As expected, HTC has unveiled its final flagship of the year in the shape of the HTC U11+. It’s a souped-up version of the U11 released earlier this year, building on the best parts of what was already a solid flagship.
In our review of the U11, we described it as missing quite a few 2017 smartphone trends, such as the 18:9 display, slim bezels, and a dual-camera setup. Well, HTC fixed two of the three on the U11+, which sports a 6-inch 18:9 2880 x 1440 Super LCD panel with minimal side bezels.
As for the camera, the HTC U11+ still uses the same 12MP UltraPixel 3 sensor from the U11 – but that’s not exactly a bad thing; in our review the camera was a pleasant surprise, with super fast autofocus and better than expected overall performance.
Another notable addition on the U11+ is the significantly larger battery; it packs a massive 3,930mAh battery – 31% larger than the 3,000mAh cell on the U11. Given that the U11 already had a solid battery life, the larger battery could mean “real” two days of battery life.
These are on top of the other flagship level hardware: Snapdragon 835 processor, 4/6GB of RAM, 64/128GB of expandable storage, 8MP front camera, BoomSound audio (which is now 30% louder), Gorilla Glass 5, and an improved IP68 rating (from IP67).
The software sees a few upgrades too, with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. HTC’s Sense UI has slimmed down greatly over the years, and Edge Sense has also been enhanced with the addition of the Edge Launcher. It is a circular app launcher that activates with a squeeze on the phone’s sides, allowing you quick and one-handed access to apps, contacts, and even toggles for some settings.
As with the U11, HTC also bundles the USonic in-ear earphones, which creates a custom sound profile after mapping the user’s inner ear. These earbuds also have active noise cancelling, making them actually pretty good value as a pair of bundled earphones. There’s also a USB Type C to 3.5mm audio jack dongle, and a U11+ Clear Shield case, which works with Edge Sense.
The HTC U11+ will be coming to Malaysia in December 2017, but its price has not been revealed. It is priced at 799 Euros (it won’t be available in the US), and will come in Ceramic Black, Amazing Silver, and a unique Translucent Black colourway, which Android Authority reports will only be available in January or February 2018. Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on whether that option will be coming our way.
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