HTC U Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: A Deep Dive into Flagship Endurance

Released within months of each other in 2017, the HTC U Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S7 edge represented the pinnacle of Android smartphone technology. While both aimed for a premium experience, they took different approaches to achieving it. Today, with both devices available at significantly reduced prices, the question arises: which flagship holds up better as a daily driver, and which offers the best value for budget-conscious consumers?

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing battery life and display quality, the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge emerges as the stronger contender. Its superior endurance rating of 92 hours, coupled with its 'Infinite' contrast display, provides a more consistently enjoyable experience. While the U Ultra offers a newer chipset, the S7 edge’s optimization and overall package are more compelling.

PHONES
Phone Names	HTC U Ultra	Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 - G935FD, G9350
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - G935F, G935FD, G935W8
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - G935F, G935FD
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat11 600/50 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2017, January 12. Released 2017, February 21	2016, February 21. Released 2016, March 11
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5 or Sapphire crystal), glass back, aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum frame
Dimensions	162.4 x 79.8 x 8 mm (6.39 x 3.14 x 0.31 in)	150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm (5.94 x 2.86 x 0.30 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM (G935F, G935W8)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (G935FD)
Weight	170 g (6.00 oz)	157 g (5.54 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5 (64 GB version)Sapphire crystal glass (128 GB version)	Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Resolution	1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~513 ppi density)	1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~534 ppi density)
Size	5.7 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~69.7% screen-to-body ratio)	5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~76.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super LCD5	Super AMOLED
	Secondary display, 160 x 1040 pixels, 2 inches	-

Platform
CPU	Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo)	Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo) - G9350Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Mongoose & 4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53) - G935FD, G935F, G935W8
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821 (14 nm)	Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 (14 nm) - G9350Exynos 8890 Octa (14 nm) - G935FD, G935F, G935W8
GPU	Adreno 530	Adreno 530 - G9350Mali-T880 MP12 - G935FD, G935F, G935W8
OS	Android 7.0 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo)	Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo), TouchWiz UI

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM	32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama	LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single	12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.55µm, PDAF, OIS	12 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
Video	4K@30fps (24-bit/192kHz audio), 720p@120fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@60fps, 720p@240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., OIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	16 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm	5 MP, f/1.7, 22mm (wide), 1/4.1", 1.34µm
Video	1080p@30fps	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	Yes
35mm jack	No	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes
	24-bit/192kHz audio	-

Comms
Bluetooth	4.2, A2DP, LE	4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1	microUSB 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2

Battery
Charging	18W wired, QC3	15W wired, QC2 Wireless (Qi) (market dependent)
Music play	-	Up to 74 h
Stand-by	Up to 312 h (3G)	-
Talk time	Up to 26 h (3G)	Up to 27 h (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 3600 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Brilliant Black, Cosmetic Pink, Ice White, Sapphire Blue	Black, White, Gold, Silver, Pink Gold, Black Pearl, Coral Blue
Models	U Ultra, U-1u, 2PZF1	SM-G935F, SM-G935FD, SM-G935W8, SM-G9350, SM-G935S, SC-02H, SM-G935K, SM-G935L, SM-G935R4, SCV33, SM-G935X, SM-G935VC, SM-G935D
Price	About 250 EUR	About 330 EUR
SAR	-	0.56 W/kg (head) 0.66 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.26 W/kg (head) 1.43 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -92.5dB / Crosstalk -92.2dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 81h	Endurance rating 92h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1831 (nominal), 3.453 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.439 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 61dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 86dB	Voice 70dB / Noise 69dB / Ring 71dB
Performance	GFXBench: 10fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	GFXBench: 8.3fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

HTC U Ultra

Slightly newer Snapdragon 821 processor
Faster 18W Quick Charge 3.0 support
Sleek, glass design

Lower battery endurance (81h)
Inferior display contrast ratio
Less established camera reputation

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

Superior battery endurance (92h)
Exceptional display contrast and sunlight readability
Wireless charging (Qi) support

Potentially susceptible to thermal throttling (Exynos variant)
Slower 15W Quick Charge 2.0 support
Older processor (Snapdragon 820/Exynos 8890)

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge boasts a display with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, and a sunlight contrast of 4.439, significantly outperforming the HTC U Ultra’s 1831 (nominal) and 3.453 (sunlight) contrast ratios. This translates to deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and superior visibility in bright outdoor conditions. While both utilize similar display technologies for the time, the S7 edge’s panel is demonstrably superior in terms of contrast and outdoor usability. The U Ultra’s display, while still good, lacks the same visual punch.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer capable camera systems, but detailed analysis is hampered by the lack of specific sensor information in the provided data. Both are described as offering 'Photo / Video' capabilities. However, the S7 edge’s camera was widely praised for its fast autofocus and consistent image quality in various lighting conditions. The U Ultra’s camera, while competent, didn’t receive the same level of acclaim. Without sensor size or aperture details, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the S7 edge’s reputation suggests a slight advantage in overall image quality and reliability.

Performance

Both phones utilize Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820/821 series, fabricated on a 14nm process. The U Ultra features the Snapdragon 821, a slight revision over the S7 edge’s Snapdragon 820 (or Exynos 8890 in some regions). The 821 offers modest CPU and GPU improvements, but in real-world usage, the difference is often negligible. However, the S7 edge’s Exynos 8890 variant, with its octa-core configuration (4x2.3 GHz Mongoose & 4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53), presents a different architectural approach. While potentially powerful, the Exynos chip was known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load, a potential issue the Snapdragon 821 largely avoids. The U Ultra’s Snapdragon 821 benefits from Qualcomm’s refined thermal management.

Battery Life

Battery life is where the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge truly shines. Its endurance rating of 92 hours significantly exceeds the HTC U Ultra’s 81 hours. This difference, despite the S7 edge having a slightly slower 15W wired charging (QC2) compared to the U Ultra’s 18W (QC3), is substantial. The S7 edge also benefits from wireless charging (Qi), a feature absent on the U Ultra. The combination of efficient power management, a well-optimized software experience, and a larger effective battery capacity gives the S7 edge a clear advantage in longevity.

Buying Guide

Buy the HTC U Ultra if you prioritize a slightly newer processor and are comfortable with potentially shorter battery life. Its Snapdragon 821 offers a marginal performance edge in some benchmarks. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge if you value exceptional battery endurance, a stunning display with superior sunlight readability, and the convenience of wireless charging. It’s the better all-rounder for most users.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 8890 in the Galaxy S7 edge overheat during demanding tasks like gaming?

The Exynos 8890 variant of the Galaxy S7 edge was known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained heavy load, such as prolonged gaming sessions or video recording. While not a catastrophic issue, users might experience reduced performance after extended use. The Snapdragon 820 variant generally handles heat more efficiently.

❓ How does the Quick Charge 3.0 support on the HTC U Ultra compare to the Quick Charge 2.0 on the S7 edge in real-world charging times?

While the U Ultra supports the newer Quick Charge 3.0 standard and 18W charging, the difference in 0-100% charging time compared to the S7 edge’s 15W Quick Charge 2.0 is often minimal. The S7 edge’s optimized power management and efficient charging circuitry partially offset the wattage difference. Expect both phones to reach a full charge in approximately 1.5-2 hours.

❓ Is the difference in display contrast between the two phones noticeable in everyday use?

Yes, the difference in display contrast is quite noticeable. The S7 edge’s 'Infinite' contrast ratio delivers significantly deeper blacks and more vibrant colors, resulting in a more immersive viewing experience. The U Ultra’s display, while still good, appears washed out in comparison, especially when viewing content with dark scenes.