HTC U12 Plus: Too Ambitious For its Own Good?

The highly unusual and ambitious HTC U12 Plus is here. What’s the verdict? Well, it’s certainly weird. Let’s get into the specifics.  

Buttonless Design 

The lack of buttons on this phone is a lot more awkward than it needs to be. While the design decision makes sense, given that real buttons act as weak points in normal phones, the execution is poor. It feels forced, like it was a box to be checked off on a list titled “futuristic phone features.” While the side-squeeze customization is nice, it’s tiring to use. Being able to call up specific apps by squeezing the phone is certainly unique though, and we hope to see similar designs incorporated into future phones. It is worth wondering if the phone wouldn’t have been better off just having normal buttons. 

Screen and Cameras 

The screen is large and pretty, which is to be expected from a modern smartphone. It looks fine and is truly nothing special. It washes out in direct sunlight, unfortunately, making it feel a bit cheaper than most modern smartphones.  

Similarly, the cameras are fine. You won’t be taking studio-quality pictures or filming any breathtaking footage, but they’ll suffice. The phone uses a dual-camera setup that works pretty well, which, again, is to be expected. It offers bokeh-style portraits, which has become industry standard, and they look quite good.  

HTC U12 Plus Processor 

HTC’s newest phone sports a Snapdragon 845 processor, which makes it speedy and responsive. It keeps up with modern smartphones like the Galaxy S9, but lags behind the iPhone X’s excellent A11 Bionic processor. That said, so does every other phone currently on the market, so it’s hard to knock the U12 Plus too much in that regard. 

Battery Life 

The battery life on the HTC U12 Plus is a joke, which is a shame. Testing has shown that the phone barely gets through 12 hours of video playback. This means you’ll have to charge it daily, and if you watch videos or play games often, consider carrying a charger with you. This would have disappointing in 2008, and it’s inexcusable in 2018. 

Bottom Line 

HTC’s newest phone costs $800 for the 64GB model, or $850 for the 128GB version. For a phone that is as awkward and disappointing as this, that price point is a deal breaker. Unless you particularly love the idea of a button-free phone, give this one a pass. Check out the Galaxy S9 or iPhone X for better phones in this price range, you won’t be disappointed.