Sections
- Page 1 HTC U11 Review
- Page 2 Software and performance Review
- Page 3 Camera Review
- Page 4 Battery and conclusion Review
HTC U11 – Battery
The HTC U11 features a 3000mAh battery, which, on a phone this size, is a little small. The dinky cell left me with serious concerns about the U11’s stamina, and following a week with the phone I’m still not convinced it will offer anything more than average battery life.
With regular use I found the U11 generally just about manages to last between a day and a day and a half. This entailed listening to music during my commute, taking and making a few calls, regularly checking my social media and email feeds, and watching a quick episode of Rick and Morty before bed.
The U11’s video playback and gaming performance was also a little middle-of-the-road by flagship standards. Looping a video with the screen brightness at 50%, the U11 discharged an average of 10-12% of its charge per hour. Most other phones I test at this price point lose less than 10% per hour in the same test.
Gaming was an even bigger drain. Playing demanding games such as Riptide GP2 and Shadowrun: Hong Kong, the U11 lost as much as 22-25% of its battery.
The USB headphone converter also proved to be a big power sap. Listening to music using the converter, the phone managed to discharge as much as 15% of its battery over an hour-long train ride, which will be a serious issue for people who travel regularly.
I’m also a little disappointed that the U11 still uses Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, not the newer 4.0 tech. However, charge speeds are far from terrible, and the U11 has never taken more than an hour to fully charge from zero during my time with it.
Related: Best Android smartphones
Should I buy the HTC U11?
Featuring oddly useful squeeze controls, a great camera and Hi-Res Audio support, the HTC U11 is an excellent handset that won’t disappoint any buyer when it comes to functionality. Its design is Marmite, however.
Some people may like the new glass back, but I can’t help but wish HTC had stuck to using metal. Compared to the HTC 10, the U11 looks a little cheap – and is an absolute smudge magnet.
Despite the inclusion of a converter, the lack of headphone jack is a serious annoyance that will put off the audiophile market for which the U11 is otherwise tailor-made. These problems sound small, but combined they add up to make the Samsung Galaxy S8 a more appealing handset overall.
Buy Now: HTC U11 on ID (4GB) – £49.99 upfront, £33.99/month
Buy Now: HTC U11 on O2 (3GB) – £39.99 upfront, £37/month
Buy Now: HTC U11 on EE (15GB) – £37.99 upfront, £48.99/month
Verdict
The U11 is an excellent all-round smartphone that will meet 99% of people’s needs. I just wish it didn’t look so naff.
How we test phones
We test every mobile phone we review thoroughly. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly and we use the phone as our main device over the review period. We’ll always tell you what we find and we never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Trusted Score
Score in detail
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Performance 8
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Camera 8
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Design 7
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Battery Life 8
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Value 8
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Software 9
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Calls & Sound 9
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Screen Quality 8
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.