The HTC U11 is a compelling smartphone. It boasts the company’s UltraPixel camera — which is now the highest scored smartphone camera on DxOMark — and it’s powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 835 processor, with an AI-powered assistant for good measure.
But Samsung’s
Specs and performance
HTC U11 |
Samsung |
|
Size | 153.9 x 75.9 x 7.9 mm (6.06 x 2.99 x 0.31 in) | 159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.89 x 0.32 in) |
Weight | 5.96 ounces (169 grams) | 6.2 ounces (173 grams) |
Screen | 5.5-inch Quad HD Super LCD | 5.8-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED |
Resolution | 2,560 x 1,440 pixels | 2,960×1,440 pixels |
OS | Android 7.1 Nougat | Android 7.0 Nougat |
Storage | 64 (U.S.) 128GB (International) | 64 (U.S.) 128GB (International) |
SD Card Slot | Yes | Yes |
NFC support | Yes | Yes |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 |
RAM | 4GB (U.S.) 6GB (International) | 4GB |
Connectivity | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
Camera | Front 16MP, Rear 12MP with OIS | Front 8MP, Rear 12MP with OIS |
Video | 4K | 4K |
Bluetooth | Yes, version 4.2 | Yes, version 5 |
Fingerprint sensor | Yes | Yes |
Other sensors | Edge Sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, proximity sensor | Barometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, heart rate, proximity sensor, iris scanner |
Water Resistant | Yes, IP67 | Yes, IP68 |
Battery | 3,000mAh | 3,000mAh |
Charger | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
Quick Charging | Yes | Yes |
Wireless Charging | No | Yes, Qi and PMA |
Marketplace | Google Play Store | Google Play Store |
Color offerings | Blue, black, white, gray, red | Black, silver, gray, blue, gold |
Availability | Unlocked, Sprint | AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile |
DT Review | Hands On | 4 out of 5 stars |
You’d have a tough time telling the U11 and
In most apps and real-world scenario, the processor bests its predecessor, the Snapdragon 821, handily. Benchmarks show the 821 earned a respectable 141,092 on AnTuTu, but the Snapdragon 835 went above and beyond, hitting a hefty 183,227. These two phones are certainly more powerful than any other Android phone on the market.
If there’s one major spec advantage the
It’s too early to tell whether the respective optimizations HTC and Samsung have made will confer meaningful advantages. But for now, we’re calling this round a tie.
Winner: Tie
Design
The U11 and
The U11 boasts HTC’s bright “liquid surface,” a glass back specially designed to shine and shimmer in the light. There’s a lot of unused space on the front, with sizable edges between the screen and edges. The
We can’t stop staring at the front of the S8, but the rear isn’t as pretty. The fingerprint sensor is in an awkward position next to the camera module. The U11 doesn’t have that problems — its oval-shaped fingerprint sensor is on the front, below the screen, and its primary shooter is flush with the rear cover. The U11’s edges curve gradually, but it’s the back we can’t stop looking at — it’s simply gorgeous.
Both the
Both the
The U11 also packs four microphones that record high-quality sound from a distance, and it’s optimal for using voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
But despite the U11’s audio prowess, we’re not convinced that
Winner:
Display
The U11 and
As an added bonus, the
Winner:
Battery life and charging
The U11 and
Both phones charge quickly. The U11 supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 standard, which delivers roughly 1 hour of battery power for every 1 minute of charge. And the
It’s a close call, and we’ll have to see if the HTC’s software optimizations — or lack of — make a day-to-day difference. But for now, the
Winner:
Camera
HTC’s stuck with its in-house UltraPixel tech with the U11. The rear 12-megapixel camera a f/1.7 aperture, an optical image stabilization (OIS) system that mitigates shaky hands and bumpy car rides, and a dual-tone LED flash module.
The S8 sports a 12-megapixel camera that’s an excellent low-light performer. All the extras you’d expect are here, including optical image stabilization. In our testing, we were impressed by the
DxOMark has rated the U11’s camera as the best
Winner: Tie
Software
The U11 ships with
The
One of the
The U11 has Sense Companion, an artificially intelligent assistant that taps signals like your current location, activity level, and calendar to anticipate your needs. If your battery’s at 50 percent and you have a long-distance flight ahead of you, for example, Sense Companion will remind you to charge your
The U11 has touch-sensitive edges — it’s a part of a new feature called Edge Sense. It’s triggered by squeezing the bottom portion of the phone’s frame. Like the Convenience Key on the new BlackBerry Key One, it’s programmable — you can use it to launch apps, take photos, and more. We think this will prove more useful, as well as Sense Companion, than
The HTC U11 will get monthly security updates, an HTC spokesperson told Digital Trends. Samsung should be following through with the S8, but HTC has been quicker to issue updates — especially
Winner: HTC U11
Price and availability
HTC U11 is available unlocked on HTC’s website and Amazon for $650. It’ll be compatible with Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile networks, but Sprint is the only carrier that’ll sell it directly at launch. It’s available on the carrier for $29 per month for 24 months, or $696 at full price. The HTC U11 is available for pre-order now, and will start shipping in June.
The
Galaxy S8 | HTC U11 | |
Verizon | $720, or $30 per month for 24 months | N/A |
Sprint | $750, or $31.25 per month for 24 months | $696, or $29 per month for 24 months |
AT&T | $750, or $25 per month for 30 months | N/A |
T-Mobile | $750, or $30 per month for 24 months | N/A |
Unlocked | $725 | $650 |
The HTC U11 may not be available from as many retailers as the
Winner: HTC U11
Overall winner: Galaxy S8
It’s a narrow win for sure, and the
Article published on 05-16-2017. Correction made on 05-23-2017: Original article incorrectly stated the HTC U11 featured a barometer.
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