HTC 10 review

The HTC One M7 was the best smartphone I have ever used as of 2013 and I was hopeful that the HTC 10 would take that title in 2016. While I am extremely pleased with the hardware and audio experience, I’m not quite ready to award it that title.

The cameras work well and I’ve captured some great shots. Feel free to judge its performance yourself by browsing through my full resolution Flickr album containing photos from the HTC 10, LG G5, LG V10, iPhone 6s Plus, and Galaxy S7 Edge.

The cameras are better than anything we’ve seen on HTC devices before, but Android manufacturers have stepped up to the plate and many offer amazing camera experiences. The HTC cameras (front and rear) may satisfy most users, but the Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge and LG G5 appear to provide better results more consistently at this time in full auto mode.

While I take and share photos, it’s not the primary usage of my smartphone. Audio experiences are more important to me on a daily basis since I use my phone for listening to music on my 2+ hour commute and during my workouts. In this area, nothing beats the audio experience of the HTC 10.

I could not believe what I was hearing from the HTC 10 when I plugged in the inexpensiveHTC Active earphones. I heard drums, guitar, and other elements of music that I forgot were there and was taken back to the days of my youth with classic rock tunes blasting in my ears. The HTC 10 brings an amp that provides more than twice the power of a conventional headphone amp, along with 24-bit audio support. I also tested out the HTC Hi-Res audio earphones that are an optional accessory in the US, included in the package in some other countries, and while they are good earphones they are quite heavy on the bass.

SPECIFICATIONS

It’s great to see Android flagships all launching today with nearly the same high-end specifications. HTC decided to go with a smaller LCD display, which makes it easier to carry in your pocket.

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 2.2 GHz quad-core
• Display: 5.2 inch 2560 x 1440 pixels resolution Super LCD 5 curved-edge Gorilla Glass
• Operating system: Android 6 Marshmallow with HTC Sense
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 32GB/64GB internal with microSD card slot
• Cameras: 12 megapixel rear UltraPixel 2 with f/1.8 and front 5 megapixel with f/1.8 and both with OIS
• Other: BoomSound Hi-Fi Edition stereo speakers and Dolby Audio 4, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 4.2 with AptX, 802.11 a/b//g/n/ac WiFi, front fingerprint scanner, NFC, GPS + GLONASS
• Battery: 3,000 mAh with Quick Charge 3.0 through USB Type-C
• Dimensions: 145.9 x 71.9 x 9 mm and 161 grams