HTC U11 latest Handset With Hopes of Challenging iPhone, Galaxy S8

HTC’s global smartphone market share has fallen in recent years, but that hasn’t discouraged the mobile devices maker enough to leave the smartphone market. Instead, HTC on May 16 announced the U11, a new high-end handset that will serve as a convincing alternative to popular competitors, such as the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the iPhone 7. The handset certainly has the features to compete with those handsets, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and a battery that can hold a useful charge for more than a day. Now with support for multiple high-powered virtual personal assistants and an affordable price tag, the U11 could make some smartphone buyers consider why they should spend hundreds more for a comparable device to the big-name handsets.

At first blush, the HTC U11 looks like any other smartphone, complete with a flat screen and fingerprint sensor beneath the display. But the U11 has a feature called Edge Sense that accesses different apps and functions when users squeeze the sides of the device. A single squeeze might open Facebook, for example, while another will bring up a personal assistant.

The HTC U11 includes industry-leading power, thanks to the bundled Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. The Snapdragon 835 has eight cores and up to a 2.45GHz clock speed. The handset also includes 4GB of RAM.

Like so many of its competitors, HTC claims its smartphone has the best camera on the market. The company noted the U11 scored a 90 out of a possible 100 on the DxOMark scale, thanks in part to its optical and electronic stabilization, HDR Boost support and improved white balance. , DxOMark is an industry standard for camera lens quality. The rear-facing camera is 12 megapixels, while the front-facing camera is 16 megapixels.

HTC’s U11 comes with a 5.5-inch screen, the same size as Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus but slightly smaller than the Galaxy S8. The screen has quad-HD resolution and uses Corning’s 3D Gorilla Glass 5 technology to safeguard it against dings and scratches.

Those looking for long battery life will find it in the HTC U11. The device comes with a 3,000mAh battery pack that can accommodate 24.5 straight hours of talk time before it needs recharging. On standby, the HTC U11’s battery can last up to two weeks. Quick-charging boosts its battery life quickly.

HTC’s U11 comes with several virtual personal assistants available. Since it’s an Android handset, it supports Google Assistant. But it’s also compatible with Amazon Alexa. The device also works with HTC Sense Companion, a platform that learns user patterns and makes suggestions based on that knowledge.

HTC is offering pre-orders of the U11 to LTE network operators Sprint and Verizon. Those who prefer an unlocked handset can purchase it from HTC directly and use it with their carrier of choice. It’s an odd way to sell a smartphone that can work on any major carrier network.

HTC built the U11 to protect against damage. According to the company, the U11 has an IP67 rating, which means it’s waterproof and dust resistant. That said, HTC cautions against dipping the smartphone in water for too long, as its protection was designed primarily to withstand the rain.

On the audio side, HTC’s U11 might prove appealing. The smartphone ships with four omni-directional microphones for high-quality sound on calls. It also comes with “BoomSound” stereo speakers that HTC says performs well at high- and mid-range audio-scale levels. HTC says the U11 will deliver some of the best-sounding audio of any smartphone.

HTC’s U11 costs $649, about $100 less than the Samsung Galaxy S8 and $200 less than the Galaxy S8+. The device is available now for pre-order and is scheduled to be available in June.