New smartphone: HTC with another sign of life
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New smartphone: HTC with another sign of life

Lorenz Keller
21.5.2023
Translation: machine translated

The new HTC U23 pro has two features that hardly any other manufacturer offers: a microSD card slot and a headphone connection.

It's not really a comeback, even if the HTC brand has disappeared from the screen for many smartphone fans. The Taiwanese manufacturer has continuously launched mobile phones on the market in recent years. Often just one model per year - and not all of them made it into our shops.

HTC is still capitalising on its image as a pioneer. In the early days of smartphones, the manufacturer really did set trends. In 2008, the HTC Dream was the first smartphone with an Android operating system. In 2010, HTC was considered the most innovative tech company in the world, ranking third among smartphone manufacturers behind Apple and Samsung.

The new HTC U23 pro is visually rather inconspicuous.
The new HTC U23 pro is visually rather inconspicuous.
Source: HTC

When Google bought part of HTC's smartphone division in 2017, many thought it was the end of the brand. However, even though the Taiwanese company has since focussed on the Vive virtual reality goggles, new smartphones are constantly being launched on the market. And as an outsider, HTC can certainly make its mark.

Memory card slot and also a headphone jack

The new HTC U23 pro has two integrated features that many users really appreciate, but which hardly any manufacturer includes anymore. The U23 is one of the few current smartphones to have a headphone jack and a slot for microSD cards. This means you can expand the 256 GB of integrated memory with an affordable 1 TB, for example.

By the way: Despite the additional plug, the new HTC is IP67 water and dust resistant. It can therefore "survive" one metre under water for up to 30 minutes. Another positive aspect is that HTC uses Gorilla Glass Victus, which means the device is better protected against drops than others in this price range.

HTC U23 Pro (256 GB, Snow White, 6.70", Dual SIM, 108 Mpx, 5G)
Smartphones
371,90

HTC U23 Pro

256 GB, Snow White, 6.70", Dual SIM, 108 Mpx, 5G

HTC U23 Pro (256 GB, Coffee black, 6.70", Dual SIM, 108 Mpx, 5G)
Smartphones
371,90

HTC U23 Pro

256 GB, Coffee black, 6.70", Dual SIM, 108 Mpx, 5G

Much average, but everything included

"Everything you need in a phone" is the U23's fitting motto. You shouldn't expect any crazy extras, but no features should be missing either. The new model with a rather inconspicuous glass design is available in two colours, black-brown and white.

The screen measures 6.7 inches and has a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The refresh rate varies between 60 and 120 hertz. At 8.9 millimetres thick and 205 grams, the HTC is not exactly a lightweight, but is within the normal range for a device of this size.

The 4600 mAh battery can be charged with 30 watts. Wireless charging is also possible - with a maximum of 15 watts. HTC promises video playback of over 13 hours. This should be possible thanks to an efficient processor.

The new U23 has a 6.7-inch screen, headphone jack and card slot.
The new U23 has a 6.7-inch screen, headphone jack and card slot.
Source: HTC

This processor is "only" the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 from Qualcomm, which was launched on the market a year ago. It is certainly sufficient for everyday use if you don't want to play graphics-heavy games. After all, it comes with 12 GB of RAM. You'll also find the fingerprint sensor on the side of the casing.

Direct connection to VR glasses

HTC relies on a module with four lenses for the camera. The 108 megapixel sensor with f/1.7 aperture, which is also optically stabilised, does most of the work. It will be interesting to see how well the main camera can keep up with the best. The sensor for wide-angle shots is rather small at eight megapixels. There is also a special lens for macro shots with five megapixels and a depth sensor with two megapixels. The selfie camera shoots at 32 megapixels, but with an f/2.45 aperture it is likely to need a lot of light.

It's nice that HTC doesn't skimp on any details. In addition to 5G, the fastest standard for wireless Internet is also on board, i.e. Wi-Fi 6E. As a speciality, you can connect the smartphone directly to the Vive XR Elite glasses. As the U23 supports streaming via the fast HDCP 2.2 standard, you can stream series and films from Netflix, Disney Plus etc. directly to the headset and enjoy them on a (perceived) 300-inch cinema screen.

In Switzerland, the HTC U23 Pro officially costs 599 francs, in Europe it will be launched for 549 euros. The devices should be available at the end of June. Unfortunately, the manufacturer has not yet provided any information on how long Android updates will be available for the new model.

At first glance, the price seems quite high. However, for fans of memory card slots or headphone jacks, the new HTC is definitely an exciting alternative. Especially because it is robust and has everything you need for everyday smartphone use built in.

Cover photo: HTC

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Gadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.


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