HTC U11 vs. Samsung Galaxy S8 first comparison: Market share matters

It’s tough to stand out in a market dominated by Samsung’s latest flagship.

HTC’s proper 2017 flagship, the U11, has arrived, and it hits the market just a few weeks after Samsung released its Galaxy S8. Though HTC is miles away from Samsung in terms of market share, it’s attempting to make a flagship on the same level when it comes to specs, hardware, and experience.

In terms of overall dimensions, the HTC U11 lands in between the Galaxy S8 and S8+ but is a closer comparison to the smaller GS8 when it comes to screen area. We spent some quality time with both phones together to see how they stack up.

There are plenty of internal similarities between these phones, but the companies have taken distinctly different approaches to hardware. Samsung made big strides this year in shrinking bezels and moving to an extra-tall 18.5:9 display, but HTC is sticking with the old model of a 16:9 aspect ratio and rather large bezels all around. Even further, HTC’s traditional capacitive keys and front-mounted fingerprint sensor are in stark contrast to Samsung’s switch in 2017.

HTC’s hardware execution is excellent, but the Galaxy S8 just feels futuristic.

HTC’s design decisions feel a little antiquated in general, but doubly so when sat next to the sleek and futuristic Galaxy S8. On the other hand, there are clear advantages to having a fingerprint sensor that’s right where you expect and a flat display with bezels that reduce accidental touches. The U11’s 5.5-inch display is smaller diagonally than the Galaxy S8’s, but because of its wider aspect ratio there’s actually more display here — but combined with the larger bezels, the entire phone is larger to boot. That doesn’t necessarily have large implications for actual use of the phone, but when you set the two together you do notice how dramatically narrower and easier to grip the Galaxy S8 is.

Size aside, the HTC U11’s hardware is equally impressive as the Galaxy S8’s. HTC’s manufacturing quality continues to be excellent, and the back glass panel curves and flows more effortlessly than Samsung’s with colors that catch your eye differently from all angles. You don’t get the dramatic edge screen effect or the big sweeping metal curves of the GS8, but the U11 just feels so … solid when you pick it up. There’s some value in that.

In waiting to release the U11 well after the original U Ultra and U Play, it let HTC make some key component upgrades that help it be a proper competitor to the Galaxy S8. The Snapdragon 835 processor is of course one major improvement, but we’re also looking at a different 12MP rear camera from the U Ultra that incorporates new phase detection auto focus and a fast f/1.7 lens. The rest of the specs line up identically to the Galaxy S8: 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a 3000mAh battery and a QHD display resolution.

More: HTC U11 complete specs

HTC offers cleaner software … but also, no headphone jack.

The one place Samsung is distinctly different here is with its inclusion of the 3.5 mm headset jack, which HTC has moved beyond. HTC includes some great USB-C headphones with the U11 that include active noise cancellation, as well as a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter, but at this point this choice may still rub some people the wrong way. At the same time, HTC does offer a superior dual speaker setup on the U11 that can offer better sound at higher volumes than the Galaxy S8’s single speaker.

HTC’s software hasn’t changed much in the past year (or two, if I think about it). On the upside, that means you’re getting an extremely fast, smooth and generally bloat-free experience, with some light visual touches that nicely integrate into Google’s Nougat software. But that also means some of HTC’s apps are going to feel stale as you notice they’re near identical to what you would’ve experienced on the last couple phones. The interface still feels consistent and everything looks fine, but it doesn’t quite feel as modern as what other companies have on their latest phones.

Meanwhile Samsung has definitely pushed its interface into modern design expectations, and still offers a dramatically higher volume of apps and features so there’s something here for everyone — even though that means it can be frustrating or overwhelming for those who want a simple and clean experience.

Fighting an uphill battle

In a high-end market so heavily dominated by Samsung, it’s really tough for any phone to break out and take away sales. Despite the HTC U11 offering brilliant hardware and matching its internal specs, it’s tough to pull ahead of the Galaxy S8. Phone buyers will have to be drawn to a few of the finer points in the U11’s experience in order to choose it over Samsung — its brilliant colors, “traditional” dimensions and simpler software are its only real standout strengths compared to the Galaxy S8, while the lack of a headphone jack, wireless charging and strong brand recognition are hurting it.

It’s not that the U11 is doing anything particularly wrong — and the phone overall seems to have what it takes to garner sales — but it doesn’t necessarily have the standout features to grab the attention of average buyers who so often start with Samsung’s latest phone as the default choice and work from there.

HTC U11

• HTC U11 preview
• HTC U11 specs
• Manufacturing the U11: Behind the scenes
• Where to buy in the U.S.
• Join our U11 forums
• HTC U11 vs Galaxy S8
• HTC U11 vs LG G6

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ review!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

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HTC U11 preview: Shiny and squeezy

HTC’s latest phone will try to convince you that squeezing is the next big thing in mobile. But beyond the quirky Edge Sense feature, the U11 dazzles with a shimmering metallic exterior and packs in all the power enthusiasts crave.

Unless you’ve already clawed your way to the top of the pile, standing out in the high-end smartphone market of 2017 is tough. These devices are commodities now, and making a phone — especially a high-end, high-priced phone — that’s really different and better is more difficult than ever.

For an underdog like HTC, it’s especially challenging. Last year the HTC 10 was praised for being a great all-rounder, but it didn’t offer much besides the core formula of metal body + latest specs. Once upon a time, HTC had a near monopoly on high performance and great build quality in the Android space. The 10 served as a reminder of the extent to which the competition had caught up to, and in many cases, surpassed HTC.

There wasn’t a great deal about the way the HTC 10 looked or what it did that was truly unique anymore. It did the same smartphone things as every other Android device, and it did them well, and that was about it. The foundations were solid, but relatively bare.

Forget the U Ultra and U Play — the is where the ‘HTC U’ brand story should have begun.

In its 20th anniversary year, HTC’s new flagship is the U11, the name being a collision of old and new branding. Technically, it’s the third member of the HTC U family, after the U Ultra and U Play — but honestly, forget those phones. The U11 is where the “U” brand story should have begun.

It’s a phone with beautiful glass construction bathed in vibrant, shimmering colors — a leap beyond the relatively dull metal unibody of the HTC 10. On the inside, it has all the top-end specs and features you’d expect from a 2017 flagship, along with important improvements in HTC’s own camera and audio tech.

See at Amazon

That’s only part of it, though. What makes the U11 truly unique is Edge Sense, a feature built into the metal rim, which responds to a squeeze and which HTC is pushing hard with this phone’s launch. And in a world where AI assistants increasingly compete for the same attention, HTC wants the U11 to serve as a hub, hosting Google Assistant, Amazon’s Alexa, and more — in addition to its own Sense Companion app.

It’s HTC’s boldest flagship in years. Given that it’s competing for shelf space and sales against the almighty Galaxy S8, it needed to be.

This past week we’ve spent a short time getting to know the HTC U11, and while it’s made a good first impression, the jury’s still out on a few of its core features.

As much as HTC is advancing its design language with color and curved glass this year, it’s also eschewing one of the major trends of smartphones of 2017. The U11 is a traditionally shaped 16:9 slab with a definite forehead and chin to it. From the front, it’s markedly less futuristic than Samsung and LG’s latest efforts. And if you could only see the front face, it’d be easy to confuse it for an HTC 10 or Bolt or U Play.

The U11 is a traditional 16:9 slab with a chin and a forehead, but that has its advantages.

Such a form factor definitely has its advantages, though. I can reach to the notification shade with ease, every time on the U11. And the fingerprint scanner is right there on the front, where I can reliably touch it without fumbling around.

It’s also nowhere near as bulbous as the needlessly oversized U Ultra. With a 5.5-inch screen and minimal side bezels, it’s a comfortable in-hand fit. This is a display size once reserved for enormous “phablet” devices, but now it’s more of a “Goldilocks” screen diagonal. To me, it feels just right.

The U11’s Quad HD SuperLCD5 panel looks bright and vivid indoors and also has good viewing angles. I’m also not noticing the obnoxious over-sharpening I saw on the U Ultra’s panel. But that’s about all we can say for now — I haven’t yet had the chance to use the U11 outdoors, so we’ll have to wait to see how it measures up on daylight visibility.

The front of the phone is a dead ringer for other modern HTC models, with capacitive keys down below and a fingerprint scanner which, if the U Ultra is any indicator, should be both quick and reliable.

There are plenty of small advancements over those older “U” phones, though, which make the U11 feel like a more premium piece of kit. HTC’s BoomSound Hi-Fi setup has been upgraded in the new phone. In a meeting ahead of the May 16 launch, HTC’s head of global product marketing, Darren Sng, told me that the entire body of the phone now acts as a resonant chamber, to boost volume to the level of HTC’s older, front-facing BoomSound speakers. (In my brief time with the phone, I can confirm that it is indeed loud!)

HTC’s USonic earbuds return too, this time with active noise cancellation — in addition to personalized audio profiles, generated through software by mapping your inner ear with sound.

The molded plastic between the display and metal trim is no more; instead, the “3D” glass of the front panel tapers directly into the metal, just like the curvaceous back panel. The symmetry isn’t quite as overt as the Galaxy S8’s, but still, the U11 has a much more organic feel to it than previous models.

The gorgeous ‘solar red’ HTC U11 flickers between gold and blood red.

That’s thanks in part to the phone’s shimmering, colored glass back panel. It’s not unlike what we’ve seen before in the U Play and U Ultra, but it feels like the tolerances have been tightened up a little, and so the U11 sports a more refined version of this “liquid surface design”.

There are five color options — the blue, black, and ice white we’ve previously seen from the U Ultra — in addition to two jaw-droppingly beautiful new hues. “Amazing silver” shifts between a sky blue and silvery gray color as you tilt it through the light.

And “solar red,” my personal favorite, flickers from a fiery blood red to a brilliant gold. (It’s unfortunate that the red won’t be available at launch but instead will come in a later production run — it really is a sight to behold.)

The U.S. will get silver, black, and blue U11s at launch.

Whereas the Galaxy S8 is most striking when viewed from the front, it’s the rear of the U11 that makes it stand out from the crowd. There are many glass-backed smartphones, but none quite match up to the impact of a back panel like the silver or red U11, which literally change color depending on the angle at which they’re held.

These are all the same phone — the ‘solar red’ HTC U11.

It remains to be seen whether this dazzling design will be enough to maintain interest in the U11 through what’s sure to be a highly competitive year. But it’s a strong start.

HTC also hits all the necessary spec points for a modern high-end handset: Snapdragon 835, and models with 4GB RAM + 64GB storage, or 6GB + 128GB, plus microSD. (In the U.S., it’s 4 + 64.) That’s paired with a 3,000mAh battery, Quick Charge 3.0, and IP67 water and dust resistance. Like the U Ultra, there’s no headphone jack, but HTC will at least package a USB-C to 3.5mm dongle in the box this time. (The dongle itself contains a high-end DAC, I’m told.)

More: HTC U11 specs

Squeeze is intimate. We don’t need to teach someone how to do it.

These are all expected incremental upgrades, and there’s nothing at all wrong with that.

But let’s talk about something you won’t find on most spec sheets: Edge Sense. This is the big marketing shtick for the phone — its ability to sense squeezes on its metal trim and do… stuff… accordingly.

“Squeeze is intimate. Squeeze is a form of touch, but it conveys this whole sense of warmness,” Darren Sng told me, “We don’t need to teach someone how to do it.”

Squeeze is also simple, and so there’s not a whole lot to explain about how Edge Sense actually works. You squeeze the sides of the phone, and it responds with a short buzz and then stuff happens. Many of HTC’s own apps have Edge Sense options built in — in the camera app, for instance, it’ll take a photo with a short squeeze (like a shutter button, kinda) or flip between the front and rear cameras with a longer squeeze. Or in the stock keyboard, squeeze to change to voice input.

Edge Sense will eventually learn to work with all your Android apps.

The rest of the time, you can set up default actions for a short or long squeeze. The early U11 units I played with were set up to launch the camera with a short squeeze or open Google Assistant with a longer squeeze.

In the weeks following launch, HTC will release an Edge Sense add-on app, which will allow U11 owners to extend their squeezy antics to any third-party apps by programming them to perform certain actions with a squeeze. (Long-squeezing in Instagram, for instance, might load the app’s camera panel.) This sounds like a great option given that, let’s be honest, third-party devs aren’t going to be in a hurry to support a feature that’s only available on one handset. However, HTC didn’t show this add-on app to us as part of its presentation, so that’s all we know for now.

As part of the phone’s setup process, you’ll calibrate your squeeze sensitivity, which should hopefully help you avoid false positives. In my brief time with the phone, I didn’t find it registering any accidental squeezes, but the distinction between a long squeeze and a short squeeze did take a little getting used to.

Is this really any better than a button? Edge Sense does work anywhere on the edge, I guess. And squeeze input has the advantage of working reliably where touch might not, such as under heavy rain or when you’re wearing gloves.

And hey, if it bothers you that much, you can disable it entirely.

Google Assistant and Alexa will coexist as equals on the U11.

It’s easy to jump to conclusions on a new and very different feature like this. It’s tempting to dismiss it as a gimmick. But the daily convenience angle is going to take time to judge. While I wasn’t blown away by Edge Sense’s utility, I’m not willing to dismiss it just yet. We’ll have a more considered opinion in our full review in the near future.

I mentioned one AI already — Google Assistant — but HTC is getting ready to make the U11 a hub for personal assistants. Amazon’s Alexa will be coming to the U11 in July via a Play Store update in U.S. English, UK English, and German, and there’ll be an option to enable Alexa via a squeeze in Edge Sense. Both will be “first class citizens” on the U11, Darren Sng says.

HTC’s also working with Baidu in China to bring the firm’s DuerOS assistant platform to the U11.

And that’s in addition to HTC’s own Sense Companion, which received a lukewarm reception when it debuted on the U Ultra.

We had a misfire when we started with Sense Companion.

“We had a misfire when we started [with Sense Companion],” Sng told me, “We didn’t realize the scope of how people wanted the AI companion to be much more active. We adopted a reactive approach.”

So in an update to the U11 shortly after launch, Sense Companion will start taking the initiative a little more. Smart alarms will allow Sense Companion to suggest tweaks to your alarm schedule for public holidays, or scheduled meetings. For instance, you might want to switch off your normal workday alarm on a vacation day, or set it a little earlier if you’ve got a meeting first thing.

But HTC’s own AI will remain focused on on-device intelligence like this. And right now it’s still a touch-based interface, with no voice component.

The rest of the U11 software experience is basically unchanged from our last experience of HTC Sense on the U Ultra, the biggest difference being that it’s now based upon the newer Android 7.1.1. The same old HTC apps — still a little tired looking — sit atop a relatively barebones Android UI. In fact, most of the changes from the HTC 10 stem from the upgrade to Nougat, as opposed to any HTC software changes.

That’s all well and good if you like the stock Android aesthetic, but it’s left looking a little bland next to Samsung’s space-age UI.

UltraPixel 3 brings some Pixel-like image processing tricks to the mix.

On the imaging side, the incremental upgrades continue, with HTC’s UltraPixel brand reaching its third generation. It’s still a 12-megapixel sensor with OIS (optical image stabilization), and EIS (electronic image stabilization) for video. The pixel size takes a knock down to 1.4 microns, while the lens itself has a brighter f/1.7 aperture. On paper, then, it matches up to the Samsung Galaxy S8’s main camera.

That’s backed up by “HDR Boost” on the software side — an always-on HDR mode that sounds a lot like Google’s HDR+. The idea is that the U11 is always ready to take HDR photos with zero lag and that this superior processing produces brighter pics with less noise. I didn’t have nearly enough time to come to any real conclusions on the camera, but in moderate indoor lighting it produced clear pics. And the focus on software processing and HDR lines up with where we’re seeing some of the greatest advances in smartphone camera tech.

HTC is also keen to highlight its “Ultraspeed AF,” — which stands for autofous, and nothing else — and which is able to focus in as little as 0.3 seconds even without a laser autofocus unit.

So in short, this could be another HTC camera worth getting excited about. (Expect another big DXOMark record announcement at the Taiwanese launch event.)

Around the front, the 16MP f/2.0 selfie camera from the U Ultra returns, complete with UltraPixel low-light mode to produce lower-resolution, but clearer night shots. And that’s likely to be augmented by the Snapdragon 835’s superior ISP (image signal processor), too.

HTC needs eye-catching, unique stuff to drum up some excitement around its brand and its phone biz, both of which have been flagging for the past few release cycles. Last year it didn’t really have any single standout feature to own with the HTC 10.

HTC needs new and exciting things to make buyers care about its phones again. And in the U11 it has two eye-catching innovations.

This year it has something shiny — that dazzling liquid metal back — and something squeezy — Edge Sense. That’s an improvement, for sure. It gives HTC’s marketers something to work with, and it gives potential customers a reason to pause before automatically buying a Samsung Galaxy S8. Even if Edge Sense really is 90% gimmick — as, let’s be honest, is Samsung’s Edge Screen — maybe it’s just the hook needed to turn buyers’ attention towards a well-built, good-looking smartphone with excellent performance.

But is it enough to compete against a dominant Samsung, a rising Huawei (in Europe, at least) and the influence of disruptive players like OnePlus? That’s a question for another day.

The HTC U11 begins shipping first in select countries from the week after announcement, with general availability coming in June. The unlocked HTC U11 will sell for $649 in the U.S., and it’ll also be available on Sprint, the exclusive carrier launch partner. In the UK, it’s £649 SIM-free from Amazon, Very.co.uk, Argos, and will also be available at Carphone Warehouse, EE and O2.

HTC U11

• HTC U11 preview
• HTC U11 specs
• Manufacturing the U11: Behind the scenes
• Where to buy in the U.S.
• Join our U11 forums
• HTC U11 vs Galaxy S8
• HTC U11 vs LG G6

HTC U11 coming to Sprint in U.S., also unlocked from Amazon and HTC

HTC U11 in the U.S.: where, when and for how much.

HTC’s relationships with the U.S. carriers have weakened, and with the launch of its 2017 flagship the U11 it has just one carrier on board. The HTC U11 is exclusive to Sprint at launch, going up for pre-order immediately online with a proper release on June 9. The pricing from Sprint is set at $0 down and $29 per month for two years, or a total price of $696. Sprint will be offering the U11 in black and blue colors, at least at launch.

Thankfully, you are only stuck going to Sprint if you want to buy the phone directly from your operator. HTC will also be selling the U11 unlocked on Amazon and HTC.com, continuing an excellent trend of selling directly to consumers who want to bypass the carriers. It’s available immediately for pre-order from both storefronts for $649, with an additional color choice of silver alongside black and blue. Unlocked models don’t have a specific shipping date, but we know they will ship in June.

See at Amazon

More: HTC U11 specs

The unlocked model won’t necessarily support all of the niche carrier-specific network enhancements, but it is designed to be used on all four major U.S. carriers — just pop in your SIM and go. The U.S. unlocked model also has the advantage of not being loaded with any carrier-imposed software, and will theoretically be in a better position to receive software updates as a result.

Strongly consider just buying unlocked this time around.

No matter where you buy it, the U11 in the U.S. is the model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage — we won’t have access to the relatively rare 6GB RAM / 128GB storage version. Details on the stunning red and white color models are a bit foggier: we know those colors won’t be available in the U.S. at launch, but no information is available on whether they’ll come stateside in the future or not.

If you do choose to go with Sprint, you’ll get a nice little incentive when pre-ordering before June 8. Early pre-orders will receive two Amazon Echo Dots for free, presumably to promote the fact that the U11 will soon have Amazon Alexa built in as an assistant option. That’s a nice $99 value for those who are already planning to stick with Sprint as their carrier.

HTC U11

• HTC U11 preview
• HTC U11 specs
• Manufacturing the U11: Behind the scenes
• Where to buy in the U.S.
• Join our U11 forums
• HTC U11 vs Galaxy S8
• HTC U11 vs LG G6

HTC U11 vs. LG G6 first comparison: Making up ground

It takes serious work to get back into the flagship game in a meaningful way.

HTC has even less of a foothold in the flagship space than LG does, and the launch of the U11 is hoping to help propel HTC in similar ways to what the G6 has done for LG — picking up sales and improving after a lackluster 2016. For both phones, the way to get back on track is through doing all of the basics right, nailing the hardware and experience instead of reaching for gimmicks that end up hurting the message.

While their relative positions put them below the big leader Samsung in sales and mind share, the HTC U11 and LG G6 are actually quite comparable products. Here’s how they line up.

Both phones focus on strength and heft rather than delicate design features.

Unlike the stark contrast in designs seen between the HTC U11 and Galaxy S8, the LG G6 feels more like a direct match for HTC’s latest phone. The LG G6 of course has a distinct look with its relatively small bezels and 18:9 display, but the overall build feels of the same generation as the HTC U11. Both phones are unapologetically thick and robust, with metal frames that each feel strong rather than just looking svelte. The phones have a satisfying heft in the hand as a result, which plays into the feeling that both HTC and LG are focusing on strength and simplicity rather than design flair just for the sake of looking nice.

HTC’s glass back is a cut above LG’s typical color-coated glass. Not only does it offer a unique feeling of depth to the colors that help it stand out, but the way it wraps around the edges of the phone and meets the metal is exquisite. Flipping around to the front, though, HTC’s larger bezels and capacitive navigation buttons feel set in the past compared to the LG G6. The displays themselves feel comparable in terms of quality, so it’s really a personal preference on how you feel about the “standard” versus “tall” aspect ratio.

HTC takes the lead with a newer processor, but LG has a couple trump cards.

Launching a couple months later, HTC was able to get a newer Snapdragon 835 processor into the U11 compared to the last-gen 821 in the G6. Aside from that, the specs line up similarly — with LG taking the small advantage with a larger battery and of course retaining a headphone jack. Despite HTC doing very interesting things with its USB-C headphones and solid speakers, some people just won’t get over the headphone jack omission. The cameras, too, line up similarly. The U11’s 12MP with an f/1.7 lens matches up to the G6’s 13MP and f/1.7 — there are slight differences in pixel size, but LG has proven to be getting really great quality out of its smaller pixels. Of course the G6 has the trump card of its wide-angle rear camera as well, which continues to go unmatched in the market.

The software styling differentiates these phones further, though again not as much as setting the U11 beside the Galaxy S8. LG has made a move toward simplicity and lowering the number of duplicate apps and services in the G6, and that’s the track HTC has been on for a couple of years now. You can easily see that LG’s overall interface design is a bit more heavy handed than HTC’s, but neither phone hits you over the head with piles of excess features or software cruft. You could say HTC is living a bit in the past with its interface that hasn’t changed substantially since 2015, but at the same time say that for all of LG’s progress it has yet to catch up with modern software expectations. Pick your poison.

Moving on up

HTC and LG are both fighting similar battles trying to make up ground in the high-end space in 2017, and both the U11 and G6 are great devices to help them do just that. They each focus on having a solid phone with all of the proper internal specs, and just a couple of feature hooks to get people interested. LG has its dual cameras and small bezels, while the U11 offers better speakers, cleaner software and its unique “squeeze” functionality.

Both phones have considerable work to do to try and bring their respective companies back up to a high level in the flagship space, but the U11 and G6 each offer a compelling experience that make them worth considering in 2017.

HTC U11

• HTC U11 preview
• HTC U11 specs
• Manufacturing the U11: Behind the scenes
• Where to buy in the U.S.
• Join our U11 forums
• HTC U11 vs Galaxy S8
• HTC U11 vs LG G6

LG G6

• LG G6 review!
• LG G6 specs
• LG G6 vs. Google Pixel: The two best cameras right now
• Everything you need to know about the G6’s cameras
• LG forums

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Made in Taiwan: How HTC designs, manufactures and tests its new U11 flagship

A glimpse at all of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into every single phone we use.

Leading up to the launch of the HTC U11, the company opened up its doors to show the amazing process that goes into making each flagship. I was lucky enough to be one of the journalists invited to see how it all comes together in Taipei, Taiwan. Through several buildings, offices, labs and production lines, I saw how HTC took the U11 from the early stages of design all the way to testing of individual components and finally assembly of individual phones that will soon be on store shelves.

From start to finish, it was an incredibly insightful experience.

Peering inside the design headquarters

HTC’s Taipei headquarters serve as the principle area for research and design, and is responsible for so much of the iconic HTC hardware over the past decade. It is here where I was able to get a glimpse at the design labs that took the U11 from drawing to prototype and finally into production. The massive building is filled with sharp right angles, copious amounts of smooth white walls, and glass that lets the light flow in from the open atrium that runs the entire height of the building.

More: Read our HTC U11 preview

For all of its excellent design nuances, the U11 still feels connected to the HTC phones of old.

The design team works away in an open office environment, in which I had the opportunity to be enamored with tables full of exploded component views of the new U11 and unreleased HTC design prototypes. (A fun one, in particular, was a prototype from ~2009 with a slide-out game pad that looked similar to an HTC Legend.) All three phones in the U series have a distinct glass back that is a culmination of years of working with glass in this building — and that work shows with the entirely unique colors and feeling of depth you don’t find in any other glass phone.

HTC is understandably proud of its hardware design (its design awards are prominently on display), which helps you understand a bit why it hasn’t taken more wild risks in recent years. The HTC U11, for all of its excellent design nuances, still feels very connected to the HTC phones of the last five years. Even if you feel HTC’s look as gotten stale, you can appreciate that continuity.

The testing that goes into individual components

Down the street from the headquarters, HTC has another building dedicated to finely tuning some of the individual components of the phones such as the speakers and cameras. Full departments for testing and developing audio equipment are here, including massive specialty anechoic chambers. The work here ranges from development of individual speaker hardware to tuning the experience of phone calls and headphones in a variety of simulated audio environments.

Testing individual components isn’t glamorous, but it’s immensely important.

Down the hall you’ll find the camera lab, which beyond feeling extremely odd thanks to its black floor, black walls and blackout curtains (to mitigate glare) is an extremely important area to the fine tuning of the camera processing. Purpose-built machines test how the camera firmware interprets different lighting conditions, colors and real-world scenes, giving feedback on how engineers can tweak individual parts. HTC’s camera engineers say their goal is to start with the base line of making the cameras reflect the real world as accurately as possible, then make slight adjustments sot he images continue to be appealing to the human eye.

More: HTC U11 specs

Apparently the work has paid off: HTC is touting that the U11’s rear camera has the best-ever mobile DxOMark Mobile score of 90, one point higher than the Google Pixel. We’ll have to see how it translates into the real world.

From components to completed phone in one building

About 45 minutes outside of Taipei, in Taoyuan City, HTC’s manufacturing facility stands tall in dark glass and concrete surrounded by otherwise typical low-rise city buildings. Inside, I watched U11s being built — moving from sheets of individual components all the way to complete assembly and testing.

The primary components of the phones are assembled in one long line, primarily by automated machines controlled by just a handful of people. Sheets of processors, connectors, memory units and other tiny pieces are placed on main boards, which are originally attached in sets of four. After some careful placement, they’re fed into a huge nitrogen reflow oven to effectively bake the components together so they’re all soldered in place.

A series of custom-built robotic arms scour through the incoming flow of main boards, separating them and performing various tasks before handing the boards off to the next position. At the end of the line, taking just a handful of minutes per board, a near-complete internal assembly comes out.

Test, test and test again — the production line strives for perfection.

One floor up, the assembled internal components move to a distinctly more human-run line for final assembly. The production line is marked “OCN,” coinciding with the “Ocean” codename for the U11. A couple dozen workers per line methodically piece together their selected components, while visually inspecting and scanning each one before placing it in the U11’s frame. Several steps down the line, with the phones sealed, a “pre-test” section of the line tumble-tests every phone — placing the phone in a rubber protective case, it’s tumbled in a machine 30 times over to test that internal components are securely attached. After completing the tumble test, their water resistance is tested with fine air jets. It is only after passing this pre-testing process that the phones go through a rigorous automated machine testing of the screen, ports, radios and cameras. The phones have the appropriate software flashed, and they’re packaged.

One in 10 phones are selected for a completely new round of extra testing, in which a worker actually boots up the device, performing dozens of additional tests simulating real-world use. If a single flaw is found, the entire batch of phones surrounding it is removed from the line.

And then the HTC U11 is ready for you

A one-day tour of HTC’s facilities is incredibly insightful, although it still dramatically sells short the amount of time and energy that has gone into the production of the U11. Production cycles for these phones typically last at least a year, meaning as the U11 is released to the world its successor is already under development.

But by seeing all of the individual pieces (figuratively and literally) coming together, you can appreciate the amazing amount of work that goes into making a modern smartphone that fulfills all of our needs and desires.

Ed. note: Due to tight restrictions on photography inside its production facilities, photos used in this article are all pre-approved by HTC for publication.

Our HTC U11 preview

Now that you’ve seen how the HTC U11 was made, you’ll want to know how it all comes together. Be sure to read our full HTC U11 hands-on preview to see everything HTC’s 2017 flagship has to offer.

Read our complete HTC U11 hands-on preview!

HTC U11 specs: Snapdragon 835, 5.5-inch QHD display, 12MP f/1.7 camera

HTC’s 2017 flagship boasts top-tier internals.

With the arrival of the HTC U11, the Taiwanese company kicks its new “U” brand into high gear, with a true 2017 flagship featuring suitably advanced internals. The short story: Snapdragon 835 — the first phone to use this chip across all regions — 4 or 6GB of RAM, 64 or 128GB of storage, 3,000mAh battery, new 12-megapixel UltraPixel 3 camera with upgraded HDR, and of course HTC’s squeezy Edge Sense feature. Check out the longer version down below.

Behold, the HTC U11 spec sheet!

Operating System	Android 7.1.1, HTC Sense
Platform	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Network	4G LTE Cat. 16
RAM	4 / 6GB
Storage	64 / 128GB UFS + microSD
Dual SIM	Some regions. Hybrid SIM2/SD slot
Display	5.5-inch Quad HD SuperLCD 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Back Panel	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Main Camera	12MP, 1.4μm pixels, f/1.7 lens, OIS, EISUltraPixel 3, UltraSpeed AF, HDR Boost
Front Camera	16MP, f/2.0 with UltraPixel mode
Water/Dust Resistance	IP67
Battery	3,000mAh, Qualcomm QuickCharge 3.0
Audio	HTC BoomSound Hi-FiHTC USonicUSB-C + noise cancelling headphones
Colors	Ice white, brilliant black, sapphire blue, solar red, amazing silver

HTC U11

• HTC U11 preview
• HTC U11 specs
• Manufacturing the U11: Behind the scenes
• Where to buy in the U.S.
• Join our U11 forums
• HTC U11 vs Galaxy S8
• HTC U11 vs LG G6

Xiaomi Redmi 4 is now live in India; prices start at ₹6,999

The Redmi 4 is Xiaomi’s latest entry-level phone in India.

At an event in New Delhi, Xiaomi launched the Redmi 4 in the Indian market. The phone will be sold exclusively on Amazon India, with the base variant selling for ₹6,999.

There’s a lot to like in the handset, which will succeed the Redmi 3S in India. Xiaomi sold over 4 million units of the Redmi 3S over the last six months, and it is looking to build on that momentum with the Redmi 4. Here’s a look at the specs on offer:

Operating System	MIUI 8 based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
Display	5-inch 720p (1280 x 720) IPS LCD panel 296ppi pixel density
SoC	Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 Eight Cortex A53 cores up to 1.4GHz
GPU	Adreno 505
RAM	2GB/3GB/4GB LPDDR3 RAM
Storage	16GB/32GB/64GB storage microSD slot up to 128GB
Rear camera	13MP with f/2.0 lens LED flash 1080p video recording
Front shooter	5MP with f/2.2 lens
Connectivity	WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1 (A2DP), LTE with VoLTE micro-USB, 3.5mm audio jack
Battery	4100mAh battery
Fingerprint	Rear fingerprint sensor
Dimensions	139.3 x 69.9 x 8.65 mm
Weight	150g

The base model of the Redmi 4 will feature 2GB of RAM and 16GB storage for ₹6,999. The variant with 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage will set you back ₹8,999, and the version with 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage will retail for ₹10,999.

Xiaomi obviously understands the Indian market better than most vendors, and the pricing reflects that. Like the Redmi 3S before it, Xiaomi is going to have a tough time ensuring it has adequate stock of the Redmi 4.

Alongside the Redmi 4, Xiaomi also launched the Mi Router 3C — a Wi-Fi N-class router with a maximum bandwidth of 300Mbit — in the country. As is the case with most Xiaomi products sold in India, the Router 3C is aimed at the budget segment, and will be sold for ₹1,199.

HTC U11 official, pressure-sensitive sides, noise cancellation and Alexa

After months of speculation and leaks, HTC has finally announced its new flagship smartphone: the HTC U11.

Originally codenamed Ocean and often referred to simply as HTC U, the phone was launched in Taipei today.

It comes in a unibody design, with aluminium back and fused front glass, to give it a sleek, smart look. It is also IP67 rated, meaning it is water and dustproof.

There’s an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 running the show.

The HTC U11’s main feature, that strikes it apart from rivals, is Edge Sense: the ability to be interacted with through a squeeze. Applications and the camera can be started through applying pressure to the sides.

The rear camera has a 12-megapixel UltraPixel sensor and five-axis optical image stabilisation is of benefit to still and video capture. It can record clips in 4K with 24-bit audio recording.

A 16-megapixel snapper is on the front, much like the version on the HTC U Ultra.

• Watch the official HTC U11 launch event here, live

Different levels of pressure on the sides can be used for different functions, using the camera and other features.

Pictures can be taken by squeezing the sides of the phone, for example. Alternatively, you can use it in combination with a voice command.

The HTC U11 has both Google Assistant and Alexa support for the US, UK and Germany, which both work with the Edge Sense functionality.

HTC BoomSound – Hi-Fi Edition audio is on board, to improve the stereo performance of the phone, plus active noise cancellation for when you use headphones. An on-board microphone reads ambient noise and sends counteracting signals to the included ear-buds so you get a more immersive, isolation sound.

The buds connect via USB-C as there’s no headphone port on the phone. An adapter is included in the box for those who want to use their existing headset.

It comes in five colours: amazing silver, sapphire blue, brilliant black, ice white and solar red.

Price is yet to be revealed, but it has been confirmed that availability in some regions will start next week. A full rollout will happen in June.

HTC U11: What can you do with a squeezable phone?

The new HTC U11 introduces a new method for interaction with your device: squeezing.

While most smartphone manufacturers are copying and reproducing features we’ve often seen elsewhere, HTC’s new method of interaction is all the more unique. At last, something new to get excited about!

But is this new Edge Sense just a gimmick to make it stand out from its rivals? Here’s the low-down on what HTC’s new squeeze action will do.

How does Edge Sense squeeze work?

Let’s start here: squeezing is exactly as it sounds. The HTC U11 has pressure-sensitive areas around the sides of the handset meaning you can squeeze the phone when you’re holding it and the phone will detect that action. HTC is calling the whole thing Edge Sense. 

When you squeeze the phone, it will be acknowledged with a haptic buzz, so you know it’s working and then the phone will react and do what you’ve set that action to do. 

You can have long squeezes or short squeezes and they are customisable. All you have to do is give the phone a squeeze – it’s really simple. 

Does the HTC U11 still have buttons?

Yes. HTC hasn’t removed the buttons, so you still have a power button and a volume rocker on the phone, as well as a fingerprint sensor on the front. In that regard, it’s a normal phone and all the buttons do all the things you expect them to do.

The squeezing is an additional option. You don’t have to use it, but it’s something you can do without changing your grip or moving your hands around.

Won’t the squeeze be detected whenever I grip my phone?

Yes and no. You can change the level of squeeze you need to result in it counting as a squeeze and normal gripping won’t trigger the action. If you were clinging onto your phone while someone was trying to steal it out of your hand, then we suspect it would be triggered.

When you setup the phone you’ll be asked to squeeze the phone to set the level needed. We can’t see that you’ll have many accidental triggers because it’s a fairly distinct action. 

What can you do with a squeeze?

HTC is offering a load of customisation, so you’ll be able to trigger a whole range of action through squeezing. That might be something you do all the time – like launching the camera – or might be something you want to reserve as a special action for the squeeze, like opening the Wi-Fi hotspot.

By default, the squeeze will do different things in different places. Here are some examples. 

A squeeze from the lock screen will launch the camera. A squeeze will then focus and take a photo. When the camera is open a long squeeze will switch from front to back camera.

When the keyboard is open, i.e, you’re entering text, a squeeze can switch to voice entry instead.

A long squeeze will launch Google Assistant, so you can avoid using the hotword 

Basically, squeezing can be used to launch or trigger an action. HTC will let you change the default actions to launch and app of your choice, take a screenshot, turn on the torch/flashlight, launch voice recording, launch HTC Sense Companion, turn the hotspot on or off.

Will HTC support third-party apps with squeeze?

Yes it will, but you’ll have to wait for an app to be made available to control Edge Sense, which is due in July 2017. 

This new app can then be used to support any app on your phone. That means you’d be able to use a squeeze to take particular actions in apps that you like. We’re not sure if that means you’ll be able to squeeze to order an Uber home or throw a Poke Ball, but we can’t wait to find out. 

What phones support the squeezable Edge Sense?

Only the HTC U11 will offer this function. It will be available from 18 May, rolling out globally.

• HTC U11 preview: Easy squeezy, liquid surface pleasy

HTC U11 preview: Easy squeezy, liquid surface pleasy

It seems like an age since we had an HTC flagship, the HTC 10, as the company chose to wait so that it could include the Snapdragon 835, the latest generation of Qualcomm chipset in its new device.

HTC is once again leaving nothing to chance, taking the concept launched with the previous U handsets – U Play and U Ultra – and producing a third, the flagship, aiming to hit the ball out of the park.

If we had a dollar for every time we said that HTC needed a hit, we’d have more cash than the beleaguered smartphone manufacturer. So is the HTC U11 that phone?

HTC U11 design

• Liquid surface design in striking colours
• Gorilla Glass 5 front and back
• Conventional display aspect
• IP67 waterproofing 

The HTC U11 might look familiar to HTC fans, because it follows the path laid by the HTC U Ultra and Play announced earlier in 2017. That sees a switch from HTC’s metal unibody design, to a design that uses glass front and back.

That’s quite the switch, but in a market now dominated by metal phones, it’s no bad thing. No one can deny that the HTC U11 is unique. The colours created by HTC’s use of glass are inimitable, layered with depth, the sort of finish you might find on a custom car paint job. This isn’t a flat grey that looks the same from all directions, it’s a shifting shimmer, a dynamic finish that looks wonderful.

Pocket-lint

Take the Amazing Silver pictured here. We’d normally baulk from such a name, but even in the short time we had with this new phone, you can’t help but notice how many colours come out of it. Sometimes it’s a cold blue, sometimes it’s lavender, sometimes it’s like a mirror, reflecting your image back. Boring it is not. 

But a fingerprint magnet it is. Metal has the advantage of mostly not showing oily fingerprint marks, which is really what lead the market to be filled with metal phones (that and the strength). The HTC U11 wipes clean easily enough, but you might find that the lighter finishes keep their looks better than the darker. Still, cleaning isn’t a problem and fingerprints just wipe off, unless you’re smearing your hands with Norwegian Formula six times a day.

The construction itself is rather like the Samsung Galaxy S models, pairing glass front and back with a metal core that makes up the edges. Everything is beautifully sculpted with a high quality finish and you get IP67 water resistance, meaning that HTC is keeping up with the likes of Apple and Samsung in this handset.

Unlike Samsung, this is a regular aspect device with a 16:9 display, that means there’s some space above and below the display, the front housing the fingerprint scanner. Although we didn’t test this, if it performs like that of the HTC 10, we’ll be perfectly happy. Some may even say that sticking to the conventional gives the HTC U11 appeal that Samsung’s radical design change in the Galaxy S8 loses. 

HTC U11: Hardware and display

• 5.5-inch SLCD3 2560 x 1440 pixel display, 534ppi
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, 4 or 6GB RAM
• Dual SIM or microSD, 64 or 128GB storage
• 3000mAh battery 

Sticking to a 16:9 display leaves the HTC U11 in familiar territory. It measures 5.5-inches on the diagonal with a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution for 534ppi. It’s topped with Gorilla Glass 5 to keep it free of scratches, and there’s the neat 2.5D curve at the edges like the HTC 10.

Also familiar is the Super LCD 5 panel. Rather than using AMOLED which is gaining favour in smartphones, HTC is using LCD. The HTC 10 was also Super LCD 5 and we had no problems with it. It might not have quite the vigour of Samsung’s displays (both in terms of vibrancy of colour and brightness), but first impressions are good from the time we’ve spent with it.

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There’s no mention of anything like HDR on this display: where Samsung and LG have both pushed HDR capabilities in mobile displays on the LG G6 and Samsung Galaxy S8, presumably to support the TV HDR ecosystem they offer, HTC doesn’t appear to be heading down that route.

HTC confirmed that the timing of the U11 launch was related to the availability of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset. This is Qualcomm’s latest and greatest, moving to a 10nm architecture and promising efficiencies along the way. Expect it to be faster and make better use of the 3000mAh battery than previous generation devices. 

It’s difficult to judge how the HTC U11 will perform in the real world, but we’d expect it to be perfectly slick, not only because it’s loaded with powerful hardware, but because of HTC’s long experience in optimising software.

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Perhaps strange is that while everyone gets the same chipset (unlike Samsung), there are two different RAM versions. The standard phone gets 4GB RAM paired with 64GB storage, sitting alongside a boosted device with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Both have a multi-purpose slot that’s either dual SIM, or accepting microSD.

Exactly why there’s two different loadouts and exactly which phone you’ll be able to get where, we’re not quite sure. However, we expect that the 6GB version will be aimed toward regions like China. How the performance will vary, again we don’t know, but if HTC is going head-to-head on the spec sheet, this will certainly help it compete.

HTC U11: The big squeeze

• Squeeze gesture customisable
• Edge Sense

The biggest talking point about the HTC U11 is likely to be its support for a new interaction, squeezing. HTC pitched squeeze as a natural “intimate” gesture, something that we all know how to do. Before we slam it for being a gimmick, let’s just say it is a very natural thing to do and it works surprisingly well.

Backed by haptics, there’s a gentle acknowledgement of your squeeze, so you know you’ve done it. You can customise the action – both long and short squeezes – so that you can launch an app or execute a particular action. That might be a squeeze of the locked phone to launch the camera and a further squeeze to focus and take the shot. A long squeeze in the camera will switch from front to back camera. Simple.

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Bundled together under the banner of Edge Sense, the new squeeze gesture will be supported by lots of native apps on the phone. For example, squeezing when the keyboard is open will launch voice entry so that you can speak your message. In many ways, Edge Sense is designed to make things easier.

HTC will also be supporting every other Android app in Google Play, which is a big commitment. To do so, there will be an app to download that will essentially let you say what you want squeeze to do in other third-party apps. This controller app won’t be available at launch, but should be available from July 2017.

Pocket-lint

Those concerned that simply gripping the phone will be mistaken for a squeeze gesture shouldn’t: when you setup the phone you can specify how hard squeezes will be and you can easily change this level. That will mean that holding the phone isn’t mistaken for a gesture. 

Of course we’ve not had the time to fully test this in the real world: living with the phone for longer will reveal whether squeeze becomes a useful addition, or if this point of differentiation gets forgotten – after all, the phone still operates as every other phone does if you choose not to use squeeze.

• HTC U11: What can you do with a squeezable phone?

HTC U11: Software and Sense

• Google Assistant
• Amazon Alexa
• Android with HTC Sense
• Sense Companion 

HTC’s recent devices have been peeling away features in Sense and offering stock Android apps as the default. This is exactly what you get in the HTC U11, an Android Nougat device with HTC’s light Sense layered over the top. 

For anyone running the HTC 10 with the latest Nougat update, you very much know what the U11 looks like. In many ways, the closer proximity to Android means there’s less bloat and no duplication of apps, but with HTC still bringing its launcher and a few tweaks across the UI.

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Set alongside the Google Pixel, however, HTC Sense now seems to offer few advantages and we could go as far as saying that Google’s tweaks in the Pixel make it a little more interesting. Both stand in stark contrast to Samsung’s complete overhaul in TouchWiz; while the Galaxy S8 has been widely praised on the software front, we’re not sure people will be getting so exciting about the HTC U11 as it all feels a little too familiar.

• Samsung Galaxy S8+ review: The best Android phone, bar none

The standard arrangement of having BlinkFeed ready to feed you content feels a little dated now, especially when it’s so easy to get to content from all those source’s native apps in a flash. There’s power in this phone and our first impression is that the software flies. 

Sense Companion is in place once again, aiming to guide and advise as it did on the HTC U Ultra, but we still think we’re waiting for Companion to realise its potential, with HTC confirming that there will be updates in June, bringing smart alarms and more details on phone usage.

Elsewhere you have Google Assistant – able to be launched with a long squeeze from the home page – as well as Amazon’s Alexa. HTC isn’t being picky, it wants to offer you the choice of assistant so you can do whatever you like. However, again, Alexa won’t be on the phone at launch, it will be enabled in the July update – and support US and UK English, as well as German.

HTC U11: BoomSound Hi-Fi gets better 

• USonic headphones
• BoomSound Hi-Fi
• Active noise cancellation

BoomSound is one of HTC’s greatest offerings. Although we don’t now have the big front-firing speakers, HTC has recreated the BoomSound magic in Hi-Fi edition by using the ear speaker and the second speaker to bring the noise. On the HTC 10 it worked and we’d still rank HTC as offering some of the best quality and highest volumes from a smartphone. 

On the HTC U11, this is tweaked slightly, using the entire phone as a resonating chamber according to the company. We’ve not had a chance to fully test it, but it sure sounded sweet in the short clips we’ve heard.

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But HTC is also marching on relentless with improving the headphone experience of the HTC U11. Some will be sad to hear that there’s no 3.5mm headphone socket, but the bundled USonic headphones are better than your average bundled headphones, so that’s not a great loss. 

They also offer a number of advantages. As before, HTC uses its USonic feature to tune the headphones to your ears and the environment around. This tuning from HTC is a little more detailed than the equivalent service that you get on Samsung’s phones – and it’s more overt too, as it will prompt you to tune the headset when you connect it.

New on the HTC U11 is active noise cancellation. We’ve not had the chance to fully test this, but we suspect it works in the same way as Sony has in the past, i.e., that you have to use the HTC headphones with HTC’s phone to get it to work.

For those who do want to use existing 3.5mm headphones, HTC is bundling the adapter in the box, meaning you can hook right up. You also don’t miss out on some of the goodness, as the adapter contains a DAC – digital-analogue converter – that promises to make your music sound even better. This is universal, so could be used with other USB Type-C devices too, but that does mean it’s a little larger than you might want it to be.

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HTC U11: The return of the UltraPixel camera

• 16-megapixel front camera, f/2.0, 150 degree wide angle
• 12-megapixel rear camera, 0.3 second AF, OIS, 1.4µm pixels, f/1.7

The HTC 10 offered a reasonable camera experience, as did the HTC U Ultra, so the HTC U11 is starting in a good place. There’s a 12-megapxiel rear camera, with 1.4µm pixels, which are nice and large to capture more light. There’s a maximum aperture of f/1.7 and optical image stabilisation. Basically, HTC is hitting all the hardware points you’d want it to, with HTC calling it UltraPixel 3. 

The camera promises to be fast, with 0.3 second autofocusing, but also using its power to give you constant, lag-free automatic HDR, to make your photos look better. The ability to squeeze the phone to launch the camera, and then squeeze to take a photo also looks like a benefit and first impressions are good. 

The camera app looks a lot like previous versions of the HTC camera and we haven’t had the chance to fully test it yet. 

The front camera is now a 16-megapixel sensor, offering a 150-degree wide angle to get everything in it, as well as an f/2.0 aperture. Again, we’ll need more time with it before we can draw any conclusions about its performance. 

On the video front, the big change here is 3D audio, captured using the four mics around the phone’s body. These will now zoom with the camera, so that the music fits what you’re looking at.

First Impressions

The HTC U11 takes a few steps to make itself different to everything else. The colour schemes and finish are unique to the rear, even if the front of the phone looks a lot like it did last year. Sure, some will say the colour doesn’t matter because you’ll need a cover on it anyway, but the HTC U11 really is spectacular with its liquid surface finish.

The addition of waterproofing is a long time overdue and it’s great to see HTC keeping up with the Joneses; the addition of active noise cancellation on top to the excellent USonic experience will likely see the HTC U11 as one of the best sounding phones around, if you’re happy to use HTC’s headphones.

Then you have squeezing, which no one else offers, but is perhaps the easiest thing to dismiss as a gimmick. But it works from what we’ve seen, providing another route to interaction with your device. We’ve still a lot to learn, but we’re encouraged by what we see. The HTC U11 looks like it offers enough to take the fight to its rivals, even if it puts the gloss on the rear of the body, rather than into the display.

The HTC U11 will be available from 18 May in some territories, and we’d expect the 64GB version to cost around £649 in the UK.