After creating much buzz over the last few days, HTC has finally lifted curtains from its squeezable smartphone, the HTC U11.

What's interesting is the Edge Sense technology that allows interacting with the device by squeezing it from the sides. One can perform actions like launching an app, clicking a snap, or opening virtual assistants like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. The best part is that the Edge Sense can be easily used even with gloves on, something which is difficult with capacitive buttons.

HTC U11 comes with a 5.5-inch Quad HD (2560x1440 pixels) display, with a pixel density of 534 pixels-per-inch and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.

The device runs on HTC Sense based on Android 7.1 Nougat. It is 7.9 mm thick. The 3,000 mAh battery supports Quick Charge 3.0. The fingerprint sensor is integrated into the Home button.

The primary camera is a f/1.7 12 MP UltraPixel lens with dual LED flash, autofocus, and Optical Image Stabilization. It has managed to break all records on the DxOMark test to claim the number one spot. The front houses a f/2.0 16 MP camera.

The smartphone runs on 2.45 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 octa-core chipset. It comes with an all-glass design. The rear covers are colorful and glossy. It is backed by 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage (expandable up to 2 TB via a microSD card).

The 3.5 mm headphone jack has made way for the USB Type-C slot. HTC U11 conforms to IP67 rating and thus, is waterproof (up to 1 meter for 30 minutes) and dustproof.

HTC U11 comes in black, blue, red, silver, and white color variants. It will be available next week onwards and is priced at €749 ($830 approx.).

HTC U11 specifications

Operating System: Android 7.1 (Nougat)
Processor: 2.45 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 octa-core
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Storage: 64 GB internal (expandable up to 2 TB)
Display: 5.5-inch Quad HD
Resolution (pixels): 2560x1440
Primary camera: 12 megapixel
Secondary camera: 16 megapixel
Battery: 3,000 mAh
Dimensions (WidthxHeightxDepth): 75.9x153.9x7.9 mm
Weight: 169 g
Price: €749 ($830 approx.).

We already compared HTC's latest flagship with the Google Pixel XL. In this post, we see how it stands against the flagship from the Cupertino giant.

Battery capacity

Apple iPhone 7 Plus has a 2,900 mAh battery, while the HTC U Ultra boasts of a 3,000 mAh battery. Thus, the U Ultra has around 4% larger battery capacity.

Color options

Black is the standard color option across both the devices. Apart from that, iPhone 7 Plus offers jet black, silver, gold, and rose gold variants, while the U Ultra also comes in blue and white.

Design

iPhone 7 Plus features an aluminum unibody, while the U Ultra boasts of a glass aluminum design.

Dimensions

Apple iPhone 7 Plus is 158.2 mm in height, 77.9 mm in width and 7.3 mm in depth. HTC U Ultra is 162.4 mm in height, 79.8 mm in width and 8 mm in depth. Thus, U Ultra is around 3% taller, 2% wider, and 10% thicker in comparison.

Display pixel density

iPhone 7 Plus has a pixel density of 401 ppi, while U Ultra boasts 513 ppi. Thus, U Ultra has 28% higher pixel density.

Display resolution

iPhone 7 Plus has an FHD display, with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. U Ultra features a QHD screen, with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels.

Display size

iPhone 7 Plus features a 5.5-inch display, while U Ultra sports a 5.7-inch display. Hence, U Ultra has a 4% bigger screen than that of iPhone 7 Plus.

Display type

Apple iPhone 7 Plus uses IPS technology, while the HTC U Ultra employs Super LCD 5.

Dual screen

iPhone 7 Plus has only one screen, while the U Ultra features a second smaller screen above the main display, just like the one seen in LG V20.

Dual camera

Apple iPhone 7 Plus comes with a second telephoto zoom lens, while the HTC U Ultra does not feature a second camera.

External storage

iPhone 7 Plus does not have the option to expand its storage capacity by any means. U Ultra, on the other hand, can widen the memory up to 2 TB via a micro SD card.

Internal storage options

iPhone 7 Plus offers a base variant with 32 GB memory, while U Ultra starts with 64 gigs of storage. There are additional 128 and 256 GB models for the Apple iPhone 7 Plus.

Operating System

iPhone 7 Plus runs on iOS 10. U Ultra runs on Android 7 Nougat (with a custom skin on top).

Pressure-sensitive display

Apple iPhone 7 Plus features the 3D touch, while the HTC U Ultra employs no such technology.

Price

iPhone 7 Plus is available at $769 (for 32 GB variant), $869 (for 128 GB variant), and $969 (for 256 GB model). U Ultra is available at $749 (for 64 GB).

Processor

iPhone 7 Plus runs on A 10 quad-core chipset clocked at 2.3 GHz. U Ultra runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 quad-core processor clocked at 2.15 GHz.

RAM

iPhone 7 Plus comes with 3 GB RAM, while the U Ultra runs on an extra gigabyte.

Secondary camera

Apple iPhone 7 Plus comes with a 7 MP front camera. HTC U Ultra has a 16 MP front shooter. Thus, U Ultra has more than double the megapixels in its secondary camera.

Water resistance

iPhone 7 Plus comes with IP67 certification, while the U Ultra does not have any such feature.

Weight

iPhone 7 Plus weighs 188 g, while the U Ultra weighs just 170 g. Thus, iPhone 7 Plus is almost 11% heavier.

Other common features

• 12 MP primary camera with optical image stabilization
• f/1.8 primary camera aperture size
• No 3.5 mm headphone jack
• Fingerprint sensor embedded in the Home key

Verdict

Although for $20 less the HTC U Ultra is providing double the internal storage, it still doesn't seem to win over the Apple iPhone 7 Plus. Lack of a zoom lens, no water resistance, and improper software updates are enough to go with Cupertino over the Taiwanese brand.

It is a well-known fact that HTC developed Google's Pixel smartphones. How does their latest flagship, the HTC U Ultra, stand against the Pixel XL? We try to find out.

Battery capacity

Google Pixel XL boasts a 3,450 mAh battery, while the HTC U Ultra has a 3,000 mAh battery. Thus, the Pixel XL has 15% larger battery capacity.

Color options

Black and blue are the standard color options across both the devices. Apart from that, Pixel XL offers a silver variant, while the U Ultra also comes in white.

Design

Pixel XL features an aluminum unibody, while the U Ultra boasts of a glass aluminum design. HTC seems to have taken a cue from Samsung since the U Ultra looks almost the same as Galaxy S7 Edge. (Read the comparison between Google Pixel XL and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge).

Dimensions

Google Pixel XL is 154.7 mm in height, 75.7 mm in width and 7.3 mm in depth. HTC U Ultra is 162.4 mm in height, 79.8 mm in width and 8 mm in depth. Thus, U Ultra is around 5% taller and wider, and around 10% thicker in comparison.

Display pixel density

Pixel XL boasts of a pixel density of 534 ppi, while U Ultra has only 513 ppi. This is evident since Pixel has a smaller display.

Display size

Pixel XL features a 5.5-inch display, while U Ultra sports a 5.7-inch display. Hence, U Ultra has a 4% bigger screen than that of Pixel XL.

Display type

Google Pixel XL uses AMOLED technology, while the HTC U Ultra employs Super LCD 5.

Dual screen

Pixel XL has only one screen, while the U Ultra features a second smaller screen above the main display, just like the one seen in LG V20. Not so Samsung-like, eh HTC?

External storage

Pixel XL does not have the option to expand its storage capacity by any means. U Ultra, on the other hand, can widen the memory up to 2 TB via a micro SD card.

Fingerprint sensor placement

Pixel XL has the fingerprint module at the rear, while the U Ultra has the sensor embedded in the physical Home button in the front.

Headphone jack

While the Google Pixel XL comes with the standard 3.5 mm jack, HTC U Ultra has taken a leap and removed it.

Home button

Pixel XL comes with an on-screen Home button, while the U Ultra has a physical off-screen button located below the display.

Internal storage options

Pixel XL offers a base variant with 32 GB memory, while U Ultra starts with 64 gigs of storage. There is an additional 128 GB model for the Google Pixel XL.

Optical image stabilization

Google Pixel XL does not come with OIS, while the HTC U Ultra has this feature.

Price

Pixel XL is available at $769 (for 32 GB variant), $869 (for 128 GB variant). U Ultra is available at $749 (for 64 GB).

Primary camera aperture

Pixel XL has a rear camera with an aperture of f/2.0 while the U Ultra's primary camera has f/1.8 aperture size. Hence, more light is allowed to pass through in case of the HTC U Ultra.

Secondary camera

Google Pixel XL comes with a 8 MP front camera. HTC U Ultra has a 16 MP front shooter. Thus, U Ultra has double the megapixels in its secondary camera.

Other common features

• Weight (170 g approx.)
• 2560x1440 pixels (QHD) screen resolution
• 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 quad-core chipset clocked at 2.15 GHz
• 4 GB RAM
• Single lens 12 MP primary camera
• Android 7 Nougat

Verdict

HTC U Ultra does not sound like a big deal. It seems to be inspired from features already available in other brands. Moreover, although it does come with Android Nougat, it is likely to receive no or very slow updates when compared to the in-house Pixel XL. With almost similar features and a proven camera record, Google Pixel XL definitely wins over the HTC U Ultra.