HTC came out with their new flagship phones The HTC U Ultra.  Then they came out with the HTC U11.  Which is another flagship phone, only cheaper than the original U Ultra.  Confusing huh??  Yeah, I know, weird but yet, I think there was a little method to their madness.

So let’s do as we do here on ByronDoss.com, and delve down into why I’m buying the HTC U11.  And why I’m not buying the Samsung Galaxy 8 or LG G6.

The Specs

So let’s get right down to the specs for this phone.  It’s what you want to know about, so here they are.

Display

5.5 inch, Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) – 513 pixels per inch

Display color personalization

Sim Card

Nano Sim

Chip set

Qualcomm^™ Snapdragon^™ 835, 64 bit octa-core, up to 2.45 Ghz

Memory

ROM –  64GB, RAM –  4GB

Extended memory: microSD™ up to 2TB

Flex Storage supported

Sound

Battery and Charging

Talk time on 3G/4G network – up to 24.5 hours

Standby time on 3G/4G network – up to 14 days

Connectivity

HTC Connect™ for wirelessly streaming media from the phone to compatible multi-room audio systems, TVs, portable speakers and home entertainment systems

Streaming media from the phone to compatible Chromecast, DLNA™, AirPlay™, Miracast™ Devices

Networks & Bands

AT&T Unlocked:

• 2G-GSM: (850/900/1800/1900)
• 3G UMTS: 900/850AWS/1900/2100 (1/2/4/5/8)
• 4G LTE
• FDD: Bands B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B20/B25/B26/B28/B66
• TDD: Bands B41
• With 2CA, 3CA

Sprint:

• 2G-GSM: (850/900/1800/1900)
• 3G UMTS: 900/850/AWS/1900/2100 (1/2/4/5/8); CDMA Band Class 0/1/10
• 4G LTE
• FDD: Bands B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B12/B13/B25/B26
• TDD: Bands B41
• With 2CA, 3CA and 4×4 MIMO
• VoLTE & VoWiFi calling

T-Mobile Unlocked:

• 2G-GSM: (850/900/1800/1900)
• 3G UMTS: 900/850/AWS/1900/2100 (1/2/4/5/8)
• 4G LTE
• FDD: Bands B1/B2B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B20/B25/B26/B28/B66
• TDD: Bands B41
• With 2CA, 3CA
• VoLTE & VoWiFi calling

Verizon Unlocked:

• 2G-GSM: (850/900/1800/1900)
• 3G UMTS: 900/850/1900/2100 (1/2/5/8)
• 4G LTE
• FDD: Bands B13
• VoLTE calling

 

Main Camera (Rear)

Pro mode with manual control, 32 sec. long exposure, and RAW format support

4K video recording with 3D Audio, Hi-Res audio

Front Camera

Full HD 1080p video recording

Now there are more specs, but to be honest, these are the ones we really care about anyways.  You can go here to read the full specification list.

The Reasons

So for the most part we have some pretty good choices for a high quality, flagship phones.  We have the Samsung S8, LG G6, Sony XZ Premium and of course the HTC U11.

But with all the choices why would I choose the HTC U11 over any of the aforementioned devices?  Well it’s somewhat simple.  It comes down to past experiences and also a physical first impression. I’ll explain that last part in a minute.

First, lets talk about why I don’t want the aforementioned phones.

Samsung Galaxy 8 & 8+

It all comes down to the fact that I think Samsung puts too much junk, crap, extra bloatware, and stupid apps, that quite frankly I will never use.  I like the way the S8 looks, but I see no value in the curved screen.  I see no value in the extra stuff Samsung puts in their phones, that I can’t uninstall.  Yes, I know that you can disable them, but that is different from uninstalling.  The apps still take up space.  If you can see an app icon, then you still have the stupid thing taking up space. And that just pisses me off.

I also think that will all the stuff Samsung puts in their phones, that just makes the phone more expensive.  And I don’t need to spend an extra $100-$150 for extra crap that I neither need nor want.

LG G6

This phone is a great looking phone.  It has a great screen and feels really good in the hands. It’s pretty snappy and has a great camera.  But let’s be honest. With a Qualcomm^™ Snapdragon^™ 821 processor, it’s already a year behind.  While that really doesn’t make that much of a difference, if I’m going to pay full price for a NEW phone, then I want the latest processor.  Not one that is a year old.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium

What can I say about Sony.  It’s one of the best looking slabs that has consistently remained the best looking slab for the last few years.  Gotta give Sony credit for consistency. It’s got a freaking 4K display!  Granted I can only use that at specific times, but still it’s freaking 4K.  TRUE 4K.  That’s just bad ass!

But alas, there has been so much bad and negative talk about the camera.  And for me, the camera is one of the biggest things I require in a flagship phone.  I need to count on it at a moments notice.  And unfortunately Sonly has had some issues with the camera. And then add the fact that there isn’t an active fingerprint sensor in the U.S., and you can pretty much put them out to pasture!

All three of those phones are great phones in their own space.  There’s no doubt about that. Unless you want the OnePlus 5, they are the only contenders for my money.  And that leaves me with the choice of the HTC U11.  For me and what I need and want, it brings it all to the table. So below is my list of must haves.

1. Great camera
2. Physically a great looking phone
3. Speedy software
4. Fingerprint Sensor
5. Qualcomm^™ Snapdragon^™ 835 processor
6. SD Card slot

So let’s go over each one and talk about the pros and cons.

The Camera

I’m not going to lie, I need a good phone camera.  Yes I have have a Sony RX -100 III, that shoots great 1080p video and great stills.  But I don’t cary that around with me all the time.  Only on special occasions or when I know I need something more than my cell phone camera.

If you look at all the YouTube videos and read a lot fo the articles, there aren’t many that don’t give high praise to the HTC U11’s camera.  Some have even called it the best over Samsung’s S8 and Google’s Pixel. That’s what I need.  I can handle a few simple things that can be fixed with a software update, but for the most part, it’s the top camera right now.

It’s stunning!

Let’s just say that. No other phone, to me, makes as big of a first impression than the way the HTC U11’s back shimmers and shines in a multitude of different colors and shades.  At first glance, it catches your eye and just makes you stare like a kid slobbering at the glass of a candy store.   The S8 is a great looking phone.  The Xperia XZ, is a gorgeous mirrored slab. And the LG G6 is just a solid looking phone.

But, the HTC U11 just kills them all.  Enough said!

Speedy Software

Yes, Sense is getting a little old looking.  Not classic looking.  Old looking.  But, putting that aside, I have always loved HTC Sense.  I think it’s gotta be the best overlay out there.  And for them to downplay it somewhat in this phone and utilize more of the Android material is a very smart move. I have used it on a couple of occasions, and it’s snappy, quick and shows zero signs of ever lagging or hiccuping thorough programs. And that’s what I need the most.  It called consistency. And HTC nailed it.

Fingerprint Sensor

I have been using the Nexus 6 for a while now.  And while I have never really needed a fingerprint sensor, the time has come for me to start using it.  Especially if I want to use Android Pay more.  Now, why on Earth does Android Pay make me need a fingerprint sensor.  One simple thing. When you set up Android Pay, it REQUIRES the user to set up some form of screen lock on their phone.  You know, the pin, password or pattern thing.  And quite frankly that gets very annoying.  So the fingerprint sensor does the trick of both protecting my phone, and making it easier to use Android Pay.

Qualcomm^™ Snapdragon^™ 835

Okay, I know this is getting nit picky, but, if I’m going to pay $650+ for a phone I want the newest processor.  That’s what really has kept me from getting the LG G6.  It’s already one year behind, in so far as processing power goes.  Does that make a huge difference?  No, if your selling that phone for $450.  At $699 for the LG G6 Unlocked version, that already $40 more than what I’m paying for the HTC U11 Unlocked version.  And I’m getting the newest processor.  So for me that’s a no brainer.

SD Card slot

Yes, I know what your going to say, but I still love me some SD cards.  I know about the security issues.  I know about a whole bunch of crap everyone is going to say.  But, I like saving my pictures and movies to an SD card because it gives me more flexibility to do something other than just backing up to the cloud.  So an SD card is mandatory for me.  That’s the one thing I have missed with my Nexus 6.

Summation

So here’s the kicker.  Would I be good with either the Samsung Galaxy S8 or 8+?  What about the LG G6?  Or the Sony Xperia XZ Premium.  Absolutely.  But, out of the 6 requirements, all three have at least one thing missing.  The HTC U11 is the only phone that ticks all my requirement boxes.  It’s the only one that has the fewest things that I need to “settle” for.  It is the only phone, that comes in at $650.  So for me it’s a no brainer.  I get the best of all my worlds.  I like that.

I know that the Note 8 is going to be good.  But at close to $1000, so says the rumor mill, I can’t see justifying that cost. I know that LG might be coming out with the V30.  But might and are, are two totally different recipes. Right now is when I need a phone.  Not when maybe might be.

When all the other phones are still making close to the same thing, I know that my HTC U11 will still stand out amongst them.  And that’s why I’m getting the HTC U11.