Comparing the Features of the HTC U Ultra and HTC U Play

HTC is demonstrating once again that it is determined to remain a force in the mobile market by introducing two new Android smartphones, the HTC U Ultra and the HTC U Play.

The HTC U Ultra ships with a 5.7-inch quad-HD display with a resolution of 2,560 by 1,440 pixels. However, at the top of the screen sits another display 2.05 inches in size. That second display is designed to provide easy access to regularly requested features, like contacts, popular apps, and shortcuts.

The HTC U Play, on the other hand, comes with a standard 5.2-inch display featuring a full-HD resolution. HTC says that the screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass to safeguard it during a nasty spill. The display is ideal for those who want a midrange smartphone, but likely not good enough to compete with high-end alternatives.

The HTC U Ultra ships with Android Nougat and features the company’s own HTC Sense skin atop. HTC Sense offers a different look and feel than folks would find in the traditional Android Nougat and comes with some additional HTC apps, including the company’s Sense Companion virtual personal assistant program.

The HTC U Play will deliver outstanding battery life. According to HTC, the device, which has a 2500mAh battery, will last more than 15 hours of talk time on a single charge. When it’s on standby mode, the batteries can retain a charged more than 427 days. In other words, the HTC U Play should last all day on a single charge without trouble.

Since the HTC U Ultra is designed to be a high-end handset, it’s perhaps no surprise it’ll ship with the 2.15GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor. The chip will be complemented by 4GB of onboard RAM and solid video performance. It’s worth noting, however, that other high-end handsets scheduled for release later this year are expected to offer more powerful processors from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon line, including the Snapdragon 835.

The HTC U Play won’t impress many folks with its performance. The device will ship with a MediaTek Helio P10 processor, a chip that can offer only middling performance. Users will be able to choose up to 4GB of onboard RAM in the U Play. The smartphone, then, will be able to reliably run most, if not all apps.

HTC U Ultra comes with a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera that offers dual-tone LED flash for better camera performance, as well as the ability to detect faces. Users will also find it will work well in low-light conditions and record video in 4K. On the front, the U Ultra offers a 16-megapixel sensor designed for selfies.

Those who want to snap high-quality photos might also find it with the U Play. The smartphone has a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera with a laser autofocus. While it can’t record video in 4K like the U Ultra, its 1080p video-recording should suffice for most. On the front-facing camera has a 16-megapixel sensor that can also record video in 1080p resolution.

HTC says it will begin shipping its U Ultra handset in the middle of March. The device is currently available for preorder for $749 unlocked. According to HTC, the smartphone will be compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile networks, which suggests that a CDMA version that works with the Verizon and Sprint mobile services won’t be available at least when the handset first ships.

HTC has kept its details on the U Play and its availability close to the vest. HTC says it will be available in “select markets” later this year and hasn’t yet announced pricing. Look for HTC to deliver more details on the HTC U Play in the coming weeks.