The HTC U11 is the first smartphone with a knijpbare edge, but how well this works in practice, and what do you have exactly? You read about it in this review.
In search of innovation
Not so long ago belonged HTC still among the top Android manufacturers, but the company has since been in a free fall hit. After the successful HTC One M8 was the disappointing One M9, which last year was followed by the HTC 10. That device was certainly not bad, but renewed hardly and did not reach the level of the competition.
HTC listened to the criticism from users and critics and is now trying to innovate with a special, knijpbare housing. Whether that attempt is successful, you’ll read about in this HTC U11 review.
Design and screen: excellent
HTC get with the U11 from the typical metal design of previous devices, and choose this year for a glass enclosure. That looks neat, the back is a real magnet for fingerprints. Within a short time, the back is dirty and you need the phone to clean to put it nicely. We had rather seen that HTC for the same matte finish as the edges, especially because the case is quickly scratched. However, HTC provides by default a transparent cover that extra protection.
With 154 in 76 in at 7.9 millimeters, it’s the HTC U11 sharply. By the 5.5 inch screen is the smartphone difficult with one hand, easy to handle and you have ‘m with two hands with your thumbs in the top corners to reach. Nevertheless, is he good in the hand. The rounded edges not only look beautiful, but also feel good and luxurious. Is the HTC U11 quite smooth, though you can this getelijk fix with the supplied cover.
The 5.5 inch screen has a resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels, and it looks fabulous. Images are nice and sharp, colorful and the screen is easy to read in bright sunlight. HTC has not opted for a voorkantvullend screen such as that of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6, but for a ‘traditional’ display with thicker bezels.
Unfortunately the U11 no headphone jack
Annoying is that the HTC the headphone jack has been removed. Although your earphones via the supplied adapter, it is difficult that the riser card that anywhere. Moreover, it is not possible for the device to charge while listening to music, unless you have a set of wireless earbuds.
Edge Sense adds little
HTC shows off the most with Edge, Sense, a technique in which the U11 ‘knijpbaar’. In the edges sit sensors that measure when you are in the device squeezes. There couple your actions. If you squeeze in the smartphone, for example the camera app or other application starts, or you turn the flashlight on or off. In the settings you can find several applications, but none really adds something.
The pinch is not faster or more convenient than simply tapping the screen. Moreover, you need quite a hard squeeze to Edge Sense. This is especially awkward when taking photos because you the device unintentionally let vibrate. The most unique feature of the U11 is not as revolutionary as HTC wants you to believe. During our test period, we never had the feeling that Edge Sense is actually something added, and therefore we switched the feature off soon.
Hardware
HTC takes the good with the hardware of the U11. The smartphone has the best specs of the moment and is fast in use. Under the hood is a Snapdragon 835-chip with 4GB of RAM, which ensures that all applications smooth running. Even graphics intensive games are no problem and run without a hitch. In terms of hardware, the smartphone can be located effortlessly with the Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6.
Default is 64GB of storage available, where about 54GB left for the user. This is for most people more than enough, already supports the smartphone no micro-sd memory cards. The U11 is dust – and waterproof, and so no problems in the rain. Also, there is a smooth and accurate finger print scanner on board.
Software: proficient with Android 7.1
We have always been a fan of the Sense skin that HTC about Android back. The version on the U11 state, is a bit simpler and very similar to stock Android. Components, such as the quick settings panel and the settings app for example are unadjusted. Standard turns the smartphone on Android 7.1 (Nougat), the most recent version that Android a lot more streamlined. It is likely that the HTC U11 later this year the Android O update, all is here at the time of writing nothing is known about it.
Swipe from the homescreen to the right, you’ll see BlinkFeed. This social screen is (still) unnecessary and is filled with irrelevant information. Fortunately, you can function just ignore it. Further, HTC has opted to use standard Google apps to provide, in place of the phone full stop with its own software. A fine choice.
Sense CompanionBe present, Sense, Companion, the interface that you to day to day use should help. This is done by the application by tips. So, the software can propose an umbrella to take as it’s going to rain.
On paper, this sounds useful, in practice, adds, Sense, Companion little. Suggestions are often irrelevant and too general. So it was that we were advised to the U11 to charge while the unit is still three-quarters full, and we got some random tips for restaurants near. Because of this, you’re apt the settings in diving, and the assistant to turn it off.
Camera: close to the competition
An important improvement is the camera. The cameras of previous HTC flagships fell rather at, with the U11, this is completely different. The device has a camera that is (finally) can really compete with the Galaxy S8, LG G6 and iPhone 7. Photos look (especially in daylight) is excellent, with great detail and true colors.
The 12 megapixel camera has a fast autofocus and an aperture of f/1.7. Therefore, it catches more light, which is especially useful in dark situations, for example indoors. Also in the dark shots look good, though the photo quality, then logically, slightly less than during the day. Videos, even in 4K can shoot, eyes smooth and detailed.
HTC has released its camera app to give a variety of useful functions. With the slider at the top, switch easily between camera modes, below you will find a number of additional options, for example, the quality or focal point to adjust. The app presents and combines the present functions in a logical manner.
Also about the front-facing camera (16 megapixel, f/2.0) are we to speak. The HTC U11 makes sharp selfies and useful features to make self-portraits easier, with for example a timer or mode. A nice addition is the selfie panorama mode for yourself and a group of friends in the picture.
Battery life: excellent, but not particularly
The HTC U11 has an efficient Snapdragon 835-chip and 3000 mAh battery, and that provides a good battery life. The smartphone is not very long (we took a screen-on time of 3.5 to 4 hours), but comes with ease through the day, where we often have 20 to 30 to accupercentage. Are you an intensive user and you check a lot of videos and games, then it is a piece of a rapper. A few times happened that the smartphone is already in the evening on the charger.
That charging, thanks to Quick Charge 3.0 nice and fast. After about half a hour the battery is half full, after a little more than an hour you can again completely against it. The OnePlus 3T do this faster, but the HTC U11 loads, for example, a bit faster than the Galaxy S8.
If you come during the day in the problems, then there are several options to make the battery stretch. So there is the energiebesparingmodus, where the screen brightness down is screwed, and background processes will be limited. The extreme energiebesparingmodus turns the phone into a ‘dumbphone’ and is only useful if you have only a few percent of battery.
Conclusion HTC U11 review
The HTC U11 does a lot of good. The smartphone has big hardware, fine software and a camera that can measure up with the competition. The design is beautiful, the back is very slippery and prone to scratches. The 5.5 inch-QHD-screen, the finger print scanner and battery life than many good. Yet, the U11 in no way better than for example the LG G6 and the Samsung Galaxy S8, and the addition of Edge Sense feels like a total gimmick. Pair that with the hefty suggested retail price (750 euro) and the lack of a headphone jack, and you have a device that is difficult to guess.
Price/KwaliteitSchermSoftwareHardwareAccucameradesign7.5
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