HTC’s new U Ultra is unexpectedly unmetal

If this were a film, someone would have just said “Yeah, the Vive and Google Pixel have been solid outings for HTC, but what it really needs is… wait, do you hear that?” Cut to a glass of water, vibrating, then WALLOP. A huge truck emblazoned with the words ‘HTC’s flagship smartphone resurgence’ comes crashing through the wall. Mouths gape; dust settles. A tiny door in the side opens (FX: dry ice) and out slides the HTC U Ultra. Someone: “Woah.” The drama is justifed, as this is a radical phone from HTC. Curved glass body, 5.7in QHD screen and, above it, a smaller 160 x 1040-pixel screen showing icons of wisdom from the Sense Companion assistant software. We’ve tried it, we’ve reviewed it and we like it…

Fraser Macdonald consulting editor

About

Fraser used to wear a Psion Series 3 palmtop in a shoulder holster. Perhaps he still does.Either way, his lifelong mission - including fourteen years for Stuff - has been to see whether the consumer electronics industry can ever replicate that kind of cyborgian joy.So far: nope. Despite a plan to combine a action camera and Olympus Eye-Trek goggles to become Man Who Sees The Vision Of A Man Three Inches Taller Than Himself.He also likes mountain bikes, motorbikes, cars, helicopters. Still thinks virtual surround is witchcraft. Dislikes jetskis, despite never having been on one.