Htc U12 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 U12 Life is a mid-range smartphone that was released in September 2018. Despite being a few years old, it still has some impressive specifications that make it a viable option for budget-conscious consumers.

Design and Build Quality

The HTC U12 Life boasts a sleek and modern design, with a glass front and a plastic back and frame. Its dimensions of 158.5 x 75.4 x 8.3 mm (6.24 x 2.97 x 0.33 in) and weight of 175 g (6.17 oz) make it comfortable to hold and use with one hand. The Moonlight Blue and Twilight Purple colors add to its appeal, making it a stylish phone to carry around.

The plastic back is not as premium as glass or metal, but it is durable and resistant to scratches and cracks. The phone's construction feels solid and sturdy, and it can withstand accidental drops and bumps without much damage. The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor is conveniently placed and works accurately and quickly.

The U12 Life's ergonomics are impressive, with a curved back that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. The buttons on the side are tactile and responsive, and the USB-C port and headphone jack are located at the bottom of the phone. The phone's design is not water or dust resistant, which is a drawback if you are looking for such features.

Overall, the U12 Life's design and build quality are impressive for a mid-tier smartphone. Its plastic back and frame do not compromise the phone's durability, and its sleek design and comfortable ergonomics make it a pleasure to use.

Display

The HTC U12 Life boasts a 6.0-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels, giving it a pixel density of around 402 pixels per inch. This translates to sharp and clear visuals with vibrant colors and decent contrast. The screen-to-body ratio of 77.7% makes the display feel large and immersive, perfect for enjoying multimedia content.

The display technology used in the U12 Life is LCD, which is known for its accurate color reproduction and natural-looking images. While it doesn't offer the deep blacks and infinite contrast of OLED displays, it's still a great choice for those who prioritize color accuracy and clarity.

The U12 Life's display is bright enough for outdoor use, although direct sunlight may cause some glare and reflections. The touch sensitivity is excellent, and the display is responsive and smooth to the touch.

In terms of display settings, the U12 Life offers several customization options such as color temperature and contrast adjustments, as well as a night mode for reduced eye strain. Overall, the U12 Life's display is one of its standout features, offering an excellent viewing experience for both multimedia and day-to-day use.

Performance

When it comes to performance, the HTC U12 Life certainly delivers. Powered by a Qualcomm SDM636 Snapdragon 636 chipset and an octa-core processor, this mid-range phone can handle most tasks with ease. Multitasking is a breeze thanks to the 4GB of RAM, and switching between apps is seamless.

Gaming on the U12 Life is also a pleasant experience, with the Adreno 509 GPU providing smooth and lag-free gameplay. Even graphically-intensive games run well on this device, making it a great choice for mobile gamers.

In terms of benchmark scores, the U12 Life performs admirably, achieving respectable scores in tests such as Geekbench and AnTuTu. Real-world usage is also impressive, with apps opening quickly and running smoothly.

When it comes to storage, the U12 Life offers a generous 64GB of internal storage - which can be expanded further with a microSD card - providing plenty of space for all your apps, games, and media.

Overall, the HTC U12 Life is a solid performer that can handle most tasks with ease, and is a great choice for those who need a mid-range phone that won't break the bank.

Software and User Interface

The HTC U12 Life runs on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system, which is slightly outdated compared to the latest Android versions available in the market. However, the user interface is clean and user-friendly, with HTC's Sense UI on top. The device offers a few customization options, including themes and wallpapers, but not as much as other Android devices.

One downside of the software is the amount of pre-installed applications. While some of them may be useful, others might be considered bloatware and take up valuable storage space. Fortunately, most of them can be uninstalled or disabled if not needed.

The phone's user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, and the device is generally responsive with minimal lag. HTC has incorporated some gesture controls, such as double tapping to wake the screen or swiping to open the camera, which can be handy.

Despite being a mid-range device, the HTC U12 Life still offers software support and regular updates from the manufacturer. However, it's worth noting that the device may not receive updates as frequently as high-end devices.

Overall, the software and user interface of the HTC U12 Life is decent and functional, although it may not offer as much customization as other Android devices. The amount of pre-installed applications may be a drawback for some users, but the device's clean interface and gesture controls make for an enjoyable user experience.

Camera

The HTC U12 Life boasts a dual camera setup at the back, consisting of a 16MP primary sensor with f/2.0 aperture and a 5MP secondary sensor with f/2.4 aperture for depth sensing. The rear camera supports dual-LED flash, HDR, and panorama modes, and can record videos at 4K resolution at 30 frames per second or 1080p at 30 frames per second.

In daylight, the camera performs well and captures images with good detail and color accuracy. The depth sensor also does a good job of creating natural bokeh effects in portrait mode. However, in low light conditions, the camera struggles with noise and graininess, and the images lack sharpness.

The front-facing camera is a 13MP shooter with f/2.0 aperture, and it also supports LED flash, HDR, and panorama modes. The front camera captures decent selfies with good detail and color accuracy, but similar to the rear camera, it struggles in low light conditions.

Overall, the HTC U12 Life's camera performance is average for a mid-range smartphone. It does a good job in daylight but struggles in low light conditions. The addition of a secondary depth-sensing camera and support for 4K video recording at 30 frames per second is a nice touch, but the camera performance is not exceptional compared to its competitors in the same price range.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The HTC U12 Life is a well-connected device that offers a range of networking and connectivity options. This smartphone is compatible with GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, which means that it is versatile enough to work with most carriers worldwide. It also comes with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, and Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP and LE, which provide fast and reliable wireless connectivity.

Furthermore, the HTC U12 Life features NFC technology that allows users to make contactless payments with ease. The device also boasts GPS and GLONASS positioning systems that provide accurate location tracking and navigation. However, it does not come with a radio, which may be a downside for some users.

The U12 Life also has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor that provides easy and secure access to the device. Other sensors on the device include an accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass, which all help to enhance the user experience.

Overall, the HTC U12 Life offers a solid range of connectivity and networking options that make it a versatile and convenient device for staying connected on-the-go. Whether you need to make calls, send messages, or access the internet, this smartphone has got you covered.

Additional Features

The HTC U12 Life comes with some interesting additional features that add to its overall appeal. Firstly, the phone boasts water and dust resistance, which is a great feature for those who enjoy outdoor activities or simply want to protect their device from accidental spills or drops.

Another notable feature is the expandable storage option, which allows users to increase the internal storage capacity of the phone using a microSD card. This is particularly useful for those who require more storage space for their photos, videos, and apps.

The audio quality on the HTC U12 Life is also quite impressive, with stereo speakers that provide a rich and immersive sound experience. The phone also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a rarity in modern smartphones and is a welcome addition for those who prefer wired headphones.

In terms of speaker performance, the HTC U12 Life delivers clear and crisp sound, making it a great device for streaming music or watching videos. Other unique features of the phone include its fingerprint sensor, which is located on the rear of the device and provides a secure and convenient way to unlock the phone.

Overall, the HTC U12 Life comes with a range of additional features that enhance its functionality and usability. These features make it a great choice for anyone looking for a mid-range smartphone that offers a good balance of performance, features, and affordability.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the HTC U12 Life to other related phones, a number of devices come to mind. For example, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro offers a similar processor, RAM and storage options, as well as a slightly larger screen and battery. However, the U12 Life has a better camera setup and a more premium design.

Another comparable device is the Samsung Galaxy A50, which has a similar screen size and resolution, as well as a similar processor and RAM. However, the U12 Life has a better camera setup and a more modern design.

The Google Pixel 3a is also a comparable device, with a similar screen size and resolution, as well as a similar processor and storage options. However, the Pixel 3a has a better camera setup and software experience, while the U12 Life has a more attractive price point.

Lastly, the Nokia 7.2 is another comparable device, with a similar screen size and resolution, as well as a similar processor and storage options. However, the U12 Life has a better camera setup and a more modern design, while the Nokia 7.2 has a more durable build and better software support.

Overall, the HTC U12 Life offers a solid mid-range option with a nice balance of features and design compared to other related phones in its price range.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the HTC U12 Life is a solid mid-range smartphone that offers impressive features at an affordable price point. Its stylish design, vibrant display, and dependable performance make it a great option for everyday use, whether you're browsing the web, streaming media, or playing games.

While the camera may not be the best in its class, it still produces good quality photos and videos. The battery life is also sufficient for most users, although heavy users may need to recharge more frequently.

Overall, the HTC U12 Life is a well-rounded smartphone that offers a lot of value for its price. If you're looking for a reliable and affordable device that can keep up with your daily needs, this phone is definitely worth considering. However, if you're looking for more advanced features or the latest technology, you may need to look elsewhere.

We recommend the HTC U12 Life to anyone in the market for a mid-range smartphone with a stylish design, dependable performance, and a reasonable price tag. It's a great choice for students, young professionals, and anyone who wants a high-quality device without breaking the bank.