HTC U11+ Announced: Its Finally Done Right With 18:9 HDR Display, Massive Battery and Translucent Back
After some disappointing releases, the HTC U11+ is the first phone from the Taiwanese manufacturer that features reduced bezels, and it might be the one the company gets right after all this time. Let us sift through the features, specifications and run you guys through the pricing to see how this phone will stack up against the competition.
Design and Display
With a 6-inch display and a QHD+ resolution (2880 x 1440), the HTC U11 Plus finally sheds those bezels and forms an 18:9 aspect ratio for you. You get more screen real estate in the end and though it is a not an OLED display, you still get the Super LCD6 display, which now supports a wider range of colors (DCI-P3), and can show off HDR10 content if you’re into media consumption.
Also, there is a translucent back with which you can gaze at all the innards of the smartphone. However, the phone is not going to provide support for wireless charging. You also get IP68 water-resistance so that’s a plus, and the Edge Sense feature makes a return to the phone.
Hardware
Right off the bat, you get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 which is either going to be paired with 6GB of RAM (gets you 128GB of storage) and 4GB (gets you 64GB of storage) depending on where you live. In addition, the display is going to be protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and you also get a microSD card slot with which you expand your storage up to 256GB.
Camera
There is a single 12MP lens with an aperture value of F/1.7 situated at the back of the smartphone and yes, it does have OIS. The size of each pixel is 1.4µm, which is great since more light will be captured by each individual pixel. You do get 4K video recording report support and for those wondering, there is an 8MP shooter at the front.
Battery
Here is where the HTC U11+ nails it perfectly; despite having a 18:9 aspect ratio and a 6-inch display, you will find a 3,930mAh battery. This is a lesson for all those manufacturers that are attempting to shred the bezels of the phones but refusing to incorporate a larger battery underneath the hood. If HTC can do it then so can you.
Sound
There is no headphone jack in the U11+ but what you do get is 30 percent louder BoomSound speakers. As a kind gesture, HTC has also bundled its active noise-cancelling earphones, which should provide a stellar audio experience to the user. We will have to wait and see just how impressive this sound quality is because if it is just as good as HTC claims, then bezel-less phone manufacturers will have to kick it up a notch in the sound department. There is also a 24-bit DAC chip present.
Wireless Connectivity Options
You get an array of wireless connectivity options which range from Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11ac, and a LTE Cat.15 modem, which can reach download speeds of 800Mbps (150Mbps upload speeds).
All Storage Models and Pricing
HTC U11+ is going to be available in three colors:
· Translucent Black
· Ceramic Black
· Amazing Silver
The price of the smartphone is going to be €799 in Europe, with the flagship being sold in ‘select markets’ around the world. Unfortunately, it is not officially going to be sold in the U.S. which is disappointing since this is the first HTC flagship in a long time who’s specifications on paper sound very impressive.
