Compare HTC smartphones

What to consider when choosing an HTC phone

HTC has built an awful lot of smartphones over the years, from top-of-the-line flagship models to more budget-friendly mid-range handsets. Start shopping for an HTC handset, and it's easy to get lost in a sea of potential purchases. Names like the HTC U Play, the HTC U Ultra and the HTC Desire don't exactly help in distinguishing these different handsets from each other, and this can make it quite challenging to figure out which one best fits your needs and lifestyle.

We want to help with that, so we've outlined the core features you'll want to consider when comparing HTC smartphones. With this information, you'll have the know-how to make a clear and effective buying decision.

• Internal storage

  Most HTC smartphones launch as premium devices, and as such they typically pack a decent chunk of internal storage for downloading apps and saving photos. Depending on how recent a particular HTC handset is, this storage can range from 16GB all the way up to 128GB.

  However, the amount of built-in storage doesn't really matter all that much, since all current HTC smartphones feature a microSD card slot. This allows you to expand the onboard storage by as much as 2TB, which should be more than enough for even the largest of music collections.

• Screen size

  While it might be tempting to go for the phone with the biggest screen you can find, there's good reason to stop and weigh up your options first. Sure, a large display is nice for watching videos and playing games, but the extra bulk can make the phone awkward to carry around and difficult to operate when you've only got one hand free. A smaller screen mitigates these issues, albeit at the cost of a less immersive visual experience.

  HTC caters to people at both ends of this trade-off as well as those who sit somewhere in the middle. Its handsets feature a variety of screen sizes starting at 5 inches and working their way up to a broad 6 inches.

• Price

  HTC has its sights fixed firmly on the higher-end of the smartphone market. Its handsets rarely launch for less than $900, placing them alongside flagship models from the likes of Samsung and Apple. Fortunately, like Samsung and Apple, HTC has partnered with a number of Australian mobile carriers to offer its handsets on contract. This lets you get your hands on an HTC handset without having to pony up the full $900+ all at once.

  If you're looking to spend as little as possible, it's also worth checking out older HTC handsets like the HTC Desire and HTC One X10 since you can now pick them up for less than half the price they originally retailed for.

• Headphone jack

  Apple might be seen as the biggest enemy in the battle for the 3.5mm headphone jack, but it's hardly the only smartphone manufacturer to abandon the technology. HTC stopped including the port on its handsets years ago, choosing instead to offer support for Bluetooth audio and USB-C headphones. While both these options are more affordable than they've ever been, if you're not yet ready to give 3.5mm the flick, you'll need to purchase a USB-C adaptor along with your HTC handset.

• Security options

  As more and more of modern life goes digital, the need to protect our personal information only grows. Since much of this information resides on our smartphones, it is vital that they are adequately secure against data theft and other forms of cybercrime.

  HTC accounts for this by incorporating a range of identification technologies into its smartphones. Fingerprint sensors, voice recognition and facial detection all help prevent bad actors from breaking into your phone even if they gain physical access to it. You'll find these features in all HTC U handsets as well as select earlier HTC models.

• Camera quality

  If photography is your passion, HTC has a lot to offer. Its U11 and U12+ handsets feature top-of-the-line camera technology, boasting some of the highest DxOMark scores of modern smartphones. Our hands-on experience supports this, with both handsets proving capable of taking impressive photos and videos.

  That praise doesn't extend to all HTC's handsets, however. Older and cheaper phones like the HTC U Ultra and the HTC U11 Life only offer decent camera performance that is inferior to many alternatives available at a similar price.

• Selfie camera quality

  HTC's selfie game is solid, with most of its recent handsets sporting front-facing cameras powerful enough to capture every aspect of your glorious mug.

• Network speed and support

  Slow mobile Internet can be a real pain, especially when you're trying to do something important like transfer money or download an urgent email. Blame for slow speeds is often laid at the feet of mobile network providers like Telstra and Optus, but there's another factor that can be equally responsible for poor mobile browsing: a smartphone's modem.

  All smartphones include a modem that handles the sending and receiving of data across a mobile network. Different modems have different maximum speeds, leading to situations where certain phones may not be capable of topping out the network connections available to them. This applies to HTC as much as any other smartphone manufacturer, with its recent handsets featuring modems rated as low as Category 4 and as high as Category 18.

  For more information on what those categories mean, take a look at our guide on Network Category speeds.

• Wireless charging/quick charging

  Wireless charging is still a relatively new technology, and HTC has only recently embraced it with its latest smartphone, the HTC U12+. Previous handsets are strictly wired affairs, though most support fast charging via Qualcomm Quick Charge which can reduce charging time by as much as four fold.

  As a recent release, the HTC U12+ is still quite expensive. If you're keen on wireless charging but don't want to spend a small fortune on it, you'll find a list of other handsets that currently support wireless charging here.

• Battery life

  Longevity is a rare trait in premium smartphones, and this holds true for HTC's handsets as well. While most can make it through a full day of moderate use without issue, heavy users will likely need to seek out a power point at some stage to avoid running dry. Support for quick charging does at least minimise downtime when juicing up becomes necessary.

• Waterproof design

  Smartphones are designed to fit in with every aspect of modern life, and that includes the messier moments involving spills, splashes and other unavoidable forces of nature. As such, resistance to the elements is of critical importance. This is typically conveyed in the form of an IP rating, which specifies how much exposure to water and solid particles a phone can endure without suffering lasting damage.

  Only since the U11 has HTC touted IP ratings for its smartphones. Previous handsets feature no official protection against water or dust, which is worth keeping in mind if you spend a lot of time in close proximity to spillable substances. For the U11, U11 Life and U12, though, HTC has gone all-in with dust-tight casings and the ability to survive in depths of up to 1m of water.

• Performance

  When you spring for a premium phone, it's only natural to expect it to deliver top-tier performance. This is one area HTC nails. All its recent smartphones rank among the best performers at their respective price points, making them excellent choices for those who value a smooth and snappy experience across games, apps and general operation.

  As capable as HTC's handsets are, it's worth reading a few reviews for a more thorough analysis of their performance before committing to a purchase. Reviews, especially those with comprehensive benchmarks, can better contextualise a smartphone's performance with respect to competing handsets and real-life usage. Simply looking at specs and skimming review scores won't give you the full picture.

Looking for an HTC phone on a plan?

Because HTC's smartphones are almost exclusively marketed as premium handsets, buying one outright at launch will typically set you back at least $1,000. That's a whole lot of moolah, and not a sum many of us can just pluck out of our wallets willy-nilly. The more popular solution is to purchase an HTC handset on contract through an Australian mobile carrier.

Check out the table below to compare postpaid SIM-only plans: