HTC U12 Life announced with funky design and dual cameras, starts at £299
The U12 Life won’t be coming to North America.
A few months back, HTC unveiled its flagship phone for 2018 in the form of the U12+. The U12+ got off to a rough start, but software updates have since made it a pretty decent handset. Now, HTC’s setting its sights on the mid-range market with the all-new U12 Life.
When you first look at the U12 Life, its design sticks out as one of the most unique we’ve seen this year. HTC decided to go with a two-finish look, featuring “soft, subtle stripes on an acrylic glass unibody with a metal-like design.” Thanks to this and the two available colors of Moonlight Blue and Twilight Purple, the U12 Life is easily one of the best-looking phones in its price range.
Around front, you’ll find a 6.0-inch 18:9 display with a resolution of 1080 x 2160. The front-facing camera is 13MP with an f/2.0 aperture while the dual rear cameras consist of 16MP + 5MP sensors that allow you to capture portrait shots.
Inside of the U12 Life is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor, 4 or 6GB of RAM, 64 or 128GB of expandable storage, and a 3,600 mAh battery. The phone also has USB-C, a 3.5mm headphone jack, NFC, and Android 8.1 Oreo with HTC Sense on top of it.
HTC says pricing for the U12 Life will start at £299 in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, there aren’t any plans to bring this to North America.
See at HTC
The Google Home Max is now available in the UK for £399
The premium speaker is available to purchase starting today.
Last October, Google took the wraps off its most premium smart speaker to date — the Google Home Max. Almost a year since the gadget was first announced, it’s finally making its way to the United Kingdom.
This is the exact same Home Max as before, meaning you’ve got two 4.5-inch subwoofers, custom tweeters, and Google’s Smart Sound system that allows the Home Max to sense the room it’s in and tweak your music accordingly so that it sounds as good as possible.
Add that together with everything you can do with the Google Assistant that’s built right into the Home Max, and you end up with a pretty unique package.
The Home Max is available for purchase in the UK starting today online at the Google Store and in-stores exclusively at John Lewis. Pricing is set at £399.
See at Google Store
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Xiaomi is launching the Redmi 6/6A and Redmi 6 Pro in India on Sep. 5
Xiaomi is looking to solidify its position in India with the launch of the Redmi 6 series.
Xiaomi launched the Mi A2 in India earlier this month and its sub-brand POCO unveiled the F1 a few weeks ago, and it looks like the Chinese manufacturer is just getting started. Invites sent out to the media suggest Xiaomi is set to launch the Redmi 6 series in India next week. The Redmi 6. Redmi 6A, and the Redmi 6 Pro are all set to make their debut in the country at the event.
The Redmi 6 and 6A are notable for using MediaTek chipsets — Helio P22 and A22 respectively — and the Redmi 6 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 625, which we’ve already seen in nearly a dozen Xiaomi phones to date. The Redmi series is the best-selling lineup in India, with the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro amassing five million sales in just under four months.
The Redmi series is also crucial to Xiaomi’s success in India as it seeks to extend its lead in the market. In fact, four Redmi phones accounted for 26% of the total smartphone shipments in the country last quarter, and it’s clear that Xiaomi is intent on continuing that streak.
With the launch just under a week away, we should know all about the pricing and availability of the Redmi 6 series shortly.
These are all the Android One phones available today
Here’s what you need to know about the current wave of Android One phones.
The Android One program was initially designed as a way to ensure seamless updates for entry-level devices, but Google didn’t see a lot of traction on that front. As such, Google went back to the drawing board and reimagined Android One as an initiative that isn’t limited to the budget segment.
Today, you’ll find Android One phones on sale from $200 all the way to $800, and the unifying theme among all of these devices is a clean and uncluttered user interface along with the promise of quick updates. The program isn’t confined to emerging markets either, as there are Android One phones up for sale in the U.S., UK, and most global markets.
With handsets available across a wide variety of price points, there’s no dearth of choice if you’re looking for a capable phone with pure Android.
LG G7 One
The LG G7 One shares the same metal-and-glass design as the standard LG G7, but gets rid of LG’s software for Android One. The phone has a 6.1-inch QHD+ display, but LG interestingly went with last year’s Snapdragon 835 instead of the newer Snapdragon 845.
Also, the phone comes with 32GB of storage and not 64GB as is becoming more and more common in the mid-range segment. There’s also a 3000mAh battery, built-in DAC for high-fidelity audio, and stereo speakers. There’s no mention of when the LG G7 One will make its debut, but it should be interesting to see the price point the device will be targeted at.
Nokia 6.1 Plus
The Nokia 6.1 Plus is HMD’s latest budget phone. It is also the first from the brand to sport a cutout on the screen. There are several reasons to be excited for the Nokia 6.1 Plus — it has beefy hardware in the form of a Snapdragon 636, comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage as standard, and has a compact form factor that makes it an ideal device for one-handed use.
Nokia 6.1 Plus preview: The start of something great
Retailing for just over $230, the Nokia 6.1 Plus is one of HMD’s best budget phones yet. The robust hardware coupled with Android One ensure the device doesn’t lag when it comes to everyday usage, and the build quality and fit and finish are quintessential Nokia.
See at Flipkart
Xiaomi Mi A2
Xiaomi’s 2018 Android One phone packs considerable hardware upgrades in the form of a Snapdragon 660 chipset and retooled cameras. The Mi A2 particularly stands out for undercutting the Nokia 7 Plus by a hundred dollars, but on the down side, you don’t get NFC, a 3.5mm jack, or a MicroSD slot.
But if you don’t care about those features, the Mi A2 is a great way to get the same hardware as the Nokia 7 Plus for $300. The phone is slated to pick up the Android 9.0 Pie update before the end of the year, and Xiaomi will deliver monthly security updates as well.
Xiaomi Mi A2 review: A great sewqual with fantastic cameras
If there’s one reason to consider the Mi A2 over the Nokia 7 Plus, it’s the camera. The 12MP + 20MP dual cameras at the back do a great job in both daylight and low-light shooting conditions, and the front 20MP camera is also one of the best in this category.
Elsewhere, you have a 3000mAh battery that delivers a day’s worth of use consistently. Overall, the Mi A2 builds on the strengths of its predecessor, while introducing a camera that is one of the best we’ve seen in this segment to date.
See at Mi.com
Nokia 7 Plus
The Nokia 7 Plus is one of the best mid-range phones of 2018. It comes with an eye-catching design that sees copper accents along the mid-frame and at the back, and is currently the only device in HMD’s portfolio to adopt the 18:9 form factor.
It isn’t lacking in the hardware department either, thanks to a Snapdragon 660, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage along with a microSD slot. It also comes with dual 12MP + 13MP cameras, a 16MP front shooter, and a 3800mAh battery that delivers two days’ worth of usage from a full charge.
Nokia 7 Plus review: Come for the value, stay for the excitement
The build quality is outstanding, and honestly, you can’t ask for much more from a $400 phone. The Nokia 7 Plus is available from Amazon India for $385 (₹25,999), and is up for sale in the UK for $475 (£349).
See at Amazon
Nokia 8 Sirocco
Earlier this year, HMD Global announced that it would be committing to the Android One program for all of its upcoming phones. The Finnish manufacturer revived the Nokia brand last year, introducing phones with classic industrial design and a clean user interface devoid of any bloat. So it stands to reason that the next step for HMD would be to formalize its association with Google by partnering over Android One.
The Nokia 8 Sirocco is the most expensive Android One phone currently available, with the phone selling for just over $880 (£649) in the UK. HMD has also kicked off sales in India, where it costs $745 (₹49,999).
The Nokia 8 Sirocco features a 5.5-inch QHD panel, Snapdragon 835, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, dual 12MP cameras at the back, 5MP front shooter, and a 3260mAh battery.
The phone has a dual curved screen, and while it’s still using a 16:9 display, it has minimal bezels at the top and bottom. The curved form factor and the durable chassis make it stand out in this segment, and being an Android One device means it will be one of the first to receive platform and security updates.
See at Flipkart
Nokia 6.1
HMD’s budget phone has been refreshed for 2018 with a beefier chipset and USB-C. The Nokia 6.1 has the same durable chassis as the 2017 variant, but is now powered by the Snapdragon 630.
You also get 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, 16MP camera, 8MP front camera, and a 3000mAh battery. And unlike the rest of HMD’s lineup, you’ll be able to buy the Nokia 6 in the U.S. for $269.
See at Amazon
Xiaomi Mi A1
Xiaomi’s Mi A1 is one of the best value-for-money phones around. For what amounts to $220, you get a 5.5-inch Full HD panel, Snapdragon 625 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, dual 12MP cameras with a dedicated zoom lens for 2x optical zoom, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.2, and a 3080mAh battery.
Xiaomi Mi A1 review: Best of both worlds
The Chinese manufacturer hasn’t put a foot wrong with the Mi A1, but the main drawback with the phone is availability. The Mi A1 is officially sold in India and other Southeast Asian markets, and has recently made its debut in Europe for €229. If you’re looking to pick it up from a country where it isn’t officially available just yet, then your best bet is to go through a Chinese retailer.
See at GearBest
Motorola Moto X4
The Moto X4 is an important device as it’s the only device outside the Nexuses and Pixels that is officially certified to work on Project Fi. There’s plenty to like with the phone, and the decent hardware combined with Project Fi’s service makes it a potent combination.
Moto X4 review: A mid-range phone done right
On the hardware front, the Moto X4 offers a 5.2-inch Full HD panel backed by Gorilla Glass 3, Snapdragon 630, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, dual 12MP + 8MP cameras at the back along with a 16MP front shooter, IP68 certification, and a 3000mAh battery. The phone retails for $399 in the U.S., and is up for sale in India for ₹22,999 ($360) for the variant with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
See at Google
HTC U11 Life
The U11 Life has a lot of hardware similarities with the Moto X4. You get a 5.2-inch Full HD screen, Snapdragon 630, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and IP67 dust and water resistance. You lose out on the dual cameras — with the phone sporting a single 16MP shooter at the back — but you do get a 16MP camera up front as well.
HTC U11 Life review: High style at a low price, with compromises
HTC has opted for differentiation with a feature called Edge Sense, a squeezable frame that lets you launch the camera or Google Assistant by just pressing down on the sides of the phone. Other specs include a 2600mAh battery, and while that’s decent enough to last the better part of a day, the phone doesn’t have a 3.5mm jack. You do get HTC’s USonic earbuds bundled in the box though. Not bad considering the phone costs $349.
See at HTC
Y!Mobile X1/X2/S1/S2
If you’re looking to pick up an Android One phone in Japan, SoftBank’s Y!Mobile has you covered. The carrier has a strong lineup of phones, including Sharp’s X1 and S1, Kyocera’s S2, and the HTC X2.
Let’s kick off with Sharp’s offerings first: both the X1 and S1 feature Full HD IGZO panels and are dust and water resistant. The X1 has a 5.3-inch screen, is powered by the Snapdragon 435, and offers 3GB of RAM/32GB storage, microSD slot, 16MP rear camera, 8MP front shooter, and a huge 3900mAh battery.
The S1 features a 5.0-inch screen, Snapdragon 430, 2GB of RAM/16GB storage, microSD slot, 13MP camera, 8MP front camera, and a 2530mAh battery. Both Sharp phones are on Android 8.0 Oreo.
Coming over to the Kyocera S2, the budget phone has a 5-inch 720p display, Snapdragon 425, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, microSD slot, 13MP rear shooter, a 2MP front camera, and 2300mAh battery. The S1 is available on monthly plans starting as low as $20 (¥2,138).
Finally, the HTC X2 offers a 5.2-inch Full HD panel, Snapdragon 630, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, microSD slot, 16MP front and rear cameras, and a 2600mAh battery. The phone is certainly the most feature-rich when seen next to other Android One devices in the country, and that corresponds to a monthly plan of $30 (¥3,434).
See at Y!Mobile
General Mobile GM6/GM5/GM5 Plus
Turkey’s General Mobile 4G was the first Android One device to feature a Snapdragon chipset. The phone made its debut in 2015, and while Indian vendors rolled out Android One devices a year prior, they were running MediaTek’s MT6582 platform.
Currently, the Turkish phone manufacturer offers three Android One phones: the GM6, GM5, and the GM 5 Plus. The GM5 and GM5 Plus are older devices running the Snapdragon 617, with the former featuring a 5-inch 720p display with the latter offering a 5.5-inch Full HD panel.
The GM6, meanwhile, features MediaTek’s octa-core MT6737T chipset, and has 3GB of RAM/32GB of storage, 13MP rear camera, 8MP front shooter, and a 3000mAh battery. Crucially, all three devices have received the Oreo update.
See at General Mobile
Your favorite
What Android One phone piques your interest? Let us know in the comments!
Updated August 2018: This article was updated with the Xiaomi Mi A2, Nokia 6.1 Plus, and the LG G7 One.
UK Deal: Up your home security with this one-day sale on Arlo Pro 2 HD cams
Rely on the latest Arlo cams to keep an eye on on your home.
Arlo Pro 2 HD security cameras are reduced in price today at Amazon UK giving you a chance to make some significant savings while upgrading your home security. These cameras offer 1080p coverage of your home and even allow you to see what’s going on from your smartphone.
The second-gen Arlo Pro cameras works wirelessly or plugged in to power, are weather-resistant and outfitted with a rechargeable fast-charging battery. Each has two-way audio thanks to a built-in mic and speaker and you can even hook these cameras up to voice control systems like Alexa and Google Assistant. Your last 7 days of recordings are backed up by Arlo for free automatically and you can opt to back up your last 30 or 60 days’ worth of footage with a monthly subscription starting from £6.49.
The 2 Camera Kit, which comes with the necessary Base Station, is down to a record low price of £427.99 — that’s almost £150 off its usual price — and you can save even more if you buy the larger camera kits with the 4 Camera Kit offering over £200 off its last list price.
If you’re already invested in the Arlo system and just want to add a little more coverage, this deal is still for you as the individual add-on Cameras are also reduced in price to a new record low of £194.99.
For more UK deals coverage, be sure to keep an eye on Thrifter UK, sign up for the UK newsletter and follow the team on Twitter.
See at Amazon UK
Sony Xperia XZ3 specifications
The phone arrives in October for $900 USD.
Sony’s latest phone looks very similar to its predecessor, but the Xperia XZ3 has some new tricks up its sleeve.
| Operating System | Android 9 Pie |
| Display | 6-inch OLED, 2160x1080Gorilla Glass 5 18:9 aspect ratio HDR support |
| Processor | Snapdragon 845 64-bitAdreno 630 |
| Expandable | microSD up to 400GB |
| Storage | 64GB |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Rear Camera | 19MP Exmor RS, hybrid AF960 fps FHD slow-mo, 4K HDR video |
| Front Camera | 13MP f/1.9 wide-angle |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, USB 3.1, GPS |
| Battery | 3330mAh |
| Charging | USB-CQuick Charge 3.0Qnovo Adaptive Charging Qi wireless charging |
| Sound | Stereo S-Force front speakers |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
| Security | Rear fingerprint sensor |
| Dimensions | TBD |
| Weight | TBD |
| Network | 1.2Gbps (Cat18 LTE) |
| Colors | Liquid Black, Liquid Silver, Deep Green, Ash Pink |
The Sony Xperia XZ3 has a curved OLED display, arrives in October for $900
As Sony does twice a year, it has updated its flagship Android phone, and the result is the Xperia XZ3. The hallmark features are what you’d expect from a purely iterative update, which comes six months after the overhauled design of the XZ2 line.
The star of the show is the new 6-inch OLED panel, which supports HDR and has a 2160×1080 resolution. The Gorilla Glass 5 curves Samsung-style to meet the new Series 7 aluminum body, and the bezels above and below the display are thinner than on the XZ2. Sony says the phone is just 5% bigger than the Xperia XZ2 but its screen provides 11% more viewing area.
Elsewhere, the design is largely unchanged from its predecessor, hewing closely to the organic, curved “Ambient Flow” language that has been divisive among Sony’s loyal followers. Internally, a larger 3330mAh battery is among the few spec improvements in then XZ3, which features the same 19MP MotionEye camera and 4K HDR capture as before. There is a new 13MP front-facing camera with a wider f/1.9 lens, if that interests you.
Sony’s improved the already-great S-Force front speakers on the XZ3, amping bass and treble response and increasing the overall volume by 20%. Expect a Snapdragon 845 processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, along with Sony standards like IP68 water and dust resistance, plenty of audio codecs (and no headphone jack), the quirky Dynamic Vibration System, and Qi wireless charging.
Perhaps more interesting is that when the phone arrives on October 17 for $900, it will come with Android 9 Pie standard, along with a touch-sensitive side panel that facilitates a new quick settings menu called Side Sense. The Xperia XZ2 cost $800 when it debuted, but can be had for $700 today.
The Xperia XZ3 will be available for pre-order starting September 24, and will be sold at Amazon and Best Buy in the U.S. Pre-orders ship with a free pair of Sony’s unique Xperia Ear Duo headphones.
See at Sony
Grab RAVPower’s USB PD 5-port charging station for $20 today
This is an instant buy!
As part of a one-day sale, RAVPower is offering its USB PD 5-port charging hub for just $20.39, which is nearly 50% off its regular price. When it debuted earlier this year, it was priced at $46, and since then it’s only had a brief drop to $30 and has held steady at $40 ever since. It offers four USB ports and one USB-C PD port, making it a great accessory for your desk or nightstand to keep all of your devices charged.
Best of all? It’s small size and five-foot power cord make it a great travel companion as well so you aren’t hunting down outlets all over your hotel room.
There are built-in safeguards to prevent against overcharging, short-circuiting, overheating and more, and it has a maximum output of 60W total. The USB-C port can output 45W of power, which is enough to easily charge your MacBook, Windows PC, or even a Chromebook. RAVPower backs this with a lifetime warranty.
Looking for a more portable way to charge your devices while on the go? Check out this 26800mAh portable battery with PD for just $52 today!
See at Amazon
HTC U12 Life hands-on: Last chance at life
The HTC U12 Life feels like it was created from scratch. In a vacuum. It’s a peculiar device that’s a little difficult to pin down. It doesn’t share all that much in common with its predecessor the U11 Life, and not so much with its namesake the U12 Plus either. It does away with HTC staples like Edge Sense and Sense Companion – coming with what HTC calls “Light Sense” instead – leaving it feeling a little hollow inside.
Editor’s Pick
Android smartphones with the best battery life (July 2018)
Some people might think that the most important feature in a smartphone is its display size. Others believe it comes down to a phone’s processor performance, or the amount of RAM, or how much storage …Compared to the U11 Life, the HTC U12 Life ditches the IP rating, reintroduces the 3.5mm headphone jack, swaps out the display technology, decreases the selfie camera resolution and bumps the screen size significantly. It’s weird.
Let’s get into this HTC U12 Life hands-on, because there’s a fair bit that needs unpacking here.
The HTC U12 Life is what HTC calls rocket science. Coming up with a flagship phone that has the latest and greatest, at a high price? A piece of cake. Coming up with a mid-tier device that cuts just the right corners, while keeping enough people happy to appeal to the masses and show true value? That’s what HTC says is the hardest job of all.
The HTC U12 Life is a peculiar device that’s a little difficult to pin down.
So what corners have HTC cut, and have they got it right? Well, the big surprise is actually what they’ve added, rather than subtracted.
Display
The HTC U12 Life display measures 6.0 inches on the diagonal, compared to the 5.2-inch panel found on the U11 Life. The U12 Life features a low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) panel, as opposed to the U11 Life’s IPS LCD. It’s all about reduced energy consumption. Thanks to the different aspect ratio (from 16:9 to 18:9), the resolution increases slightly to 2,160 x 1,080 pixels, but due to the larger screen, the pixel density drops marginally from 423 ppi to 402 ppi.
There’s no notch here and HTC says it is committed to avoiding the notch in upcoming phones too. Bezels aren’t exactly huge but they’re not exactly small either, with the U12 Life screen occupying 83 percent of the device’s footprint. With less bezel in which to live, the fingerprint scanner has migrated to the back of the U12 Life.
Design
The liquid surface design language of the U11 Life is still sort of in effect here, but there looks to be a pinch of Pixel thrown in for good measure. The top portion of the U12 Life is the same fingerprinty mess you’d expect from a shiny glass-backed phone, but, as with the U11 Life, HTC has opted for acrylic here over something more expensive like Gorilla Glass. There are tiny pieces of metal in the acrylic unibody to create another mouthful of design: “optical spectrum hybrid deposition”. That sounds great and all, but about all I can tell you is that it’s shiny and nice. A materials scientist I am not.
The bottom two-thirds of the phone have been etched with “3D Ultra Stripes” for better grip and fewer fingerprints. The design change works as advertised and makes a great zip-like scratching sound for the fidget-inclined among us. The HTC U12 Life will come in Moonlight Blue and Twilight Purple. Both options change color depending on their environment and what they’re reflecting, shifting from bright blue and silver to deep navy and purple.
The bottom two-thirds of the phone have been etched with ‘3D Ultra Stripes’ for better grip and fewer fingerprints.
In case you were worried, there are no capacitive buttons here, probably due to the added cost rather than the added frustration. Whatever the cause, the U12 Life dodges that particular bullet.
Hardware
The reintroduction of the 3.5mm headphone jack represents another bullet dodged. HTC apparently now understands just how unpopular the decision to move to USB Type-C or wireless audio is for most people, and has wisely decided to bring it back. HTC confirmed that several other upcoming devices will follow suit, but no one was willing to guarantee it’ll be back to stay on all HTC phones.
The U12 Life adds a hybrid dual-SIM tray that you can add a microSD card to if you need additional storage, a nice upgrade from the U11 Life. You’ve also got stereo speakers and bundled headphones in the box, and of course, the usual Oreo audio codecs are supported. One point on the stereo speakers, which appear in the BoomSound Hi-Fi Edition layout of bottom-firing and earpiece: HTC doesn’t consider them to be worthy of the BoomSound label.
There’s no official IP rating here – again likely due to cost (IP certification is an expensive business) – but HTC said the U12 Life is “splash-resistant,” compared to IP67 on last year’s U11 Life.
Specs
The HTC U12 Life is powered by the 14nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 mobile platform, not the rumored 660. I asked if the 660 was tested internally and was told it was not; the 660 showing up in benchmarks was a reporting error. HTC evidently prefers the energy efficiency of the octa-core 1.8GHz Snapdragon 636 over the additional performance of the 660. The U12 Life version going global comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, up from the 3GB and 32GB in the U11 Life. A 128GB variant will appear in Taiwan only.
The 636 brings with it the Adreno 509 GPU, X12 LTE modem for up to 600Mbps peak download and 150Mbps peak upload speeds (Cat. 11), and the Spectra 160 ISP. We were unable to get any camera samples during our HTC U12 Life hands-on time.
Powered by the 14nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 mobile platform, not the rumored 660.
Bluetooth 5, NFC, and a significantly larger 3,600 mAh battery with fast charging are also included. There’s no support for Qualcomm Quick Charge here, but HTC says the U12 Life battery will charge to 50 percent capacity in around 40 minutes.
| Display | 6.0-inch LCD 2,160 x 1,080 resolution 18:9 aspect ratio |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Mobile Platform, octa-core, 64-bit |
| GPU | Adreno 509 |
| RAM | 4 or 6GB |
| Storage | 64 or 128GB MicroSD card slot |
| Cameras | Rear cameras: 16MP + 5MP sensors, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED flash, f/2.0 aperture, HDR, 4K video recording Front camera: |
| Battery | 3,600mAh |
| IP rating | N/A |
| Sensors | Ambient light sensor Proximity sensor Motion G-sensor Compass sensor Gyro sensor Magnetic sensor Fingerprint sensor Sensor Hub for activity tracking |
| Network | 2G/2.5G GSM/GPRS/EDGE – 850/900/1800/1900MHz 3G UMTS – 850/900/1900/2100MHz – HSDPA 42, HSUPA 5.76 4G LTE – Dual 4G LTE Nano SIM (availability varies by region) – FDD: Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 66 – TDD: Bands 38, 40 – Supports Cat 11 downloads up to 600Mbps, upload up to 75Mbps |
| Connectivity | USB Type-C 3.5mm headphone jack Bluetooth 5 Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 & 5GHz) NFC GPS/GLONASS |
| Software | Android 8.1 Oreo HTC Sense |
| Dimensions and weight | 158.5 x 75.4 x 8.3mm 175g |
| Colors | moonlight blue, twilight purple (availability varies by region) |
Camera
The U12 Life adds a second camera on the back and a front-facing LED flash on the front. The primary camera is a 16MP 1/2.8″ sensor with f/2.0 aperture and an effective 25.5mm focal length. The secondary camera is a 5MP 1/5″ sensor with f/2.2 aperture lens with an effective 23.5mm focal length. The U12 Life camera supports 4K video at 30fps and FullHD video at 60fps. The U12 Life relies on EIS and PDAF.
Up front, the U12 Life camera is a 13MP 1/3″ sensor with an f/2.0 aperture lens at 26.5mm effective focal length. It has a front-facing LED flash and support for HDR and the usual beauty modes. We’ll have to get back to you on image quality in the full HTC U12 Life review.
The software experience is blissfully clean, but the combination of HTC Sense minus so many Sense features feels a little odd.
Software
The U12 Life software is what HTC is calling Light Sense. It does away with a few bloatware apps like the annoying News Republic, but also ditches Sense Companion and Edge Sense (HTC’s “squeezable sides” feature). In response to questions on the former, HTC said it didn’t add enough value and “Google Assistant is everywhere.” HTC essentially admitted development of Sense Companion has been abandoned completely, but “might” be picked up again in future. The omission of Edge Sense is a shame for those of us that like the feature, but for most people, it likely won’t be missed.
The device we used in our HTC U12 Life hands-on session is a global unit and HTC apparently doesn’t have an Android One version in the pipes. The company wouldn’t rule the possibility out entirely, but it seems unlikely. The software experience is blissfully clean, but the combination of HTC Sense minus so many Sense features feels a little odd. The HTC U12 Life runs on Android 8.1 Oreo.
Pricing and final thoughts
HTC has often been criticised for overpricing its handsets, and often for good reason. The HTC U12 Life price is 349 euros or 299 pounds, on a par with its predecessor in Europe. You’ll have to decide for yourself if this particular constellation of additions and subtractions from the base recipe is better or worse value than the original U11 Life.
The U12 Life feels a little confused in a field of laser-focused competition.
You can still get a 10 percent discount by signing up to HTC’s newsletter at htc.com but even in the low-300s the U12 Life has some very stiff competition in the likes of the Pocophone F1, the high-end variant of the Xiaomi Mi A2, the Zenfone 5Z, and several Honor devices. We’ll reserve judgment until the full HTC U12 Life review, but it has to be said that the U12 Life feels a little confused in a field of laser-focused competition. Perhaps HTC is right and this time it has perfected the mix – in which case the U11 Life must have been the confused device – but if HTC hasn’t gotten it right this time, we may not see another Life in the series next year.
The HTC U12 Life is due to hit shelves in late September or early October in European, Asian and Middle Eastern markets.
Polaroid’s updated OneStep instant camera adds some digital tricks
Polaroid Originals
Cameras that pump out prints at the touch of a button have enjoyed something of a resurgence in recent years, with several companies launching a range of devices that offer a physical picture in a matter of minutes.
Polaroid Originals is one such outfit. The company this week launched the OneStep+, a smarter version of the OneStep 2 instant camera that it launched in 2017.
Looking very similar to the OneStep 2 and no doubt very familiar to anyone who grew up in the 70s when the unique design was at its peak, the new camera still churns out a print at the touch of a button, but this time lets you link it with your smartphone to offer “more ways to play,” as the company puts it.
Pairing the OneStep+ to the Polaroid Originals app via Bluetooth gives you access to six creative tools, including a remote-shutter setting so you can set the camera up and scuttle off to star in your own print. The app also gives you control over the manual settings of the OneStep+, enabling more experimental shooters to adjust things like shutter speed and aperture. Take note, though, there’s no display on the back of the camera, so you won’t know the result until it appears on the print. Yes, that’s supposed to be all part of the fun.
The new camera also lets you create double-exposure images and includes light-painting features, too. A slide on the top of the device lets you switch between the standard lens and a new one for portraits, with the latter allowing you to get closer to your subject without troubling the autofocus.
Polaroid One’s newest camera also sports a flash and a“long-lasting” rechargeable battery.
Compatible with the company’s i-Type instant film, the OneStep+ is available now for $160.
No longer Impossible
Formerly known as The Impossible Project, the Netherlands-based company switched its name to Polaroid Originals last year after Impossible’s biggest shareholder acquired the Polaroid brand. The company first came to our attention in 2008 when its small team of enthusiastic instant-photography fans stepped in to buy the last remaining Polaroid factory.
It started off by refurbishing and selling old instant cameras and making the accompanying film before adding its own cameras to its range of offerings.
As we mentioned at the top, new instant cameras from a range of makers continue to hit the market, allowing anyone to add a bit of analog fun to their photography. Digital Trends recently picked out the best ones available today.
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