This is a new direction for HTC, again.
HTC unveiled two new smartphones with the core premise of bringing you into the device, specifically leaving the “Be Brilliant” tag line behind and ushering in “It’s all about U.”
Two new smartphones, the HTC U Ultra and the HTC U Play, with a 5.7-inch and 5.2-inch display, respectively. Both come with the new “liquid surface” design that has curved glass on the front and back, which reportedly “reflects light beautifully.”
There is no definite indication if these devices will come to Canada. HTC noted in an email that the U Ultra is now available for pre-sale through its site for those in the United States. For the rest of the world, including Canada, the HTC U Ultra and HTC U Play will be available from select carriers, retailers, and directly from HTC “at a later date.”
We have listed the complete specs below of the new smartphones and also compared it to its 2016 flagship device, the HTC 10.
HTC U Ultra
HTC U Play
HTC 10
Display
5.7-inch, 2.0 inch secondary display (160x1040)
5.2 inch
5.2 inch (1440x2560)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 2.15GHz quad-core processor
Octa-core, 64-bit MediaTek Helio P10
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, Quad Core, 64bit, up to 2.2GHz
RAM
4GB
3GB or 4GB
4GB
Storage
64GB or 128GB
32GB or 64GB
32GB
Dimensions (in.)
162.41 x 79.79 x 3.6-7.99mm
145.99 x 72.9 x 3.5-7.99mm
145.9 x 71.9 x 3.0 - 9.0 mm
Weight
170 grams
145 grams
161 grams
Rear Facing Camera
12MP (HTC UltraPixel™ 2 with 1.55μm pixel) PDAF + Laser focus
12MP (HTC UltraPixel 2 with 1.55μm pixel)
Front Facing Camera
16MP, with HTC UltraPixel
5MP (1.34μm pixels)
OS
Android 7.0 with HTC Sense
Android 6 with HTC Sense
Battery
Non-removable 3000mAh with Quick Charge 3.0
Non-removable 2500mAh
Non-removable 3000 mAh Quick Charge 3.0 with cool charge
Network Connectivity
Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 & 5 GHz), NFC
Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 & 5 GHz), NFC
Sensors
NFC, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 & 5 GHz), DLNA, Motion G-sensor, Fingerprint sensor
NFC, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 & 5 GHz), DLNA, Fingerprint sensor, Motion G-sensor
SIM Type
Nano SIM
Nano SIM
Launch Date
March 20, 2017
April 12, 2016
Misc
USB Type-C
Android 7.0 with HTC Sense, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 4.2, Fingerprint sensor
HTC BoomSound
Display
HTC U Ultra
5.7-inch, 2.0 inch secondary display (160x1040)
HTC U Play
5.2 inch
HTC 10
5.2 inch (1440x2560)
Processor
HTC U Ultra
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 2.15GHz quad-core processor
HTC U Play
Octa-core, 64-bit MediaTek Helio P10
HTC 10
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, Quad Core, 64bit, up to 2.2GHz
RAM
HTC U Ultra
4GB
HTC U Play
3GB or 4GB
HTC 10
4GB
Storage
HTC U Ultra
64GB or 128GB
HTC U Play
32GB or 64GB
HTC 10
32GB
Dimensions (in.)
HTC U Ultra
162.41 x 79.79 x 3.6-7.99mm
HTC U Play
145.99 x 72.9 x 3.5-7.99mm
HTC 10
145.9 x 71.9 x 3.0 - 9.0 mm
Weight
HTC U Ultra
170 grams
HTC U Play
145 grams
HTC 10
161 grams
Rear Facing Camera
HTC U Ultra
12MP (HTC UltraPixel™ 2 with 1.55μm pixel) PDAF + Laser focus
HTC U Play
HTC 10
12MP (HTC UltraPixel 2 with 1.55μm pixel)
Front Facing Camera
HTC U Ultra
16MP, with HTC UltraPixel
HTC U Play
HTC 10
5MP (1.34μm pixels)
OS
HTC U Ultra
Android 7.0 with HTC Sense
HTC U Play
HTC 10
Android 6 with HTC Sense
Battery
HTC U Ultra
Non-removable 3000mAh with Quick Charge 3.0
HTC U Play
Non-removable 2500mAh
HTC 10
Non-removable 3000 mAh Quick Charge 3.0 with cool charge
Network Connectivity
HTC U Ultra
Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 & 5 GHz), NFC
HTC U Play
HTC 10
Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 & 5 GHz), NFC
Sensors
HTC U Ultra
NFC, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 & 5 GHz), DLNA, Motion G-sensor, Fingerprint sensor
HTC U Play
HTC 10
NFC, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 & 5 GHz), DLNA, Fingerprint sensor, Motion G-sensor
SIM Type
HTC U Ultra
Nano SIM
HTC U Play
HTC 10
Nano SIM
Launch Date
HTC U Ultra
March 20, 2017
HTC U Play
HTC 10
April 12, 2016
Misc
HTC U Ultra
USB Type-C
HTC U Play
Android 7.0 with HTC Sense, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 4.2, Fingerprint sensor
HTC 10
HTC BoomSound
MobileSyrup may earn a commission from purchases made via our links, which helps fund the journalism we provide free on our website. These links do not influence our editorial content. Support us here.