Introduction
HTC U11+ could have been the Pixel 2 XL if Google hadn't chosen LG to make the device. And indeed, the two phones have a lot in common - a 6" widescreen, similar design, Snapdragon 835 chip, a high-end 12MP camera with big pixels and HDR Boost, rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, edge squeeze sensors, Android Oreo.
But HTC has built on those feature with its own Boom Speakers, richer squeeze functionality, wider aperture for the camera and 3D audio capturing for the vids, a bigger battery, and jaw-dropping design, especially in its translucent version. The 6GB RAM and microSD slot are welcome improvements, but we are yet to see if the Super LCD6 screen has what it takes to meet the flagship needs. The 100% DCI-P3 color space coverage and HDR10-compliance should help its case, that's without a question.
So even if it weren't meant to become the next Pixel, the HTC U11+ is certainly no underdog, and better yet, it has the dog tags of a fighter.
HTC U11+ Key Features
- Body: Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back, metal frame. The "Liquid Surface" design on the rear is 3-axis curved glass and changes hues under light. It's IP68 water-resistant.
- Display: 6.0" Super LCD6, 1,440 x 2880px resolution, 538ppi, 18:9 aspect
- Rear camera: 12MP f/1.7, dual pixel autofocus, OIS, dual-LED flash, 1.4 micron pixel size, HDR Boost, 3D audio recording, Acoustic Focus, 4K @ 30fps
- Front camera: 8MP, f/2.0, HDR Boost, 1080p video
- Video: 2160p @ 30fps, 1080p @30/60/120fps, 720@240fps; front camera:1080p @ 30fps
- OS/Software: Android 8.0 Oreo with updates directly from Google
- Chipset: 10nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 CPU - Octa-core (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo); Adreno 540 GPU
- Memory: 4GB RAM/64GB storage in base model (6GB/128GB in select markets), expandable via microSD slot (or SIM2 slot for dual SIM model)
- Battery: 3,930 mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0
- Connectivity: Single or Dual SIM; LTE-A Cat 15: 800/150 Mbps, USB Type-C 3.1, 3.5mm to USB-C adapter included
- Audio: Boom Sound speakers, noise-cancelling U Sonic earbuds (via USB-C) included, four on-board mics for 3D audio and always listening for assistant hotword
- Misc: Squeeze actions via sensors embedded into frame, rear-mounted fingerprint scanner; dual speakers (Boom Sound)
Main shortcomings
- No 3.5mm headphone jack (ships with an adapter)
- No dual camera or artificial bokeh modes for the camera
- No wireless charging
The audio jack is gone for good at least as far as HTC is concerned and that's plenty clear if you look at their recent phones. The U11+ is yet another smartphone to drop it from the specs list, but at least it got a water-tight IP68 body to show for it.
But there is one trendy feature the HTC U11+ omits - simulated bokeh effects for either of its cameras. Even though the U11+ has top of the line sensors, you won't get bokeh shots. And HTC was the first to offer them on the market even before it was cool.
Despite those omissions, HTC seems to have done a fabulous job and the U11+ is shaping as one of the most beautiful smartphones this season, squeezable at that. And with the holiday shopping craziness just around the corner, we can't wait to see if the U11+ is another gadget making it to our wish lists.
HTC U11+ retail package
HTC U11+ will come bundled with a Quick Charge 3.0-compatible plug, a USB Type-C cable, and the HTC's USonic noise-canceling in-ear headphones. The retail box will also contain a USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter, a cleaning cloth (you will need it!), and a clear plastic case for extra protection.
Unfortunately, we didn't get the HTC U11+ box in our office. But the HTC U11 we had for review a few months ago featured the same bundle, so you can satisfy your curiosity with its pictures instead.
HTC U11 retail box and contents
HTC U11+ 360-degree spin
The HTC U11+ measures 158.5 x 74.9 x 8.5 mm - about the same as the Pixel 2 XL, but a hair ticker. The U11+ is 13g heavier than Pixel though, but still reasonable at 188g.
Design
Retiring the metal jackets in favor of glass is now officially a thing, but HTC's "Liquid Surface" shape dates back to the U Ultra and U Play January premiere. HTC was definitely onto something with that curved back design and everchanging color and it certainly gives the U11+ some character.
On the opposite side, the HTC U11+ front is both as flagship and generic as it gets. The U11+ utilizes a 6" high-res Super-LCD6, the latest available of this gap-free screens. It's one of those 18:9 wide screens, with super thin bezels, shaping as the next big thing on the market. There is a Gorilla Glass 5 to shield it, and that's pretty much it. No keys, no fingerprint scanner.
It's the 3-axis curved back where the HTC U11+ really shines, literally. It's made of a specially molded Gorilla Glass 5 piece, the paint was laid on the inside to prevent chipping, while there are extra layers of highly reflective minerals for enhanced color-changing effect on the outside.
HTC chose three paintjobs for the U11+ - Ceramic Black (as our review unit), Amazing Silver (as the U11 we reviewed in June), and a brand new Translucent Black. All three models are indeed highly reflective and shift color per different surroundings, but the translucent one is the most standout one.
The Translucent Black rear won't allow full opacity, but has the internals somewhat visible so you can catch a glimpse of the NFC antenna, the battery, the fingerprint sensor, and some motherboard screws. The brighter the surroundings, the more visible the parts. Unfortunately, this Translucent Black U11+ will be released at a later date.
HTC promises "a more comfortable hold and a secure grip" and those come from the matte metal frame ending in two thoughtful chamfers. This is a clever way to balance on otherwise slippery glass body and it works like a charm for the U11+.
Handling the HTC U11+
HTC U11+ has a very seamless design in contrast with the Pixel's, and the Liquid effect provides for one of the most stunning looks a smartphone can have right now. It's a phablet, alright, and handling it is secure enough but far from single-hand-friendly. Luckily, HTC Sense has the best implementation of squeeze gestures and one-hand control is a piece of cake on the U11+.
Device overview
HTC U11+ front is mostly screen, of course. The earpiece doubles as one of the Boom speakers, and around you can also notice the selfie camera and one of the five mics. A notification LED and a couple of sensors are hidden nearby, too.
The HTC U11+ • the screen • the earpiece
There is nothing on the left side, while the volume and power keys are on the right. Another mic and the hybrid SIM slot are at the top, while the mouthpiece, the second Boom speaker, and the USB Type-C port are at the bottom of the U11+.
The power and volume keys • the top • the SIM slot • the bottom
Finally, the 12MP main camera is at the back, accompanied by a pair of mics and a dual-LED flash. The fingerprint scanner lies on the back further down from the camera lens.
The back of the U11+
A 6" Super LCD6 display
The HTC U11+ has the newest sixth generation gap-free LCD screen known as Super LCD6. It's a 6" QHD unit with 538pp density. The underlying matrix is of the regular RGB kind.
The screen offers great viewing angles, bright colors, very deep blacks, and flagship contrast. Unfortunately, the brightness maxes out at 300 nits and we can only guess this might be due to overheating prevention.
| Display test | 100% brightness | ||
| Black, cd/m2 | White, cd/m2 | ||
| 0.308 | 483 | 1568 | |
| 0.373 | 583 | 1563 | |
| 0.357 | 546 | 1529 | |
| 0.19 | 309 | 1626 | |
| 0 | 442 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 647 | ∞ | |
| 0.002 | 414 | 207000 | |
| 0.032 | 616 | 19250 | |
| 0 | 420 | ∞ | |
| 0.461 | 564 | 1223 | |
| 0.392 | 530 | 1352 | |
| 0.471 | 621 | 1318 | |
| 0.379 | 387 | 1020 | |
| 0.251 | 300 | 1195 | |
HTC advertises the U11+ screen for its wide-gamut support and you can choose between a wide color gamut (DCI-P3) mode or the regular (sRGB) mode. The color reproduction accuracy is average in either modes with average deltaE of 5.4 and maximum deviation of 7. The colors are pleasantly saturated, especially the DCI-P3, but if you want more accurate presentation - you can use the manual temperature slider for each profile and move it towards Warm.
Finally, because of the relatively low maximum brightness, the HTC U11+ scored an unimpressive and uncompetitive sunlight contrast in our tests.
Sunlight contrast ratio
- Apple iPhone X
5.013 - OnePlus 5T
4.789 - Samsung Galaxy S8
4.768 - Samsung Galaxy S8+
4.658 - Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
4.615 - Motorola Moto Z2 Play
4.459 - Oppo R11
4.454 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
4.439 - OnePlus 3
4.424 - Samsung Galaxy S7
4.376 - HTC One A9
4.274 - Samsung Galaxy Note7
4.247 - Samsung Galaxy A3
4.241 - Nokia 8
4.239 - Google Pixel 2 XL (pre-update)
4.234 - OnePlus 3T
4.232 - Google Pixel XL
4.164 - ZTE Axon 7
4.154 - Samsung Galaxy Note8
4.148 - Meizu Pro 7 Plus
4.147 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
4.124 - Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
4.124 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro (normal)
4.096 - Samsung Galaxy Note5
4.09 - Google Pixel 2 (pre-update)
4.023 - LG V30
4.022 - Huawei Nexus 6P
4.019 - Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro
3.998 - Vivo Xplay5 Elite
3.983 - OnePlus X
3.983 - Oppo R7s
3.964 - Apple iPhone 7
3.964 - Apple iPhone 8 (True Tone)
3.957 - Huawei P9 Plus
3.956 - Meizu Pro 6 Plus
3.935 - Lenovo Moto Z
3.931 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
3.918 - OnePlus 5
3.914 - Samsung Galaxy C5
3.911 - Samsung Galaxy C7
3.896 - Samsung Galaxy A5
3.895 - Samsung Galaxy J7 outdoor
3.879 - Samsung Galaxy J2 outdoor
3.873 - Samsung Galaxy A8
3.859 - Sony Xperia XZs
3.818 - Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
3.817 - Motorola Moto X (2014)
3.816 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
3.812 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
3.804 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) outdoor mode
3.802 - LG V20 Max auto
3.798 - Xiaomi Redmi Pro
3.798 - Sony Xperia XZ
3.795 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
3.789 - Apple iPhone 6s
3.783 - Meizu Pro 5
3.781 - Microsoft Lumia 650
3.772 - Xiaomi Mi 6
3.767 - Sony Xperia XZ1
3.765 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
3.756 - Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact
3.729 - Apple iPhone 8 Plus (True Tone)
3.725 - Oppo F1 Plus
3.709 - Vivo X5Pro
3.706 - Sony Xperia X Compact
3.694 - Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
3.688 - Apple iPhone SE
3.681 - Huawei Mate 9
3.68 - Samsung Galaxy A7
3.679 - Meizu PRO 6
3.659 - BlackBerry Priv
3.645 - Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
3.597 - Apple iPhone 7 Plus
3.588 - LG G6
3.556 - Apple iPhone 6s Plus
3.53 - Motorola Moto Z Play
3.526 - Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)
3.523 - Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) outdoor mode
3.523 - Acer Jade Primo
3.521 - Microsoft Lumia 950
3.512 - Oppo R7 Plus
3.499 - nubia Z11
3.466 - Huawei P10 Plus
3.456 - HTC U Ultra
3.453 - Samsung Galaxy J7
3.422 - Meizu MX5
3.416 - LG V20
3.402 - Huawei P10
3.379 - Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)
3.378 - Oppo R9s
3.352 - Honor 8 Pro
3.341 - Oppo R7
3.32 - Lenovo P2
3.316 - Honor 9
3.289 - Xiaomi Mi 5s
3.276 - Nokia 5
3.261 - Nokia 6 (Chinese version)
3.244 - Nokia 6 (Global version)
3.238 - Samsung Galaxy J2
3.235 - Sony Xperia X Performance
3.234 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
3.228 - Motorola Moto X Play
3.222 - Oppo F3 Plus
3.218 - Huawei Mate 9 Pro
3.206 - Huawei P9
3.195 - Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
3.19 - ZTE Nubia Z17
3.159 - Lenovo Vibe Shot
3.113 - Motorola Moto X Force
3.105 - LG Nexus 5X
3.092 - HTC U11
3.089 - Huawei Mate S
3.073 - Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
3.065 - Sony Xperia XA1
3.012 - Sony Xperia L1
2.994 - Sony Xperia X
2.989 - Huawei P10 Lite
2.974 - Samsung Galaxy Note
2.97 - Sony Xperia Z1
2.95 - Huawei Mate 8
2.949 - Xiaomi Redmi 4
2.92 - Xiaomi Redmi 3S
2.913 - Sony Xperia XA Ultra
2.906 - LG G5
2.905 - HTC One S
2.901 - Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime
2.893 - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
2.884 - Sony Xperia XZ Premium
2.877 - Sony Xperia XZ Premium (sRGB)
2.877 - Sony Xperia Z5
2.876 - Nokia 3
2.871 - Microsoft Lumia 550
2.851 - Lenovo Moto M
2.813 - Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro
2.803 - Sony Xperia Z5 compact
2.784 - Meizu MX6
2.751 - LG V10
2.744 - Huawei Mate 10 (normal)
2.742 - Xiaomi Redmi 3
2.735 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
2.714 - Meizu M5
2.71 - Sony Xperia M5
2.69 - Xiaomi Mi A1
2.689 - Huawei P9 Lite
2.679 - Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime
2.679 - vivo V7+
2.671 - Vivo V3Max
2.659 - Xiaomi Mi Mix
2.658 - Oppo F5
2.653 - Doogee Mix
2.642 - Xiaomi Mi 4i
2.641 - Xiaomi Redmi 4a
2.635 - Xiaomi Mi 5X (Standard)
2.616 - Sony Xperia XA
2.609 - Motorola Moto G4 Plus
2.582 - Motorola Moto G4 Plus (max auto)
2.582 - Meizu M5s
2.58 - Xiaomi Mi 4c
2.574 - LeEco Le Max 2
2.567 - Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL
2.563 - Microsoft Lumia 640
2.563 - Xiaomi Mi Max 2
2.561 - HTC U11+
2.556 - Lenovo K6 Note
2.544 - Lenovo Moto G4
2.544 - Oppo F1
2.528 - Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
2.525 - Huawei Honor 7 Lite / Honor 5c
2.506 - Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
2.503 - Oppo F1s
2.481 - Motorola Moto G
2.477 - Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus
2.473 - Huawei G8
2.471 - Huawei nova
2.467 - Lenovo Vibe K5
2.459 - Meizu m3 max
2.447 - Xiaomi Mi 5X (Auto)
2.417 - HTC 10 evo
2.407 - Huawei Honor 7
2.406 - Sony Xperia E5
2.386 - ZUK Z1 by Lenovo
2.382 - HTC 10
2.378 - Oppo F3
2.376 - vivo V5 Plus
2.371 - Meizu m1 note
2.362 - Huawei nova plus
2.329 - Razer Phone
2.328 - HTC One E9+
2.305 - Alcatel One Touch Hero
2.272 - Apple iPhone 4S
2.269 - Lenovo Vibe K4 Note
2.254 - Sony Xperia C5 Ultra
2.253 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek)
2.249 - Sony Xperia C4 Dual
2.235 - Xiaomi Mi Note
2.234 - Motorola Moto G (2014)
2.233 - LG Nexus 5
2.228 - Huawei P8
2.196 - Meizu M5 Note
2.189 - Huawei Honor 6
2.169 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
2.166 - OnePlus Two
2.165 - HTC One X
2.158 - LG Aka
2.145 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (X20)
2.145 - Archos 50 Diamond
2.134 - Xiaomi Redmi Note
2.119 - Xiaomi Mi 4S
2.095 - Acer Liquid X2
2.084 - Huawei P8lite
2.078 - vivo V5
2.059 - Moto G 3rd gen max manual
2.026 - Xiaomi Mi 3
2.001 - Xiaomi Mi Max
1.996 - Sony Xperia E4g
1.972 - OnePlus One
1.961 - Meizu m3 note
1.923 - Meizu m2 note
1.892 - BlackBerry Leap
1.892 - HTC Butterfly
1.873 - Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
1.772 - ZTE Nubia Z9 mini
1.759 - Sony Xperia U
1.758 - Asus Zenfone Selfie
1.68 - Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen)
1.675 - ZTE Nubia Z9
1.659 - Jolla Jolla
1.605 - Motorola Moto E
1.545 - Sony Xperia M
1.473 - Sony Xperia L
1.351 - HTC Desire C
1.3 - Sony Xperia C
1.283 - Meizu MX
1.221 - Sony Xperia E
1.215
Battery life
The HTC U11+ comes with a sealed 3,930 mAh battery - enough for a phablet of its caliber. It supports Quick Charge 3.0 and the phone is bundled with a compatible charger that fills 35% of a depleted battery in half an hour.
Unfortunately, the HTC U11+ scored unimpressive numbers on all battery tests and thus ended up with an average endurance rating of 67 hours. It's not bad, but definitely not worthy of a flagship smartphone with a large 3,930 mAh battery.
Our endurance rating denotes how long a single battery charge will last you if you use the HTC U11+ for an hour each of telephony, web browsing, and video playback daily. We've established this usage pattern so our battery results are comparable across devices in the most common day-to-day tasks. The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you're interested in the nitty-gritties. You can also check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones we've tested will compare under your own typical use.
Connectivity
The HTC U11+'s Snapdragon 835 enables a vast variety of connectivity options thanks to the chipset's modem. Single SIM variants will be capable of LTE-A Cat 16 with theoretical speeds of 1024/150 Mbps. Meanwhile, the DualSIM models will be Cat 15 with theoretical speeds of 800/150 Mbps.
All variants support Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n for 2.4GHz and 802.11 a/n/ac for 5GHz (dual-band Wi-Fi). Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.0, A-GPS, and GLONASS are also present. The USB-C port may be used for OTG and is capable of USB 3.1 speeds. There's also support for Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0. NFC is also here, of course.
The USB-C port is also used for outputting external audio since there is no 3.5mm headphone jack. HTC's included U Sonic headphones have a USB-C connector and the phone comes with an adapter as well. Our unit didn't come bundled with one so we couldn't test the audio output quality.
HTC Connect is baked into Sense UI and offers native support for Airplay, AllPlay, Blackfire, Bluetooth, Chromecast, and Miracast devices either nearby or on your Wi-Fi Network. You can also connect to DLNA devices through here. HTC Connect is intended to "Choose where to play media". You can find HTC Connect in the Settings.
Android Oreo with Sense UI
The HTC U11+ runs on Android Oreo with Sense UI on top of it. Sense has gotten leaner over the years with the most drastic reduction happening last year when HTC decided that it would let Google take care of the core apps by shutting down HTC's in-house apps like: browser, calendar, and gallery among others.
Let's get right into it. Starting off ways to wake the device: there are several enabled by default. You can press the power key, double tap the screen, tap the fingerprint sensor, or slide up on the screen to unlock from sleep. The lock screen offers you four app shortcuts, which are identical to the ones you have on your homescreen.
The U11+ also supports Smart Display - an always-on screen with relevant information. You can also set it up to work only upon motion detection to save some battery. Or turn it off altogether.
Smart Display • Settings • Lockscreen • Lockscreen • Fingerprints
The fingerprint scanner is lighting fast and very accurate. You save up to five fingerprints.
There are a couple of default home pages, though you may add as many as you'd like. The main app drawer is organized to fit all pre-installed apps into a single page. Apps in the drawer can be manually arranged or sorted by install date or alphabetically.
Home screen • Home screen 2 • Widgets • Homescreen options • App Drawer
A swipe to the left brings you to BlinkFeed, which you can disable, or make it yours by adding feeds, or even set it as your default home screen. Your docked apps are even laid over BlinkFeed. HTC has been expanding BlinkFeed's functionality for years now, so you can add a wide variety of feeds and social networks to it.
BlinkFeed • BlinkFeed Settings • Adding feeds
HTC has a powerful theming engine on the U11+ for those who love to customize every aspect of the phone's appearance. You can change many aspects of the theme down to the notification sounds, dialer color scheme, and wallpapers in various locations.
HTC Themes
HTC offers two kinds of themes: classic themes and freestyle themes. The first one is self-explanatory, but the freestyle option is intended for folks to add apps or widgets however they'd like. Combine it with your favorite custom widget maker to create your unique setup.
Freestyle themes
A neat feature Sense UI offers is customization of the navigation bar. In addition to reposition the keys, you can opt for a second panel available with a swipe sideways. There you can get shortcuts for the notification page, take a screenshot, lock/power, among others.
Navigation deck settings • regular panel • secondary panel
The looks of the notification shade and the quick settings are mostly stock. HTC Sense supports Android's native multi-window. To use it, open any app, then press-holding the Recents key will let you choose another app that's already been opened. The UI will tell you if an app doesn't support multi-window.
Recents • Multi-window • Notification shade • Quick settings
Finally, HTC's Boost+ app offers some power-user options. There are automatic optimizations like Boost and Clear junk which clear RAM and cached files, respectively. 'Optimize background apps' disables apps you haven't used in 3 days or more. You can disable this per app.
Boost+
Finally, the Sense Companion isn't meant to be "just some other assistant". It was created and first debuted on the HTC U Ultra and is meant to compliment your assistant's (Google or Alexa) existing features and functions; this follows the theme of getting rid of redundant apps.
What the Companion app does is takes various behavioral data points like location, time, and fitness activity, and develops recommendations to make that can benefit you. For example: If you normally leave work at 4PM every day and your calendar lists dinner reservations in the city, your Companion App would recommend that you top up your battery, hours before you leave work.
For Companion App to work best, it's recommended you allow a bunch of permissions to the app so that the app's AI engine can make the best recommendations based on your location, time between calendar events, active phone usage, and fitness/activity data.
HTC Sense Companion setup and settings
Recommendations are given via a non-obtrusive bubble that you can move and replace until you can get to it later. The more you take action on these recommendations, the smarter the Companion app gets by learning which recommendations you care or don't care about.
Edge Sense
HTC calls its new squeeze feature Edge Sense. The sides of the phone are embedded with pressure sensors. This allows you to have two gestures to program to whatever app you'd like. One that may be particularly useful is the Camera app, though, you can achieve the same result by double-pressing the power key and using the volume rocker to take the picture.
The first time you squeeze the phone, you'll be prompted to set up the Edge Sense feature. You'll follow a tutorial that shows you how long and how hard you're squeezing with the help of on-screen visuals to guide you. Note that your ability to squeeze may be affected by the kind of case you use, so keep that in mind if shopping for one.
Setting force level • Testing force level • Learning Squeeze-and-hold
Advanced mode is what lets you program two gestures. The default gestures are: short squeeze opens camera, a second squeeze takes the photo. It's worth noting the UI purposely has a delay built into it as to wait for you to stabilize the camera before taking a shot. That way, the phone isn't trembling mid-shot.
The other default action is a squeeze and hold will activate the phone's default assistant - Google's or Amazon Alexa. Doing the same
Edge Sense in Settings • More settings • Programming a squeeze gesture • Long squeeze options
And here comes the best part - you can configure the gestures' behavior for the UI, and in-app for each installed app. Globally, you can set a long or short squeeze to launch the Edge Launcher, which is a two-step dialer popping on the screen, which can replace your whole app drawer. There is also a calendar around, which is nice.
Programing an app-specific gesture • Programing • Squeeze gesture animations
You can set the gestures to work differently for each of your apps. For example, you can set a short squeeze to take a screenshot in your favorite game.
There are so many different configurations you can do with the squeeze detection unlike the Pixel 2 XL. HTC gave you the freedom to make the U11+ yours and the tools to do it.
HTC U11+ and Snapdragon 835
The HTC U11+ is powered by the Qualcomm's current flagship chip - the Snapdragon 835 (8x Kryo CPU, Adreno 540 GPU). This means HTC has done everything it can do to ensure the U11+ is powerful and we don't expect any surprises. The mainstream version of the U11+ has 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, though there is a limited model with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage available in some markets.
Let's start benchmarking with GeekBench 4. No matter if it's a single or multi-core test, the HTC U11+ is on par with the latest flagship flock, Android that is. While the two Mates and the Note8 have inhouse developed chips, their performance is still equal to the Snapdragon's. Apple's processors remain unmatched for yet another generation.
GeekBench 4.1 (single-core)
Higher is better
- Apple iPhone X
4256 - Apple iPhone 8 Plus
4232 - Samsung Galaxy Note8
1987 - OnePlus 5T
1960 - HTC U11+
1939 - Razer Phone
1931 - Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
1924 - HTC U11
1919 - Google Pixel 2 XL
1915 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro
1902 - LG V30
1901 - Huawei Mate 10
1882 - Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
1862 - Google Pixel XL
1582
GeekBench 4.1 (multi-core)
Higher is better
- Apple iPhone X
10215 - Apple iPhone 8 Plus
10037 - Samsung Galaxy Note8
6784 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro
6783 - Razer Phone
6728 - OnePlus 5T
6701 - HTC U11+
6654 - Huawei Mate 10
6625 - Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
6590 - Google Pixel 2 XL
6428 - HTC U11
6393 - LG V30
6365 - Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
6234 - Google Pixel XL
4113
The raw graphic performance turned out the same as the rest of the 2017 droids - read top notch.
GFX 3.1 Car scene (1080p offscreen)
Higher is better
- Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
25 - Razer Phone
25 - Google Pixel 2 XL
25 - Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
25 - HTC U11+
25 - Samsung Galaxy Note8
25 - HTC U11
24 - OnePlus 5T
24 - LG V30
24 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro
22 - Huawei Mate 10
21 - Sony Xperia XZs
20 - Google Pixel XL
19
Basemark X
Higher is better
- Samsung Galaxy Note8
40890 - Huawei Mate 10
40809 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro
40232 - Google Pixel 2 XL
39143 - OnePlus 5T
38656 - HTC U11
38399 - Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
38349 - HTC U11+
38315 - Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
37211 - LG V30
36704 - Sony Xperia XZs
33815 - Google Pixel XL
30861
The HTC U11+ has a high-res widescreen, which should cripple the performance if compared to phones with Full HD screens and the similar GPU, say OnePlus 5T or Xperia XZs. Still, the U11+ stands equal to the other high-res flagships and that's enough to render it flagship-grade.
GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
24 - OnePlus 5T
22 - Sony Xperia XZs
21 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro
21 - Razer Phone
15 - Huawei Mate 10
13 - HTC U11+
13 - Samsung Galaxy Note8
13 - LG V30
13 - Google Pixel 2 XL
13 - HTC U11
13 - Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
13 - Google Pixel XL
11
The U11+ once again returned a competitive score on the BaseMark ES 3.1 test.
Basemark ES 3.1 / Metal
Higher is better
- Apple iPhone 8 Plus
1644 - Apple iPhone X
1385 - Samsung Galaxy Note8
1268 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro
1183 - Huawei Mate 10
1142 - Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
875 - Google Pixel 2 XL
874 - Razer Phone
868 - LG V30
860 - OnePlus 5T
856 - HTC U11+
851 - HTC U11
836 - Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
739 - Google Pixel XL
626 - Sony Xperia XZs
623
BaseMark OS II encompasses CPU, GPU, RAM, Web, and OS performance into a single score. The U11+ did pretty well in this test, though scored a little behind the One Plus 5T and Mi Mix 2 (both with 1080p screens).
Basemark OS 2.0
Higher is better
- Apple iPhone X
4708 - OnePlus 5T
3632 - Apple iPhone 8 Plus
3601 - Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
3578 - Razer Phone
3492 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro
3425 - Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
3424 - Huawei Mate 10
3415 - Google Pixel 2 XL
3379 - Samsung Galaxy Note8
3333 - HTC U11+
3257 - HTC U11
2970 - LG V30
2705 - Sony Xperia XZs
2386 - Google Pixel XL
2281
Finally, in the popular Antutu 6, the U11+ topped the chart, and almost matched the iPhones at the top. This makes the HTC U11+ the highest-scoring Android device on Antutu 6.
AnTuTu 6
Higher is better
- Apple iPhone 8 Plus
188766 - Apple iPhone X
185147 - HTC U11+
180195 - OnePlus 5T
179790 - Razer Phone
179357 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro
178510 - HTC U11
177343 - Huawei Mate 10
175426 - Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
175153 - LG V30
174330 - Samsung Galaxy Note8
172425 - Google Pixel 2 XL
170407 - Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
160319 - Google Pixel XL
141186 - Sony Xperia XZs
133574
The overall performance of the HTC U11+ is top-notch just as the high-end chipset would suggest. The UI is fluid and there are zero stutters, no matter how many apps you're using. Larger apps like heavy games don't even make the U11+ sweat.
We noticed the U11+ gets slightly warm under peak pressure, but nowhere near hot. In fact, despite the glass design, HTC managed to keep the U11+ reasonably cool with just a minor throttling we saw in some benchmark scores. We guess the dim screen is helping, too.
Telephony
Sense UI includes a straightforward dialer. There are five tabs: Call History, Phone, Favorites, People, and Groups. The cool thing about this dialer is you can switch between a number pad and a full keyboard.
Call History and dial pad • Favorites • Phonebook • A contact
Apps
HTC has retired its app suite and now it's up to Google's default apps for handling everything. Those are more than capable, of course. You get Photos for pictures and videos, Play Music for your audio files, YouTube for online streaming, and Chrome for web browsing.
Photos • Photos • Play Music • YouTube • Chrome
Other noteworthy pre-installed apps are HTC's Files manager, News Republic, Record fitness app, and Amazon's Alexa.
Files • News Republic • Record • Alexa
Boom Sound
Though is wasn't the first to pioneer it, the HTC One M7 was among the first modern smartphones to feature front-facing stereo speakers and the company does not intend to get rid of the feature from its flagships anytime soon.
HTC U11+ has two different modes for its Boom speakers - Music and Theater. Music mode is optimized for reaching all the highs, mids, and bass notes in the cleanest way possible. Theater mode is a more immersive experience while watching videos, as the speakers are set to project toward the front of the phone.
No matter which mode you choose, the HTC U11+ offers the loudest speaker output we have measured to date. For once HTC's Boom speakers are really boomy!
As far as the sound quality is concerned, although subjectively, it's equally impressive. You just have to hear it for yourselves.
| Speakerphone test | Voice, dB | Ringing |
Overall score | |
| 62.9 | 65.2 | 71.6 | Below Average | |
| 62.4 | 65.5 | 73.3 | Average | |
| 65.8 | 64.7 | 75.7 | Average | |
| 67.8 | 69.5 | 71.5 | Good | |
| 68.5 | 69.4 | 71.6 | Good | |
| 68.9 | 74.0 | 76.2 | Very Good | |
| 68.7 | 73.0 | 79.1 | Very Good | |
| 65.8 | 75.4 | 80.6 | Very Good | |
| 66.9 | 72.3 | 84.5 | Very Good | |
| 76.0 | 74.6 | 79.0 | Excellent | |
| 90.6 | 73.7 | 84.0 | Excellent | |
| 91.5 | 75.4 | 90.5 | Excellent |
USonic earbuds
HTC first introduced its USonic headphones on the HTC 10 evo (a.k.a. Bolt), which was coincidentally the first HTC device without a headphone jack. With the U11+, HTC is debuting a new feature to its USonic earbuds: active noise cancellation. The included earbuds can actively cancel background noise thanks to all the processing of extraneous noise taking place on the phone rather than in the earbuds.
Toggling active noise cancellation
In addition to ANC, the USonic earbuds can be tailored to any person wearing them. Sonar sensors in the earbuds detect the echo in your ear canals and create an optimal profile. The calibration process involves a short static noise emitted through the earbuds. The whole process takes about 5 seconds.
Creating a custom audio profile
The sound quality coming from these earbuds are light-years ahead of the "AKG" earbuds that Samsung bundled with its Galaxy S8. In fact, HTC demoed USonic to us by comparing the sound output from the bundled AKG earbuds hooked up to an S8.
It's very difficult to put perceived sound into words, but if we had to describe it: HTC's USonic earbuds are like if music was deconstructed and reconstructed to where you can hear all the instruments. It's truly something you need to hear for yourself.
HTC should set up demo booths around shopping malls showing off both Boom Sound and USonic. We feel these are one of the better selling points of the phone.
Audio quality
Unfortunately, our review unit did not come bunled with a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter. This means we couldn't test the audio quality because it very much depends on what kind of headphones or adapter you have - each has its own DAC and has to be tested individually.
The good news is that the HTC U11+ comes with a pair of USonic headphones, so you are ready to go out of the box. They are in-ear headphones, though, if you want on or over ear, you have to provide your own.
Superb 12MP camera
The HTC U11+ has a 12MP UltraPixel 3 OIS camera with an f/1.7 aperture, 1.4µm pixels, UltraSpeed (read Dual Pixel) autofocus, and a dual-LED flash. The camera makes use of image stacking and supports the so-called HDR Boost - where it fully utilizes that image stacking.
The camera app interface is quite simple. Everything is organized into a drawer of modes and settings on the left. If it doesn't make sense at first, imagine that this drawer is the hamburger menu of any other app.
There's a Pro mode for those who want more control over the camera. It comes with adjustment sliders for white balance, exposure compensation, ISO, shutter speed (up to 32s), and focus. RAW capture is available as well. Shooting in Pro mode will also save a RAW version of the photos you take.
Camera app
The photos taken with the U11+ look great. The first batch shots we snapped with HDR turned completely off. Colors are well represented but not oversaturated, dynamic range is very good and the exposure is metered very well in situations with contrasting light. There is great amount of resolved detail but some noise also made it to the final shots.
HTC U11+ 12MP samples
Just like the Google Pixel, the U11+ uses an HDR algorithm called "HDR Boost". Whenever you have HDR or HDR Auto mode enabled, the camera constantly snaps images in its buffer and analyzes them even before you press the shutter button. If the scene needs any correction in light, these frames will be stacked up to produce an image which has noise reduced, shadows filled, and highlights recovered, all while keeping a natural look.
The day we took the U11+ for a spin outside was sunny, but the HDR Boost (in Auto HDR) still felt the need to highlight the shadows and used stacked images for each of the scenes we snapped. The results are quite good - the photos kept the same good colors and contrast, the dynamic range improved, and the processing got rid of the noise. Sometimes we noticed the shots ended up blurry while on other occasions the resolved detail took a hit. We'd suggest keeping the Auto HDR option on for the daylight shots only when the weather is everything but sunny.
HTC U11+ 12MP camera samples with HDR Boost
If you leave the HDR option to ON, you will eliminate the chance for blurry photos, but shooting is noticeably slower.
HDR off • HDR auto • HDR on
And speaking about the Google Pixel 2 XL, we just couldn't miss the opportunity to do a quick shootout. While the U11+ regular samples turned out a bit more detail, the HDR ones are pretty much the same as Google's.
And here are the Google Pixel 2 XL samples we took.
TIP! You can use our new compare tool available on each group of compatible samples to compare anything you see here.
Google Pixel 2 XL 12MP samples
While we have mixed feelings for the HDR Boost in daylight, it's a must-have for the low-light shots. The photos show without HDR aren't bad, they have enough detail, but are somewhat noisy and blurry takes may happen.
HTC U11+ 12MP low-light samples
The samples shot with the Auto HDR on are quite impressive - the U11+ always stacks images at night and the produced photos come with lower ISO and noise. Then there is more sharpness and fine detail in those HDR shots and you should always keep the Auto HDR for low-light shots.
HTC U11+ 12MP HDR low-light samples
For further pixel-peeping, here are a few links to our photo compare tool and its extensive library of devices. The samples we used for our tool were shot with Auto HDR as intended by HTC, but you can select from the dropdown menu the same U11+ photos with HDR turned off.
HTC U11+ vs. Google Pixel 2 XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S8 in our photo compare tool
The U11+ captures decent panoramas tall about 3,200 px, but they are nothing to really phone home about. Stitching defects are common across the U11+'s panoramic shots, which is something we thought to have been dealt with a long time ago even on the cheap $100 phones. On the flip side, you do get a decent amount of detail and plenty of resolution.
HTC U11+ shoots unimpressive panoramas
Great 8MP selfies
HTC U11+ sports an 8MP selfie camera with f/2.0 lens and fixed focus. The specs sure sound uninspiring, but the selfies we took turned out quite good. There is impressive amount of resolved detail, the colors and contrast are excellent, while the dynamic range is above average. For the low-light occasions we would once again suggest using the Auto HDR option.
HTC U11+ 8MP selfie samples
4K video, 3D or FLAC audio
HTC U11+ can take 4K videos at 30 fps and 1080p clips with either 30 or 60 fps. There is a 5min cap for the 4K vids, which might be inconvenient for some.
Thanks to the 4 mics on the HTC U11+ its camcorder can capture either 3D audio with acoustic zoom or high-res audio. The 3D audio uses AAC codec (96Kbps) and is the default option. The videos come in MP4 containers and in spite of the low bitrate - the sound is impressive.
You can opt for high-res audio capturing for your videos - then the HTC U11+ would use FLAC codec and save the clips in MKV containers. As you can imagine, the FLAC codec increases the file size, so you should use it only when high-res audio is of utmost importance.
The 4K videos are really sharp with great colors and plenty of detail. The dynamic range is great, while the Dual Pixel auto-focus really helps keep the focus accurate all the time. Those are one of the best 4K videos we've encountered lately.
The 1080p videos, no matter 30 or 60 fps, pack a serious punch as well. Just like 4K samples, which keep a pretty steady bitrate of around 54 Mbps, FullHD ones hover very slightly around the formidable 20 Mbps (30fps for 60fps) mark. Detail is plenty as well.
You can download a 2160p (10s, 65MB), 1080p at 60fps (10s, 36MB), and a 1080p at 30fps (10s, 25MB) sample for closer inspection too. You can also try this 4K video with FLAC audio, if you like (10s, 74MB).
We also did try how the new Acoustic focus works. If you zoom in while recording a video, the sound recording will also adjust the gain so the sound coming from your subject is clearer and easier to hear even if there is a lot of ambient noise. The usefulness of the feature will largely depend on whether you are used to zooming while recording video, but if you are, we can confirm it works quite well and just as advertised. Here's a demo video of the feature which we shot back when we reviewed the original U11.
Last, but not least, we have the HTC U11+ in our 4K video compare tools for all your examination needs.
HTC U11+ vs. Google Pixel 2 XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S8 in our 4K video compare tool
Wrapping it up
Once meant to be a part of Google's lineup, the U11+ has now become HTC's flagship for the holiday season instead. Competing with the Pixel 2 XL won't be easy, but HTC has tried to make the U11+ special, attractive, and competitive. What could go wrong, right?
Well, one thing stands out. The U11+ fails in what many would consider the most important foundation of a good smartphone - the screen. Sure, the 6" LCD has a flagship-grade resolution, contrast, and wide-gamut color support. But HTC has used a panel with low max brightness and we noticed color and contrast shifting when looking it at an angle.
Then there is the battery life - unlike what the beefy battery capacity may suggest at first look, the U11+'s battery life is in fact average at best. That was especially true for on-screen tests, which probably means the screen panel is again to blame.
Of course, things do get better from here. The U11+'s design is nothing short of stunning although this comes at the expense of slipperiness and smudges all over.
We can't argue with the choice of CPU or the amount of RAM and storage. This phone scored the highest mark we've seen an Android phone score on Antutu.
The camera has already earned praise across the internets and we can only join our colleagues with our positive impressions from the 12MP shooter.
HTC even outdid the Pixel 2 XL in a few departments. It improved the video recording with high-res audio capturing, while its proprietary Sense UI offers unmatched customizations for the squeeze gestures. Unlike the Pixel 2 XL, the U11+ can be easily operated with just one hand thanks to the rich squeezable skills implemented within the otherwise clean Sense UI. And finally, the Boom speakers fully live up to their name being the loudest mobile speakers we've tested to date.
So, if we look past the downsides of the LCD and the subpar battery life, the HTC U11+ is a great smartphone. But the mobile landscape is highly competitive and there is no place for If's in the high-end. HTC has done a great job in all other departments but skimping on those two prevents them from winning enough gadget points in our books.
Of course, that doesn't mean there aren't many areas where they've done a commendable job. Here's a recap of what we found in this review.
HTC U11+ key test findings
- The Liquid Design is nothing short of stunning, as is the Translucent version. While U11+ is slippery and smudgy, it's still one of the best-looking flagships and that's the price to pay. The water-tight body is a nice touch.
- The 6-inch 18:9 QHD Super LCD 6 display does well in pixel count but isn't the easiest to use on a bright sunny day due to low brightness. Contrast ratio is high and color rendering can be quite accurate.
- The fingerprint scanner is lighting fast.
- Battery life scored an uninspiring 67h of endurance. The U11+ did average across all tests.
- The latest Android Oreo is a great start and HTC has improved on it with its Sense UI.
- The squeezy Edge sense is very customizable and the U11+ can be fully operated with just one hand thanks to it.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 is an excellent performer in both CPU and GPU tests. Performance is excellent with zero stutters and is in line with other devices with the same chipset.
- Boom Sound speakers are the loudest we've tested to date and clearer than ever before. Excellent range of sound and no distortion even at the highest volume. Music mode focuses on loudness while Theater mode tunes for immersive sound.
- Still images are excellent with great color accuracy, white balance, and exposure. HDR Boost balances all three quite well.
- The 8MP selfie cam turned out surprisingly good with very detail photos.
- The 4K and 1080p videos are sharp, colorful, and clean, OIS helps when necessary. The 3D audio with acoustic zoom and the high-res FLAC audio are some great treats.
Competition
The HTC U11+ is stepping on so many toes that it's hard to keep track of its competitors. For starters, let's kick off with the Pixel 2 XL. Google's extra-large flagship is somewhat more expensive than the U11+ but offers a 6" OLED screen, bokeh effects for its main camera, much better battery life, and faster Android updates. You lose all the audio goodness and extra squeeze gesture support, while the jury is still out on the gains in design.
Google Pixel 2 XL
LG V30, where available, is the Pixel 2 XL on steroids. It has the same screen and chip, better-looking and more compact body, and comes with upgraded camera department with a dual (wide + super wide) setup, but also enhanced audio recording. LG has equipped the V30 with everything a smartphone "pro" may need.
LG V30
The Galaxy S8+ offers another attractive AMOLED screen within a slippery glass body, but it excels in battery life and screen eye-candy. Once again - it lacks the audio features and squeeze gestures, and the TouchWiz might not be the most responsive UI out there. The Galaxy S8+ is cheaper, though, so there is that.
Samsung Galaxy S8+
Of course, you can have some cheaper top dogs with equally impressive all-round packages. The OnePlus 5T has a wide AMOLED screen and metal body, the Mi Mix 2 has the bezel-less thing going on, the Oppo R11s also bets on AMOLED and a great camera, and Nokia 8 has similarly rich audio recording features like the U11+.
OnePlus 5T • Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 • Oppo R11s • Nokia 8
Huawei's Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro are offers many will consider this holiday season because of the huge wide screens, fast chips, big batteries, and excellent Leica-powered cameras. Sure, those two already fall in the mainstream class whereas the U11+ aims for the opposite.
Huawei Mate 10 • Huawei Mate 10 Pro
And finally, if money isn't an issue, you may want to give the iPhone X a try. It's unique alright, with notch, horns, all-screen and everything. It has one of the best main snappers, too, so it's a worthy consideration.
Apple iPhone X
The verdict
HTC U11+ isn't shaping as the best flagship of the season, that's for sure. While our tests paint a powerful and skillful flagship, the public may not be as interested in numbers. The poor looking LCD and the average battery life are a tough bite to swallow.
Then again, the HTC U11+ does offer some unique treats like matched by very few, if any, on the market. One of the best cameras with FLAC audio recording, the loudest Boom speakers to date, unique and recognizable design, squeeze gestures. So, while the U11+ may not be ticking all the boxes for the must-haves, it surely goes above and beyond to make up for them in the other departments. So if you are tired of the usual mainstream crop, give the U11+ a chance and you may find yourself surprised.
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