HTC 10 - the inconspicuous favourite
4.10.2016
Translation: machine translated
The HTC 10 is big, bulky and powerful. It is one of our customers' biggest favourites. Time to take a look at a mobile that nobody expected, but that many people like.
The HTC 10 feels good. Cool metal on the back and the plastic front really make an impression. But it doesn't convey "I'm a classy device" but "I can easily withstand a nuclear war". The dimensions reinforce this feeling. The device is 9 mm thick and weighs 161 grams. What is striking: The perceived weight is much greater. Estimates from the editorial team ranged from "around 140 g" to "between 240 and 260 g". However, the device with SIM card actually weighs 162 grams.
When the smartphone was launched on the market in spring 2016, the device received good reviews but never achieved great fame. Wrongly so. Because the HTC 10 can easily keep up with the flagships of other manufacturers. The system performance, the cameras and the screen are all at the top end of the performance spectrum. The installed Android is close to the stock ROMs from Google.
Our users' favourite
"The HTC 10 is an exciting case," says Dario Pellanda, Product Manager Mobile Devices at Digitec. It is rare for a mobile to receive so many good reviews. Because our users really like the HTC 10. With 31 reviews received, the phone has an average of 4.8 stars. A maximum of 5 stars is possible.
Some voices from the user reviews:
- "The details are very well thought out (e.g. slightly angled edges for a good grip)." - simplicissimus
- "The device really looks extremely chic (I have the "silver" version)." - biotiemann
- "Puissant et rapide, je n'ai pas été déçu!" - stephpill (Strong and fast, I was not disappointed!)
- "Battery lasts between 9 and 12 hours, so you can easily get through a day. The usage at these values is high, it usually lasts even longer." - Ilario95
- "Listening to music with or without headphones is a real pleasure with this smartphone!" - Dvopa
- "It's a shame they're not as good as Apple at marketing, otherwise they'd be the sole frontrunner!!!" - MP-Mutabdzic
But not everything is sunshine and roses. There are complaints about the somewhat high price of the device and some say that the colour intensity of the screen leaves something to be desired. Furthermore, the speakers are excellent and the sound via headphones is great, but the built-in Dolby Boom system does not offer any extra features or greater sound depth.
The expert tested
When I evaluate smartphones professionally, I apply all kinds of criteria that have little or no influence on their actual use. As an expert, it's not just the device per se that counts, but also the manufacturer's strategic decisions and the smartphone's influence on the market. Arguments such as "The phone shows that HTC can play at the top again" can carry far more weight than they actually should.
This promotional video aims to convey the smartphone's awesomeness
Because let's be honest: at the end of the day, just like me, you want a device in your trouser pocket or handbag that works smoothly, responds quickly, takes good photos and the battery lasts from the morning until the end of the working day. Whether HTC positions itself well on the market with the HTC 10 and revolutionises one or other aspect of mobile telephony is actually of secondary importance. Sure, such information is indispensable for talking shop with friends and for experts in the scene, knowledge of the race for the crown in the smartphone market is a must, but when I'm texting my mum, it's not so important. Then all that matters is the handling, speed and reliability of the smartphone.
That's why I took a look at the HTC 10 from a user's perspective. I always have it in my trouser pocket at the moment and use it consistently. I've had the rather heavy device with me for a few days now. If I wasn't buying a Pixel XL - now affectionately known as the "Pixelixel" - for professional reasons, I would probably opt for the HTC 10.
Good handling, great sound, some buts
In addition to the good handling and the good feeling that the mobile phone won't break immediately if I look at it a little crooked, the HTC 10 has a lot to offer. With a Snapdragon 820 processor and four processor cores - 2x2.15 GHz Kryo and 2x1.6 GHz Kryo - the smartphone can deliver decent performance. No matter what I tried, the mobile never slowed down.
The graphics are impeccable. Of course, a 5.2-inch display lags behind a TV in terms of viewing experience, but your bike is no Harley Davidson either. So the comparison is somewhat pointless. What helps with YouTube enjoyment are the speakers, which produce decent sound for the 9 mm thickness of the device. Again, no comparison with decent speakers, but just Velo versus Harley. Where the HTC 10 scores, however, is the sound via the 3.5mm connection. HTC does not rely on the Snapdragon's circuits, but has added its own DAC and amplifier circuit. On headphones, bass sounds rich and treble clear - a smartphone has rarely sounded so good to me.
This track has plenty of power with the HTC 10
The camera produces razor-sharp images even in poor lighting conditions. HTC makes this possible with laser autofocus and celebrates it as a major innovation. All hogwash. In reality, I can take my mobile out of my pocket, turn around, pull the trigger and a sharp photo comes out. And I don't have to hold still for long. As a user, that's all I'm interested in. Laser autofocus works and leaves nothing to be desired - well done, HTC!
The device's biggest weakness is particularly apparent in summer. Sure, polarised sunglasses remove reflections and other glare factors, but they have the property of making windows and displays with tempered glass unreadable by creating a rainbow effect over the display. The HTC 10, thanks to its special glass, suffers from this very badly when the user wears polarised sunglasses.
However, I think Digitec users are right: the HTC 10 is a great device. The HTC 10 shows that the Taiwanese can still keep up after a few average devices. And if you want a mobile, then the HTC 10 is certainly not a bad choice. <p
Header image: The HTC 10 impresses all along the line, except when operated with sunglasses.
Journalist. Author. Hacker. A storyteller searching for boundaries, secrets and taboos – putting the world to paper. Not because I can but because I can’t not.
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