HTC U12+ vs. HTC U11: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Performance and Battery Life
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the HTC U11 offers a better overall package. While the U12+ boasts the faster Snapdragon 845, the U11’s superior endurance rating of 73 hours, combined with a similar charging speed, makes it the more practical choice. The performance gains of the 845 are noticeable, but not substantial enough to offset the battery life reduction.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | HTC U12+ | HTC U11 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 39, 49, 41, 66 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat16 1024/75 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2018, May 23 | 2017, May 16. Released 2017, June 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2018, June 29 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 156.6 x 73.9 x 8.7 mm (6.17 x 2.91 x 0.34 in) | 153.9 x 75.9 x 7.9 mm (6.06 x 2.99 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) | 169 g (5.96 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) Pressure-sensitive buttons | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~534 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~71.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super LCD6, HDR10 | Super LCD5 |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 630 | Adreno 540 |
| OS | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), Sense UI | Android 7.1 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), Sense UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Laser AF, OIS 16 MP (12 MP effective), f/2.6, 1/3.1", 1.0µm, 2x optical zoom, AF | - |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 12 MP, f/1.7, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 5-axis OIS |
| Video | 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), HDR, 24-bit/96kHz stereo sound rec. | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, HDR, 24-bit/192kHz stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 8 MP, f/2.0, 1/4", 1.12µm 8 MP, f/2.0, 1/4", 1.12µm | - |
| Features | HDR, panorama | - |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE (5.0 after SW update) |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC3, 50% in 35 min (advertised) | 18W wired, QC3 |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 336 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 24 h (3G) | Up to 24 h 30 min (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Translucent Blue, Ceramic Black, Flame Red | Amazing Silver, Sapphire Blue, Brilliant Black, Ice White, Solar Red |
| Models | U12, 2Q55100 | U11, HTV33, 2PZC100, 2PZC5, 601HT |
| Price | About 450 EUR | About 300 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -52.7dB | Noise -94.1 / Crosstalk -94.5 |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 64h | Endurance rating 73h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1818:1 (nominal), 3.085 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 77dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 99dB | Voice 68dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 79dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 263696 (v7) GeekBench: 9001 (v4.4) GFXBench: 20fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | GeekBench: 6393 (v4.4) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
HTC U12+
- Faster processor for demanding tasks
- Improved display contrast ratio
- Dual-camera system for increased versatility
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Larger size may be less comfortable for some users
- Potentially higher price
HTC U11
- Excellent battery life (73h endurance)
- More affordable price point
- Comfortable size and ergonomics
- Older processor
- Lower display contrast ratio
- Single-camera system
Display Comparison
Both the U12+ and U11 feature 18:9 displays, but the U12+ edges out the U11 in contrast ratio, offering 1818:1 compared to the U11’s unspecified value. This translates to deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. While both likely utilize Super LCD technology, the U12+’s higher nominal and sunlight contrast ratios suggest improved outdoor visibility. The U12+’s display is also slightly larger, potentially offering a more immersive viewing experience, though this comes at the cost of overall device size.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable photo and video capabilities, but details beyond that are limited. The U12+ introduces a dual-camera system, likely offering improved low-light performance and portrait mode capabilities compared to the U11’s single-lens setup. However, without specific sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to quantify the difference. The U12+'s dual camera likely provides more versatility, but the U11’s image processing, known for its accuracy, may still deliver excellent results in good lighting conditions.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the U12+ utilizes the Snapdragon 845 (10nm) with an octa-core CPU clocked up to 2.8 GHz, while the U11 runs on the Snapdragon 835 (10nm) with a CPU peaking at 2.45 GHz. The 845’s Kryo 385 cores represent an architectural improvement over the 835’s Kryo cores, offering better performance per clock cycle. This translates to faster app loading times and smoother multitasking on the U12+. However, the 845 is also more power-hungry, contributing to the U12+'s reduced battery endurance. Both devices share the same 18W Quick Charge 3.0 support.
Battery Life
This is where the U11 truly shines. Despite having a similar charging speed (18W with QC3), the U11 boasts an endurance rating of 73 hours, significantly exceeding the U12+'s 64 hours. This means the U11 can realistically last a full day of moderate to heavy use, while the U12+ may require a top-up before the day is over. The Snapdragon 845’s increased power consumption directly impacts the U12+'s battery life, making the U11 the clear winner for users prioritizing longevity.
Buying Guide
Buy the HTC U12+ if you prioritize raw processing power for demanding applications like video editing or graphically intensive games, and are willing to accept a shorter battery life. Buy the HTC U11 if you value all-day battery life, a comfortable user experience, and a more balanced overall package, especially if you can find it at a significantly lower price point.