HTC U23 review
The HTC U23 Pro marks a rare comeback for the once-giant smartphone brand. With mid-range specs, a 120Hz OLED display, and a 108MP camera with OIS, this phone tries to recapture its former glory. The device features an IP67 rating, RGB notification LED, and a headphone jack. However, its performance in other areas is underwhelming. A single bottom-firing speaker, average battery life, and unimpressive camera capabilities raise concerns about the U23 Pro's value for money.
Build Quality and Design
The HTC U23 Pro's build quality is a tale of two extremes. On one hand, the phone's soft and velvety finish with a slight metallic sheen is a pleasant touch, evoking memories of a bygone era when phones were crafted with care. However, this luxury feel is quickly tempered by the fact that the device is constructed from plastic, which collects smudges quite easily. Despite being made of plastic, the U23 Pro feels sturdy in hand, but it's hard to shake off the feeling that HTC could have done better. The phone's IP67 rating for water and dust resistance is a welcome feature, especially considering its mid-range status. Additionally, the RGB notification LED adds a touch of nostalgia, though it's now a relatively rare feature. The display, which measures 6.7 inches diagonally, is a highlight, boasting a sharp and contrasty OLED panel with a 1080p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The bezels around the screen are disappointingly thick, but the max brightness of 725 nits is decent, even if it doesn't boost further when in auto mode. In terms of design, the U23 Pro's aesthetic is largely forgettable. While some may appreciate the retro vibe, others will find the phone's looks to be uninspired and lacking a certain je ne sais quoi. Overall, while the HTC U23 Pro's build quality has its moments, it ultimately falls short of expectations, particularly when compared to its competitors in the mid-range segment. In conclusion, the U23 Pro's design is a mixed bag that fails to impress. While some may appreciate the nostalgic touches, others will find the phone's looks and build quality to be unremarkable at best.
Battery Life
The battery life of the HTC U23 Pro is a notable letdown. Despite its large 4600mAh capacity, the phone was only able to score an endurance rating of 83 hours in our tests. This falls behind most other mid-rangers and suggests that the device may not be as efficient with power consumption as we had hoped. One might expect a phone with this size battery to deliver at least a day and a half of moderate use, but unfortunately, that's not the case here. In reality, you'll likely need to top up the U23 Pro every evening if you're an average user who likes to stay online throughout the day. What's even more puzzling is that HTC doesn't include a charger with this phone, which feels like a deliberate attempt to cut costs. While there is support for 30W fast charging, it's not enough to make up for the subpar battery life. Considering the U23 Pro's mid-range status, we had expected better power management from HTC. As it stands, the phone's battery life is a major concern that will likely be a deal-breaker for some potential buyers. If you're in the market for a new smartphone and battery life is a top priority, there are certainly more reliable options available elsewhere.
Display
The display on the HTC U23 Pro is a highlight of the device. The 6.7-inch OLED screen boasts a 1080p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, making it smooth and seamless to use. The colors are vibrant and pop, regardless of the color mode chosen. However, there's no support for HDR video, which might be a drawback for some users. The display itself is sharp and contrasty, with good max brightness of 725 nits when manually adjusted. However, this doesn't boost any brighter when in auto mode, which could be seen as a limitation. The high refresh rate mode does its job well, pushing the screen to 120Hz whenever possible and not dialing down to save energy. One notable aspect of the display is the thick bezels around the screen. While they don't detract from the overall experience, they do make the phone feel less premium than it could be. Overall, the display on the HTC U23 Pro is a strong point of the device, offering good visuals and smooth performance. However, its limitations in terms of HDR support and max brightness might hold it back from being considered one of the best displays on the market. The addition of Victus protection to the display is also worth mentioning, as it provides an extra layer of safety against scratches and other forms of damage. This level of protection can be a reassuring feature for users who value durability in their devices. In terms of overall display quality, the HTC U23 Pro holds its own against mid-range competitors. While it may not excel in any one area, it does provide a solid visual experience that is more than sufficient for everyday use.
Camera
The HTC U23 Pro's camera setup is its most notable feature, and unfortunately, it falls short in many areas. The 108 megapixel main camera with OIS is the highlight of the system, but even it fails to impress. Photos taken with the main camera are decent but unimpressive, with colors that are nice and natural, but finer details looking soft on many samples. Shots are contrasty, with a narrower dynamic range than expected, resulting in dark shadows and blown-out highlights. Digital zoom from the main camera is not bad, producing photos similar to regular shots, but it's not impressive either. Low-light performance is particularly poor, with noisy and soft images lacking proper exposure. A dedicated Night mode helps clean up noise and brighten things up, but even then, contrast remains high and light sources are blown out or clipped. Portrait mode photos are a letdown, with subject detection and separation far from perfect, despite the presence of a dedicated depth sensor. The ultra-wide camera fares no better in low-light conditions, producing very noisy and soft images with badly blown-out light sources. Fortunately, the 32 megapixel selfie cam produces decent selfies with nice colors and skin tones, although detail and texture could be improved by binning pixels to produce 8 megapixel photos. The main camera is capable of capturing good-quality 4K video, but with some dark shadows and blown-out highlights. Electronic stabilization is available up to 1080p resolution, but it's not perfect, leaving some shakiness behind. In summary, the HTC U23 Pro's camera system is a disappointment, failing to deliver on its promise of exceptional image quality. While it has some redeeming qualities, such as good-quality selfies and decent video capture, overall performance is unimpressive. If you're looking for a mid-ranger with a superior camera setup, there are better options available in the market.
Price and Value
The HTC U23 Pro is a mid-range smartphone that fails to impress in most aspects, despite some notable features. Priced around [insert price], the phone is not cheap, making its shortcomings even more glaring. One of the major concerns with the U23 Pro is its camera performance. The 108-megapixel main camera produces decent photos, but they lack finer details and have a narrow dynamic range. Low-light shots are particularly unimpressive, with noise and softness being common issues. While there is a dedicated night mode that helps improve low-light conditions, it's not enough to make up for the overall lackluster camera performance. Another area where the U23 Pro falls short is battery life. The 4600mAh battery delivers an endurance rating of just 83 hours in our tests, which is below average compared to other mid-range smartphones. This, combined with the lack of a charger included in the box, makes it even more inconvenient for users. The camera and battery issues are not isolated; the phone also has a single speaker that is loud but lacks depth, and the display, although good, has thick bezels and no HDR support. While the 120Hz OLED display is a notable feature, it's not enough to make up for the other shortcomings of the device. In terms of value, the HTC U23 Pro does not offer much compared to its competitors in the mid-range market. For around the same price, you could get smartphones with better cameras, longer battery life, and more premium features. The U23 Pro's waterproofing and headphone jack are nice touches, but they're not enough to justify the phone's premium pricing. Overall, the HTC U23 Pro is a disappointing device that fails to deliver on its promise of being a mid-range powerhouse. While it may appeal to some nostalgia-driven users who remember the heyday of HTC smartphones, others will find better options available in the market for around the same price.
Performance
The HTC U23 Pro's performance is a mixed bag. On the one hand, the phone runs smoothly in day-to-day use, making tasks and apps feel snappy and responsive. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset, although relatively new, does a decent job of keeping up with mid-range competition. However, things take a turn for the worse when it comes to gaming. During our stress test, the CPU throttled heavily, losing almost 50% of its performance and bringing it down to the level of a Snapdragon 685 processor. This means that gamers may want to look elsewhere, as this phone won't be able to handle demanding titles. Benchmarks also reveal a decent but unimpressive performance. While it doesn't blow anyone away, the U23 Pro keeps pace with other mid-range phones in our tests. However, this is not enough to make up for its underwhelming gaming capabilities and overall performance. In terms of storage, the phone has 256GB of built-in storage that can be expanded through a microSD card. While this is decent, it's not exceptional by any means. Overall, the HTC U23 Pro's performance is passable but unremarkable. It will get the job done for basic tasks and everyday use, but gamers and those who need more power may want to look elsewhere. With its mid-range specs and relatively low price point, there are better options available that offer more value. 6/10 While the U23 Pro's performance is not terrible, it falls short of expectations in key areas. For a phone that promises to deliver a solid experience, it fails to impress. However, for those who don't require much in terms of processing power and are willing to compromise on gaming capabilities, the U23 Pro may still be a viable option.
Pros
1. The phone has a soft and velvety finish with a slight metallic Sheen
2. It's waterproof with IP67 rating, which is great to have in a mid-ranger
3. The display is sharp and contrasty with vibrant colors that pop regardless of the color mode you choose
4. There's an RGB notification LED, which is rare nowadays
5. The phone has a headphone jack, which is still a nice feature
6. The camera can capture 4K video with good detail and low noise
Cons
1. The battery life isn't great, with an endurance rating of just 83 hours
2. The phone falls behind the competition in almost all other respects
3. The camera performance is unimpressive, with soft details and narrow dynamic range
4. There's only a single speaker, which can be loud but lacks depth
5. The CPU throttles heavily during prolonged stress test, losing almost 50% of its performance
6. The phone isn't cheap, considering the mid-range specs