The HTC U11+ is an improvement over the HTC U11 in a lot of ways, and while both phones have quite a number of similarities, the U11+ almost seems like it belongs in a different series. Well, turns out, the U11+ could have been the Google Pixel 2 XL.
According to The Verge, which has spoken with a source familiar with HTC and Google’s partnership, the U11+ was in fact intended to be the Pixel 2 XL; it was codenamed “muskie.” Sometime during the development of the Google flagship, muskie was replaced with a device called “taimen,” which is the LG-made Pixel 2 XL as we know it now.
In retrospect, the U11+ does resemble the Pixel 2 XL to some extent. Both devices have the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipsets, rear fingerprint sensors, 6-inch 2880 x 1440 18:9 displays – though their respective display technologies are different – and front-facing stereo speakers.
Of course, the U11+ does not have the Pixel 2 XL’s excellent camera system, but that’s really reserved for Pixel smartphones only. That being said, the U11+’s 12MP UltraPixel 3 camera – the very same one used on the U11 – is still plenty capable, and it has a more generous 3,930mAh battery than the Pixel 2 XL’s more modest 3,520mAh cell.
Considering the Pixel 2 XL’s display issues, perhaps Google should have went with muskie for its flagship phone. Then again, there may be a good reason why Google opted for the LG-made taimen instead.
(Source: The Verge)
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