HTC U Play phone: full, in-depth review

Name: HTC U Play phone: full, in-depth review
Item: HTC U Play phone: full, in-depth review
Rating: 4.50
Author: Nick Ross

Smaller is better with HTC's winning, mid-range, Android smartphone

Nick Ross

PC World

@NickRossTech

01/05/17

Expert Rating

4.50 / 5

Pros

Looks great
Good value
Nice screen
Decent battery

Cons

No headphone jack

Bottom Line

The HTC U Play is less divisive than its big brother. It's easier to use, does everything well and represents great value. It's also one of the prettiest phones ever made.

Would you buy this?

Price
$ 799.00 (AUD)

Battery Life

The 2,500mAh battery is smaller than we’ve seen on many phones. Nonetheless, we were impressed with the battery as it effortlessly lasted a full day (and then some) – which is more than can be said for the average S8. This is likely down to the reduced power requirements of the chipset and the relatively small, 5.2-inch, relatively-low resolution, Full HD screen.

Fast charging will help with those who require more.

Conclusion

At $799 this is two-thirds the price of the HTC U Ultra and yet it has the best bits of that phone in an easier-to-handle package. Few will miss the advanced audio features or the second screen. Some will miss the UHD, half-inch-larger main screen though.

However, for the money, this is a gorgeous, good-value phone that does everything well. While the U Ultra split the field with its design choices, few people won’t like the Play. It’s a great, upper-mid-range, all-rounder.