HTC U Play review: Plans | Pricing | Specs

HTC's U Play provides a low-cost entry point into the world of HTC's take on Android, but beyond that, it's an unremarkable device.

HTC's phone output in 2017 was highlighted by the HTC U11, but before it got there, it launched an earlier set of premium-style phones in the form of the HTC U Ultra and the smaller and cheaper HTC U Play.

Design

• Liquid surface design looks great.
• Lacks headphone socket.

• Read more on the HTC U Play design

  
  The smaller and less powerful HTC U Play was designed as the handset for those who prefer a lighter touch in the hand and smaller hit to the wallet.
  
  

  The HTC U Play was very much the shrunk-down version of the HTC U Ultra and in many ways reflects the kind of strategy Apple has had with its iPhone models ever since it introduced plus-sized models.

  If you want the latest and greatest, you’ll have to opt for the bigger handset, but if you don’t like big phones or your budget is constrained, then the smaller model may be more to your taste.

  The HTC U Play is an Android 7.0 ("Nougat") phone that uses the same design style and colour schemes as its bigger brethren. It’s a style that HTC calls "Liquid Surface", with the colourful rear casings of the phone gliding gently around to the display screen. HTC has eschewed full metal casings this year, which at least makes the U Play look different.

  Like its larger sibling, you won’t find a headphone socket on the HTC U Play. HTC’s gone down the Apple path here, talking up USB-C’s superior audio quality thanks to the included USB-C connected headphones that HTC will bundle in every box. These will, according to HTC, adjust to your unique listening profile to provide you with the best possible audio equalisation no matter what your hearing is actually like.

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Camera

• Dual 16MP sensors.

• Read more on the HTC U Play camera

  On the camera front, the HTC U Play sports 16MP rear and front sensors. Like the HTC U Ultra, the HTC U Play can use software to emulate HTC’s low-light "UltraPixel" mode on the front camera, although doing so drops it to an effective 4MP rating.
  
  

  Again, it's very much a mid-range play and as time goes on, one that's rather eclipsed by more modern handsets. HTC's work in low-light photography does give the HTC U Play a little more strength in the camera space, but it's still nothing particularly special.

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Performance

• Mid-level processor will provide mid-level performance.
• Sense UI won't be to everyone's taste.

• Read more on the HTC U Play performance

  While the HTC U Ultra scores a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821, underneath the HTC U Play’s screen you’ll find the more moderate octa-core MediaTek Helio P10 and 3GB of RAM for the local version. Mediatek's processors are the choice for mid-range and budget phones, but with that, you do have to accept mid-range performance at best, especially for the models of the HTC U Play officially on sale in Australia.

  HTC will produce 4GB RAM variants of the HTC U Play, but that’s not the version we’ll see in Australia officially. Storage is likewise 32GB for the local phone although a 64GB version will appear in other markets. That may be moot given that the HTC U Play will support external microSD card storage up to 2TB.

  HTC layers its own Sense UI over the top of Android 7.0 on the HTC U Play, as well as the Sense Companion software. HTC’s pitch is that Sense Companion is always listening and learning so that it can provide more useful information when you give it a voice query than the existing Google Now voice assistant.

  The HTC U Play has a 5.2-inch 1080p display, putting it squarely into the mid-range bracket as far as screen resolution goes.

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Battery life

• 2,500mAh battery capacity isn't a lot.

• Read more on the HTC U Play battery life

  Smaller phones often struggle with battery capacity issues for the very simple reason that there's less physical space to pack in battery cells.

  The HTC U Play features a 2,500mAh battery, which sits almost exactly in the mid-range of phones of its size. As always your actual battery experience will vary depending on how heavily you use it, but single day battery life should be achievable with little fuss. Don't expect much more than that, though.

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Verdict

• The HTC U Play is only going to be worth it at a serious discount.

• Read our full HTC U Play verdict

  When the HTC U Play launched, it was very much the "affordable" alternative to the HTC U Ultra handset, with predictable limitations.

  The issue for Android handsets is that even premium phones drop in price pretty quickly and with that, you've got to make sure if you're going to buy an HTC U Play that the price is right. Its original launch price of $799 is way too much to pay for its feature set relative to what you could get for that kind of money today.

  At a serious bargain price, the HTC U Play could be a worthwhile phone for a user who doesn't need all the bells and whistles of a more modern handset

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Pricing and availability

HTC U Play

HTC lower-cost U Ultra alternative

The HTC U Play has the style of the HTC U Ultra, without the hefty price tag. Buy one outright today.

Buy Now

• The HTC U Play originally sold in Australia outright for $799.
• The HTC U Play was also originally available on contract in Australia through Vodafone.