingerprints

As nice because the design of the HTC U11 is, it picks up extra fingerprints than nearly every other cellphone we’ve come throughout.

So whereas we’d be tremendous with seeing the identical shiny glass end on the HTC U12, hopefully the corporate could have discovered a option to repel prints, in addition to making different small refinements to what’s usually a shocking look.

6. Entrance-facing audio system

HTC’s telephones are recognized for nice audio, whether or not listening via headphones or the built-in audio system, and the HTC U11 is not any exception, however we miss the front-facing BoomSound audio system of previous.

Within the HTC U11 one fires from the earpiece and the opposite from the underside edge, which each makes them straightforward to cowl and means audio is much less spectacular when the cellphone is going through you – as will probably be when watching movies or taking part in video games.

We doubt HTC will transfer again to front-facing audio system for the U12, however we wouldn’t complain if it did.

7. A brighter display screen

The HTC U11 has a flagship-class display screen. It’s huge, sharp and usually seems nice, but it surely’s not fairly as shiny because the screens on some telephones, and that, coupled with it being fairly reflective, can imply it’s tough to make use of comfortably in shiny daylight.

Its auto-brightness wants some tuning too, in order that it’s much less more likely to both blind you or want manually turning up. They’re small complaints, however ones that we hope are addressed by the HTC U12.