[OPINION] The HTC U11 is a very solid and beautiful device, but it won't help much for sales, sadly

[Eggmundo]

I agree with you: most people walk into a store to buy a phone directly; and what's on display is what catches their eye first. I've only bought an unlocked phone online once, but loved the experience so I would do it again. Also, most people opt for what is trendy or in nowadays; and so really good alternatives like HTC could get overlooked.

They should opt to stand out and be different... I don't get this mentality to be the same.

 

[Morty2264]

They should opt to stand out and be different... I don't get this mentality to be the same.

I try and buy devices that aren't "mainstream" because I like to go a different route. With my Honor 8, people look at it and don't even know what it is. I like that!

 

[krazyatom]

I feel like LG g6 is better buy for me. Small bezel and earphone support are important for me.

 

[cbreze]

They should opt to stand out and be different... I don't get this mentality to be the same.

Perfect example: Ran into a guy at one of my 12 step meetings the other day who had just gotten his first smart phone a couple weeks prior. In his late 50's he was clueless, walked into a Verizon store and was fresh meat for the sales rep. He would have bought anything they said because he had done no homework or prior checking, just walked in. So of course he walked out with an S8. Insurance and the whole 9 yards.

Then while waiting one day to pay my prepaid line I see a lady around 60-ish with an S8. I said how do you like your S8? She says, "I think I like it ok, but I'm not sure if it's the right phone for me". I notice she still has it all set up as totally default samsung.
Then later at the grocery store the woman in front of me is checking her Iphone and I can easily see she has changed nothing and it is still in fresh out of the box settings. All default on the home screen.
Wow, as I smile inwardly, 3 clueless consumers sucked in by advertising hype and/or sales reps from the local phone store. And this is what keeps Samsung and Apple chugging along at the top of the heap.

 

[Eggmundo]

Perfect example: Ran into a guy at one of my 12 step meetings the other day who had just gotten his first smart phone a couple weeks prior. In his late 50's he was clueless, walked into a Verizon store and was fresh meat for the sales rep. He would have bought anything they said because he had done no homework or prior checking, just walked in. So of course he walked out with an S8. Insurance and the whole 9 yards.

Then while waiting one day to pay my prepaid line I see a lady around 60-ish with an S8. I said how do you like your S8? She says, "I think I like it ok, but I'm not sure if it's the right phone for me". I notice she still has it all set up as totally default samsung.
Then later at the grocery store the woman in front of me is checking her Iphone and I can easily see she has changed nothing and it is still in fresh out of the box settings. All default on the home screen.
Wow, as I smile inwardly, 3 clueless consumers sucked in by advertising hype and/or sales reps from the local phone store. And this is what keeps Samsung and Apple chugging along at the top of the heap.

Bingo. But it can't go on forever!

 

[Ry]

Perfect example: Ran into a guy at one of my 12 step meetings the other day who had just gotten his first smart phone a couple weeks prior. In his late 50's he was clueless, walked into a Verizon store and was fresh meat for the sales rep. He would have bought anything they said because he had done no homework or prior checking, just walked in. So of course he walked out with an S8. Insurance and the whole 9 yards.

Then while waiting one day to pay my prepaid line I see a lady around 60-ish with an S8. I said how do you like your S8? She says, "I think I like it ok, but I'm not sure if it's the right phone for me". I notice she still has it all set up as totally default samsung.
Then later at the grocery store the woman in front of me is checking her Iphone and I can easily see she has changed nothing and it is still in fresh out of the box settings. All default on the home screen.
Wow, as I smile inwardly, 3 clueless consumers sucked in by advertising hype and/or sales reps from the local phone store. And this is what keeps Samsung and Apple chugging along at the top of the heap.

What's wrong with the defaults?

 

[mfreeland]

Bingo. But it can't go on forever!

It can and will go on...lol. There's only a very small percentage of smart phone consumer's who care about specs and performance and the things like we do......

 

[krazyatom]

What's wrong with the defaults?

Nothing wrong with default settings. I play with ios, Android, bb10, and window phone and I do prefer stock setting as well. Sure I do change background and organize the app. That's about it.

 

[eshropshire]

They should opt to stand out and be different... I don't get this mentality to be the same.

They accomplished this goal with the massive bezels. Phone looks straight out of 2015. Honestly to 99% of the people a slab phone is a slab phone.

 

[BowtomePhil]

I have been deciding on my next phone. Looked at, held , played with all the newest phones.
I settled on the HTC U11. It fits me.

Nobody complained about Bezels until phones removed them. Nothing wrong with Bezels at all.

But to each their own. And the phone to me looks and feels like 2017

 

[Eggmundo]

I have been deciding on my next phone. Looked at, held , played with all the newest phones.
I settled on the HTC U11. It fits me.

Nobody complained about Bezels until phones removed them. Nothing wrong with Bezels at all.

But to each their own. And the phone to me looks and feels like 2017

TBH I've changed my stance a bit... It's only when I see videos comparing it with the S8 that it bothers me, haha.

But the HTCs are always so much more... Me.

So yeah, I'm really amped about this release and once I buy a new phone this autumn it's definitely the front-runner.

 

[Habiib]

The argument about US carrier support is completely moot. The US carriers and average consumers are devoted to Apple and Samsung. So even if HTC had massive support from US carriers, consumers would still grab and iPhone or Galaxy. The US market is completely finished and is an Apple/Samsung only race.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

The argument about US carrier support is completely moot. The US carriers and average consumers are devoted to Apple and Samsung. So even if HTC had massive support from US carriers, consumers would still grab and iPhone or Galaxy. The US market is completely finished and is an Apple/Samsung only race.

The G6 seems to be selling quite well, though.

Not as much as Apple or Samsung, but it's putting on a solid show.

 

[digitalbreak]

The G6 seems to be selling quite well, though.

Not as much as Apple or Samsung, but it's putting on a solid show.

If you actually go to a store today, the two big brands you are going to see are Samsung and Apple. Period. Next comes LG, but rarely you will see the reps pushing for LG when Samsung and Apple are in the house.

Agree that even if HTC is available via carriers, it's not going to help them.

 

[mohit9206]

I have been deciding on my next phone. Looked at, held , played with all the newest phones.
I settled on the HTC U11. It fits me.

Nobody complained about Bezels until phones removed them. Nothing wrong with Bezels at all.

But to each their own. And the phone to me looks and feels like 2017

Good that it fits you but for a flagship 2017 phone to have such outdated design does it no favors.
Also nobody will remember the U11 other than for "oh that phone with that stupid squeezing gimmick LOL?"

 

[Eggmundo]

I think this phone needs to have its rear side on display rather than its front. Line up all these amazing colours next to each other and I'm sure customers will gravitate to at least ask about it!!

 

[BowtomePhil]

Is it outdated though?

When phones came out small was good, smaller the better. That soon changed.

Same as fashion, I keep my T-Shirts from years ago and guess what? back in fashion this year

Just buy what you want, I don't care who buys what. This just fits what I need.

 

[mohit9206]

Is it outdated though?

When phones came out small was good, smaller the better. That soon changed.

Same as fashion, I keep my T-Shirts from years ago and guess what? back in fashion this year

Just buy what you want, I don't care who buys what. This just fits what I need.

How many times have you squeezed your phone since you got it and do you see yourself still squeezing your U11 a year from now?

 

[mohit9206]

Is it outdated though?

When phones came out small was good, smaller the better. That soon changed.

Same as fashion, I keep my T-Shirts from years ago and guess what? back in fashion this year

Just buy what you want, I don't care who buys what. This just fits what I need.

How many times have you squeezed your phone since you got it and do you see yourself still squeezing your U11 a year from now?

 

[BowtomePhil]

I have never squeezed it as I don't have it.

To take photo's I guess all the time when I get it. I didnt order the phone because of the squeezing.

Better to have and not need than to need and not have

As I say to each their own. I own a Focus, some will like it, some will hate it. As long as I like it ...