HTC U23 Pro review
The HTC U23 Pro marks a rare return for the once-dominant smartphone brand in the mid-range segment. This phone boasts a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 108MP camera with OIS, among other features. While it offers decent specs and a premium feel, it falls short in several areas, including battery life and camera performance. With a price tag to match its competitors, the U23 Pro's value proposition is uncertain. Can HTC reclaim its former glory with this device?
Build Quality and Design
The HTC U23 Pro boasts a medium-level spec profile typical of mid-range devices. However, what sets it apart is its 120Hz OLED display, 108MP camera with OIS, and the iconic HTC name. The phone's build quality is impressive, with a soft and velvety finish that has a slight metallic sheen to it. Despite feeling sturdy in hand, the U23 Pro's construction is actually made of plastic rather than more premium materials. This doesn't detract from its overall feel, however, and it's nice to see an IP67 rating for Ingress Protection - a feature often reserved for higher-end devices. One design choice that may raise some eyebrows is the phone's tendency to collect smudges quite easily. This can make it look dirty and fingerprints are clearly visible, which might be off-putting for those who like their phones looking pristine at all times. The U23 Pro's display is a 6.7-inch OLED affair with a 1080p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It's sharp and contrasty, producing vibrant colors that tend to pop regardless of the color mode chosen. However, it's worth noting that there's no support for HDR video. One aspect that is a nice touch is the inclusion of an RGB notification LED - a feature that was all the rage a few years ago but has since become somewhat rare. This addition adds a touch of personality to the phone and is a nod to HTC's legacy as a brand that often pushed boundaries in its design choices.
Battery Life
One of the most frustrating aspects of using the HTC U23 Pro is its battery life. Unfortunately, this phone falls short of expectations in this department. Our tests revealed that the device was able to score an endurance rating of just 83 hours, which puts it behind many other mid-rangers on the market. To make matters worse, HTC has chosen not to include a charger with the U23 Pro, forcing users to rely on their existing chargers or purchase one separately. While there is support for 30-watt charging, this isn't enough to compensate for the phone's mediocre battery life. In our tests, we were able to charge the phone from zero to sixty percent in just half an hour with a proper adapter. However, this quick top-up didn't translate to better overall battery performance. With moderate usage, including social media scrolling and some light gaming, the phone lasted around 12 hours before needing a recharge. While this may not be the end of the world for occasional users, it's still a concern for those who rely on their phone throughout the day. Considering the U23 Pro's price point, it's disappointing to see HTC skimp on battery life. If you're in the market for a mid-ranger with better power management, there are certainly more appealing options available.
Display
The display on the HTC U23 Pro is undoubtedly its most notable feature. This 6.7-inch OLED screen boasts a 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and Victus protection. The result is a sharp and contrasty image with vibrant colors that pop, regardless of the color mode chosen. One aspect that stands out is the thickness of the bezels around the screen, which may not be ideal for some users. However, this is more than compensated by the excellent display quality, making it perfect for watching videos or browsing through content. The maximum brightness of the display is a decent 725 nits with the manual slider, although this does not boost any brighter when auto mode is enabled. Nevertheless, the display remains visible and comfortable to look at, even in bright environments. The most impressive feature of the HTC U23 Pro's display is its support for 120Hz refresh rate, which makes swiping and scrolling through content extremely smooth. The phone will push 120Hz whenever possible and won't dial down to save energy, making it perfect for users who want a seamless user experience. Overall, the display on the HTC U23 Pro is a significant highlight of this mid-range smartphone, offering excellent image quality and a fluid viewing experience. While some may find the bezels too thick, the positives far outweigh the negatives, making it an attractive option for those seeking a great display in their next phone.
Camera
The camera on the HTC U23 Pro is a mixed bag. The 108-megapixel main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) has the potential to produce high-quality images, but in practice, it falls short. Photos taken by default at 12 megapixels due to pixel binning look decent, but unimpressive. The colors are natural and vibrant, but finer details appear soft on many samples. The main camera struggles with dynamic range, resulting in narrow contrast and dark shadows. Digital zoom from the main camera isn't bad, producing images similar in quality to regular photos. However, portrait mode shots suffer from imperfect subject detection and separation, despite having a dedicated depth sensor. Low-light performance is also underwhelming, with noisy and soft photos from the main camera. Contrast is too high, causing blown-out highlights and clipped light sources. The "night mode" feature helps somewhat, but even then, images are not great. 4K video recording is good, with decent detail and low noise, although colors could be more lively. The ultra-wide camera fares no better in low-light conditions, producing very noisy and soft photos. However, night mode does help improve image quality in this regard. The ultra-wide camera can record 1080P resolution videos, but these are plagued by a reddish tint and softness, especially around the edges. One redeeming feature is the dedicated macro camera, which performs surprisingly well at capturing close-ups with great colors and good detail. On the other hand, the 32-megapixel selfie camera bins pixels to produce 8-megapixel photos that have nice colors and skin tones, although some users might find the lack of fine details a letdown. In conclusion, the HTC U23 Pro's camera is underwhelming, especially considering its price point. While it has some redeeming qualities, such as good low-light video recording from the main camera and excellent macro shots, overall performance falls short of expectations.
Price and Value
The HTC U23 Pro is an intriguing device that aims to revive the brand's fortunes in the mid-range smartphone market. With a price tag that puts it alongside other premium mid-rangers, the U23 Pro needs to deliver to justify its cost. In terms of value for money, the phone has some redeeming qualities. The 120Hz OLED display is a notable feature, and the inclusion of IP67 water resistance is a welcome addition. However, these benefits are somewhat offset by the phone's limited specs and mediocre performance in certain areas. The camera setup, featuring a 108MP main sensor, sounds impressive but falls short in practice. Photos taken with the main camera often lack fine details and exhibit high contrast, making them unimpressive compared to other mid-rangers on the market. Battery life is another area where the U23 Pro disappoints, with an endurance rating of just 83 hours in our tests. This puts it behind many of its competitors, and the lack of a bundled charger feels like a missed opportunity to provide a more seamless experience. The HTC U23 Pro's price is likely to be around $500-600, which makes it feel overpriced given its limitations. While the phone may have some nostalgic appeal for fans of the brand, the value proposition simply isn't there compared to other mid-range options available today. Overall, while the HTC U23 Pro has some intriguing features, its high price and lackluster performance in key areas make it a less compelling choice than many of its competitors. Unless you're a die-hard HTC fan or have specific needs that align with this phone's strengths, there are likely better value options available elsewhere.
Performance
The HTC U23 Pro's performance is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it runs smoothly in day-to-day use, thanks to its Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset. In benchmarks, the phone 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. This brought it down to the level of the Snapdragon 685, making it less ideal for gamers. In addition, the phone's performance in demanding tasks is not impressive. The HTC U23 Pro scored an endurance rating of just 83 hours in our tests, which falls behind most other mid-rangers. This is partly due to its relatively new chipset, but also likely due to the phone's software optimization. It's worth noting that the phone's performance is not terrible, but it's not exceptional either. The HTC U23 Pro gets the job done, but don't expect any frills or excitement from its performance. Overall, while the phone performs adequately, it's a bit of a letdown in this regard. In summary, the HTC U23 Pro's performance is decent, but not spectacular. It's suitable for general use and might be fine for casual gaming, but heavy gamers may want to look elsewhere. The phone's software optimization could have been better, leading to less-than-stellar battery life and performance in demanding tasks.