The birth of HTC U11. HTC U11 review. Brilliant Taiwanese

Specifications
Class	Smartphone
Form factor	Monoblock
Housing materials	Glass, metal
operating system	Android 7.1.1 + HTC Sense
Net	2G: 850/900/1800/1900 3G: 850/900/1700/1900/2100 4G: B4/B12/B17/B28/B20/B5/B8/B3/B1/B7/B32 LTE CAT 15 Calls via VoLTE and Wi-Fi
Platform	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
CPU	64-bit, 8-core, up to 2.45 GHz
Video accelerator	Adreno 540
Inner memory	64/128 GB
RAM	4/6 GB
Memory card slot	Yes, combined with SIM slot
WiFi	Yes, a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Bluetooth	Yes, 4.2 LE, A2DP
NFC	Eat
Screen diagonal	5.5 inches
Screen resolution	1440 x 2560 pixels
Matrix type	Super LCD5
Protective covering	3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Oleophobic coating	Eat
Main camera	12 MP UltraPixel 3, f/1.7, optical stabilization, dual flash, 4k video
Front-camera	16 MP, f/2.0, BSI
Navigation	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
Sensors	Light sensor Proximity sensor Motion sensor (G-sensor) Electronic compass Gyroscope Magnetic sensor Fingerprint sensor Sensor Hub for tracking physical activity Edge Sensor Case Compression Sensor
Battery	Non-removable, 3000 mAh, Quick Charge 3.0
Dimensions	153.9 x 75.9 x 7.9 mm
Weight	169 grams

Contents of delivery

• Telephone
• Network adapter
• USB cable
• USB-C to mini-jack adapter
• Bumper case
• Headset

Introduction

Rumors about the new product began to appear long before its official announcement. The earliest sources (late 2016) stated that the name of the “star” would be HTC Ocean. And only in early April information appeared about the final naming of the flagship - U11. Interestingly, the company heatedly discussed the name and what options they offered, but came to the conclusion that HTC U11 would be the most logical.

As for the leaked photographs, almost all of them were fakes (both with two cameras, and in an all-metal body, and in an iPhone-like design, and with a frameless design), or the company could not fully decide on the appearance, since even our acquaintance with U11 did not take place with the final sample. However, it was not very different from the commercial sample.

As a result, we got something between U Play and U Ultra, that is, we completely moved away from the concept of HTC 10 - a brutal piece of metal with sharp “face” features.

Since I have been using HTC U Play for almost two months, and the U11 is not very different in appearance and in terms of material from its younger brother, it will be easy for me to tell you about my experience using the flagship.

In addition to sophisticated technical parameters, the developers in U11 highlight the edge compression recognition technology (Edge Sense) and continue to promote Sense Companion, which should give various tips based on the analysis of smartphone data.

In addition, as already mentioned in the introduction, the photo and video capabilities of the HTC U11 are not the least important. The device was successfully tested by the DXOMark team (specializing in rigorous professional reviews of cameras and optics since 2003) with a rating of 90 points, that is, more than any other smartphone in the world.

A few weeks before the Russian pre-order, Andrey Kormiltsev, head of the HTC representative office in Russia, shared information on the social network Twitter: “...And at the price, we’ll try to surprise you :)” After some time, the price was officially announced - 45,000 rubles.

Design, dimensions, control elements

As previously stated, I have been using HTC U Play for a long time. Despite the fact that a couple of months ago I wrote not the best review about the U Play device, during long-term use it turned out that it is not so strange: stable notifications, a fast and accurate camera with ideal white balance in any conditions, an excellent screen, good assembly and materials. The only negative is the battery: its algorithms were not clear to me. Either the gadget worked all day with four hours of screen light, or it survived until the middle of the day with two hours of light.

Actually, we’re not talking about U Play today. The background was written in order to lead to the main idea about the design of the HTC U11: the U11 and U Play smartphones are very similar in this regard, and the user experience is almost the same. In fact, the appearance of the flagship is a modified version of the Play device.

The main feature of the design is the glass surface of the back side. The website explains in detail how it is created. The younger version of the device is available in 4 colors: black, blue, white and light blue. In my opinion, the most striking colors are red (not yet on sale) and blue. When I tested it turned out to be a white version. Each of the colors shimmers beautifully in the light, displaying other shades, for example: white has a reddish tint.

This is what the smartphone looks like in black.

Naturally, prints abundantly cover the entire surface (on white it is almost invisible).

On the HTC U11, as well as on the HTC U Play, over time, small scratches appeared on the glass back, but it did not lead to deep scratches. In principle, you can put bumper covers on the devices that come included. However, they make the gadgets somewhat thicker, and the ergonomics of the design are disrupted.

By the way, regarding ease of use. The flagship has dimensions of 153.9 x 75.9 x 7.9 mm and weighs about 170 grams. Personally, it seemed a bit wide and heavy to me, especially compared to the Samsung Galaxy S8+ (however, this model is too long) and even the HTC U Play. It is clear that the matter is in a wide framework, not only on the right and left, but also on top/bottom. In this regard, for some reason the U11 “didn’t want” to catch up with its main competitors (LG and Samsung). That's why it received a lot of critical reviews from the press.

The front panel is protected by 2.5D (in this model the glass flow on the sides is maximum) Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Of course, there is an oleophobic coating. Its quality is excellent - prints are easily removed.

Side frames are metal. In the white version they are silver and matte.

The assembly is excellent, the device feels monolithic, does not press through, does not creak or play when twisted.

On the front side: indicator of missed events, sensors, microphone, camera and main speaker. Its volume is high, heard clearly and intelligibly. The only strange thing: in my sample I hear sounds similar to data transmission nearby. It's not annoying at all, but it's audible.

Below the display is a fingerprint scanner and backlit touch buttons. There are no questions for them.

At the bottom there is a microphone, USB Type-C with USB 3.1 support and a speaker. There is another hole, but I haven’t quite figured out what it’s for: either a microphone or a drainage hole, because the HTC U11 is protected according to the IP67 standard: from dust, splashes and water when immersed to a depth of one meter in fresh water for up to 30 minutes. There is a similar hole at the top.

Slots for nanoSIM+nanoSIM or nanoSIM+microSD – on the top end, a combined slot.

On the right are the power button and the volume rocker. They are almost recessed into the body, difficult to feel, the pressure is firm, the stroke is minimal. It would be worth making them a little larger with a clearer and more confident move.

On the reverse side you will find another microphone (4 in total), a dual monochromatic flash and a lens with a metallic silver ring. It looks more concise and harmonious than the ring on U Play.

HTC U11 and HTC U Play

Display

The new product from HTC has a screen diagonal of 5.5 inches. The frames are quite wide: 15 mm on top, 18 mm on the bottom, and approximately 4 mm on the sides. There is a high-quality anti-reflective coating (even better than on the LG G6).

Screen resolution is QHD, that is, 1440x2560 pixels, density is 534 PPI. The IPS matrix has the marketing name SuperLCD 5.

The maximum brightness of white color is 435 cd/m2 (with manual selection) and more than 500 in “Auto” mode. Contrast – 1100:1 – 1400:1. In the sun the picture is perfectly readable.

The viewing angles are maximum; when tilted, the picture slightly loses contrast. Otherwise, an excellent screen with cool rich colors, close to AMOLED matrices! For lovers of more faded colors, developers should soon enable sRGB mode.

Viewing Angles

Light exposure

In the sun

Battery

This model uses a built-in 3000 mAh battery. Official opening hours:

• Talk time on 3G/4G networks: up to 24.5 hours
• Standby time in 3G/4G networks: up to 14 days

My details.

Under moderate load (mostly Wi-Fi network, some photos and videos, 1 hour of calls), the device “live” from 9.00 to 01.00. In this case, the screen glow can be 5 – 7 hours.

Under heavy load (constant 3G/4G connection, music for about two hours with active noise reduction) and travel outside of Moscow, the smartphone works from 9.00 to 18.00. Screen glow 3 – 3.5 hours.

In addition, I noticed that outside the city (50 km) on the MTS network the device was discharged faster than in Moscow, although it was also connected to a Wi-Fi access point. As a result, I put it on charge overnight, used it until the evening and put it on charge again.

If you watch a video at full brightness, the battery will run out after 7.5 hours, with toys - in 5 hours.

In general, for a device with a 3000 mAh battery, the operating time is decent; I personally did not experience any discomfort. Except that at the dacha, due to the poor quality of the MTS network, I had to charge my phone in the evening, and not at night.

The HTC U11 smartphone supports QC 3.0 fast charging. In 30 minutes the device is charged by 45%, in 40 - by 60%, in 1 hour 15 minutes - 90%, in 1 hour 30 minutes - 95%, in 1 hour 45 minutes - 100%.

Communication capabilities

The device is equipped with two nanoSIM slots. The device supports 3G/4G networks (LTE CAT 15) in Russian frequencies:

• GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz),
• WCDMA (850/900/1800/1900 MHz),
• FDD-LTE (band B4/B12/B17/B28/B20/B5/B8/B3/B1/B7/B32)

There is an NFC chip (supports Mifare). The rest is standard: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Dual Band, Bluetooth 4.2, USB Type-C connector (USB 3.1) for charging/synchronization. GPS navigation works without problems.

HTC U11 also has a body compression sensor called Edge Sensor. You select the compression strength of the side edges and assign different things to this function: take a screenshot, take a photo, activate the voice recorder, or launch any application. You can squeeze it short or long. Sensitivity is adjusted in the option settings.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get into Edge Sense; for me, squeezing the side edges turned out to be not quite familiar and convenient, since it is necessary to apply a certain force. And this compression force was uncomfortable for me, and it was no longer possible to make the sensitivity even less. It's kind of like 3D Touch on the iPhone: some people use it, some don't. I believe that any forceful (shaking, pressing the screen, squeezing edges) interaction with a smartphone is unnatural.

Memory

The HTC U11 smartphone is sold in two versions: 4 GB LPDDR4X RAM and 64 GB internal memory, 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal memory. In general, a completely logical decision.

I tested the speed of 64 GB of memory - 810/207 MB/s. This is very high speed! And you really feel it: applications open instantly, and installation of programs occurs quickly.

In the comments to other reviews, I was asked to also test the RAM. Execute - 7931 MB/s.

Instead of one of the SIM cards, you can install a memory card up to 2 TB.

Cameras

Perhaps, from my point of view, the main argument in favor of the HTC U11 is the camera. I won’t go on and on about the fact that the famous DXOMark awarded the highest score (for now) to the U11 camera. I am skeptical about such statements, so I’m used to checking everything myself. To compare frames, I asked Samsung for the S8+.

Well, for now, dry data on the HTC U11 cameras.

Main module: 12 MP BSI, f=1.7 aperture, HTC UltraPixel 3 technology with 1.4 micron pixel size, optical stabilization, phase detection autofocus. Double flash of the same tone.

Front module: 16 MP BSI, aperture f=2.0, without autofocus. Soft flash due to short-term glow of the screen.

In order not to clutter up the review with unnecessary writings, I will say this: the HTC U11 camera is the best when shooting in the daytime! Wide dynamic range, accurate and natural color rendition, beautiful and smooth bokeh without artifacts.

When compared with frames on the Samsung S8+, it turned out that the Galaxy slightly increases saturation, adds sharpness and contrast. Therefore, the picture looks a little flatter than the image from the HTC U11 camera. I am sure that those who do not particularly understand cameras will not understand the difference at all or will choose Samsung for a more colorful and overdone picture.

The HTC U11's camera focus is very fast, but only manual focus and digital zoom help you focus on difficult macro objects.

When the light decreases, the Samsung Galaxy S8+ comes into play. It produces a picture without noise or artifacts. But the point here is precisely in the software, since Galaxy sets the ISO much lower, and HTC increases this value almost three times. This is weird.

The HTC U11 smartphone records video in resolutions up to 4K at 30 fps. The sound is recorded by 4 microphones, although it itself is stereo. There is a choice between Hi-Res and 3D. I would advise choosing Hi-Res, since 3D is almost useless (in theory, when zooming, the sensitivity of the place where the sound is coming from should increase, but I only heard stereo being combined into mono). I was a little disappointed with the sound detail. It’s impressive that the microphones are equipped with wind protection: in the forest you won’t hear the birds singing or the rustling of leaves. It may be a great thing for concerts, but not for everyday video recordings.

Video stabilization is good, but it's even more stable on the S8+. The picture is nicer on the HTC U11, because it handles backlight better, the contrast is lower and the DD is slightly wider.

The device can shoot in RAW (DNG). The files weigh 24 MB (the average JPEG size is 4 MB).

There are fully manual settings: ISO (from 100 to 800), shutter speed (from 32 to 1/8000 sec), focus from 80 mm. I would advise the developers to rework the menu for selecting shutter speed and focus - the sliders are too small, which makes it difficult to quickly set the value. Still, there are almost professional settings here.

The front camera completely satisfied me. There is a flash due to the glow of the screen. Effective distance – up to 1.5 meters.

Of course, HTC U11 “pulls” all the games at maximum settings with all possible maximum FPS. Applications do not slow down, and everything works like a clock. Under load, the device body heats up, but within reason.

In the Antutu test, it scores 176,000 points. Almost all modern flagship devices have approximately comparable ratings.

The smartphone runs on the Google Android operating system version 7.1.1. The shell is HTC Sense. I am sure that HTC U11 will receive all updates for at least a couple of years.

Multimedia

The smartphone is equipped with two speakers: a conversational one on top, and a speakerphone on the bottom. However, the developers managed to combine their work to produce stereo sound. So, the lower one is responsible for the bass, and the upper one is responsible for the output of high frequencies. The stereo panorama is average, but the sound is high quality and very loud. I can compare it with Huawei P10 Plus or P9 Plus.

When listening, you can choose the “In the Theater” or “Music” presets. I liked “In the Theater” better. The second mode for some reason cuts off high frequencies.

As you already understood, the HTC U11 does not have a standard 3.5 mm jack for headphone output. I think this is not very good. It's also bad on iPhone. The USB-C connector is wide and long. There is a possibility of accidentally breaking it.

The set includes headphones (the same as in HTC U Play). They contain microphones to analyze sound in the ear and suppress noise. The first time I listened to music on the subway with noise reduction, I thought that it didn’t work at all. However, I later found out that the noise suppression is too weak: only quiet, monotonous sounds are cut off. That is, once you get into a subway car, you shouldn’t dream of silence.

I liked the playback quality: elastic bass, good mids and pleasant highs. Below is the frequency response from GSMArena (though the graph is too flat).

Conclusion

The quality of the connection did not let us down: the network reception was consistently good, Wi-Fi did not drop out. The vibration alert is average in strength, but can be felt in jeans pockets without any problems.

Even before testing, I understood that the appearance of the device would be an acquired taste: no matter what anyone says, in 2017 you want to have a thin body, narrow frames and a screen covering almost the entire front panel. U11 doesn't have this. However, I am sure that the classic design of the device without curved screens will still be received positively by many.

As you understand, I had a neutral attitude towards Edge Sense, and the HTC Companion function still works as usual: it tells the weather, counts steps, and, perhaps, that’s all.

During the day, the HTC U11 camera takes pictures very well, I think better than competitors' cameras: excellent dynamic range, smooth and clean bokeh, fast focus, accurate colors. However, I would like to improve the pictures a little when shooting at night and make the shutter speed and focus selection sliders more convenient.

The sound through the speakers is great, and it's stereo. Definitely everyone will like it. The sound in the headphones is quite decent, but since I’m not a music lover, I can’t definitively answer who plays better – Meizu Pro 6 Plus, Samsung S8 or Highscreen Boost 3.

Of course, there is a comparison with the main competitor – the Samsung Galaxy S8+. On his side, from my point of view, is a more impressive appearance. Everything else is either the same or a little worse. For example, the S8+ only has one speaker, and it's not as loud as the HTC U11. The fingerprint scanner in S8+ is located inconveniently, in HTC it is where it is needed. But the Galaxy has a standard headphone jack, and so on...

However, it is worth remembering the cost of both devices. The official RRP price of HTC U11 starts from 45,000 rubles, and Samsung Galaxy S8+ - from 60,000 rubles. But it would be fair to say that in retail you can find an S8+ from 47,000 rubles for a PCT handset. But HTC is still sold in few places.

I’m sure that in a couple of months the price for HTC U11 will go even lower, and then you can definitely get it for 38 – 40 thousand. In the meantime, those who “can’t bear to get married” have the opportunity to purchase the flagship model HTC U11 for 45,000 rubles 4/64 GB and for 50,000 rubles 6/128 GB.

In recent years, HTC has been trying to work on the design of smartphones and update it. Therefore, HTC U11 looks quite unusual, as much as possible for a modern phone.

On the front you can see not the thinnest frames and a standard elongated Home key with a built-in fingerprint scanner. But the back of the phone looks more original due to the glass back, which brilliantly reflects in the light. We have already seen something similar, only in this case the back is not flat, but slightly convex and curved. In addition, the company was able to uniquely and “seamlessly” combine the panels with the ends. Another interesting point - like , it has lost its connector for .

The main materials of the case are metal and glass, with which the smartphone is covered on both sides. It looks nice, but it's not very practical - such a case will probably slide, glare and collect fingerprints. The stated dimensions of the model are: 153.9 × 75.9 × 7.9 mm, and weight - 169 grams. So, the phone is larger and heavier with a similar screen diagonal.

The HTC U11 will be available in five colors: white, black, blue, silver and red.

Screen

HTC U11 is equipped with an ultra-clear 5.5-inch display with Quad HD resolution (2560x1440 pixels). Pixel density is 534 per inch. However, such a resolution will not affect daily use in any way - such high clarity can only be noticeable in . The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 on top. Nothing else is known about the display. Only personalization of color rendering is announced, that is, some image settings.

Cameras

HTC U11 has advanced cameras that have already received the highest ratings from independent experts.

Unlike dual-camera cameras or Huawei P9, HTC U11 has only one camera, but what a camera! 12 MP, with 1.4 micron pixels, a wide f/1.7 aperture, an optical stabilization system, fast phase focusing and the ability to take photos in RAW. In addition, it shoots 4K video and slow motion in Full HD at 120 frames per second. Interestingly, the HTC U11 camera received the highest marks from independent experts DxOMark, beating and taking first place in their rating.

Less is known about the front one: 16 MP resolution, f/2.0 aperture and Full HD video recording.

Communications

HTC U11 communications are expectedly flagship:

• fast dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac with DLNA and Miracast
• LTE Cat.15, up to 800 Mbps
• Bluetooth 4.2
• NFC chip
• A-GPS with GLONASS support.

The only thing missing is an infrared port or FM radio, but they are not that popular. The phone has a version for both one and two nanoSIM cards. In the latter case, the slot is for the second combined one. For charging and connecting to a PC, the phone received a USB Type-C 3.1 connector.

Battery

HTC U11 received a 3000 mAh battery typical for its size.

It’s too early to make predictions about the phone’s battery life, but most likely it will be average. Thus, the manufacturer claims 24.5 hours of talk time in 3G/4G networks, and this is a fairly high result. In addition, we only know about support for Quickcharge 3.0 fast charging.

Performance

There’s not much to say about the performance of the HTC U11 – it’s simply top-notch. The phone is equipped with 6 or 4 GB of RAM and the flagship chipset of 2017 - the eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (four cores at 2.45 GHz and four more at 1.9 GHz) with an Adreno 540 graphics accelerator. It can be seen in models such as , Sony Xperia XZ Premium and some versions. In general, all “decent” representatives of the flagship club. So you can expect the interface and any games or apps on your phone to just fly.

Memory

The amount of permanent memory in HTC U11 is impressive - 64 or 128 GB. These are impressive figures, and if that's not enough, you can add up to 2 TB using a microSD card.

Peculiarities

The new product runs an operating system with the proprietary HTC Sense interface. The phone has many features - a bizarrely reflective back, protection of the body from water, top-end hardware and cameras, its own HTC Sense Companion assistant, support for Hi-Res Audio, powerful BoomSound speakers and audio recording from four microphones at once. But still, the most interesting thing is the built-in pressure sensors at the ends of the phone. They allow you to control your phone in a new way - simply by squeezing it from the sides. The sensors recognize several pressure levels, the triggering of which you can set yourself. A controversial and not very pleasant feature is the lack of a standard headphone jack (mini-jack).

Price

The release date for HTC U11 is already known - June 9. The stated price for the new product is $649 (about 36 thousand rubles). This amount looks surprisingly democratic among. The same predecessor, at the start of sales, cost 50 thousand rubles, that is, one and a half times more expensive.

I haven’t tested HTC smartphones for a million years (3 years). For me and not only for me, these devices have long left the market and, if they are present somewhere, it is only by inertia. And then HTC U11 comes out. Maximum hardware, top camera, original design and costs a damn $650. Why not buy HTC U11 and do review? Bought it, made it.

Where did you come from?

U10 was introduced last year, it had a very good camera, but some kind of unclear design, positioning and generally beee.

The previous flagship perfectly reflected the general state of affairs at HTC. The company has long had one foot in the grave (this does not concern the Vive project), no one needs their smartphones, because they do not offer anything interesting, and are either expensive or very expensive. Well, objectively. The situation in some places is even worse than that of Sony. The death throes of both manufacturers have been going on for many years.

And then, on June 16, HTC presented its flagship 2017 - U11. The smartphone has several noteworthy features:

• uncompromising performance
• aggressive and catchy design
• top camera on the market (according to DxOMark)
• reasonable price tag of $650 (in Russia 44,990 rubles)

Of course, this upstart is worthy of a full review and comparison with its competitors, which is what we will do now.

How devices are packaged in Taiwan

The packaging, which had a rather original appearance, revealed a very rich set of components.

Let's see...

• charger with support for QC 3.0 (5 - 12 Volts and 1.25 - 2.5 Amps)
• USB C cable
• headset with the same plug HTC USonic Adaptive Earphones
• USB C to 3.5 mm adapter
• plastic case of average lousy quality (will do for the first time)
• a cloth for wiping your smartphone (wow! it’s so glossy)
• SIM card ejector

So how? The only thing missing is some film on the screen. But wait! HTC is a world-famous brand, and not some Chinese production of Uncle Lao. I mean, do you need glass for the screen? Buy it for yourself!

Without case

Design

I think he's wonderful!

On the one hand, it doesn’t have any features like curved screens or any non-standard aspect ratio. Just a single block with a screen in front and a slightly protruding camera in the back.

On the other hand, the device is as glossy as possible. Thought Jet Black looked flashy? So the U11 body reflects and refracts light even more.

At the same time, its color is deep, rich and very beautiful.

I didn't take any chances with blue or red cases, but bought the option called Brillian Black. In fact, the only thing that is black here is the front panel.

But I would call the color of the back dark emerald. With a slight pearlescent tint. Overall, this whole thing looks amazing.

The back covering, by the way, is not metal, polished to a shine, but tempered glass specially created with the help of an army of underground gnomes with multi-layer mineralization of something like that.

In general, we are interested in something else. What about fingerprints and scratches?

Fingerprints, of course, accumulate, but they are almost invisible. Both front and back we have a very cool oleophobic coating. This makes the device incredibly slippery.

Our standard “ears” have a USB Type-C plug. They also support the HTC USonic profile, which seems to improve the sound and adjust the sound to your specific characteristics (scans the ear canal and all that). As a result, I liked the sound with HTC USonic more than without it.

In addition, the HTC USonic Adaptive Earphones headset is equipped with active noise reduction. Frankly, I didn't catch it. External noise is heard in the same way as through alternative “ears” without noise reduction.

In general, the headset included in the kit is of high quality, and thank you for that!

Software

The smartphone runs on Android 7.1.1. Slapped on top is HTC's own Sense shell, of which almost nothing remains of the elegance, beauty and functionality of the old days.

Standard wallpapers (animated balls) are simply terribly primitive, and the clock widget from the days of Windows Mobile 6.5 is absolutely wild!

Yes, all this, of course, can be easily changed (a million alternative themes are supported), but it still says something about the software developers.

However, the main thing is that there are no glitches and the system works stably. And here there are no questions for U11.

Many manufacturers do not have time to perfect their devices by the time of release, but here the smartphone has just been presented, and already works as if it had passed the entire Greek alphabet of tests.

Of weirdness.

There is no file manager on the smartphone, not even a bad one. Some cut-off crutches start if you connect a flash drive via an OTG adapter. This is where the matter ends.

There are no “industry” applications (for photos and music) - everything is replaced by analogues from Google, which just wants to sign you up for something and send all your data to the cloud.

Battery life

It is very alarming that all this wild hardware (QS 835 + Quad HD screen) powers a battery with a capacity of only 3,000 mAh. It would seem that the smartphone should be discharged to zero by 5 pm, but in reality everything is completely different.

HTC U11 easily lasts one full day under normal load.

At the same time, you use everything you need, do not turn off the wireless modules, and the screen lights up for 4-5 hours.

This is what high-quality software optimization means. By the way, many developers try to unload applications so that they do not eat up battery power, thereby we get a silent one when not a single notification arrives. There are no such problems here - all applications send notifications on time and without delay.

Fast charging Quick Charge 3.0 (although the processor also supports 4.0) is present. The device charges from zero to 100% in a little over an hour and a half.

Bottom line

The price of the smartphone in Russia is 44,990 rubles for the version with 4 + 64 GB memory and 49,990 rubles for the older version (6 + 128 GB). And this despite the fact that in the USA they are asking $650 for a smartphone in the minimum configuration (about 39 thousand rubles). As you can see, the pricing policy is quite adequate, which cannot be said about competitors (hello, Sony!).

I really liked U11. This is a chic alternative to kingship. Especially considering that the camera in the U11 gives more capabilities, and our hero costs 10 thousand less. In addition, you get the same fast processor, perfectly optimized software, and high-quality headphones right in the box.

Of course, there were some controversial issues. Not everyone will like the flashy appearance; the smartphone is very slippery (this is now the norm) and it is too big for a 5.5-inch device. However, all these are mostly taste nuances; I cannot attribute them to minuses.

For my taste, HTC U11 is the most successful flagship of this year so far. Yes, I haven’t tested the Nubia Z17 (on the road) yet, but in terms of photo quality they are unlikely to be worthy competition for our hero. Somewhere nearby, maybe, but they certainly won’t push him off the leader’s pedestal.

Last spring, at home in Taiwan, HTC presented its new flagship smartphone with these words: “By squeezing the hand of a loved one, we express our feelings. The baby instinctively squeezes the mother's finger. An older child hugs his favorite teddy bear, which protects his peaceful sleep. What could be more unifying, intimate, personal than a touch or a hug? And is there any device in our lives more personal than a smartphone? We were inspired by the power of touch and what it means to that special you when we created HTC U11, the world's first smartphone with a new, revolutionary way to control important features with just a tap."

Since its inception in 1997, HTC has always strived to be a pioneer by creating unique solutions. This time, the manufacturer gave its new product the ability to control it by squeezing the body with your hand, and this became the “highlight” that can distinguish the new HTC smartphone from the variety of modern mobile devices.

Key Features of HTC U11

• SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (MSM8998), 8 Kryo 280 cores @1.9/2.4 GHz
• GPU Adreno 540
• Operating system Android 7.1.1, HTC Sense
• Touch display IPS (Super LCD 5) 5.5″, 2560×1440, 534 ppi
• Random access memory (RAM) 4/6 GB, internal memory 64/128 GB
• Nano-SIM support (2 pcs.)
• MicroSD support up to 2 TB
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
• WCDMA/HSPA+ networks (850/900/1900/2100 MHz)
• LTE Cat.16 FDD networks (B1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32), TD LTE (B38-41)
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz)
• Bluetooth 4.2, NFC
• DisplayPort
• Chromecast, DLNA, AirPlay, Miracast
• USB 3.1 Gen 1, Type-C, OTG
• GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, BDS
• Main camera 12 MP, f/1.7, autofocus, 4K video
• Front camera 16 MP, f/2.0, fixed. focus
• Proximity sensor, lighting sensor, magnetic field sensor, fingerprint sensor, gyroscope sensor, body compression sensor Edge Sensor, Sensor Hub for tracking physical activity
• Battery 3000 mAh, Quick Charge 3.0
• Dimensions 154×76×7.9 mm
• Weight 170 g

Contents of delivery

The packaging of HTC U11 is made in the same style as all the company's latest mobile products: it is a white cardboard box with a recognizable square shape with rounded corners. The packaging is designed as succinctly as possible, with only a silver logo on the white lid. At the bottom there is a sticker listing the main technical characteristics of the model. Everything is done beautifully, neatly, looks stylish and attractive.

The flat box, however, turned out to be rich in contents. The kit consists of a connecting cable, a powerful network adapter with variable output current (2.5/1.7/1.25 A) and voltage (5/9/12 V). The key for removing cards is usually attached to a paper tab. In addition, a wired stereo headset with a set of rubber in-ear tips, a transparent protective case made of hard, inflexible plastic, and even a cloth for wiping are included as accessories. Also in the set there was an adapter from a USB Type-C connector to a minijack (3.5 mm) of standard headphones, while the included headphones have a USB Type-C plug.

Appearance and ease of use

The design of the HTC U11 looks rather strange by modern standards. While manufacturers are increasingly reaching for practical matte metal, reliable and non-staining, the Taiwanese are suddenly releasing a shiny glass smartphone that shimmers in the sun’s rays with all the colors of the rainbow, the most easily soilable glass smartphone with an absolutely mirrored back cover.

Naturally, this is beautifully described: they say that the glass of the rear panel effectively refracts light rays thanks to mineral particles embedded in the coating, which are located at different depths and have different light refraction characteristics. But when you show this brilliant miracle to ordinary people, they shrug their shoulders in surprise.

In any case, design and decoration are matters of taste; there will definitely be both opponents and admirers. But when it comes to the hardware, there can be no two opinions: HTC U11 has the most advanced technical characteristics in all respects, and is even an innovative device in some ways. But we will return to the characteristics a little later, but for now we will consider the location of all the elements on the outer part of the new product’s body.

In terms of dimensions, the smartphone is not so elegant: the screen is large, the body is quite thick, puffy and rounded, the device does not look or feel flat and light. But the main problem is the slippery glass panels that completely cover the front and back of the case, while a convex round aluminum frame forms a thin strip on the sides. Thanks to all this, the smartphone turned out to be very easily soiled and slippery; a protective case is simply necessary here.

The aluminum frame not only performs a load-bearing function, but is also a control element itself, since it has built-in pressure sensors that allow certain functions to be performed when squeezing the sides with your fingers. The new control method is called Edge Sense, the sensitivity of Edge Sense can be adjusted.

HTC U11 is IP67 certified and is dust, splash and water resistant when submerged in up to 1m of fresh water for up to 30 minutes, as verified in laboratory tests. However, the manufacturer cautions that everyday use and wear can reduce the level of protection against splashes and water over time. Also, do not try to charge a wet device using a cable by connecting it to the USB Type-C port if there is water or moisture on the device.

The entire front panel is covered with 2.5D glass with sloping edges. Above the screen are the usual sensors, a front camera peephole without its own flash, and an LED event indicator.

There is a small indentation in the glass in the center below the screen, indicating the presence of a fingerprint scanner. The fingerprint sensor works clearly and quickly, accurately recognizes touches, and you can place your finger at any angle. The scanner also works as a touch button, and on the sides of it there are two more backlit touch buttons.

On the back side there is a camera with flash. The flash is bright and consists of two powerful single-color diodes. The back of the back wall is sloping, but the smartphone lies stable on a hard surface and does not wobble when you touch the screen. Considering the front location of the fingerprint scanner for unlocking, it is generally comfortable to work with the device in this position.

The main speaker here is located at the bottom end, but the earpiece located above the screen is also used to play music, sounds in games and movies, so that a stereo pair is formed. There are also several microphones in the device (4 pieces), which are used to record 3D Audio surround sound. At the bottom end of the smartphone there is also a USB 3.1 Gen 1 port with a Type-C connector, which supports connecting external devices in USB OTG mode.

Neither on the bottom nor on the top end can you find the usual 3.5 mm headphone output; it is not included in the device. Headphones must now be connected to a USB Type-C port, and the included stereo headset is equipped with this type of connector. However, if you want to use headphones with a standard connector, you can purchase a cheap adapter from USB Type-C to a minijack, and one such adapter is included with your smartphone.

At the top end of the case there is a hybrid card slot into which you can insert two Nano-SIM cards or replace one of them with a microSD memory card.

Accordingly, the left side edge, on which such a connector is usually present, is completely empty here, and the right side has mechanical power and volume keys as standard. The buttons are large, moderately hard, and easy to feel blindly.

HTC U11 is available in Brilliant Black, Amazing Silver, Ice White, Sapphire Blue and Solar Red.

Screen

HTC U11 is equipped with an IPS display (Super LCD 5), covered with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 with sloping edges. The physical dimensions of the screen are 68x121 mm with a diagonal of 5.5 inches. Resolution is 2560x1440, pixel density is about 534 ppi. The frame around the screen, taking into account the curves of the case and the black stripe, turns out to be quite wide: about 3.5 mm on the sides, 18 mm on the bottom, 15 mm on the top.

You can adjust the display brightness manually or use automatic settings based on the ambient light sensor. The AnTuTu test diagnoses support for 10 simultaneous multi-touch touches. It is possible to activate the screen by tapping and a glove mode.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are better than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the switched off screens (on the left - Nexus 7, on the right - HTC U11, then they can be distinguished by size):

The screen of the HTC U11 is darker (brightness according to photographs is 104 versus 118 for the Nexus 7). The ghosting of reflected objects in the HTC U11 screen is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen (more specifically, between the outer glass and the surface of the LCD matrix) (OGS - One Glass Solution type screen). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better in conditions of intense external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating, which is even better in efficiency than that of the Nexus 7, so fingerprints are removed much easier and appear at a lower speed than in the case of regular glass.

When manually controlling brightness and when outputting a white field full screen the maximum brightness value was about 470 cd/m², the minimum - 6 cd/m². The maximum brightness is quite high, so, given the excellent anti-glare properties, readability even on a sunny day outdoors should be at a good level. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor (it is located to the right of the front speaker slot). In automatic mode, as external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. The operation of this function depends on the position of the brightness adjustment slider. If it is 100%, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 140 cd/m² (too bright), in an office illuminated by artificial light (about 550 lux) it sets it to 375 cd/m² (also a lot), in a very bright environment (corresponds to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) brightness increases to 570 cd/m² (which is higher than the maximum with manual brightness adjustment); if the adjustment is approximately 50%, then the values ​​are as follows: 6, 160 and 570 cd/m² (the first value is underestimated), if the regulator is at 0% - 6, 12 and 570 cd/m² (the first two values ​​are underestimated, which is logical). We were more satisfied with the option with a slider at about 60% of the scale: 24, 210 and 570 cd/m². It turns out that the auto-brightness function works adequately and to some extent allows the user to customize their work to individual requirements. At any brightness level, there is no significant backlight modulation, so there is no screen flicker.

This smartphone uses an IPS matrix. The microphotographs (if you look closely) show a typical IPS subpixel structure:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

The screen has good viewing angles without significant color shift even with large viewing deviations from perpendicular to the screen and without inverting shades. For comparison, here are photographs in which identical images are displayed on the screens of HTC U11 and Nexus 7, while the screen brightness is initially set to approximately 200 cd/m², and the color balance on the camera is forcibly switched to 6500 K.

There is a white field perpendicular to the screens:

Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field.

And a test picture:

The colors on the HTC U11's screen are clearly oversaturated and the color balance varies slightly between screens.

Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:

It can be seen that the colors have not changed much on both screens, but on the HTC U11 the contrast has decreased to a greater extent due to the strong bleaching of blacks.

And a white field:

The brightness of the screens at an angle has decreased (by at least 5 times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but the HTC U11's screen is still slightly darker. When deviated diagonally, the black field brightens greatly and acquires a reddish tint. The photographs below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is the same!):

And from another angle:

When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is very good:

The contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is high - about 1200:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 27 ms (14 ms on + 13 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 42 ms. The gamma curve, constructed using 32 points with equal intervals based on the numerical value of the shade of gray, did not reveal any blockage in either the highlights or the shadows. The exponent of the approximating power function is 2.20, which is equal to the standard value of 2.2. In this case, the real gamma curve deviates little from the power-law dependence:

This device has some kind of dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness in accordance with the nature of the displayed image. As a result, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) may not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of shades of gray on almost the entire screen. For this reason, we carried out a number of tests - determining contrast and response time, comparing black illumination at angles - (however, as always) when displaying special templates with a constant average brightness, and not monochromatic fields in the entire screen. It should be noted that in this case, the brightness correction is weakly expressed and has a not entirely obvious dependence on the image, but it would be better not to have it at all.

Color gamut wider than sRGB:

Let's look at the spectra:

We have already seen this in the case, for example, of the Sony Xperia Z2 and other mobile devices. Sony indicates that these screens use LEDs with a blue emitter and green and red phosphors (usually a blue emitter and a yellow phosphor), which, in combination with special matrix filters, allows for a wide color gamut. Yes, and the red phosphor apparently uses so-called quantum dots. For a consumer device, a wide color gamut is not an advantage, but a significant disadvantage, since as a result, the colors of images - drawings, photographs and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and the vast majority of them) have an unnatural saturation. This is especially noticeable on recognizable shades, such as skin tones. The result is shown in the photo above.

The balance of shades on the gray scale is average, since the color temperature is noticeably higher than the standard 6500 K, but at least the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is below 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, color temperature and ΔE change significantly from hue to hue - this negatively affects the visual assessment of color balance. (The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

This device has the ability to adjust the color balance using the hue adjustment (there's even a white metering field!).

The curves in the graphs above Without corr. correspond to the results without any color balance correction, and the curves Corr.— data obtained after shifting the point to the position indicated in the image above. It can be seen that the change in balance corresponds to the expected result, since the color temperature has approached the standard value, and ΔE has not crossed the border of 10 units, while the spread of these parameters has even decreased. There is some benefit from this correction, besides, the brightness decreased by only about 4%.

To summarize: the screen has a high maximum brightness and has excellent anti-glare properties, so the device can be used outdoors without any problems, even on a sunny summer day. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. It is also possible to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works adequately. Also, the advantages of the screen include an effective oleophobic coating, the absence of an air gap in the layers of the screen and flicker, high contrast and good uniformity of the black field. The disadvantages are the low stability of black to the deviation of the gaze from perpendicular to the screen plane and an excessively wide color gamut. Nevertheless, given the importance of characteristics specifically for this class of devices, the screen quality can be considered high, although you should prepare for strange and not entirely natural shades in films and photographs.

Camera

The front 16-megapixel camera with a back-illuminated (BSI) sensor and an f/2.0 aperture lens does not have its own flash or autofocus. And to be honest, higher quality shooting was expected from such a camera. Color rendition is clearly poor, sharpness is good only in the center of the frame, it drops sharply across the field, and detail drops along with it. In addition, the narrow dynamic range of the matrix, even in good lighting conditions, sometimes leads to completely overexposed areas (the shirt collar in the example below). In general, the camera did not impress.

The main camera uses a 12-megapixel BSI sensor with a pixel size of 1.4 microns, as well as a fast lens with an f/1.7 aperture, an optical stabilization system and fast autofocus. This camera features proprietary Auto HDR Boost for fast, lag-free HDR and Temporal Noise Reduction, which uses information from adjacent frames to eliminate unwanted noise and create crystal-clear footage. As a result, the main camera of HTC U11 received the highest score of 90 points out of 100 from DXOMark specialists.

Pro mode allows you not only to shoot with manual settings, but also to save them in your own profile for further frequent use (up to 3 different sets). If you enable manual mode, sliders will appear with variable values ​​for shutter speed (from 2 to 1/8000 s), photosensitivity (up to ISO 800), manual focus, white balance, and exposure compensation. You can shoot special series of Zoe and Hyperlapse frames, you can simultaneously shoot video and Video Pic photos, and you can save images in RAW format.

The camera can shoot video in 4K resolution (3840×2160) at 30 fps, there is no 60 fps mode. There is an optical stabilization function, and in general the camera copes very well with video shooting in any resolution: sharpness, color rendition and detail are normal, there is enough brightness. There are no complaints about sound recording either: four omnidirectional microphones with acoustic focus technology provide 3D Audio spatial sound recording. The sound is clear, loud, and the noise reduction system copes with its tasks.

• Video No. 1 (41 MB, 3840×2160@30 fps, H.264, AAC)
• Video No. 2 (61 MB, 3840×2160@30 fps, H.264, AAC)
• Video No. 3 (55 MB, 1920×1080, slo-mo H.264)

The camera turned out to be good, it has practically no noticeable flaws. Good detail and fairly low noise allow you to shoot small objects in different conditions. However, this is a time-tested 12-megapixel module, which has more than once advantageously complemented smartphones from almost all manufacturers. As a result, the HTC U11 camera is well suited for documentary and artistic photography.

Telephone and communications

Thanks to the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 platform, the integrated Snapdragon X16 LTE modem theoretically opens up the world of Gigabit Class LTE networks with data transfer rates of up to 1 Gbps. In real life, of course, the user cannot yet obtain such speeds in wireless networks, but in any case, within the city limits of the Moscow region, the device behaves confidently, the quality of signal reception is not satisfactory, and the speed on the 4G network is acceptable. HTC U11 supports 11 LTE FDD Cat.16 frequency bands, including 3 bands used in Russia (Band 3, 7, 20), as well as TD LTE bands (Band 38-41).

The smartphone also supports both Wi-Fi bands (2.4 and 5 GHz) and Bluetooth 4.2. You can organize a wireless access point via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth channels. The device has an NFC module, and it can work with Troika travel cards. The USB Type-C connector supports connecting external devices in USB OTG mode. The data transfer speed over the cable between the USB 3.1 port of the computer and the smartphone is about 27 MB/s.

The phone application supports Smart Dial. The settings for sorting and displaying contacts from the phone book are standard for Android.

The smartphone can support both SIM cards in 3G/4G mode simultaneously in active standby mode. That is, for example, a SIM card will work in 3G for voice communications, even if another card is assigned for data transfer in 4G. The interface does not allow you to select a specific SIM card for voice calls and SMS in advance - only during the connection. The cards operate in Dual SIM Dual Standby mode, there is only one radio modem.

Software and multimedia

Google Android version 7.1.1 is used as the software platform
with its own proprietary HTC Sense shell. Once upon a time, when Windows Mobile was terribly clumsy, and Android was still young and unprepossessing, the HTC Sense shell looked not only chic against their background, but also a very convenient addition. Users often chose smartphones of this brand only because of the convenience of the alternative HTC Sense interface.

Now HTC has learned to turn touch into a new way to control your phone - Edge Sense. Squeezing the phone in your hand allows you to take a photo or launch an application. For example, on the go, without slowing down, all you need to do is squeeze the phone, speak a message and send it immediately. By squeezing the edges of the smartphone, you can open incoming mail and launch games. Of course, you can assign some other action yourself.

When shooting, simply point the camera at the subject and squeeze your hand to take a photo. And this has nothing to do with the interaction of fingers with the screen; the device actually responds to compression of the metal side frame.

Because Edge Sense relies on sensing pressure on the side of the device, it can be used in virtually any environment—in the rain, in the snow, or while wearing gloves—which would be impossible with a capacitive screen. Click control can be customized. HTC Edge Sense allows you to customize actions such as short press and press and hold, while recognizing even the pressure you press. In fact, this all works really well. At first, the movements look a little awkward, but with experience comes the understanding that a new control method can become a convenient tool, you just need to learn to remember such unusual capabilities of your smartphone in time.

To listen to music, the standard Google Music player is used without any manual settings, not even an equalizer. But the sound in proprietary HTC USonic active noise-canceling headphones can be customized to suit your hearing, stored in profiles, and using the HTC BoomSound system you can select speaker operating modes: “Music”, “In theatre”. There are no complaints about the sound itself: both in headphones and through the speaker the device sounds excellent. The sound is clear and loud, bassy and rich.

The microphones demonstrate high sensitivity; a voice recorder with their help is quite suitable for any recordings, including lectures and seminars. There is no FM radio in the smartphone.

Performance

The HTC U11 hardware platform is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC. The configuration of this chip includes 8 Kryo 280 processor cores in two clusters with a maximum frequency of 1.9/2.4 GHz. The SoC is made using the latest 10nm process technology. The Adreno 540 video accelerator with support for the OpenGL ES 3.2 graphics API is responsible for graphics processing. The amount of RAM is 6 GB, built-in flash memory is 128 GB. Of these, 4.3 GB of RAM and about 112 GB of storage space are free. There is also a modification of the smartphone with 64 GB of memory and 4 GB of RAM.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 is the manufacturer’s flagship platform with top-end characteristics, one of the most powerful mobile platforms in the world at the moment. It is significantly more powerful than its predecessor Snapdragon 821 and is noticeably ahead in all respects of Huawei’s flagship solution, the HiSilicon Kirin 960. There is also no equal in MediaTek’s portfolio. Only the top platform Samsung Exynos 8895, on which the latest Korean flagships Galaxy S8 and S8+ operate, can compare with it.

In real use scenarios, there are no obstacles for this SoC; it confidently copes with any tasks assigned to it without exception. There are no problems with games either; all the games we tested, including Modern Combat 5, Mortal Kombat X and others, run without the slightest slowdown at maximum settings. HTC U11 is a very productive device, it has a significant “margin of safety” for future updates.

Testing in comprehensive tests AnTuTu and GeekBench:

For convenience, we have compiled all the results we obtained when testing the smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks into tables. The table usually adds several other devices from different segments, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry figures). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison it is impossible to present the results from different versions of benchmarks, so many worthy and relevant models remain “behind the scenes” - due to the fact that they once passed the “obstacle course” on previous versions of test programs.

Testing the graphics subsystem in gaming tests 3DMark, GFXBenchmark and Bonsai Benchmark:

When testing in 3DMark, the most powerful smartphones now have the ability to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (which can cause the speed to rise above 60 fps).

	HTC U11 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 835)	Samsung Galaxy S8+ (Samsung Exynos 8895 Octa)	LG G6 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 821)	Honor 8 Pro (HiSilicon Kirin 960)	Meizu Pro 6 Plus (Samsung Exynos 8890 Octa)
3DMark Ice Storm Sling Shot ES 3.1 (more is better)	2660	2628	2409	1417	1869
GFXBenchmark Manhattan ES 3.1 (Onscreen, fps)	16	19	12	18	13
GFXBenchmark Manhattan ES 3.1 (1080p Offscreen, fps)	33	36	24	21	24
GFXBenchmark T-Rex (Onscreen, fps)	53	57	38	46	52
GFXBenchmark T-Rex (1080p Offscreen, fps)	92	103	61	57	71

Browser cross-platform tests:

As for benchmarks for assessing the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowance for the fact that their results significantly depend on the browser in which they are launched, so the comparison can only be truly correct on the same OS and browsers, and this is possible during testing not always. For Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.

AndroBench memory speed test results:

Thermal photographs

Below is a thermal image rear surface obtained after 10 minutes of battery testing in the GFXBenchmark program:

Heating is more localized in the upper right part of the device, which apparently corresponds to the location of the SoC chip. According to the heat camera, the maximum heating was 39 degrees (at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees), this is the average heating in this test for modern smartphones.

Playing video

To test the omnivorous nature of video playback (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, such as subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Internet. Note that for mobile devices it is important to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is most often impossible to process modern options using processor cores alone. Also, you shouldn’t expect a mobile device to decode everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it. All results are summarized in a table.

Further testing of video playback was performed Alexey Kudryavtsev.

We could not check the theoretically possible support for adapters for outputting images to an external device, due to the lack of an adapter option that connects to the USB Type C port, so we had to limit ourselves to testing the output of video files on the screen of the device itself. To do this, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Methodology for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)

According to the frame output criterion, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is good, since in most cases frames (or groups of frames) can (but are not required) be output with more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without skipping frames, with the exception of files with 60 frames/ With. When playing video files with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels (1080p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the border of the screen, but on test worlds it can be seen that the clarity is slightly reduced due to interpolation to the screen resolution. However, for the sake of experimentation, you can switch to the one-to-one pixel mode; there will be no interpolation, but the image will be smaller than the working area of ​​the screen. The brightness range displayed on the screen corresponds to the standard range of 16-235: in the shadows, only a couple of shades merge with black, and in the highlights all gradations are displayed.

Battery life

The non-removable battery installed in the HTC U11 has a capacity of 3000 mAh, which is not enough today, and even more so for a flagship. The smartphone demonstrates only a satisfactory level of battery life; in real use scenarios under normal, average operating conditions, the hero of the review is quite capable of lasting until the evening without recharging, but you shouldn’t count on more.

Testing has traditionally been carried out at the usual level of power consumption without using power-saving functions, although the device naturally has them.

Continuous reading in the FBReader program (with a standard, light theme) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd/m²) lasted until the battery was completely discharged for about 14 hours, and when continuously watching videos in high quality (720p) with the same brightness level via a home Wi-Fi network, the device operates for less than 10 hours. In 3D gaming mode, the smartphone lasts up to 6 hours, but a lot here, of course, depends on the specific game.

Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging is supported. Using the supplied AC adapter, the smartphone is charged within 1.5 hours with a current of 1.9 A at a voltage of 7.4 V. Wireless charging is not supported.

Bottom line

The new product can already be purchased in the HTC brand store and communication stores at a price of 40 thousand rubles for the 4/64 GB version and 45 thousand rubles for the 6/128 GB version. Taiwanese smartphones have never been known for their affordability, and as expected, the price of the new flagship doesn’t matter either.

Be that as it may, the manufacturer offers a device worthy of its level with an excellent screen, good cameras, a powerful hardware platform with very advanced communication capabilities, good sound and a new functional control method. Unfortunately, HTC flagships are almost always inferior in terms of autonomy to their competitors from Korea, and not only that. This happened this time too: our hero’s autonomy is at a barely satisfactory level; for the most expensive device, this can be considered a minus. The manufacturer’s position on the sudden transformation of appearance is also not entirely clear: HTC was one of the first to produce its top-end smartphones in metal cases a long time ago, and now suddenly offers a mirrored, easily soiled glass case, plump and slippery. In general, the company, as usual, is going its own way; it’s difficult to predict high sales for the new product, but true fans of the brand will be interested in the device.