Htc U Ultra Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The HTC U Ultra is a smartphone that was launched in January 2017 and released in February of the same year. It is also known as the HTC Ocean Note. This phone boasts a large 5.7-inch Super LCD5 display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels and a secondary display of 160 x 1040 pixels. It is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor and comes in two storage options: 64GB with 4GB of RAM and 128GB with 4GB of RAM. The phone also features a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 16-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies. The HTC U Ultra also has a hybrid dual SIM slot and a non-removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery that supports fast charging.

Design and Build Quality

With its sleek and modern appearance, the HTC U Ultra is a visually stunning device that is sure to catch your eye. The phone features a glass front and back, which is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 or sapphire crystal depending on the model. The aluminum frame adds a premium feel to the phone and provides a sturdy construction.

The large 5.7-inch display dominates the front of the phone, while the secondary display located above it adds an extra layer of functionality. The phone feels comfortable to hold and its slim profile makes it easy to slip into your pocket or purse.

The U Ultra's build quality is impressive and the device feels solid in the hand. While the glass back may be prone to fingerprints, it adds to the phone's overall aesthetic. The phone also features a front-mounted fingerprint sensor, which is fast and accurate.

Overall, the HTC U Ultra's design and build quality are top-notch. It's a premium device that looks and feels great in the hand, and its construction should withstand daily wear and tear.

Display

The HTC U Ultra boasts a 5.7-inch Super LCD5 display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for the 64GB version and Sapphire crystal glass for the 128GB version. The phone also features a secondary display strip at the top of the main display, which measures 2 inches and has a resolution of 160 x 1040 pixels.

The display of the HTC U Ultra is impressive, with excellent color accuracy and vibrancy. The screen is bright and offers good outdoor visibility even in direct sunlight. The touch sensitivity and responsiveness of the display are also top-notch, making it easy to navigate through the phone's interface.

The only downside to the display is its aspect ratio, which may not be ideal for watching widescreen videos. However, this is a minor issue that is easily outweighed by the overall quality of the display.

Overall, the display of the HTC U Ultra is one of its strongest features. It offers excellent color accuracy and vibrancy, great touch sensitivity, and good outdoor visibility. The secondary display strip is also a unique and useful addition.

Performance

The HTC U Ultra boasts a powerful Snapdragon 821 chipset, which is a quad-core processor consisting of two 2.15GHz Kryo cores and two 1.6GHz Kryo cores. This is coupled with 4GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, which can be further expanded using a microSDXC card. This combination of hardware ensures that the phone performs exceptionally well and can handle even the most demanding tasks with ease.

Multitasking is smooth and seamless, with no noticeable lags or stutters. Apps open quickly and run without any issues, even when multiple apps are running simultaneously. Gaming performance is also impressive, with graphically intensive games running smoothly and without any dropped frames.

Benchmark scores are equally impressive, with the phone scoring high on popular tests such as Antutu, Geekbench and 3DMark. In real-world usage, the phone stands up to its benchmark scores and delivers a fast and responsive experience.

Overall, the HTC U Ultra's performance is top-notch and is sure to satisfy even the most demanding users. Whether you're a power user who needs a phone that can handle heavy usage or a casual user who just wants a phone that runs smoothly, the U Ultra delivers.

Software and User Interface

Software and User Interface

The HTC U Ultra runs on Android 7.0 Nougat, which can be upgraded to Android 8.0 Oreo. The phone features HTC's Sense UI, which is known for its clean and user-friendly interface. The UI offers a host of customization options, including themes, icon packs, and font styles. The phone also comes with a range of pre-installed apps, including Google apps and HTC's own apps.

One of the standout features of the HTC U Ultra is the dual display setup. In addition to the main 5.7-inch display, there is a secondary 2-inch display located at the top of the phone. This display can be used to display notifications, shortcuts, and other useful information without having to turn on the main display. It can also be used as a quick launcher for frequently used apps.

The HTC U Ultra also features a range of gesture controls, which can be used to quickly access apps and settings. For example, you can swipe down on the fingerprint sensor to open the notification shade, or double tap the screen to wake up the phone.

While HTC's Sense UI offers a great user experience, it does come with some bloatware, which may not be necessary for everyone. Fortunately, most of these apps can be uninstalled or disabled if you don't need them.

Overall, the HTC U Ultra offers a great software experience, with a clean and user-friendly interface, a range of customization options, and some useful gesture controls. The dual display setup is also a nice touch, offering a quick and easy way to access important information and settings.

Camera

The HTC U Ultra boasts a rear camera setup that includes a 12-megapixel sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, 1.55µm pixel size, and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). The camera also features Laser Autofocus and Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) to ensure quick and accurate focusing. The dual-LED dual-tone flash and panorama mode are also notable features of the rear camera.

In terms of image quality, the HTC U Ultra doesn't disappoint. Its camera produces sharp and detailed images with vibrant colors, even in low light conditions. The camera's OIS and PDAF also work together to produce blur-free images, even when shooting in motion.

The HTC U Ultra also delivers on video recording quality, with the ability to shoot 4K at 30fps and 720p at 120fps. The camera's video stabilization technology ensures smooth footage, even when shooting on the move.

The front-facing camera is a 16-megapixel sensor with an f/2.0 aperture and Auto HDR. It produces excellent selfies with vivid colors and sharp details.

Overall, the HTC U Ultra's camera is impressive and delivers excellent image and video quality. Its OIS and PDAF features, in combination with the camera's high megapixel rating, produce sharp and detailed shots. The camera is definitely a standout feature of the device.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The HTC U Ultra is a highly capable smartphone when it comes to connectivity and networking. It offers a variety of features and technologies that make it a versatile device for communication and data transfer.

For starters, the U Ultra is compatible with GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, which means it can be used with a wide range of carriers around the world. It also has a hybrid dual-SIM slot that allows users to use either two SIM cards or one SIM card and a microSD card for expanded storage.

The U Ultra supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and dual-band connectivity, which provides fast and reliable internet access. Additionally, it has Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA support, which allows for easy file sharing and media streaming between devices.

Bluetooth 4.2 is also available on the U Ultra, which provides a low-energy wireless connection for devices such as wireless earphones and speakers. It also has A2DP and LE support for high-quality audio streaming.

For navigation and location-based services, the U Ultra has GPS, GLONASS, and BDS capabilities. These technologies provide fast and accurate positioning information, which is useful for mapping, driving directions, and location-based apps.

NFC is another key feature on the U Ultra, which supports wireless payment services like Android Pay and allows for easy pairing with other NFC-enabled devices.

As for sensors, the U Ultra has a front-mounted fingerprint scanner, an accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass sensors. These sensors provide added security and functionality to the device.

Overall, the HTC U Ultra offers a comprehensive set of connectivity and networking features that make it a great device for staying connected and transferring data.

Additional Features

IX. Additional Features

The HTC U Ultra is a feature-packed device that offers a host of additional features to enhance the user experience.

Firstly, the phone is water and dust-resistant, which means it can withstand exposure to moisture and dirt without damaging internal components. This is a useful feature for users who frequently use their phones in wet or dirty environments.

Secondly, the U Ultra offers expandable storage options. The device has a microSDXC slot that supports up to 256 GB of additional storage. This is particularly useful for users who require more storage space for their photos, videos, and other media files.

Thirdly, the phone has excellent audio quality, with a 24-bit/192kHz audio output that delivers crisp and clear sound. Although the phone does not have a headphone jack, it comes with a USB Type-C to 3.5mm adapter that allows users to connect their wired headphones.

Fourthly, the U Ultra has a powerful loudspeaker that delivers excellent sound quality. The loudspeaker is located at the bottom of the phone and produces a loud and clear sound that is perfect for listening to music or watching videos.

Finally, the phone offers a range of other unique features and innovations, including a secondary display that shows notifications and other information, a fingerprint sensor for added security, and a range of sensors that enhance the user experience.

Overall, the HTC U Ultra is a premium device that offers a range of additional features that enhance the user experience. From water and dust resistance to expandable storage options and excellent audio quality, this phone has everything you need to stay connected and entertained on the go.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the HTC U Ultra to other related phones, some notable devices that come to mind are the Samsung Galaxy S7, the LG G6, and the Google Pixel XL.

In terms of design and build quality, the LG G6 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 both feature water-resistant designs and premium materials that give them a premium feel similar to the HTC U Ultra. However, the Google Pixel XL lacks any water-resistant capabilities and has a less premium build quality than the others.

When it comes to display, the HTC U Ultra's secondary display and high pixel density give it an edge over the LG G6 and Samsung Galaxy S7. However, the Google Pixel XL's AMOLED display offers deep blacks and vibrant colors that are hard to beat.

In terms of performance, the HTC U Ultra's Snapdragon 821 chipset is still powerful, but it falls behind the Snapdragon 835 found in the LG G6 and Samsung Galaxy S7. The Google Pixel XL also uses the Snapdragon 821, but it has been optimized to deliver a smooth and fast user experience.

In the camera department, the HTC U Ultra features a 12-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization that can take great photos in low light. The Samsung Galaxy S7 also has a fantastic camera, while the Google Pixel XL's 12-megapixel camera is widely regarded as one of the best smartphone cameras ever.

Overall, while the HTC U Ultra has some strengths in specific areas, it falls short when compared to its competitors in terms of overall performance and value. The LG G6 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 offer more powerful hardware and better value for their price, while the Google Pixel XL delivers an unbeatable camera and pure Android experience.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the HTC U Ultra is a phone that offers a lot of features for its price. Its unique design and build quality, along with its impressive display and performance, make it a great option for those who value aesthetics and functionality. The camera is also a standout feature, with its ability to take great pictures in various lighting conditions and its powerful video recording capabilities.

However, the lack of a headphone jack and average battery life may be a downside for some users. Additionally, while the phone was released in 2017, it is still running on Android 8.0, which may not be ideal for those who want the latest software updates.

Overall, the HTC U Ultra is a great phone for those who want a stylish and powerful device without breaking the bank. It may not be the best option for everyone, but it certainly has a lot to offer for its price range.