HTC, once a dominant force in the smartphone market, continues to release devices. Today, we're pitting two of their offerings against each other: the newer HTC U23 Pro and the older, but still capable, HTC U12+. Let's see which phone emerges as the victor.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The HTC U23 Pro boasts a more modern chipset and significantly better battery life, alongside a brighter display. However, the U12+’s Snapdragon 845 still delivers respectable performance, and its excellent contrast ratio makes for a visually appealing experience. The U23 Pro is the overall winner, but the U12+ remains a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | 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 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 39, 49, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 7, 20, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, May 18 | 2018, May 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, May 18 | Available. Released 2018, June 29 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 166.6 x 77.1 x 8.9 mm (6.56 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) | 156.6 x 73.9 x 8.7 mm (6.17 x 2.91 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 205 g (7.23 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Pressure-sensitive buttons |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 120Hz | Super LCD6, HDR10 |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7450-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 644 | Adreno 630 |
| OS | Android 13 | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), Sense UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 64GB 6GB 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 flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR |
| Quad | 108 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64μm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), HDR, 24-bit/96kHz 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 | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired
15W wireless
5W reverse wireless
Reverse wired | 18W wired, QC3, 50% in 35 min (advertised) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 24 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 4600 mAh | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Snow White, Coffee Black | Translucent Blue, Ceramic Black, Flame Red |
| Models | 2QC9200, 2QC9100, 2QCB100 | U12, 2Q55100 |
| Price | About 220 EUR | About 450 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -52.7dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 64h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1818:1 (nominal), 3.085 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 77dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 99dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 263696 (v7)
GeekBench: 9001 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 20fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
HTC U23 Pro
- Significantly better battery life
- Brighter display
- More modern chipset (Snapdragon 7 Gen 1)
- Faster charging (wired & wireless)
- Reverse wireless charging
- Potentially higher price
- Camera details are unclear
HTC U12+
- Excellent contrast ratio display
- Still capable performance (Snapdragon 845)
- Lower price point
- Well-built design (typical of HTC)
- Shorter battery life
- Older chipset
- Slower charging
Display Comparison
The HTC U23 Pro's 727 nits max brightness is a significant advantage, making it much easier to see in direct sunlight. While the U12+'s contrast ratio of 1818:1 (nominal) and 3.085 (sunlight) is impressive, the U23 Pro's brightness ultimately provides a better overall viewing experience. Both phones likely feature similar resolution and panel technology (likely IPS LCD for both).
Camera Comparison
Camera details are limited, but both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities. Given the U23 Pro's newer hardware, it's likely to offer improved image processing and potentially better low-light performance. However, without specific sensor and lens information, a definitive comparison is difficult. Both likely feature multiple rear cameras (wide, ultrawide, potentially telephoto).
Performance
The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 in the U23 Pro offers a noticeable performance boost over the U12+'s Snapdragon 845. The 7 Gen 1's 4nm process also contributes to improved efficiency. While the U12+ remains capable for everyday tasks, the U23 Pro will handle demanding games and applications more smoothly. The U23 Pro's CPU configuration (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) provides a good balance of performance and efficiency.
Battery Life
The U23 Pro's endurance rating of 83h is a clear winner compared to the U12+'s 64h. This translates to significantly longer battery life on a single charge. The U23 Pro also supports faster wired (30W) and wireless (15W) charging, along with reverse wireless charging.
Buying Guide
The HTC U23 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing battery life, a brighter display, and a more recent chipset for future-proofing. The HTC U12+ is a good choice for those seeking a reliable, well-built phone at a lower price point, especially if display contrast is important.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the HTC U23 Pro worth the upgrade from an HTC U12+?
If battery life and a brighter display are important to you, then yes. The U23 Pro offers a significant upgrade in these areas, along with a more modern chipset. However, if you're happy with your U12+'s performance and don't need the extra battery life, the upgrade might not be necessary.
❓ What type of display technology do these phones use?
Both the HTC U23 Pro and U12+ likely utilize IPS LCD panels. While specifics are not always publicly available, this is the common display technology used by HTC in these models.
