HTC U11 unboxing and first look!

15. LionStone (Posts: 844; Member since: 10 Dec 2010)

please get rid of that music, it's annoying and please stop using "guy" when talking about a phone...sound like a Kindergarten teacher, thank you.

17. Itiskonrad (Posts: 21; Member since: 22 Feb 2013)

Ok, this is not directed at the people who simply don't like the HTC U11 (to each his or her own), but this is for those who seem to be unable to IMAGINE ANYONE wanting this phone over the G6 or S8. On behalf of those of us who really like the U11, let me explain why for some of us this is the best option:

1.) Software support: HTC is the only company that explicitly states it still respects the warranty if you unlock the bootloader. Additionally, HTC themselves make it super easy to unlock. This is really important to some of us who want root and to be able to flash roms. If you don't understand why some people like root access, it's still the best/most thorough way to get ad blockers (without the stupid VPN key icon), modify the system, change performance, etc, etc. The first thing I do when I get a new phone is unlock the bootloader, get the SystemUI, decompile it, and make all the mods to it that I like, ie, changing the icons to what I want, popups, notification behaviors, etc. Yes, I'm a nerd. There are quite a few of us. Anyway, as I said, to us, root is important. And no, it doesn't stop you from passing SafetyNet and using things like Android Pay. With Magisk, I've hidden root on my HTC 10, and I use Android Pay and still get Netflix updates from the Playstore no problem. An unlocked bootloader is also important to some of us for the ability to flash roms and extend the life of our phones long after the manufactuerers have given up on them. Thanks to the unlocked bootloader, my Galaxy S4 (my backup phone) from April 2013 is still running nougat like a dream.

I'm on AT&T. Both the G6 and the S8/S8+ for AT&T are locked down tight. If I get the international version of the S8 (the exynos-based, bootloader-unlockable/rootable version), I'm looking at around $160 more than the $599 for the HTC U11. The S8+, more like $250 more. And with either, no warranty. And as a less-important sidenote, I also appreciated that my HTC 10 got Android updates pretty quickly (Nougat in the very beginning of December of last year vs the AT&T G5 and S8 getting Nougat in February of this year). Not critical for me, but nice.

2.) The screen: I like the larger 5.5" screen AT 16:9! The vast majority of my media is 16:9, and I appreciate it using the entire screen. My 16:9 content blackbarred on the G6 or S8 will appear about as large as only a 5" screen, and no, I don't want to crop my videos. Additionally, I'm not a fan of the curved screen. I (briefly) had an S7 edge and thought I could grow to tolerate the curvature of the sides, the warping of the video on the edges, and the additional glare. I couldn't. To get a similar size video, I'd need the S8+, but then we're talking about a phone with a screen a full 2cm longer than the HTC U11. I'm pretty talented with one-handed use of large phones, but reaching the notification bar on the S8+ is pushing it, even for me.

18. Itiskonrad (Posts: 21; Member since: 22 Feb 2013)

3.) The camera: I hate the oversharpening Samsung slathers on its photos. There. I said it. Colors and saturation are less important to me and can usually be applied to your taste after the picture is taken. But details can't be added after the fact. The HTC 10 has exceptionally clean details WITHOUT oversharpening artifacts, especially in low light, which is typically where I take most of my photos. Based on the 10 and the DxO review of the U11, I'm pretty confident the U11 will be good for me in that respect as well.

4.) Front fingerprint scanner: I like being able to unlock my phone while it sits on the table or is locked in a car holder, etc. Scanners on the back aren't bad, but I still prefer ones on the front. And, as everyone already knows, the placement of the S8 scanner isn't optimal. Before anyone suggests the retina scanner, it's not feasible for me. 1st- I wear big glasses which tend to lower the speed/success rate, 2nd- in my job, often times the only time I have to check my phone is while running to the bathroom, so I can't stand still and hold the phone 10-14" from my eyes to allow it to scan. I need to, while running, reach in my pocket, unlock it with my thumb, have it unlocked in front of my face, check, respond with one hand, and put it back in my pocket within a period of 3 to 10 seconds. Fast fingerprint scanning with 99.9% success rates is critical for me.

5.) Audio: the audio that comes out of my HTC 10 is superb and is worlds better than that which I heard from my previous Galaxy and LG phones. Hands down. The vast majority of reviews will confirm this. I expect nothing less from the U11. I'm not thrilled by the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack, but it also doesn't really bother me. If it adds active noise cancelation and better audio, I'm game. The only issue I have is not being able to charge my phone while listening to music (which, if I'm being fair, I actually only did once last year, while on an international flight), but honestly, that's not a huge deal either. On the exceptionally rare occasion that I need to do both, during the 60-80 minutes it takes to fully charge the phone, I'll just use bluetooth to send audio to a little bluetooth audio adapter into which I can plug my favorite 3.5mm headset. I can get those adapters for 20 bucks on Amazon and keep using my favorite earphones over bluetooth while charging for that brief time. Not a big deal for me.

6.) Skin: Least importantly, I really prefer as close to stock Android as possible. If you've used a Pixel, Google Play Edition, or the HTC 10 for a while, you'll notice the tiny little micro-hiccups skins (pretty much ALL skins) introduce. Maybe you don't see it. Good for you. It bothers some of us. The HTC 10 has virtually no skin and runs like a Pixel. Sense is basically an app you can uninstall (which I gleefully did). I expect the U11 will be similar.

There. Commence HTC hate in 3, 2, 1...

20. mayor (Posts: 7; Member since: 06 May 2017)

y are y'all hating on a humble OEM...dis phone is a straight forward as a pixel or iphone

21. det_bradlee (Posts: 98; Member since: 08 Jun 2015)

Only one question matters. Is that fingerprint sensor also a physical home button!?

23. fario (Posts: 11; Member since: 21 Apr 2017)

HTC U 11 for me over any phone on the planet right now unless a phone is made of gold or diamond. U 11 seems like the perfect phone of 2017