HTC’s U11 Life is a solid mid-ranger with a few killer features

We’re big fans of HTC’s flagship U11, not least because of its squeezable sides for those bored of tapping touchscreens. The U11 Life, announced today, is by some distance the cheapest option in the U11 family, but that clever (and since imitated by the new Google Pixels) Edge Sense tech is retained for quick selfies or muttering to the built-in Google Assistant. The modest 5.2” 1080p display isn’t going to turn many heads in a year of bezel-banishing big screen phones, but at £349 you won’t mind. There’s a Snapdragon 630 under the hood, a – let’s face it – downgraded 2600 mAh battery, and 16MP snappers on the front and back. It’s also an Android One phone – the first to ship with Oreo. That means all your favourite Google apps are preloaded and, crucially, guarantees it security and OS upgrades in the future. The U11 Life is available to pre-order from today.

Matt Tate Contributor

About

I'm fascinated by all things tech, but if you were going to leave me on a desert island, I'd probably ask for my Nintendo Switch, a drone, and a pair of noise-cancelling cans to block out the relentless seagull racket. When I'm not on Stuff duty you'll probably find me subscribing to too many podcasts, playing too many video games, or telling anyone who will listen that Spurs are going to win a trophy this season.

Areas of expertise

Video games, VR, smartwatches, headphones, smart speakers, bizarre Kickstarter campaigns