OP5 or HTCU11

Flaccus · 30-06-2017 11:34pm #1

S8 gone. Lag intolerable.

As far as can tell OP5 has no lag but camera needs updates and so far only build quality issue is a few complaints about loose volume rockers. Not bothered about 1080p only or bezels or no micro SD as 128Gb enough.

The u11, better camera, awesome audio but some posts on forums about backlight bleed. Would be over 100€ more if I went with the 6gb one on adverts.

Going to order tomorrow so made separate thread as hoping for some input.

For me priority is smooth experience, screen, headphone audio and camera last.

01-07-2017 5:06am

Flaccus wrote: »

S8 gone. Lag intolerable.

As far as can tell OP5 has no lag but camera needs updates and so far only build quality issue is a few complaints about loose volume rockers. Not bothered about 1080p only or bezels or no micro SD as 128Gb enough.

The u11, better camera, awesome audio but some posts on forums about backlight bleed. Would be over 100€ more if I went with the 6gb one on adverts.

Going to order tomorrow so made separate thread as hoping for some input.

For me priority is smooth experience, screen, headphone audio and camera last.

I really don't think there's a huge difference between the two in the features you're bothered by. I guess it comes down to whether the win for HTC in most categories is enough to justify the extra cost.

Apart from that, the only 2 things I can see that set the U11 apart from the OP5 would be the squeeze functionally (which I find surprisingly useful, and use daily) and water resistance.

Flaccus · 01-07-2017 5:46am

Thanks. Will have a play with a U11 in a Three store this morning before deciding.

sentient_6 · 01-07-2017 7:13am

The difference to me is there are no compromises on U11.

Flaccus · 01-07-2017 7:22am

sentient_6 wrote: »

The difference to me is there are no compromises on U11.

Worth going for the 6Gb version ?
Probably no direct warranty with HTC and only through third party. Wondering if faster then 4Gb in real world use. Only concerns I expressed before are getting one with bad back light bleed. I also read a weird one over on XDA about how manufacturer water marks showing in front and back glass if the glass is smudged. Also some complaints about sharp edges on back and motor going crazy when camera starts. Seem like isolated incidents.

sentient_6 · 01-07-2017 8:09am

And iv a lob sided power button im currently having a argument with them about.

Just looking at my ram now, 2.7 used out of 3.6, 53 apps used over the last while. Phone is lightening fast with no lag. 6gbs is over kill imo.

ED E · 01-07-2017 2:25pm

Android uses all the ram it can by default, its not like windows. Having all your memory full is normal not a problem.

3GB is MORE than plenty.

Id be going for the U11 probably.

corwill · 02-07-2017 8:31pm

If OTA updates to stock firmware are a concern to you, don't be relying on HTC, judging by the HTC10.

02-07-2017 8:53pm

corwill wrote: »

If OTA updates to stock firmware are a concern to you, don't be relying on HTC, judging by the HTC10.

You're on a one man crusade :pac:

thomasj · 02-07-2017 8:58pm

https://youtu.be/D_QEDkjU78o

https://youtu.be/ooXmOQ9mxHM

Good battery benchmarks for the OP5

corwill · 02-07-2017 9:14pm

Basil3 wrote: »

You're on a one man crusade :pac:

Look, it's not a concern for some, but I wish I'd been aware of HTC's delinquency in this regard before I'd spent last May.

02-07-2017 9:18pm

corwill wrote: »

Look, it's not a concern for some, but I wish I'd been aware of HTC's delinquency in this regard before I'd spent last May.

Does a lack of security updates affect you that much? The 10 is on Nougat and it will receive Android O. The 10 is a great phone, I don't know why not getting a security patch will make you regret buying it.

corwill · 02-07-2017 9:34pm

Basil3 wrote: »

Does a lack of security updates affect you that much? The 10 is on Nougat and it will receive Android O. The 10 is a great phone, I don't know why not getting a security patch will make you regret buying it.

It's not so much the security patch (although being 6 months behind is piss weak), it's also the shoddy 7.0 update that seriously deteriorated battery performance (ref. XDA). Outliers that have made it to 7.1.1 ahead of the 10 include the Nextbit Robin, the ZTE Axon 7, the Moto G4 Plus and the Xperia Z4 tablet (despite Sony having exited the tablet business). As lovely as the hardware was, the 10 has been a **** show software-wise. Given the shallow skin of Android that Sense represents, HTC have no real excuse for their update track record with the 10. They haven't even bothered to roll out updates in Europe that were made available several weeks ago in the US.

Like I said, it's not a problem for everyone. Not an issue for custom ROMmers, granted. And the U11 seems to be selling much better than the 10, so maybe it won't suffer the same fate. But I do notice that no one else has been posting on the 10's thread on here for a while now, maybe I'm not the only one to vote with their feet/wallets.

OldMrBrennan83 · 02-07-2017 9:36pm

This post has been deleted.

thomasj · 02-07-2017 9:40pm

Patww79 wrote:

This post has been deleted.

I happen to disagree to an extent , there are some aspects that OP5 have beaten U11 including battery and charge it depends on what you want in a phone.

I have a HTC desire 825 , and while I agree cost may have played a part, it is the worst phone I have ever had bar none to the point that I'm wondering could I get another HTC phone.

02-07-2017 9:43pm

thomasj wrote: »

I happen to disagree to an extent , there are some aspects that OP5 have beaten U11 including battery and charge it depends on what you want in a phone.

I have a HTC desire 825 , and while I agree cost may have played a part, it is the worst phone I have ever had bar none to the point that I'm wondering could I get another HTC phone.

Battery is about the same between the U11 and the OP5.

And yeah, HTC mid rangers suck.

corwill · 02-07-2017 9:49pm

Basil3 wrote: »

And yeah, HTC mid rangers suck.

They really just gave up on mid-range/entry level. The Desire Eye looked like a really nice handset, but that's the last non-flagship out of them I can remember being worth a look.

thomasj · 02-07-2017 10:18pm

How do ye feel about the lack of headphone jack in the U11? For me it's a showstopper.

OldMrBrennan83 · 02-07-2017 10:21pm

This post has been deleted.

thomasj · 02-07-2017 10:25pm

Patww79 wrote:

This post has been deleted.

Convinience, it's just so much handier to carry around small headphones than those bulky Bluetooth headphones.

OldMrBrennan83 · 02-07-2017 10:29pm

This post has been deleted.

thomasj · 02-07-2017 10:32pm

Okay I give you that i was thinking about the big headset you see on people's heads such as beats.

but it's another thing added to the list of things I have to charge on a daily basis!

OldMrBrennan83 · 02-07-2017 10:41pm

This post has been deleted.

thomasj · 02-07-2017 10:53pm

Patww79 wrote:

This post has been deleted.

Yeah that would have me worried it reminds me of Conan's mock of an iPhone airbuds as where they keep losing the airbuds (keep falling out of their ears)

It's crazy , most android smes came out to say they were keeping the headphone jack even googles pixel and mentioned it. Oneplus did a poll to ask did people want it to remain and the answer was a unanimous yes.

It was raised in a couple of reviews of why the need to drop the headphone jack given the phone is big enough plenty of space for the headphone jack.

It's not a bad phone good reviews on battery , sound has always been good and I have gotten used to the software with this disaster of a phone I have but the squeeze thing is a gimmick and I couldn't get over dropping the headphone jack that's a stopper for me.

Flaccus · 02-07-2017 11:19pm

Well the OP5 8gb is out of stock at the moment, so it gives me a bit more time to decide.

I am still wondering about the headphone capabilities on the U11. If the Usonics break, not alot of choice out there for usb-c headphones (guess you could order another pair of unsonis) and as there is no amp in the phone you will have to rely on the adaptor (which has built in amp and dac) if you go down the 3.5mm route. By all accounts it's a bit weak and even the likes of the S8 has less noise and more dynamic range. I don't rate bluetooth headphones at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bqOuQe_pmM (go to 2:10)

https://www.whathifi.com/htc/u11/review

I'll probably end up using my usb dac with 3.5mm headphones when listening to lossless audio
https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/products/hifi-and-home-cinema/dacmagic-xs

03-07-2017 3:54pm

HTC U11: More money, more quality (as you'd expect)

https://www.androidcentral.com/oneplus-5-vs-htc-u11?amp

corwill · 03-07-2017 4:31pm

Basil3 wrote: »

HTC U11: More money, more quality (as you'd expect)

https://www.androidcentral.com/oneplus-5-vs-htc-u11?amp

33% more, though? Maybe for some folks, not for others.

03-07-2017 4:36pm

corwill wrote: »

33% more, though? Maybe for some folks, not for others.

Exactly. You have to weigh up whether the better screen, camera, sound and waterproofing justifies the cost. For some people, these things aren't important.

corwill · 03-07-2017 4:53pm

Basil3 wrote: »

Exactly. You have to weigh up whether the better screen, camera, sound and waterproofing justifies the cost. For some people, these things aren't important.

The screen is arguable, FHD v QHD on a 5.5" screen to the naked eye? Unless you're into 3D, I'm betting most people would fail a Pepsi challenge in day to day use. Comparing sound to the HTC 10, the earphone output is indistinguishable quality wise, and volume is far better. The U11 might be a whole lot, rather than incrementally, better than the 10 in terms of sound. Speaker on the OP5 is a bit tinny at high volumes, but I'm not a teenager trying to annoy fellow passengers on the top deck of the 27, so not going to mind too much about that. Plus the OP5 has an analogue headphone jack, not an issue for some, but a big plus for many others.

03-07-2017 5:09pm

corwill wrote: »

The screen is arguable, FHD v QHD on a 5.5" screen to the naked eye? Unless you're into 3D, I'm betting most people would fail a Pepsi challenge in day to day use. Comparing sound to the HTC 10, the earphone output is indistinguishable quality wise, and volume is far better. The U11 might be a whole lot, rather than incrementally, better than the 10 in terms of sound. Speaker on the OP5 is a bit tinny at high volumes, but I'm not a teenager trying to annoy fellow passengers on the top deck of the 27, so not going to mind too much about that. Plus the OP5 has an analogue headphone jack, not an issue for some, but a big plus for many others.

Screen has better colours and is brighter, according to the article linked. As said, it's in individual thing.

Personally, I think the U11 camera justifies it on its own. It's a beast. Apart from that, the squeeze functionality I find really useful. I have single squeeze camera, long squeeze assistant and double squeeze for flashlight. Use all of them pretty much daily.

The main reason I keep going back to HTC is the dev community, which is something very few people are interested in. I could happily use the OP5, but I'd probably be switching it for something else after a few months.

corwill · 03-07-2017 5:33pm

The camera on the U11 seems to be fantastic, alright. If photography is your thing, then it's definitely the market leader right now.

TitianGerm · 03-07-2017 6:40pm

corwill wrote: »

The camera on the U11 seems to be fantastic, alright. If photography is your thing, then it's definitely the market leader right now.

I think the Camera will improve on the OP5. It definitely did with software updates on the OPO and OPX.

I can't get over how good the battery is on the OP5.

I was tempted by the U11 but the shiny back put me off. I did really like the idea of the squeeze sense.

corwill · 03-07-2017 7:11pm

emmetkenny wrote: »

I think the Camera will improve on the OP5. It definitely did with software updates on the OPO and OPX.

I can't get over how good the battery is on the OP5.

I was tempted by the U11 but the shiny back put me off. I did really like the idea of the squeeze sense.

Aside from price and negative experience with software updates on the HTC 10 (which I think is less likely to be an issue, given that the U11 is selling so much better than the 10), I was a bit skeptical of how sturdy the U11 would be. Not so much the glass back, as the frame itself, given the engineering required for the squeeze feature. A couple of bend tests on youtube seem to bear it out. Wouldn't be a worry for careful, non-clumsy types, but I'm a Buster Keaton tribute act. The OP5 is reassuringly sturdy.

ED E · 03-07-2017 7:15pm

Jelly scrolling is apparently related to them mounting the panel upside down. May/may not be fixable in a kernel optimization. If not, RIP.

TitianGerm · 03-07-2017 7:36pm

ED E wrote: »

Jelly scrolling is apparently related to them mounting the panel upside down. May/may not be fixable in a kernel optimization. If not, RIP.

It's a non issue for me and I'd guess most people won't even notice. I never even noticed it until read an article about, and I have to look really hard to see it even now.

03-07-2017 7:41pm

emmetkenny wrote: »

It's a non issue for me and I'd guess most people won't even notice. I never even noticed it until read an article about, and I have to look really hard to see it even now.

Still a much more noticeable issue than the 'it will bend if you try really hard to bend it' issue :pac:

TitianGerm · 03-07-2017 7:52pm

Basil3 wrote: »

Still a much more noticeable issue than the 'it will bend if you try really hard to bend it' issue :pac:

All phones will bend if you try hard enough :pac:

corwill · 03-07-2017 7:54pm

Basil3 wrote: »

Still a much more noticeable issue than the 'it will bend if you try really hard to bend it' issue :pac:

God, I wished bending or otherwise wrecking stuff only happened when I was trying!

The jelly scroll is weird. It really isn't so bad on my own OP5, but it looks pretty shocking on some of the Youtube videos I've seen. While the seeming source of the issue is there in every OP5, it's not manifesting itself consistently, at all. Not one review on launch (at least, not that I've seen) mentions it.

OldMrBrennan83 · 03-07-2017 8:15pm

This post has been deleted.

maverick_21 · 04-07-2017 10:46am

I currently have the HTC M9 which I'm hoping to sell for €150-€200. I have the option of buying the One Plus 5 for €500 and a sim only deal with Three for €20 p/m or the HTC U11 for €350 with a Vodaphone friends and family deal €35 p/m for 24 months.
Ive read so much about both phones at this stage and am still finding it very hard to pick one. My main requirements are a good battery, smooth processing & camera.

What does everyone think?

04-07-2017 10:59am

maverick_21 wrote: »

I currently have the HTC M9 which I'm hoping to sell for €150-€200. I have the option of buying the One Plus 5 for €500 and a sim only deal with Three for €20 p/m or the HTC U11 for €350 with a Vodaphone friends and family deal €35 p/m for 24 months.
Ive read so much about both phones at this stage and am still finding it very hard to pick one. My main requirements are a good battery, smooth processing & camera.

What does everyone think?

Battery life: OP5 better (web browsing usage similar between the two, video playback OP5 much better)

Smoothness: Doubt you'd see a difference between the two

Camera: U11 win (better quality, especially low light, although OP5 has telephoto)

As you can see, it's a simple choice :pac:

maverick_21 · 04-07-2017 11:09am

Its ridiculous really! I am usually quiet decisive...

Flaccus · 04-07-2017 12:13pm

I don't think the choice is simple when you start delving in.
For example, look at JerryRigEverything. He found the OP5 had a ceramic fingerprint reader which would not scratch. Same with back camera surround (with sapphire lense) and a metal earpiece. The U11 had an easily scratchable fingerprint reader (though not as bad as the S7) and the earpiece/speaker is made from fabric. So while you might not tear it, could be a dust magnet like some of the Nexus phones.
The camera on the U11 is superior on paper and according to DXO mark but some reviewers have not been impressed.
White balance and overexposure in day light using auto mode according to below.
http://pocketnow.com/2017/06/06/htc-u11-real-camera-review-video
And same below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL1osQVJiYM

04-07-2017 12:30pm

Flaccus wrote: »

I don't think the choice is simple when you start delving in.
For example, look at JerryRigEverything. He found the OP5 had a ceramic fingerprint reader which would not scratch. Same with back camera surround (with sapphire lense) and a metal earpiece. The U11 had an easily scratchable fingerprint reader (though not as bad as the S7) and the earpiece/speaker is made from fabric. So while you might not tear it, could be a dust magnet like some of the Nexus phones.
The camera on the U11 is superior on paper and according to DXO mark but some reviewers have not been impressed.
White balance and overexposure in day light using auto mode according to below.
http://pocketnow.com/2017/06/06/htc-u11-real-camera-review-video
And same below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL1osQVJiYM

I was being sarcastic when I said it was a simple choice.

The U11 camera is superior on paper and in practice. I don't think you'll find one review that rates the OP5 over the U11 for the camera. The overblown lights is obviously a choice made by HTC to make the rest of a night shot brighter, but you can swipe up or down to adjust exposure to your liking. The reality is that it's a better sensor with better image processing.

JerryRig has a bit of a cult following, but he's providing situations which just won't happen. I've owned devices that he rates the top for durability, and ones he puts on the wall of shame. I couldn't notice any difference because I don't actively go out of my way to destroy stuff. If you're the type of person that has bent phones in the past, or scratched them to death, then I'd suggest looking after your devices as well as putting them in a cover.

The reality is that I doubt anyone would be disappointed with either device.

OldMrBrennan83 · 04-07-2017 12:31pm

This post has been deleted.

Flaccus · 04-07-2017 3:21pm

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

You're desperate when JRE comes out

They're both good phones and anyone will be happy with either but, simply put, the camera is better on the U11. It is widely regarded as so. If the 5 was top of every area like you're trying to claim it is then it wouldn't be 500 quid.[/quote]
I NEVER claimed anything, only pointed to what reviewers said

Flaccus · 08-07-2017 11:06am

Still undecided but leaning towards getting the U11 having had a loan of one for 2 days. Really impressed with the overall package. The only thing is I can't decide to go for Sapphire blue or Solar Red. I think either in a Spigen liquid crystal case would look amazing. I value form as well as function. Also, if it's as easy to mod with Viper as the HTC10 is I'd be all over that as Sense is looking a bit tired.

Regarding the One Plus 5, only had the use of it for an hour or so. Preferred the UI on it to the U11 and the little extra useful features. Screen is pretty good too. Could not see the jelly effect. Took a few indoor and outdoor pics in good light and they were decent enough but the untrained eye they were inferior to the U11 shots. Also design is a bit meh.

Probably would be happy with either phone, especially as the cost saving on the OP5 would be nice, and lack of water proofing or expandable storage isn't an issue as I'd be going for the 128GB. On the other hand the U11 just looks hell of a lot better.

Going to buy when I get paid next week. Probably end up flipping a coin. lol.

maverick_21 · 11-07-2017 8:54am

After much deliberation Ive decided to go with the HTC U11. I think €500 is a bit much for the One Plus 5 and I'm slightly worried that it'll be a second gen in 6 months when the One Plus 5T comes out.
Wish me luck!

Flaccus · 11-07-2017 11:05am

maverick_21 wrote: »

After much deliberation Ive decided to go with the HTC U11. I think €500 is a bit much for the One Plus 5 and I'm slightly worried that it'll be a second gen in 6 months when the One Plus 5T comes out.
Wish me luck!

Good luck! Thinking the u11 now too. U buying direct from HTC Ireland? What colour?

maverick_21 · 11-07-2017 11:12am

Im actually buying it in Vodaphone. I can avail of the friends and family deal there so I'll pay €350 for the phone on bill.
Going with the Sapphire Blue as thats the only one there are stocking. It looks great though so I'm happy out.

OldMrBrennan83 · 11-07-2017 11:58am

This post has been deleted.

OP5 or HTCU11

Comments