HTC Unveils U11 Flagship with Innovative Edge Sense Technology

HTC has officially announced its 2017 flagship smartphone, the HTC U11, on May 16, 2017. The device continues the design language of the HTC U-series with a glossy, curved 3D glass finish on both the front and back, blending seamlessly with the middle frame for a premium look and feel. As a direct successor to last year's HTC 10, the U11 positions itself as a strong competitor to the Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6.

Under the hood, the HTC U11 features a 5.5-inch QuadHD Super LCD5 display protected by 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5. It is powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 835 processor, with memory options of 4GB RAM and 64GB expandable storage, and a region-dependent variant offering 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. The camera setup includes a 12-megapixel dual-pixel focusing unit on the rear and a 16-megapixel selfie camera optimized for low-light conditions. Running on HTC Sense UI based on Android 7 Nougat, the phone is equipped with a 3000mAh battery that supports Quick Charge 3.0, though wireless charging is not included.

One of the standout features of the HTC U11 is its Edge Sense technology. Pressure sensors along the lower edge of the device enable users to launch apps, switch cameras, or take photos simply by squeezing the sides. These functions can be customized through a dedicated Edge Sense app, and the feature can even be integrated into third-party applications.

The U11 also includes 360-degree sound recording and HTC Usonic technology. Despite the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack, a noise-canceling earphone is provided in the box, along with a USB Type-C to 3.5mm adapter. This earphone draws power directly from the phone, so extended use may impact battery life. The device is IP67-rated for water and dust resistance.

In terms of smart assistants, the HTC U11 stands out by including not one but two major AI platforms: both Microsoft Alexa and Google Assistant can be enabled, alongside HTC's own Sense Companion. Users can choose their preferred assistant or utilize all three.

Priced at $649 USD, the HTC U11 is expected to become available in June, though its release in Nepal has not yet been confirmed. While the Edge Sense feature's real-world effectiveness remains to be seen, the phone's overall specifications and refreshed design have garnered positive early reviews, making it a credible contender in the flagship market.