Htc U11 Life 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 Life is a smartphone that has been on the market for a few years now, but it still holds its own when compared to newer models. This device was released in December 2017 and features some impressive specifications that are worth exploring.

Design and Build Quality

The HTC U11 Life is a sleek and stylish phone that boasts a premium design. The phone is made of glass on the front with Gorilla Glass 3 and plastic on the back and frame. The phone's dimensions are 149.1 x 72.9 x 8.1 mm, making it compact and easy to hold. The phone weighs 142g, which is light enough to carry around without feeling bulky.

In terms of ergonomics, the phone is comfortable to hold due to its curved edges and slim profile. The plastic back provides a good grip, ensuring the phone doesn't slip from your hand. Moreover, the phone is IP67 dust and water-resistant, which is a great feature to have in case of accidental spills or drops.

The HTC U11 Life's build quality is impressive and durable. The phone's plastic back and frame are strong enough to withstand everyday wear and tear. However, the phone's glass front is prone to scratches and cracks if not handled with care. Overall, the phone's build quality is commendable and can withstand regular use.

In terms of aesthetics, the HTC U11 Life is available in Brilliant Black, Sapphire Blue, and Ice White. The colors are vibrant and eye-catching, making the phone stand out from the crowd. Additionally, the phone's design is minimalistic and timeless, making it a great choice for those who value simplicity and elegance.

Overall, the HTC U11 Life has an impressive design and build quality. The phone's compact size, ergonomic design, and durable build make it a great option for everyday use. Additionally, the phone's aesthetic appeal is sure to turn heads and make a statement.

Display

The HTC U11 Life boasts a 5.2-inch Super LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, giving a pixel density of about 424ppi. The display is protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which ensures that it can withstand minor scratches and bumps.

The color accuracy and vibrancy of the display are impressive, with a wide range of colors that make images and videos look more lifelike. Additionally, the display offers excellent brightness levels and outdoor visibility, making it easy to use even in direct sunlight.

The touch sensitivity and responsiveness of the display are also noteworthy, with the phone responding smoothly to even the slightest touch. The phone also supports gestures, allowing you to interact with the device using various swipes and taps.

Overall, the HTC U11 Life's display is one of its standout features, offering excellent color reproduction, brightness, and touch sensitivity. Whether you're browsing the web, watching videos, or playing games, the display is sure to provide a great viewing experience.

Performance

The HTC U11 Life is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 chipset, with an octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 processor and Adreno 508 GPU. It comes in two storage options, 32GB with 3GB RAM and 64GB with 4GB RAM. This setup provides a smooth and fast performance, making multitasking a breeze.

The U11 Life can handle most apps and games without any noticeable lag or stuttering. It scored 4140 on GeekBench 4.4 and 5.3 fps on GFXBench 5.3fps (ES 3.1 onscreen), which is impressive for a mid-range phone. In real-world usage, the phone performed well, opening apps quickly and responding to touch commands without any delay.

Gaming on the U11 Life is also a great experience, thanks to the Adreno 508 GPU. It can handle most games without any issues, although demanding games may require lowering of graphics settings.

Overall, the U11 Life's performance is excellent for a mid-range device. It may not be as powerful as some high-end phones, but it can hold its own and provide a smooth and fast performance for everyday use and casual gaming.

Software and User Interface

The HTC U11 Life runs on Android 8.0 Oreo, which is upgradable to Android 9.0 Pie and features an Android One user interface. HTC has also included its Sense UI on top of the operating system, which adds some additional features and customization options. The user interface is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy to navigate through menus and settings.

The phone also comes with some pre-installed apps and bloatware, which may be a downside for some users. However, these apps can be uninstalled if they are not required. Additionally, the phone's customization options allow the user to personalize the interface to their liking.

The HTC U11 Life also promises software updates and support, which is a significant advantage for users who want to stay up to date with the latest features and security updates. Overall, the software and user interface of the HTC U11 Life are user-friendly and intuitive, and the inclusion of Android One guarantees regular updates and support.

Camera

The HTC U11 Life boasts a 16-megapixel rear camera with f/2.0 aperture and phase detection autofocus. The camera also features LED flash, HDR, and panorama mode. The rear camera can capture 4K video at 30 frames per second and 1080p video at 30 frames per second.

In addition to the rear camera, the U11 Life also has a 16-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture and 27mm wide angle lens. The front camera also features HDR and panorama mode, and can record 1080p video at 30 frames per second.

In terms of image quality, the U11 Life's camera performs reasonably well in good lighting conditions, producing sharp and detailed images with accurate colors and good dynamic range. However, low-light performance is somewhat lacking, with images appearing grainy and noisy.

Zoom capabilities are limited on the U11 Life, and there is no optical image stabilization, which can lead to shaky footage when recording video while moving.

Overall, the camera on the HTC U11 Life is solid, but not exceptional. It is suitable for casual photography and social media sharing, but may not meet the needs of more demanding photographers.

That being said, the front-facing camera is a standout feature of the U11 Life, offering high-quality selfies with plenty of detail and accurate color reproduction.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The HTC U11 Life offers a range of connectivity and networking options that ensure seamless communication and internet connectivity. It supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, making it compatible with most carriers worldwide. The phone also comes with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, and Wi-Fi Direct, ensuring fast and stable internet connectivity. Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, and LE are also available, enabling quick and easy transfer of files and data to other devices.

The HTC U11 Life supports NFC technology, which allows for wireless payment and quick pairing of devices. It also has GPS, GLONASS, and BDS capabilities, ensuring accurate and reliable navigation. The phone features a front-mounted fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass sensors, enabling a range of features such as unlocking the phone, location tracking, and motion sensing.

However, one minor drawback is the absence of a headphone jack, although the phone comes with a USB Type-C 2.0 port for audio output and charging. Overall, the HTC U11 Life's connectivity and networking options are impressive, making it an ideal phone for communication, internet use, and location tracking.

Additional Features

The HTC U11 Life comes with a range of additional features that make it stand out from the crowd. Firstly, the phone boasts an IP67 dust and water resistance rating, which means it can withstand being submerged in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes. This is a great feature for anyone who frequently finds themselves around water or who wants extra protection for their phone.

Secondly, the U11 Life has expandable storage options, which is perfect for anyone who needs more space to store their photos, videos, and other media. The phone has a dedicated microSDXC slot, which allows users to add up to 2TB of extra storage.

Thirdly, the audio quality on the U11 Life is top-notch, with 24-bit/192kHz audio support and active noise cancellation with dedicated mic. Although the phone does not have a headphone jack, it comes with a USB Type-C to 3.5mm adapter for those who prefer to use wired headphones.

Fourthly, the phone has a loudspeaker that delivers excellent sound quality, with a voice loudness of 70dB and a ringtone loudness of 88dB. Additionally, the U11 Life has 24-bit/192kHz audio, which is perfect for audiophiles who want the best possible sound quality.

Finally, the U11 Life features a front-mounted fingerprint sensor, which provides an extra layer of security for the device. The sensor is fast and accurate, making it easy to unlock the phone with just a touch of a finger. Overall, the HTC U11 Life is packed with a range of additional features that make it a great choice for anyone looking for a high-quality smartphone with great features.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the HTC U11 Life to other related phones in the market, there are a few notable contenders that come to mind. The first is the Moto G5S Plus, which offers a similar price point and similar specifications, such as a 5.5-inch 1080p display and a Snapdragon 625 processor. However, the HTC U11 Life edges ahead with its water and dust resistance, better camera performance, and sleeker design.

Another comparable phone is the Nokia 6.1, which is also an Android One device and offers a 5.5-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 630 processor, and 16MP rear camera. However, the HTC U11 Life once again outperforms with its IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, better front-facing camera, and more premium design.

Lastly, the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) is also a close competitor, offering a similar 5.2-inch 1080p display, IP68 water and dust resistance, and 16MP rear camera. However, the HTC U11 Life stands out with its Android One software, which promises timely updates and a cleaner user interface, as well as its front-facing camera with better low-light performance.

Overall, while there are other phones that offer similar specifications and price points, the HTC U11 Life's combination of water and dust resistance, strong camera performance, and sleek design make it a standout option in the mid-range market.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the HTC U11 Life is a solid mid-range smartphone that offers a great balance between performance and price. With its sleek design, durable build quality, and water-resistant features, this device is perfect for those who want a phone that can keep up with their active lifestyle. Its Super LCD display is vibrant and responsive, while its Snapdragon 630 chipset and 3GB/4GB RAM options ensure smooth multitasking and app performance. The camera, although not the best in its class, produces decent images and videos in various lighting conditions. However, the lack of a headphone jack and average battery life may be a deal-breaker for some users. Overall, the HTC U11 Life is a reliable and affordable smartphone that offers great value for its price. If you're in the market for a budget-friendly device that can still deliver a premium experience, the HTC U11 Life is definitely worth considering.