HTC launches World’s First smartphone with squeeze interaction

HTC launches the World’s First smartphone featuring squeeze interaction, bringing in a new age of phone interactions. From it’s slick exterior designs and colors to the upgraded camera features, the HTC U11 or U-Squeeze which I like to call it is a major improvement compared to her other rivals. 

Now let me bring you the 10 things which you need to watch out for:

1. Design

Liquid Surface Construction, the back of the phone is made from a Curved Gorilla Glass 3, with its reflective mirror-like surface it looks almost like water. It is not only strong but stylish as well and it comes in Sapphire Blue, Brilliant Black, Ice White, Amazing Silver and Solar Red. As you tilt the phone around the color of the phone surprisingly changes its tint. So which one will you pick?

2. Edge Sense (U-Squeeze)

Squeeze and launch. By default, with just a squeeze you will be able to launch the camera app and on the second squeeze you are able to take a photo or a selfie.

You are also given the option to customize the Edge Sense from the settings. Both the short squeeze and the squeeze and hold actions can be configured to do a multiple of things, from turning on the flashlight or take screenshots to launching your favorite app it is all customizable. You are even able to configure the squeeze tension to fit your grip, so as to not launch an app accidentally.

Lastly, a squeeze while watching a video, pause it and a squeeze when you receive a phone call picks it up.

3. The front

HTC U11 has a 5.5-inch display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The 3D glass design is made to provide a purer full-framed viewing experience. The colors stand out and the display is sharp and crisp, making watching videos or browsing a great joy. At the bottom you will find the home button which doubles up as a fingerprint sensor.

On Night mode the U11 will lower the amount of Blue light giving the screen a slight warm feel to help with those late night browsing. Don’t forget to check out their gestures function under settings to further automate you phone making your U11 experience even smoother.

4. Resistance

The U11 is not only Water Resistant but Cold Resistant as well. With the IP67 certification, you are able to dip the phone in water up to 1 meter deep for up to 30 minutes. But do take note it is water resistant not sea water resistant, as they are both different.

During winter months, U11 will help keep your hands warm. You will even be able to operate your phone easily without having to remove your gloves.

5. Camera

Highest rated Phone Camera by DxoMark till date. A whooping 90 Score.

The back Camera is 12-megapixel, f/1.7 shooter boasts a 1.4μm pixel size, optical image stabilization and HTC's UltraPixel 3 technology. UltraSpeed AF and improved HDR. While the front is a 16-megapixel, f/2.0 shooter with UltraPixel technology.

Now think about this, the U11 is Water and Cold Resistant plus rated as the highest rated smart phone ever. You are now able to take really amazing shots. On top of that HTC also includes a PRO function so when taking photos the U11 is able to further help you into creating professional level shots.

HTC U11 is also equipped with Temporal Noise Reduction technology which enables you to shoot the clearest motion picture quality of videos by removing electronic noise. It also has a full sensor auto-focus, which means it has an ultra fast auto focus, faster then your eye. With this camera you will no longer miss a moment.

6. Sound

Now this is one of the Jewels of this phone. USB-C USonic earphones, with a built-in DAC, active noise cancellation and a custom feature that optimized your audio profile by scanning the inside of your ear canals.

In other words, the ear phone is adapting and adjusting itself to help create the best sound to suit your ears. All this with no need for an expensive headphone. With this you are able to get lost in your music with no worries of outside noise disturbances. Just don’t miss your MRT stop.

Improved BOOMSOUND. U11 stereo speakers are so strong that you won’t need a Bluetooth speaker, just blast the volume and the phone does all the work.

Now this is a neat trick, the U11 is 4 microphones located around the phone for when recording videos. By default, the phone will record in 3D Audio so when paired with the USonic earphones you will experience an immersive surround sound effect. Now this is were things get crazy. There is something called Acoustic Focus. What it does is when recording, you can pinch and zoom in towards a target and the phone will automatically boost and amplify the target’s audio.

This is not just a selfie phone.

7. Assistance

The HTC U11 comes with 3 helpers to further assist you in your needs. Google Assistant, Alexa and HTC's own Sense Companion and each of them are all voice powered.

Currently Alexa only applies to HTC U11 phones in the UK or US but is coming to your country soon.

8. Software

HTC U11 runs on Android 7.1 Nougat with HTC's Sense UI 8 has the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 on the inside. It doesn’t burn your battery off fast as well with the 3000mAh battery, unless you’re watching or playing games on your phone the entire day. As per usual the U11 comes with a battery saver option but what I really like is the data saver option. It is perfect for people like me who is constantly on the phone and tend to over shot they monthly plan.

9. Performance 

HTC U11
Weight	- 169g
Dimensions	- 153.9 x 75.9 x 7.9mm
Battery	- 3,000mAh - Quick Charge 3.0
Storage Type	- 128GB internal storage - MicroSD support up to 256GB
Connectivity	- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual band), Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, DLNA, USB Type-C, USB 3.1 Gen 1
Camera	- Rear: 12-megapixel, f/1.7, phase detection autofocus, OIS, dual-LED flash - Front: 16-megapixel, f/2.0
Display	- 5.5-inch Main / 2,560 x 1,440 pixels (~550 ppi) / Super LCD 5
Built-in Memory	- 6GB
Processor	- Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Octa-core (4 x 2.45GHz Kryo & 4 x 1.9GHz Kryo)
Operating system	- Android 7.0 Nougat with HTC Sense

 10. Price 

The U11 is available through Singtel, M1, Lazada and authorised retail outlets. You can get 128GB/6GB model for S$998, which is significantly cheaper than similarly spec-ed phones from competitors that go past the S$1,000 mark.

Here are some of the photo and video taken using the HTC U11 (without editing):

For more information about HTC U11, visit http://www.htc.com/sea/smartphones/htc-u11/.

  Written by Ivannavich

IG handle: https://www.instagram.com/ivannavich/