I remember that the first time I contacted HTC was a Dopuda held by a local tyrant in his class in college, and I had never seen an Apple phone at that time, so my first impression of this phone was that it was a handheld computer, and it could do so many things. At that time, Saipan was the leader. I don't know how awesome the N95 with a Nuoji in my hand was. But compared with the early smart phone, I felt that Saipan was going to decline. Later, less than half a year later, Android and IOS became popular MOTO、 Sony Ericsson and other mobile phone brands have become floating clouds. The first HTC mobile phone in life was equipped with WIN system and Android system. At that time, HTC occupied most of the mobile phone industry, and the brand was also very popular. People who like to make trouble with digital devices need to get an HTC mobile phone to brush the ROM. As time went by, ten years passed in a hurry. Today, the author got the HTC U11, the first smartphone brand in his life. Time seemed to flow back. The gate of his thoughts was opened in a moment, and all kinds of memories of the best years of his life were turned over. We will talk about the sadness of spring and autumn later. We will sort out our thoughts and turn our eyes to the mobile phone in hand. Let's talk less and begin to experience.

I was the manufacturer of the first Android mobile phone, but I was curious whether the flagship mobile phone released again ten years later could be called the flagship. In this era of rampant metal, the HTC U11 does not choose to use a metal back cover, which is unique.

Let's take a look at a video to briefly understand the appearance and some details of HTC U11.

The U11 in hand is a black shell. At first glance, it feels very round. No edges and corners can be found around the phone. HTC fully expresses the design concept of 3D ripples.

The screen size of the U11 is 5.5 inches. It uses a 2K Super LCD screen with a resolution of 2560X1440 and a width to height ratio of 18:9. However, the extra length does not have a particularly obvious visual increase in length. The screen uses 3D four curved glass, which has a very good visual effect. The screen is like a suspended water drop, which makes it very round and full. The radian of the connection between the screen and the metal frame of the phone is very large. The saturation and contrast of the LCD 5 screen are good, and the visibility of the display in outdoor strong light is also good.

The front and rear glasses of the U11 have a large arc, so it feels very good to hold. However, the middle connection still uses a metal frame, so that there are two seams at the front and back, slightly less overall than the phone with a metal integrated back cover. However, the mobile phone with a metal frame can not achieve the smooth touch like the U11. The 3D Ripple design has long been used by mobile phones, but this time HTC U11 has played it to the extreme.

The forehead part of the mobile phone still integrates several conventional components of the mobile phone, including a horizontal bar shaped handset (also the sound outlet of the front BoomSound speaker), a photo sensing element, a front lens, and an additional front microphone. The whole mobile phone has four omnidirectional high sensitivity microphones, namely, up, down, front, and back, which can record 3D audio and surround radio. The interesting BoomSound speaker makes sound through the body. Even if the main speaker hole at the bottom of the phone is blocked, the phone can still make sound through the body and the front sound hole. The stereo sound effect is obvious. The edge of the front earpiece opening shall be carefully observed for chamfering treatment. The edge shall be sharp and hard, which is also round.

At the bottom of the screen is a simulated HOME key integrated with a fingerprint identifier. The HOME key is not in the middle of the bottom of the phone, but slightly lower. The identification part is also rounded around the edge, which makes the identification part better integrated with the phone screen, without looking abrupt. The touch of fingers across here is smooth and round, and the overall feeling is very good. Fingerprint recognition is fast, and up to 5 sets of fingerprints can be recorded. When the screen is off, you can choose to touch the fingerprint identifier in the setting interface to wake up the screen or not. When the screen lights up, tap the HOME key to exit the current program.

The left and right sides of the HOME key retain the virtual return key and the multitask display key. The left side shows the return key and the right side shows the multitask display. When touching these two virtual function keys, the backlight will light up, and it will go out if there is no operation for 3 seconds.

The front camera has 16 million pixels, which can meet the needs of daily self taking and video calling.

The antenna of the mobile phone is hidden in the side metal frame. There are 7 hidden antenna points around the frame, which ensures the strength of the call signal without affecting the integrity of the frame. Black color similar to the frame is difficult to find.

On the right side of the phone are the regular volume adjustment keys and switch keys. However, the switch keys have some caution, and special edges and corners are made on the switch, so that users can quickly find the switch keys to start or stop the screen. The keys are made of metal, and the clicking force is relatively clear. The keys are not loose, and they feel good when used.

The HTC U11 cancels the 3.5mm audio interface, and the audio output is integrated into the Type-C interface. A HTC USonic in ear earplug will be attached to the mass production model. This earplug is said to have an active noise reduction function. In addition, there will be a 3.5mm converter with a built-in DAC, which can enable users who use non original earphones to experience a good audio experience. Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor supports Quick Charge 4.0, but U11 does not support Quick Charge 4.0, and only supports Quick Charge 3.0, which has a certain relationship with the use of 3000mAh batteries. At the bottom of the phone, we can also see the bottom speaker and the microphone for calling and recording.

The HTC U11 does not design the card slot on the side of the phone, but on the top of the phone. The card slot can place two SIM cards at the same time, or one SIM card and another memory card, supporting a maximum of 2T storage capacity expansion. 3D recording microphone can also be seen at the top.

The back cover of the HTC U11 has become a highlight. The back and screen also use 3D four curved surface ripple glass, which uses the light splitting and color mixing technology. The shell will show different colors from different angles. This time, five colors, black, blue, white, silver and red, were introduced, and each color will present two different effects. But the phones with glass back cover are all natural fingerprint collectors, which need more wiping at the same time.

On the back cover, we also found the hole of the 3D recording microphone. For the needs of video recording and recording, the manufacturer spared no effort to make holes in such a beautiful piece of glass. The visible experience is more important than the appearance. Such a small hole suddenly appears on such a smooth and clean glass. What do you think of it as an obsessive-compulsive partner.

U11 is equipped with the native Android 7.1 Nougat system, and retains the up and down menu and some shortcut key functions of Android 7.0. Through the up and down menu, you can quickly change the phone settings, such as WiFi connection, flight mode, brightness adjustment, volume settings, etc. The flattening of application icons is good, and the icons move smoothly back and forth.

Supporting Edge Sense frame extrusion human-computer interaction is another highlight of HTC U11. Users can start preset programs in the phone by squeezing the phone frame, such as quickly awakening DuerOS, quickly turning on the camera, turning on the flashlight, and squeezing again to take photos when the photographing mode is turned on. Squeezing is not a simple preset. It can define different strength, duration and wake-up procedures. However, it still takes time to adapt to the initial test of this function. It is not easy to control the strength of squeezing the phone yourself so that I don't know whether the preset program can be opened accurately. I believe it will be very convenient after I use it skillfully.

Squeeze for a long time to wake up the flashlight function.

After some experience, the author believes that DuerOS is the most grounded and friendly voice interaction system he has ever experienced. DuerOS can accurately identify the sentences uttered by users, and conduct whole sentence association analysis, so that the accuracy and recognition rate of sentence recognition will be greatly improved. What DuerOS returns each time is not simply the items searched by the search engine for users to choose, but the final answer tab filtered out.

For example, when I say to DuerOS that I want to see a movie, DuerOS will recommend several popular movies for users to choose from. This is only the most basic and simple voice interaction instruction. Let's not worry about it, and upgrade it little by little to test DuerOS.

First of all, let's take a look at Edge Sense's grip pressure setting interface. Here, users can set their own palm grip pressure, so that the phone can accurately identify the user's intention. Through three times of grip pressure, the phone has mastered the user's grip pressure. After three times of force recording, there is a small game to fill the screen with balloons to test whether the grip pressure record is accurate, Edge Sense is ready for small games.

After Edge Sense is ready, we can experience what DuerOS can do. Start with the most elementary questions. The first question is navigation. DuerOS gives the location of the destination without hesitation. When asked about the weather, DuerOS directly provided the local weather tab, which was also detailed enough. Watching news and movies, small assistants can recommend the content users want without hesitation.

Next, we will upgrade the exam. DuerOS can also play the game of Idiom Solitaire with users. When you are bored, it is also good to flirt with Xiaodu and pass the time with each idiom.

When small speech commands are recognized, the user's intention is fed back through whole sentence recognition. For example, if I want to see and play before a single word, games and audio-visual resources will appear. If I simply say a single word, the tab of the word will appear directly, instead of the search results of search engines, the results will be presented to the user like an encyclopedia, Instead of manually filtering search results.

Every question sent by the user can get a response from the tab class. The author feels that DuerOS is really grounded. If the same question is asked in Siri, half of the questions will not be answered, and only the system will reply. Sorry, I can't understand what you are talking about. DuerOS can even tell jokes and read comics to users.

At the time of writing this article, when the registration of drones began, the author used DuerOS to register all his drones.

Directly tell the small assistant about the upcoming itinerary, and it will directly generate a schedule reminder or alarm clock to remind the user before the event occurs. This function is very convenient to use. There is no need to manually set the time and event name, and it is completed by moving your mouth.

After the Edge Sense wakes up the intelligent experience of DuerOS, let's take a good look at the system and hardware parameters of HTC U11.

The first is the guided use experience of the mobile phone. The personalized settings of the mobile phone are relatively detailed. Through this guided setting, you can quickly set the mobile phone to a customized version of your use habits at zero cost. At the same time, you also need to set the Edge Sense grip pressure when you use it for the first time.

After the smooth experience of hardware and system, U11 can also carry out professional theme customization, which is different from simple custom themes of other systems. The theme here can be freely defined according to user preferences. With this function, users can design a set of unique themes different from others as long as they like.

With Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and 4G storage, U11 has a good experience in playing the game. The author briefly experienced the popular King's Glory game. The effect in the game is fully open, and the whole game process is smooth without stuttering. The user can enjoy the highest picture while smoothly completing the entire game experience.

The rear lens of HTC U11 scored as high as 90 in DxOMark, which is the highest score of smartphone lens so far. From the score alone, the lens of this phone is very promising. The rear lens is an UltraPixel 3 rear lens with 12 million pixels. The maximum aperture is f/1.7. It supports OIS+EIS anti shake. When recording video, the stability is very good. When focusing is off, laser focusing is used, but the focusing speed is amazing. It can capture the object to be shot quickly and accurately.

As the lens aperture is increased to f/1.7, bright pictures can be taken in some weak light environments.

In addition, the 3D recording function of the U11, combined with some simple video stabilization equipment, can shoot clear video with 3D stereo. Unfortunately, the U11 does not support 4K video shooting. In the era of 4K, some kids will be disappointed if they cannot shoot 4K video.

U11 is equipped with professional photography mode, and can even directly output RAW format photos. This is a very practical function for children who like to take photos and have RAW format requirements. Through RAW Smart Map, you can modify photos in the later stage. The flexibility is much better than JEPG format photos, and the photo quality is also better. After entering the professional photographing mode, all the photographing parameters that can be modified by the SLR can be modified here. Each parameter can be adjusted by clicking the icon at the bottom of the photographing interface. The bar icon has a large adjustable range, so it is also flexible to use.

In addition to professional photographing mode, U11 can also perform delayed photographing, slow motion, self photographing, panoramic photographing, etc., which can fully meet the daily photographing needs of users, even more than that.

Now let's take a look at some samples taken by U11, and feel how U11 performs.

The large aperture of f/1.7 is excellent in the performance of the macro depth of field. The color of the new green leaves is restored accurately, and the green is very natural. The two leaves at the focus are clear and sharp, and the virtualization of the back leaves is in place. Compared with the virtualization of the dual rear lens, this depth of field effect is more natural, and it is a true depth of field performance of the lens. The synthesis and painting of post flight photos.

Two maple leaves grow in the middle of the trunk. The focus position of this picture is farther from the background, and the depth of field effect is more obvious. The color restoration of the trunk and leaves is very accurate, which is the author's favorite WYSIWYG color restoration style. There is no oversaturation or overexposure. The score of U11's DxOMark does not mean that it is the best mobile camera, but in the actual photographing experience, it is a mobile camera that is very similar to the iPhone.

When photographing flowers and plants, I came across a bee collecting honey. I tried to get close to it, but the little bee was also photographed with good cooperation. In the thick yellow focus of the flower, the bee details are clearly retained, and the focus position is very accurate. In addition, the color restoration is not affected by the bright and yellow flowers. The shooting angle is slightly backlight, but the brightest part of the petals does not lose a piece of white detail, and the automatic exposure is also very accurate. In addition, the background in the distance seems to be blurred with a hint of German style lens.

Walking along the riverside in the evening, I took several sunset river scenes. Under the strong backlight condition, the details of the samples taken were not obviously lost. Through the professional mode of the camera and improving exposure compensation, we can still get detailed backlight photos. While the exposure compensation is added, the details of the sky clouds are slightly lost.

For the proof taken in the automatic metering mode, the details in the dark are lost, but the details of the sky are completely preserved.

Finally, when I was about to leave, I caught the last glimmer of the sunset. The details of the ripples on the water surface are very rich. But the details in the dark woods are completely invisible.

Several samples were taken in an environment with strong light and dark contrast, and the exposure compensation of the obtained photos is very accurate, and color restoration and detail retention are also certain.

I like the WYSIWYG photography style very much.

However, when the light conditions are not very good or the photographer takes a mobile photo with his mobile phone, the U11 shutter and the reaction speed of the photo will not keep up slightly, which will affect a certain film yield. However, this problem can be remedied by improving the ISO shutter speed through the professional mode of the camera.

In general, taking photos with U11 is a good experience. Be worthy of the title of the highest score in DxOMark.

This is the end of the evaluation. The author believes that HTC U11 is a mobile phone with HTC's full sincerity.

First of all, its flagship hardware configuration can compete with other mainstream flagship mobile phones on the market;

Secondly, its specially designed highlights are also absent from other mobile phones.

For example: Edge Sense frame extrusion human-computer interaction function;

The DuerOS and 3D recording functions are very grounded;

Active noise reduction earphone;

BoomSound speakers with good external sound effects;

These highlights and features are the characteristics of U11.

With these features, this phone is really worth playing.

However, under the halo of highlights and characteristics, U11 still has some functions that I expected but could not experience on it. First of all, the 835 processor supports the QC4.0 fast charging function, and the smaller battery capacity may make the manufacturer think that QC3.0 can meet the charging needs;

Moreover, 4K video recording is not possible. It already has 3D recording function. If 4K video recording can be added, U11's camera experience will be very good.

It is hoped that HTC will regain its position as a smart phone with the U11. This mobile phone is also a sincere work worth experiencing.