HTC U11+ evaluate: 6-inch display, enormous battery, respectable waterproofing

HTC now has three handsets in its U11 range: the usual 5.5-inch HTC U11, which we favored a whole lot, the affordable 5.2-inch HTC U11 lifestyles, and the proper-end 6-inch HTC U11+. Does this newest flagship mannequin offer enough to justify its hefty fee tag?

The HTC U11+ shares its predecessor’s mirrored finish at the again, which has a mesmeric capacity to look slate gray at some times and black at others. it’s the perfect backplate for narcissists because it provides an excellent reflection, however I discovered it fairly slippy, and also a seriously efficient fingerprint magnet. For me, here is a case of trend over substance.

The 6-inch HTC U11 Plus has an 18:9 aspect ratio tremendous lcd display with 537ppi decision and weighs 188g. It runs Android eight.0 with HTC’s sense UI overlay.

photo: HTC

The power and volume buttons continue to be within the same place as on the HTC U11, on the appropriate-hand aspect, but the domestic button/fingerprint scanner below the screen is ditched in favour of a circular sensor on the back. On higher handsets a rear-hooked up fingerprint sensor is preferable as it makes one-exceeded operation so a great deal more straightforward.

here’s a tall, slim handset with an 18:9 point ratio monitor — a change from the 16:9 HTC U11, which measures 75.9mm huge via 153.9mm tall via 7.9mm thick. The HTC U11+, against this, is slimmer (74.9mm), taller (158.5mm), and thicker (eight.5mm). or not it’s heavier too — 188g compared to 160g for the U11. (See how the HTC U11+ measures as much as different flagship smartphones right here).

With the fingerprint sensor now at the again, the HTC U11 Plus has a larger display-to-physique ratio than its predecessor.

graphic: Sandra Vogel/ZDNet

The black slab of frontage with its minimal aspect bezels and small excellent and backside bezels looks pretty bland, and with the HTC emblem on the back of the cell there is little to mark it out as numerous. it’s worth noting that the IP score has risen from IP67 on the HTC U11 to IP68 on the U11+, which capability that dirt resistance is unchanged while waterproofing has improved.

The 6-inch display has a decision of 1,440 by way of 2,880 pixels, giving an surprising 537 pixels per inch (ppi). I’ve used an 18:9 handset for a few months as my main mobilephone, and admire this taller element ratio. however the tremendous lcd panel is rarely as brilliant as i’d like, and even though which you could swap the shade profile between sRGB and DCI-P3, using a slider to circulate between ‘hotter’ and ‘colder’ color temperatures, I felt that video (in certain) changed into a coloration much less pleasant to monitor than on AMOLED displays.

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The HTC U11+ runs on Qualcomm’s top-end octa-core Snapdragon 835 chipset. there is 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, of which 118GB become free on my overview pattern. The cellphone supports two SIMs, and the 2d SIM slot can be sacrificed for a ability-boosting microSD card.

Left: customising area sense’s ‘squeeze’ feature. appropriate: the aspect Launcher.

photos: Sandra Vogel/ZDNet

Android eight.0 (Oreo) is overlain via HTC feel, which permits you to tweak the general Android UI, and also provides a few software enhancements. Most extraordinary of those is the ‘squeezability’ function it truly is part feel. This is rarely new for HTC, nevertheless it has been up-to-date for the U11+.

applying pressure to the sides of the mobilephone can invoke app shortcuts, or name up side Launcher, a semi-round dial-panel so that you can scroll with your thumb to access apps and shortcuts. this may turn into fairly complex, with two concentric ‘wheels’ of shortcuts. And, if you decide to enable ‘advanced mode’ it be possible to configure both short-squeeze and squeeze-and-dangle shortcuts.

i am no longer certain about this. I discovered it a little awkward to hold the cell in a single hand to squeeze; and as soon as the facet Launcher pops up (which it does very efficiently), or not it’s a bit of of a balancing act to thumb the wheel while hanging onto the handset. then again, americans with better arms might locate this technique comfortable sufficient.

There are lots of different tweaks on present. One is to personalize the navigation bar: a 2nd, slide-in, navigation bar is equipped, and the buttons on each can be customised, in order that as much as 9 shortcuts can be found. it’s somewhat a pleasant contact.

	HTC U11+	HTC U11	HTC U11 lifestyles
Android version / overlay	Android eight.0 with HTC feel	Android 7.1 with HTC feel	Android eight.0 with Android One or HTC feel
screen	6.0 inches, 18:9 factor ratio, 1,440 x 2,880 pixels, 537ppi	5.5 inches, 16:9 element ratio, 1,440 x 2,560 pixels, 534ppi	5.2 inches, sixteen:9 aspect ratio, 1,080 x 1,920 pixels, 424ppi
RAM, storage	4GB/6GB RAM, 64GB/128GB storage, MicroSD slot	4GB/6GB RAM, 64GB/128GB storage, MicroSD slot	3GB/4GB RAM, 32GB/64GB storage, MicroSD slot
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835	Qualcomm Snapdragon 630
dust & water resistance	IP68	IP67	IP67
Headset connector	USB-C with supplied earphones and 3.5mm converter	USB-C	USB-C
Battery	three,930mAh	three,000mAh	2,600mAh
Dimensions / weight	158.5mm x 74.9mm x 8.5mm / 188g	153.9mm x seventy five.9mm x 7.9mm / 160g	149.09mm x 72.9mm x eight.1mm / 142g
price (UK)	£699 (6GB/128GB)	£599 (6GB/128GB) / £519 (4GB/64GB)	£349 (4GB/64GB)

Reliance on USB-C for a headset connection is not strange on the greater end at the present time, and or not it’s excellent to see HTC helping USB-C novices steer clear of extra outlay: you get a pair of HTC USonic earbuds, and in case you are looking to use an current set there may be also a three.5mm converter within the box.

The HTC USonic earbuds curiously map your internal ear to carry a customized audio adventure, and also consist of active noise cancellation. I found them to be relatively good, if a little fuzzy in the bass frequencies.

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The HTC U11+ has a single 12-megapixel (MP) rear digicam, which bucks the present twin-digital camera trend. That doesn’t suggest this digicam is a dud — far from it, in fact. The f1.7 lens lets in numerous easy, and average photograph pleasant throughout my constrained testing length turned into very good. The front digital camera is down from 16MP on the HTC U11 to 8MP right here — nonetheless enough pixels for high-quality selfies, and the f/2.0 lens is welcome. The front camera, just like the leading one, also advantages from HDR increase.

The U11+’s larger chassis enables for a considerably greater battery: 3,930mAh, compared to 3,000mAh in the U11. HTC says this will convey as much as 25 hours of 3G or 4G speak, whereas QuickCharge 3.0 guide potential which you can seize further energy at short note when the battery runs low. right through the test period I’ve had greater than a day but under two days from a full cost, which suggests the HTC U11+ won’t rival the very longest-lasting handsets accessible.

Conclusions

At £699 (inc. VAT) the HTC U11+ isn’t any ‘within your means’ smartphone, however nor is it in the very exact iPhone X/Galaxy notice eight rate bracket. in comparison to the U11 (£599 for 128GB, £519 for 64GB), you get various updated aspects including an 18:9 reveal, a bigger battery and stronger water resistance. The downgrading of the front digital camera from 16 to 8 megapixels should not be concerned any individual.

however look round and you’ll find the OnePlus 5T and Honor View 10 providing very alluring elements at a a lot lower expense. HTC has come up with a fine handset within the U11+, however’s far from the highest quality value for cash obtainable.

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