HTC has long championed metal phones with harsh lines and chamfered edges, but the Ultra U is about as far from that as possible.The HTC U Ultra comes with a 5.7-inch display protected by a curved Gorilla Glass 5 screen, as well as an independently controlled two-inch “Dual Display” screen along the top.

Like an increasing number of smartphones, it is a dual-nano SIM device, with the second slot able to accommodate a micro-SD card to bump storage up to 2TB.

HTC U Ultra

The hardware specifications look like what you would expect from a top-tier flagship device today: 4GB RAM, Bluetooth 4, NFC, USB 3.1 Type-C port, GPS and GLONASS for location, and even support for China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system. The HTC U Ultra feels noticeably lighter than other 5.5-inch to 5.7-inch devices in its class.

Key Features

  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
  • Display: 5.7 inches (2560 x 1440 pixels) with 2-inch dual display (160 x 1040 pixels)
  • Dimensions: 162.4mm x 79.7mm x 7.9mm
  • Weight: 170 grams
  • Memory: 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM, expandable micro-SD slot
  • Battery: 3,000 mAH, Quick Charge 3.0
  • OS : Android 7.0
  • Cameras: 12 megapixel with f/1.8 aperture, with a 16 megapixel front-facing camera

Software

The U Ultra runs Sense HTC’s chronicle of Android Nougat 7.0. Each manufacturer’s essence of Android is a matter of personal choice though we can’t get on house with HTC’s.

It’s finished swell in new years by putting things like Google Photos in place of a possess app, though there’s still too most on here.

The second screen leads into the other standout feature of the HTC U Ultra: the software is all built around ‘AI’. Artificial intelligence is a phrase bandied around a lot these days and it can be affixed to anything from a speaker to a toothbrush. Apple uses it for Siri, Google with its Assistant and, perhaps the strongest use so far, Amazon with Alexa. HTC isn’t using any of these, but instead is intertwining smart elements throughout the software.

The HTC U Ultra will supposedly only show you notifications that actually matter and learn your schedule to set relevant alarms when you’re travelling.

If it senses you’ve got a busy day and you’re likely to run out of battery before it’s up, it will shut off non-essential functions to make sure you make it through. There are a lot of little things going on here, and it has the potential to be the first actually useful phone assistant if it all works correctly. If the right data isn’t there, though, then I imagine it being yet another gimmick that’s forgotten very quickly.

The phone I was using during my demo was running older software – hence the HTC 10 style of homescreen – but it’ll look different when it ships later in the month. I was told the icons will be different, but HTC wouldn’t confirm what other changes it’ll be making.

Overall, a tough to clear a £649 cost indicate with foe such as a Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy S7 in a Android market, generally with Samsung’s subsequent large thing around a corner.

Other points

  • Battery life is subsequent what I’d design of a phone this size, generally true out of a box, nonetheless it will get we by a day.
  • Generally, a phone is zippy and responsive, and a haptic feedback is reassuring.
  • As common with HTC, sound by a speakers is good above average
  • Memory during 64GB should be adequate for roughly anyone. A 128GB chronicle also exists, though does not seem to be on sale in a UK during launch.

Pros: Good looking, fast, second shade can be useful
Cons: Falls on a building a lot, no headphone jack, Sense Companion not accessible during launch.