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HTC U11
HTC U11
HTC U11
HTC U11
...


8.7/10
Informr score
The HTC U11 currently has an Informr score of 8.7 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 54 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Bright, colorful display
  • Beautiful color options
  • Loud, powerful loudspeaker
  • microSD support
  • All-day battery life
  • Fast, sharp camera

What's bad

  • Fingerprint magnet
  • No headphone jack
  • Limited support for pressure sensitive sides

It’s no secret that HTC hasn’t kept up with bigger names in the flagship Android market. With the HTC U11, they’re hoping to reverse this trend. While the phone is eye-catching, will it be the hit that HTC needs?

Reviews for this colorful new phone are in and we’re bringing you the best (and worst) of what reviewers are saying.

Let’s dig in!

While the physical design of the phone is nothing out of the ordinary, reviewers raved about the color treatment on the phone's glass back panel. Even the reviewers with the white model loved the subtle sheen of the “liquid surface” glass treatment HTC used on the U11.

And the phone isn’t just pretty—it also offers IP67 water and dust resistance. The Guardian noted, “HTC’s build quality is legendary and the U11 does not disappoint. It is rock solid with no give or flex in the body.”

The only complaints found regarded fingerprints. Unfortunately, all that shiny glass means lots of cleaning to keep the appearance flawless.

Heading around front, you’re greeted with a 5.5-inch QuadHD LCD screen. Reviewers loved the color and sharpness but some wished it were brighter for better outdoor use. ChipChick said, “[It] looks fantastic in most conditions, with vibrant but accurate colors, great contrast, and decent viewing angles.”

You’ll find a 2.45Ghz octa-core Snapdragon 835 paired with 4GB of RAM to keep things running snappy behind the scenes. As this is one of the most powerful chips in 2017, performance is near the top of the charts. GSM Arena benchmarked the phone and said, “The UI is fluid and there's zero stutter, no matter how many apps you're using. Loading larger apps like heavy games doesn't even make this thing sweat.”

With 64GB of internal storage, you shouldn’t have much to worry about when it comes to keeping your favorite apps and media on hand. Should you need more space, a microSD card makes expanding your storage cheap and simple.

The phone ships with Android 7.1 Nougat. HTC has added their Sense 7.0 UI. Reviewers liked their changes and there were no complaints of bloatware or duplicated apps. Greenbot noted, “HTC treads pretty lightly on top of stock Nougat, adding a few useful features and settings, but mostly keeping things as Google intended.”

When you look at the camera specifications, you might get confused. However, they’re right. The rear camera is 12MP while the front-facing lens is a beefy 16MP. This is because both cameras have different aperture and pixel sizes. While the front camera is great for selfies and video chat, it lacks the optical image stabilization and phase change auto focus of the rear camera. So you’ll still want to stick to the rear camera for daily snapping.

ChipChick ran the camera through its paces and noted, “Pictures taken with the main shooter are sharp and properly exposed, with excellent color rendition. Dynamic range is helped by the auto-HDR mode, which does some very clever image processing.”

The phone’s 3,000mAh internal battery appears to keep things running with no problems throughout a full day of use. Should you find yourself low on juice, Quick Charge 3.0 means you can top off your charge in around 30 minutes to get through the rest of the day. The Guardian tested their phone and said, “The U11 lasted around 24 hours between charges without activating any power saving modes. That was while using it as my primary device, browsing and using apps for four hours with hundreds of push emails, 60 minutes of gaming, and listening to around five hours of music via Bluetooth headphones.”

One of the phone’s most hyped features is its pressure-sensitive sides. Squeezing the phone allows you to launch apps or activate shortcuts. While reviewers found the feature worked fine, they often had trouble remembering to use it.

HTC has built a name within the audio community for a stellar listening experience. Unfortunately, the U11 missed the bar for some. While the BoomSound speakers were a hit with reviewers, the phone lacks a 3.5mm headphone port. While they include a USB Type-C to 3.5mm adapter, many reviewers found the USonic headphones and adapter lacked the punch and clarity of earlier HTC offerings.

Overall, the U11 might be just what HTC needs to return to the top. Reviewers all agree that it offers a convincing package of performance, looks and camera quality. If you’re bothered by fingerprints or you have a habit of dropping your phone, steer clear of the amount of glass on this phone. Otherwise, it seems a stellar buy.


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.45 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.45 GHz
5.5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.5"
12+ MP, f/1.7
Camera
Camera
12+ MP, f/1.7
3000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

The U11 is a top-notch smartphone. It doesn't have dual cameras or other tricks, and it doesn't have the taller screens that its main competitors are now offering, but it's gorgeous and powerful, with a camera that can deliver miracles in low light. Edge Sense quickly becomes second nature, and the...

- Jamshed Avari, Gadgets 360
Cnet
Cnet

For a stylish design and solid performance, the HTC U11 is a discount over the U12 Plus, though power users will be drawn to the U12 Plus' more robust squeezing features.

- Luke Lancaster, Cnet
The Verge
The Verge

The HTC U11 is reliably great in low light because it doesn’t do as much noise reduction as other smartphones, it's one that sometimes rivals (or even beats) the Pixel 2 XL. The front-facing camera is admirable in daylight, though it doesn’t handle strong light so well, and in low light you can see...

- Sean O'Kane, The Verge
uSwitch
uSwitch

The squeeze-to-control feature might have captured the headlines, but it’s not the most notable thing about this phone. HTC has produced a solid, decent flagship for 2017, with an impressive screen, great camera and some pretty innovative features that fans are sure to love.

- Joe Minihane, uSwitch
LaptopMedia
LaptopMedia

HTC has changed its concept for a flagship model and has replaced the metal construction with one that features a glass back and metal frame. The device still expresses elegance and style but more in the way Galaxy S8 does it, which also has a glass back. A small drawback is that the body is prone t...

- LaptopMedia Team, LaptopMedia


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the HTC U11 user manual here.


HTC backs up the U11 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your U11 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact HTC support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find HTC's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
5.5"

The HTC U11's screen size is 5.5 inches with 1440 x 2560 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.45 GHz

There is a Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 Octa core 2.45 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 7.1 Nougat (Update Available: 9.0 Pie) operating system (OS).

Camera
12+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 12+ MP, f/1.7 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 16+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
64/128 GB

Internal memory is 64/128 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
3000mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 3000 mAh battery. HTC's performance ratings are 1470 minutes, 628 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

HTC U11 Specs

Overview
Release Date June 9, 2017
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 7.1 Nougat (Update Available: 9.0 Pie)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 Octa core 2.45 GHz
Internal Storage 64/128 GB
RAM 4 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.95 W/kg
Body: 0.48 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Headphones, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB USB Type-C
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
12+ Megapixels, f/1.7
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (Dual LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, Multi-shot, Panorama, HDR, Hyperlapse, Slow moion recording (1080p@120fps)
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, MPEG-4, WMV, MKV
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
16+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Self-timer, Auto selfie, Voice activation, HDR, Selfie Panorama
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology S-LCD 5
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1440 x 2560 pixels
Pixel Density 534 pixels
Size 5.5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 3000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging Yes
Video Playback Time Up to 664 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 628 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1470 minutes
Standby Time Up to 14 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Ice White, Brilliant Black, Solar Red, Sapphire Blue, Amazing Silver
Dimensions [H x W x D] 15.4 x 7.6 x 0.8 cm (6.1 x 3 x 0.3 in)
Weight 169 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design No
IP Rating IP 67
Headset Jack Yes
External Speakers Stereo
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Quick Start Guide (PDF)
Manual (PDF)
HTC U11 Reviews
Where to buy HTC U11
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