HTC U11

amazon HTC U11 reviews

Design and Build Quality

The HTC U11 is a beautifully crafted device that showcases HTC’s commitment to premium design. One of the most striking aspects of the U11 is its glass back, which HTC called “Liquid Surface.” This design approach involves using multiple layers of highly refractive minerals to achieve a vibrant, eye-catching finish that changes color depending on how the light hits it. Available in a range of colors, including Amazing Silver, Sapphire Blue, Brilliant Black, Ice White, and Solar Red, the U11’s design was a visual treat.

The glass back, however, was not without its drawbacks. While stunning, it was also prone to fingerprints and smudges, which could detract from its beauty unless regularly cleaned. Additionally, the glass construction made the phone somewhat slippery, necessitating the use of a case for those concerned about drops.

The build quality of the HTC U11 was top-notch, with a solid, premium feel in hand. The device featured an aluminum frame sandwiched between the front and back glass panels, adding to its durability. The U11 was also one of the first HTC phones to feature IP67 water and dust resistance, meaning it could withstand being submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. This was a significant improvement over previous models and brought the U11 in line with other flagship devices of the time.

Display

The HTC U11 features a 5.5-inch Super LCD5 display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels (QHD). This results in a pixel density of approximately 534 pixels per inch (PPI), making the display incredibly sharp and detailed. The Super LCD5 technology used by HTC provided vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent viewing angles, making the U11’s display a joy to use for watching videos, browsing the web, and gaming.

One of the standout features of the U11’s display was its color accuracy. HTC offered users the option to toggle between the default Vivid mode and an sRGB color mode, catering to those who preferred more natural and accurate colors. The display also supported HDR10 content, allowing users to enjoy compatible movies and TV shows with enhanced contrast and color.

While the display was impressive in many aspects, it was not without its limitations. For one, the U11 featured relatively large bezels above and below the display, which was beginning to feel dated in 2017 as other manufacturers were moving towards bezel-less designs. The 16:9 aspect ratio was also becoming less common as more phones adopted taller, narrower aspect ratios like 18:9 or 19:9.

Performance

Under the hood, the HTC U11 was powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, which was the flagship chipset for Android devices at the time. This octa-core processor, combined with the Adreno 540 GPU, delivered excellent performance across the board. Whether it was multitasking, gaming, or running demanding applications, the U11 handled everything with ease.

The U11 was available in two variants: one with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, and another with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Both variants included a microSD card slot, allowing users to expand storage by up to 2TB. This flexibility in storage options was a welcome feature, especially for users who needed additional space for photos, videos, and apps.

In terms of benchmarks, the HTC U11 performed admirably, often ranking near the top of the charts alongside other flagship devices of its time. The combination of the Snapdragon 835 and the optimized HTC Sense UI ensured that the U11 was fast, responsive, and capable of handling even the most demanding tasks.

Camera

The camera has always been a critical feature for smartphones, and the HTC U11 did not disappoint in this regard. The U11 was equipped with a 12-megapixel UltraPixel 3 rear camera with a large f/1.7 aperture, optical image stabilization (OIS), and dual-pixel phase detection autofocus. These features combined to make the U11 one of the best smartphone cameras of its time.

One of the standout features of the U11’s camera was its low-light performance. Thanks to the large aperture and UltraPixel technology, which involved larger individual pixels for better light capture, the U11 was able to take bright, detailed photos even in challenging lighting conditions. The camera also excelled in daylight, producing sharp, vibrant images with excellent dynamic range.

HTC also included a Pro mode in the camera app, allowing users to manually adjust settings such as ISO, shutter speed, and white balance. This mode also supported RAW image capture, giving photography enthusiasts more control over their shots and the ability to edit photos with greater flexibility.

The front-facing camera on the HTC U11 was equally impressive. It featured a 16-megapixel sensor with an f/2.0 aperture and support for HDR Boost, which helped enhance selfies taken in various lighting conditions. The U11 also supported 4K video recording and featured a Hi-Res audio recording option, which used the phone’s four microphones to capture high-quality audio.

Edge Sense

One of the most unique features of the HTC U11 was Edge Sense, a technology that allowed users to interact with the phone by squeezing its sides. This feature was made possible by pressure-sensitive sensors embedded in the phone’s frame. By squeezing the phone, users could perform a variety of actions, such as launching the camera, taking a screenshot, or opening a specific app.

Edge Sense was customizable, allowing users to choose what actions would be triggered by a short or long squeeze. The sensitivity of the squeeze could also be adjusted to suit individual preferences. While some initially viewed Edge Sense as a gimmick, it proved to be a useful feature for quickly accessing frequently used functions without needing to unlock the phone or navigate through menus.

HTC continued to improve Edge Sense through software updates, adding more functionality and making it more versatile over time. However, it was clear that the feature was polarizing, with some users finding it indispensable and others rarely using it.

Audio Quality

HTC has long been known for its focus on audio quality, and the U11 was no exception. The phone featured HTC BoomSound Hi-Fi Edition speakers, with one speaker located in the earpiece and the other in the bottom-firing speaker grille. This setup provided a stereo effect and delivered loud, clear audio with a good balance of bass, mids, and treble.

One of the notable omissions on the U11 was the 3.5mm headphone jack. HTC, like several other manufacturers at the time, chose to remove the headphone jack in favor of using the USB-C port for audio output. To ease the transition, HTC included a pair of USonic USB-C earbuds in the box, which featured active noise cancellation and the ability to automatically adjust the audio profile based on the user’s ear structure.

The U11 also supported Hi-Res audio playback, making it a great choice for audiophiles who preferred listening to lossless audio files. Additionally, the phone’s four microphones enabled 3D audio recording, which added an extra layer of immersion to video recordings.

Software

The HTC U11 shipped with Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box, with HTC’s custom Sense UI layered on top. HTC Sense was known for its clean, user-friendly interface that offered a few useful features without overwhelming the user with unnecessary bloatware.

One of the highlights of the HTC Sense UI was the inclusion of HTC Sense Companion, an AI-powered assistant designed to provide contextual information and suggestions based on the user’s habits and preferences. While the Sense Companion was not as fully featured as Google Assistant, it offered some useful insights, such as battery-saving suggestions and reminders to bring an umbrella based on the weather forecast.

The U11 also supported Google Assistant out of the box, allowing users to choose between the two virtual assistants. Additionally, HTC later added support for Amazon Alexa through a software update, making the U11 one of the few phones to offer multiple AI assistants simultaneously.

HTC’s commitment to software updates was commendable, with the U11 receiving regular security patches and major Android updates. The phone was eventually updated to Android 8.0 Oreo and later to Android 9.0 Pie, ensuring that users had access to the latest features and improvements for several years after its release.

Battery Life

The HTC U11 was equipped with a 3,000mAh battery, which was fairly standard for flagship smartphones in 2017. Despite the high-resolution display and powerful processor, the U11 offered solid battery life that could easily last a full day of moderate use. With activities like web browsing, social media, and video streaming, users could expect around 5-6 hours of screen-on time.

For those who needed to recharge during the day, the U11 supported Quick Charge 3.0, allowing the battery to be charged from 0% to around 50% in just 30 minutes. This was a convenient feature for users who were often on the go and needed to top up their battery quickly.

One of the missing features on the U11 was wireless charging. While the glass back made it a potential candidate for wireless charging, HTC chose not to include this feature, which was a disappointment for some users, especially as wireless charging was becoming more common in flagship devices.

Connectivity and Sensors

The HTC U11 offered a comprehensive range of connectivity options and sensors that were typical of a flagship smartphone in 2017. It supported 4G LTE with VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, and GPS with GLONASS. The inclusion of NFC allowed for contactless payments via services like Google Pay, and the Wi-Fi performance was strong, with good range and stability.

The U11 also came equipped with a USB Type-C port, which was used for charging, data transfer, and audio output (in the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack). While the switch to USB-C was part of a broader industry trend, it was still relatively new to some users at the time, particularly those who had accumulated accessories that used micro-USB or a traditional headphone jack.

In terms of sensors, the HTC U11 was well-equipped. It featured a fingerprint sensor embedded in the home button on the front of the device, which was fast and reliable. Additionally, it included an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, compass, and a barometer. These sensors provided essential functionality for various apps and features, including augmented reality (AR) experiences, fitness tracking, and more.

Security

The HTC U11 offered multiple security options, with the fingerprint sensor being the primary method for quick and secure unlocking of the device. The sensor was responsive and accurate, rarely failing to recognize the registered fingerprint. It also allowed users to register multiple fingerprints, making it convenient for unlocking the phone with either hand.

In addition to the fingerprint sensor, the U11 also supported traditional security methods such as PIN, pattern, and password. These options provided an extra layer of security for users who preferred not to use biometric authentication.

While the U11 lacked advanced biometric options like facial recognition or iris scanning, which were starting to appear on some competing devices, the inclusion of a reliable fingerprint sensor ensured that it still offered strong security features.

Software Updates and Longevity

HTC had a mixed track record with software updates, but the U11 was one of the company’s more well-supported devices. As mentioned earlier, the U11 launched with Android 7.1 Nougat and was subsequently updated to Android 8.0 Oreo and Android 9.0 Pie. These updates brought new features, improved performance, and enhanced security to the device, ensuring it remained competitive for several years.

However, the U11 did not receive an update to Android 10, which was somewhat disappointing for users who had hoped for continued software support. Despite this, the U11 remained a capable device even without the latest Android version, thanks to its powerful hardware and well-optimized software.

HTC Sense UI, which was less intrusive compared to some other custom Android skins, contributed to the phone’s longevity by avoiding the bloatware that often slows down devices over time. The clean and minimalistic design of Sense UI, combined with regular security patches, allowed the U11 to age gracefully.

Edge Sense and Unique Features

Edge Sense was one of the defining features of the HTC U11, and it distinguished the device from its competitors. While the concept of squeezing the phone to trigger actions was novel, HTC continued to enhance the functionality of Edge Sense through software updates, adding new features and making it more customizable.

For example, HTC introduced an Edge Launcher feature that allowed users to access their favorite apps, contacts, and quick settings with a single squeeze. This addition made Edge Sense more practical and useful for everyday tasks. HTC also enabled compatibility with Google Assistant, allowing users to launch the assistant with a squeeze, further integrating the feature into the overall user experience.

Edge Sense was a polarizing feature, with some users finding it indispensable and others viewing it as a gimmick. However, it was clear that HTC was committed to pushing the boundaries of smartphone interaction, and Edge Sense was a testament to that innovation.

Price and Value for Money

When the HTC U11 was launched, it was priced competitively for a flagship device, positioning it as an alternative to high-end offerings from Samsung, Apple, and Google. The base model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage was priced at around $649 in the U.S., while the higher-end model with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage was slightly more expensive.

Given its premium build quality, powerful performance, and impressive camera capabilities, the U11 offered good value for money at launch. It was a strong contender in the crowded flagship market, appealing to users who wanted a high-quality smartphone with unique features like Edge Sense.

Over time, as the price of the U11 dropped and newer models were released, it became an even more attractive option for those looking for a capable smartphone without breaking the bank. The combination of a high-resolution display, solid battery life, and regular software updates ensured that the U11 remained relevant even as the smartphone landscape continued to evolve.

Conclusion

The HTC U11 was a flagship smartphone that combined innovative features, premium design, and strong performance into a compelling package. Its standout features, such as the Liquid Surface design and Edge Sense, helped it differentiate itself in a crowded market. The U11’s camera was one of the best available at the time, particularly in low-light conditions, and its audio capabilities continued HTC’s tradition of excellence in this area.

However, the U11 was not without its flaws. The large bezels and lack of a headphone jack were points of criticism, and the phone’s overall market reception was impacted by HTC’s declining brand presence. Despite these challenges, the U11 remains a testament to HTC’s ability to innovate and produce high-quality devices, even in the face of intense competition.

For those who appreciate unique features and premium craftsmanship, the HTC U11 remains a memorable device that showcased the best of what HTC had to offer during its time as a leading smartphone manufacturer.

where can you get a HTC U11 online

HTC U11 – Factory Unlocked Phone – Solar Red: Buy it now

HTC U11 – Factory Unlocked Phone – Sapphire Blue: Buy it now

HTC U11 – Factory Unlocked Phone – Brilliant Black: Buy it now

HTC U11 – Factory Unlocked Phone – Amazing Silver: Buy it now

HTC U11 128GB Dual SIM MODEL – Factory Unlocked Phone – International Version – GSM ONLY, NO WARRANTY in the US (Amazing Silver): Buy it now