In this post, which will be updated regularly, we take a closer look at the latest rumors surrounding the upcoming HTC U12.
Last year's HTC U11 was a great smartphone, but it was no match for Samsung's mighty Galaxy S8 or Google's Pixel 2. Its dated design and lack of a dual-camera setup were just a couple reasons why it didn't grab a lot of attention.
HTC is gearing up to announce its successor, likely called the U12. The smartphone will have to be a big improvement, at least on the design front, to really compete with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S9 or Huawei P20 series.
What exactly will it bring to the table? Here's everything we know so far.
HTC U12 release date
The nitty-gritty
- The HTC U12 will not be announced at MWC in Barcelona.
- HTC is expected to take the wraps off the device in May at the latest.
If you're hoping to see the HTC U12 at MWC this month, we have some bad news. According to Android Headlines, the smartphone won't be announced at the show in Barcelona. The company likely doesn't want to be overshadowed by the Galaxy S9. Huawei is doing the same thing with its upcoming P20 series.
HTC is expected to hold a separate press event at a later date, but there's no word when that might be. Our best guess would be a May reveal, just like last year's U11. There's also a chance HTC might speed things up and announce it in April or even March. We won't know for sure until the company starts shipping out press invites for the event. As for the smartphone's release date, it will likely go on sale a month after its announcement, same as its predecessor.
HTC U12 specs and features
The nitty-gritty
- The HTC U12 could have a larger display than its predecessor.
- It should be powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset.
- The smartphone could feature a dual-camera setup on the back.
There aren't a lot of rumors about the smartphone's specs or features yet, but we can make some educated guesses based on its predecessor.
The U11 has a 5.5-inch display with a Quad HD resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio. The U12 will likely have a larger display than its predecessor, though still smaller than the 6-inch screen of the U11 Plus. HTC could go down the middle and equip the device with a 5.7- or 5.8-inch display, but we don't have any leaks to back that up. The screen is expected to have an 18:9 aspect ratio and offer QHD+ resolution, although some rumors indicate we might see a 4K panel.
The U12 will come with the Snapdragon 845 chipset under the hood.
The U12 is almost guaranteed to come with the Snapdragon 845 chipset under the hood. The smartphone found itself on a list of devices allegedly powered by Qualcomm's flagship processor, leaked by a Weibo user. The list also contains flagships like the Galaxy S9, LG G7, and Google Pixel 3 — check it out below.
The HTC U11 launched with 4 and 6 GB of RAM, paired with 64 and 128 GB of storage respectively. Things likely won't be much different with its successor, though HTC could kill the 4 GB model and only offer 6 GB of RAM.
The U11 and U11 Plus have a single shooter on the back. A dual-camera setup has almost become a new standard for flagships, so we expect to see it on the upcoming U12. Unfortunately, we haven't come across any rumors about its specs.
HTC has to innovate in the imaging department to keep up with the competition. The Galaxy S9 Plus is rumored to come with dual cameras featuring variable aperture. The P20 series could sport a triple-camera setup.
The U12 will probably have Edge Sense onboard, which debuted on its predecessor. The feature allows you to open an app of your choice by squeezing the device. It's a useful feature to have, though it sounded gimmicky at first.
Other specs and features expected include expandable storage, an IP68 dust and water protection rating, and maybe even wireless charging (missing on both the U11 and U11 Plus). The headphone jack likely won't return, but we expect HTC to ship the device with a free pair of USonic earbuds like it did with its predecessor. The smartphone should run Android Oreo with the Sense skin on top.
| HTC U12 specs (rumored) | |
|---|---|
| Display | 5.7 to 5.8 inches Quad HD+ resolution |
| Processor | Snapdragon 845 |
| RAM | 4/6 GB |
| Camera | Dual-camera setup on the back |
| MicroSD | Yes, up to 256 GB |
| Software | Android Oreo HTC Sense |
| IP rating | IP68 |
| Headphone jack | No |
| Other features | Edge Sense, stereo speakers |
HTC U12 design
The nitty-gritty
- The handset is expected to have a glass back and a metal frame.
- The fingerprint scanner might be moved from the front to the back.
Twitter user @iamaniff shared images of an unknown device rumored to the U12, which HTC showed off at a 5G event in January. It's a better look at the smartphone, though still not a great one. See for yourself below.
It appears the handset will have smaller bezels than its predecessor. The images don't show us the phone's back, but we think it could be similar to that of the U11 Plus. We therefore expect a minimalistic glass design with the eye-catching and fingerprint-hungry Liquid Surface finish. However, HTC could opt for a few minor design changes to differentiate the phone from the U11 Plus.
HTC U12 price
The nitty-gritty
- The HTC U12 could cost the same as its predecessor at $650.
- Pricing could increase if the Galaxy S9 is more expensive than its predecessor.
The best case scenario we expect is that the U12 will cost same as its predecessor — we don't believe the handset will be cheaper. That means you'll be able to get one unlocked for $650.
It's also possible the price will increase. HTC could go down this road if the Galaxy S9 costs more than its predecessor, as expected. In this case, the U12 could be priced at $700 or even $750 but still remain cheaper than the Galaxy S9.
As a refresher, the U11 was $75 cheaper than the Galaxy S8 ($725) at launch. Even so, HTC's sales were nothing to brag about. Things might not be different this year if the price difference between the two smartphones will be the same, which is why a good strategy for HTC would be to make sure the U12 costs more than $100 less than the Galaxy S9.
These are all the rumors we've come across so far about the U12. We'll update this page as we hear more.
Meanwhile, Let us know your thoughts on HTC's upcoming flagship. Do you think it will be more popular than its predecessor? Let us know in the comments.
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