HTC U

Overview

The HTC U is a high-end Android smartphone from HTC, built around a 5.5-inch Super LCD5 display and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 platform. It runs Android 7.0 Nougat with the HTC Sense user interface, and it is designed for buyers who want strong performance alongside a distinctive, squeeze-based way of interacting with the device.

The front features a 5.5-inch capacitive touchscreen with 16 million colours, multitouch support and a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels, which works out to roughly 534 PPI. Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protects the display. The phone's most unusual feature is its side-mounted sensors, which let you unlock the handset by squeezing it. Pressing the U button briefly or for longer opens different modes, and a long list of gestures can be customised to suit your habits. The phone is available in various colours and accepts a single Nano-SIM.

Under the hood, the U pairs an octa-core processor (4 x 2.45 GHz Kryo and 4 x 1.9 GHz Kryo) with an Adreno 540 graphics processor. The base variant offers 4GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage, while a higher variant provides 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. A microSD card slot supports expansion of up to 128GB. The 12 MP rear camera has an f/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilisation, laser autofocus, dual LED flash, HDR and panorama modes, and can record 2160p video at 30 fps. A 16 MP front camera handles selfies and video calls.

Connectivity is comprehensive, with dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot support, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS, NFC and a reversible USB Type-C port. The 3,000 mAh battery powers the device, and a 3.5mm audio jack is included. Four additional microphones support 3D audio recording, and active noise cancellation uses a dedicated microphone for clearer calls. The phone also includes 100 GB of Google Drive cloud storage.

The HTC U suits users who value performance, camera quality and a unique interface, and who want a premium Android phone with generous storage options.