HTC`s first phablet in years is a perfectly fine phone that feels a little half-baked in places — and for $750... well, you expect more.
Five or six years ago, HTC was a titan of the smartphone world. But the past half-decade hasn`t been kind to the Taiwanese company. It`s lost money, market share and several high-profile designers and executives.
Nevertheless, HTC`s still here, and still making pretty good phones, both under its own brand name and for Google under the Pixel contract. The latest high-ender to come out of HTC is the U Ultra, the first `phablet`-sized HTC flagship for more than three years — launched first in Taiwan before being sold unlocked in the US and Europe. It`s big, shiny, and more than a little quirky.
So does HTC still have some of its old magic left? I`ve spent the past week getting to know the phone, and while there are glimmers of hope, the U Ultra just isn`t competitive at its current price.
An enormous phone, but one with top...
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