Htc U11 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 U11 smartphone was released in June 2017, boasting a sleek design, high-end features, and powerful performance capabilities. With its 5.5-inch Super LCD5 display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, and 12-megapixel rear camera, the HTC U11 aimed to compete with other flagship smartphones on the market. Now, in 2023, the HTC U11 remains a popular choice for those seeking a high-quality, reliable smartphone.

Design and Build Quality

The HTC U11 is a beautiful and sleek smartphone that boasts a design that is both elegant and modern. The phone features a glass front and back, with an aluminum frame that adds durability and a premium feel to the device. The U11 is available in several different colors, including Amazing Silver, Sapphire Blue, Brilliant Black, Ice White, and Solar Red.

The physical appearance of the U11 is stunning, with its smooth and shiny surface that reflects light beautifully. The phone is also incredibly slim and lightweight, making it easy to hold and use with one hand. The device measures 153.9 x 75.9 x 7.9 mm and weighs just 169g, which is impressive for a phone with a 5.5-inch display.

The phone is also IP67 dust and water-resistant, which means it can withstand being submerged in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. This is a great feature for those who are constantly on-the-go or who love to take their phone on outdoor adventures.

One of the standout features of the U11's design is its unique "squeezable" frame, which allows users to launch apps or take photos by squeezing the sides of the phone. This feature is not only fun and intuitive to use, but it also adds an extra layer of functionality to the device.

Overall, the HTC U11 is a stunning device that boasts a premium design and build quality. Its glass and aluminum construction, coupled with its slim profile and water-resistant capabilities, make it a top contender in the smartphone market.

Display

The HTC U11 boasts a 5.5-inch Super LCD5 display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels and a pixel density of 534 ppi. The screen size to body ratio is 71.4%, making it a relatively large display that is perfect for multimedia consumption. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which is known to be durable and scratch-resistant.

The display technology used on the HTC U11 is LCD, which is renowned for producing accurate colors and high brightness levels. The color accuracy and vibrancy of the display are top-notch, and the viewing angles are excellent. The screen is bright enough to be used outdoors, making it suitable for use in sunlight.

The touch sensitivity and responsiveness of the screen are also impressive. The screen registers touches accurately and swiftly, making it easy to navigate through various apps and menus.

Overall, the display on the HTC U11 is one of its strongest features. Its size, resolution, and color accuracy make it an excellent choice for anyone who values a high-quality display. It's perfect for watching videos, browsing the web, or playing games.

Performance

The HTC U11 boasts impressive performance capabilities thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and Adreno 540 GPU. It offers two RAM and storage options - 4GB/64GB and 6GB/128GB - ensuring that there is sufficient space for all your apps, media, and files. Multitasking is a breeze, and app performance is smooth and fluid. The U11 is also capable of handling intensive gaming sessions with ease, delivering smooth frame rates and quick load times.

In terms of benchmark scores, the U11 performs admirably, scoring 6393 on GeekBench 4.4 and 13fps on GFXBench ES 3.1 onscreen. Real-world usage is equally impressive, with the phone handling all tasks thrown its way with ease.

The U11 runs on Android 7.1 Nougat, which is upgradable to Android 9.0 Pie. The Sense UI customization offers a smooth and user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate. The U11 also comes with a range of software features, such as the Edge Sense feature, which allows you to perform various actions by squeezing the edges of the phone.

Overall, the HTC U11 offers excellent performance capabilities, making it an ideal device for power users and gamers. Its benchmark scores and real-world usage are impressive, and its customization options and software features enhance the user experience.

Software and User Interface

The HTC U11 runs on Android 7.1 (Nougat), which is upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie). The phone's user interface is clean and uncluttered, with HTC's Sense UI overlay providing some useful customization options. Users can choose between a light or dark theme, and the phone supports gesture-based navigation, which allows for easy one-handed use.

The U11 comes with a number of pre-installed apps, some of which may be considered bloatware by some users. However, most of these apps can be uninstalled or disabled if desired. HTC has also included some useful features, such as the Edge Sense technology that allows users to perform certain actions by squeezing the sides of the phone.

Overall, the U11's software is user-friendly and intuitive, with a good balance between customization options and ease of use. HTC has a good track record of providing software updates for their devices, so users can expect to receive regular updates and improvements to the phone's user interface.

Camera

When it comes to cameras, the HTC U11 does not disappoint. The rear camera is a 12 MP shooter with an f/1.7 aperture, dual pixel PDAF, and 5-axis OIS. It also boasts dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, and panorama mode. The camera can record 4K video at 30fps and 1080p video at 30/60/120fps with HDR and 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound recording.

In daylight conditions, the U11 performs exceptionally well, capturing images with excellent detail and color accuracy. Low-light performance is also impressive, with the camera producing sharp and well-exposed images in challenging conditions. The 5-axis OIS system really shines in low light, keeping images steady and reducing blur.

Zoom capabilities are limited with only digital zoom available, but the camera compensates with its impressive image stabilization, which makes handheld video capture incredibly smooth and stable.

The front-facing camera is a 16 MP shooter with an f/2.0 aperture and 1080p video recording capabilities. It also features Auto HDR mode, which helps to balance exposure in challenging lighting conditions.

Overall, the HTC U11's camera is an impressive performer, producing excellent images and videos in a variety of conditions. It's certainly on par with other flagship devices in terms of camera quality.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The HTC U11 offers a wide range of connectivity options to keep you connected on the go. It supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, making it compatible with many carriers worldwide. Wi-Fi connectivity offers dual-band support, Wi-Fi Direct, and DLNA capabilities. Bluetooth 4.2 with A2DP and LE support is also available, with an upgrade to Bluetooth 5.0 after a software update.

The device features GPS, GLONASS, and BDS for location services, which ensures accurate maps and directions. NFC is available for contactless payments, and the device also features a USB Type-C 3.1 port for fast charging and data transfer.

One notable omission is the lack of a headphone jack, which may be a dealbreaker for some users. However, the device supports 24-bit/192kHz audio, making it a great option for audiophiles who use high-quality headphones.

The device also features a front-mounted fingerprint scanner, which is fast and accurate. Other sensors include an accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass, which provide useful features such as automatic screen rotation and gesture controls.

Overall, the HTC U11 offers a robust set of connectivity and networking options that should satisfy most users. However, the lack of a headphone jack may be a drawback for some, and users who require specific features such as a radio may need to look elsewhere.

Additional Features

The HTC U11 has a number of additional features that make it stand out from its competitors. One of these is its water and dust resistance. With an IP67 rating, the phone can withstand being submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes, making it a great choice for those who enjoy outdoor activities or who work in dusty or wet environments.

Another notable feature of the U11 is its expandable storage options. While the single-SIM version of the phone has only a single SIM card slot with no microSD card support, the dual-SIM version comes with a hybrid slot that can accommodate a second SIM card or a microSD card, giving users the flexibility to expand their storage as needed.

Audio quality is also a strong point of the U11, with the phone featuring 24-bit/192kHz audio and no headphone jack. Instead, HTC has opted for USB Type-C audio, which provides a high-quality digital signal and can be used with a wide range of compatible headphones and earbuds.

The U11 also boasts excellent speaker performance, thanks to its dual stereo speakers that are placed at the top and bottom of the phone. These speakers deliver rich, full sound that is loud enough to fill a small room, making the U11 a great choice for multimedia consumption.

Other unique features of the U11 include its Edge Sense technology, which allows users to perform various actions by squeezing the sides of the phone, and its ability to record high-quality audio during video capture, thanks to its 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound recording capabilities.

Overall, the HTC U11's additional features make it a versatile and innovative device that is well-suited for a wide range of users.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When it comes to comparing the HTC U11 to other related phones on the market, a few stand out as potential competitors. One such phone is the Samsung Galaxy S8. Like the U11, the S8 boasts a large, high-resolution display, a powerful processor, and a strong camera system. However, the HTC U11 stands out with its unique squeeze feature, which allows users to interact with the phone in a new and innovative way.

Another phone that may offer similar features to the HTC U11 is the Google Pixel 2. Like the U11, the Pixel 2 boasts a powerful processor, strong camera capabilities, and access to the latest Android software updates. However, the HTC U11 may offer more customization options and a more unique design, which could be appealing to some users.

Finally, the OnePlus 5T is another phone that could be compared to the HTC U11. Both phones offer high-end specs at a reasonable price point, making them appealing to budget-conscious consumers. However, the U11 may offer a more premium design and a more innovative user experience with its squeeze feature.

Overall, while there are certainly other phones on the market that offer similar features and capabilities to the HTC U11, its unique design, innovative features, and strong overall performance make it a solid choice for many users.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the HTC U11 is an impressive smartphone that boasts excellent features and capabilities. Its sleek and modern design, coupled with its water and dust resistance, make it a durable and practical option for those who are always on the go. The impressive display, powerful processor, and ample storage space make it a great device for multitasking and media consumption. Additionally, the camera quality is top-notch, delivering high-quality images and videos even in challenging lighting conditions.

While the phone lacks a headphone jack, it makes up for it with its impressive audio quality and stereo speakers. The battery life could also be better, but the fast charging technology helps to mitigate this issue.

Overall, the HTC U11 is a great choice for those looking for a high-end smartphone that delivers on all fronts. Its competitive pricing and impressive features make it a strong contender in the market, and we highly recommend it to anyone in search of a powerful and reliable device.