HTC U12+: A premium smartphone for the anti-notch camp

HTC U11 will be remembered as the first device ever to feature squeezable edges. However, despite getting most things right, the U11 was still criticized for its outdated design that included huge bezels, but the Taiwanese company is taking none of that with respect to the new HTC U12+.

The phone essentially picks up from where the hard-to-find HTC U11+ left off as far as design is concerned. Unlike what most big-name vendors have done this 2018, HTC stuck to their usual design language that will gladly be welcomed by the anti-notch camp, but you still get the trendy 18:9 aspect ratio. Like the U11+, the fingerprint scanner has been relocated to the back, which means you are getting a huge display screen in a body that is about the same size as the U11.

HTC U12+ specs

• 6-inch QHD+ (1440 x 2880) Super LCD6
• Snapdragon 845 processor
• 6GB RAM and 64GB/128GB storage (expandable up to 2TB)
• Dual 12MP + 16MP back camera
• Dual 8MP front camera
• 3500mAh battery
• Android 8.0 Oreo
• 156.6 x 73.9 x 8.7-9.7 mm
• Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, IP68, rear-mounted scanner, Quick Charge 3.0, NFC, Chromecast support, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, 4K video recording, EIS, OIS, HTC USonic, BoomSound Hi-Fi, etc.

As pointed out, the HTC U12+ picks up from where the U11+ left off and it can easily be termed as an incremental upgrade, but of course, it has its own unique additions that differentiate it from the 2017 handset. Designwise, you still get the liquid surface design on the glass-made back panel with finishes in Flame Red or Ceramic Black, but all the glory lies in the translucent blue color version.

To compete favorably with other flagship phones this 2018, HTC had no choice but to add a second lens on the back of the U12+. HTC has included real-time bokeh mode as well as 2x lossless digital zoom in the hope that they’ll give the U12+ a competitive edge, but it is the bold move of further adding a second lens on the front camera system that could do exactly that. All this camera power has earned the HTC U12+ a spot only behind the Huawei P20 Pro as far as folks at DxOMark are concerned after scoring a total of 103 points.

Like other premium HTC phones, the U12+ banks on sound as another USP. The company has included support for BoomSound Hi-Fi edition, USonic with Active noise cancelation, Hi-Res stereo audio recording, 3D Audio, LDAC up to 32-bit Hi-res wireless audio using Bluetooth, as well as USonic noise-canceling USB-C earphones. Yea, you are right. There’s no 3.5mm audio jack, which you must now be getting used to not only on HTC phones, if not already.

Interestingly, the HTC U12+ comes with support for both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa digital assistants, which gives users the option to choose what they like to use. You also get Edge Sense 2 that adds more ways to interact with the squeezable edges, IP68 dust and water resistance, a 3500mAh battery with support for Quick CHarge 3.0 fast charging, and runs Android 8.0 Oreo with Treble support out of the box.

HTC U12+ price and availability

HTC U12+ is already available for pre-order in certain markets across Europe and the U.S and should be heading to more markets sooner or later. Where the 64GB variant will cost £699 in the UK, €799 in the rest of Europe, and $799.99 in the U.S., those in the latter market can also get their hands on the 128GB variant at a cost of $849. So far, the available variants are either in Black or Blue color, with HTC saying that the Flame Red color variant will arrive at a later date that will be communicated.

The HTC U12+ will be available for purchase beginning June 7.

Thoughts?