After months of rumors and leaks, HTC’s much-awaited U11 was launched today at an event in Taipei, Taiwan. The HTC U11 follows the other two devices in the U lineup, U Ultra and U Play, that was released in February.
As was earlier leaked to the public, the HTC U11 features a durable glass and metallic body (liquid glass) design that is crafted using Optical Spectrum Hybrid Deposition. The curved look is achieved with 3D glass on both front and back. The device also features pressure-sensitive sensors that allow users to squeeze the edges to trigger a task. The ‘Edge Sense’, as it is called, can open applications and even take pictures by squeezing the sides.
For the important specifics, the device sports a 5.5-inch screen with a Quad HD SuperLCD 5 display. It is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 chipset and is paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. Some non-US markets will receive the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant.
The device further comes with IP57 certification for water and dust resistance. Similar to other smartphones in the HTC U lineup, the U11 ditches the 3.5mm headphone jack and supports audio through Type-C port. On the software front, the smartphone runs run Android 7.1.1 Nougat out-of-the-box, with the HTC Sense UI on top.
In the picture department, you have a 12MP rear camera with faster autofocus, a f/1.7 lens and enhanced HDR capabilities. There is also a 16MP sensor on front with low light shooting capabilities. It is armed with 3000 mAh non-removable battery with support for Quick Charge 3.0. The device reportedly can be fully charged in less than 30 minutes.
For music lovers, HTC U11 introduces the latest version of HTC USonic, which now combines Active Noise Cancellation with the ability to tune audio to user’s unique hearing. HTC BoomSound Hi-Fi Edition speakers got an upgrade, too.
Fans will be thrilled to find three digital assistants in the device: HTC Sense Companion, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa. The HTC Sense Companion is a smart assistant that will help enhance performance learning from past usage.
Presented as a successor to HTC 10, the new U11 is available for pre-order on the HTC website for $749. It will be available in Amazing Silver, Sapphire Blue, Brilliant Black, Ice White, and Solar Red color options.
