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Finally, HTC has launched the new flagship in the HTC U series called HTC U11 which looks like a combined name of the rumoured ‘HTC U’ and ‘HTC 11’. In an official event today, the company unveiled this device and as we recently saw in the leaked video of the device, it comes with the same design and has a Snapdragon 835 and 6GB of RAM. This new device comes with Edge Sensor for new squeeze interaction that lets its users do multiple tasks including launching the camera app, taking images, launching the Google Assistant and many other features.
“HTC Edge Sense gives you the ability to activate advanced touch and use a “short squeeze” as well as a “squeeze and hold” for even more functionality at your fingertips. And because Edge Sense is based on actual pressure applied to the side of the device, it can be used in nearly any condition – including while wearing gloves or in weather such as snow or rain that would normally be a challenge with capacitive buttons. You can even customize the squeeze gesture: open email with just a squeeze. Or launch your favourite game (or any other app). Or pick any one of a host of options.” Says HTC in an official press release.”
The HTC U11 comes with USB C audio with a built-in DAC that offers great audio performance and wide compatibility with all other devices and earphones. HTC USonic earphones are the advanced headset made for the HTC U11 that now comes with active noise cancellation that reduces disruptions and distractions around you, so you can stay focused on your music. Active Noise Cancellation continuously monitors environmental sound levels and quickly adjusts to any new noises or disturbances.
The device also comes with HTC BoomSound Hi-Fi Edition speakers now offer more loudness and better Dynamic Range Audio. On top, the tweeter now offers an acoustic chamber that allows the highs and mids to sound richer. While below, the woofer sports a new speaker and improved magnetic circuit design for louder, clearer and deeper bass tones.
HTC U11 Price
The HTC U11 is priced at €749 in Europe, £649 in the UK and $696 in the US where it will be available with contracts only. The U11 will be available in select regions starting next week and will be available globally starting in June 2017. It comes with Amazing Silver, Sapphire Blue, Brilliant Black, Ice White and Solar Red colour options. In Asian countries like India, a HiFi 6GB RAM variant will be available with a 128GB inbuilt storage option while in non-Asian countries, it will be available with 4GB RAM and 64GB inbuilt storage.
HTC U11 Specs
The HTC U11 features a 5.5-inch Quad HD Super LCD 5 display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection and 1440 x 2560 pixels resolution. It is powered by a 2.45GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with Adreno 540 GPU and has multiple variants with 6GB RAM + 128GB inbuilt storage (UFS 2.1), 4GB RAM + 64GB internal storage with both supporting expandable storage up to 2TB with microSD card. It runs on the Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS with HTC Sense UI and will support single or Hybrid dual-SIM options. It also comes with HTC Edge Sense and HTC Sense Companion features as well.
It features a 12-megapixel HTC UltraPixel 3 rear camera with 1.4μm pixel, dual LED flash, f/1.7 aperture, OIS, UltraSpeed Autofocus, RAW capture, 4K video recording with 3D Audio, Hi-Res stereo recording, Acoustic Focus, 120fps slow-mo video at 1080p and features a 16-megapixel front-facing camera with 1080p video recording. It is backed up by a 3000mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 and supports 4G VoLTE, 3G, WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS with GLONASS, NFC, USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 1 connectivity options and also comes with water and dust resistant ratings (IP57).
Other notable features of the device include USB-C audio, HTC USonic with Active Noise Cancellation, HTC BoomSound Hi-Fi edition, 3D Audio recording with 4 microphones and Hi-Res audio certification. A fingerprint sensor is available on the front panel home button. It measures 153.9 x 75.9 x 7.9mm and weighs 169 grams.
HTC U11 Leaks
The device was previously leaked in a video that shows the device from all sides. The person holding the phone shows the device’s various features including the pressure-sensitive edges that react to you squeezing the sides of the phone, helping you control some of the interesting features like taking pictures with the phone camera and launching the Google Assistant. The leaked YouTube video shows the device’s back which comes with a rear camera and a dual-tone LED flash and the video also confirms multiple colour options: White, Red, Blue and Gray. The video confirms that there won’t be any 3.5mm headphone jack available and will not feature any dual rear camera as we heard in the previous rumours.
The leakster @evleaks also confirmed that HTC’s upcoming flagship HTC U11, the successor to the HTC 10, will launch this month. The device code-named HTC Ocean was expected to launch as HTC U which will feature all the flagship features the leakster revealed last year by leaking the official concept video of the HTC Ocean via his Twitter account.
HTC U11 at Geekbench
At Geekbench, the HTC U was listed with the code name HTC CBP which confirms that the HTC U will be available with the Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS out of the box and will be powered by the 1.90 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (msm8998) SoC that also comes with the Adreno 540 GPU. It comes with 4GB of RAM and no other specifications of the device are listed at Geekbench. At AnTuTu, It was listed with a QHD display with 1440 x 2560 pixels resolution and it was listed powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with Adreno 540 GPU.
Geekbench shows it comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of inbuilt storage capacity along with a MicroSD card expandable storage slot. It runs on the Android 7.1.1 OS out of the box and features a 12-megapixel rear LED flash camera along with a 16-megapixel front-facing selfie camera. It will run on the new HTC Sense 9 UI with the Android 7.1.1 Nougat.
HTC also posted a teaser which comes with the caption “Squeeze for the brilliant” and a person squeezing the phone sides at the bottom area confirming the Edge Sense feature for the device having the sensors available into the metal frame around the phone that allows its user to control several different features. The HTC U smartphone will have other features including a curved glass display and a fingerprint sensor below the display. The device will feature a reflective glass back and will have a dual-tone LED flash with the rear camera.
HTC U11 was also leaked in an HD render online by a Twitter user that shows the device in a Red colour option and comes with thin side and bottom bezels and a trimmer top. It comes with two speaker grills at the bottom panel with the USB-Type-C port in between the speaker grills. The top part comes with the SIM port, however, the render doesn’t have the power button and the volume buttons.
HTC U11 at AnTuTu
According to the AnTuTu listing of the HTC U smartphone, it comes with the model name HTC CBP and features a QHD display with 1440 x 2560 pixels resolution. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with Adreno 540 GPU. It comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of inbuilt storage capacity along with a MicroSD card expandable storage slot. It runs on the Android 7.1.1 OS out of the box. It features a 12-megapixel rear LED flash camera along with a 16-megapixel front-facing selfie camera. No other details about the device are currently available on the AnTuTu benchmark test listing.