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HTC 10 review: a new beginning

AndroidPIT HTC 10 Hands on 5033
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It's finally here – HTC has introduced the HTC 10, its grand successor to the One M9. With its newest flagship, the Taiwanese manufacturer has abandoned its former naming convention to leap for a fresh start. Whether HTC has achieved this, we’ll clarify in this HTC 10 review.

Update: Fresh deal on the device with T-Mobile. Head to our release date section for more details.

HTC 10

Good

  • Excellent craftsmanship
  • Very good ergonomics
  • High performance
  • Very good camera
  • Front camera has OIS
  • Very good sound

Bad

  • Light power loss when warm
  • Smartphone warms up under load
  • Laser autofocus cover malfunctions when dirty
HTC 10
HTC 10
HTC 10: All deals

HTC 10 release date and price

HTC’s 2015 flagship, the HTC One M9, got off to a difficult start. It had to deal with performance and heat problems, mostly resulting from its Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor. But thanks to the update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, HTC’s former problem child managed to mature into a first-grade smartphone.

With the HTC 10, the Taiwanese manufacturer hopes to get off to a better, less troubled start by venturing a figurative reboot, while hoping to avoid so many literal ones. So we see the ‘One M’ style of naming dispensed with, leaving just a number: 10.

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The HTC 10 will be available from April 12, 2016. / © ANDROIDPIT

The new top model from HTC was presented on 12 April, 2016, and is now available for preorder. But the roughly $750 phone will not see delivery until mid-May 2016. Fabian Nappenbach, HTC's product director for Central Europe, told us in an interview at the launch event that there would be no exclusivity when it came to presales. The HTC 10 will thus be widely available from then on, in unlocked and carrier-branded variants. Also, there will be no exclusivity when it comes to the three color variants. The gray, silver and golden versions will be available to all on the open market and through carriers.

T-Mobile announced they are offering a deal for pre-orders of the HTC 10. If you order between May 18 and May 24 you can get the HTC Rapid Charger for quick charges and the HTC Ice View, the case that protects the device. You must pre-order this through T-Mobile and only while supplies last.

This is not a bad deal but it certainly isn't a good one. T-Mobile lists the price at $679.99 or $28.34 over 24 months and with prices that high the pot should be a bit sweeter. If T-Mobile wants to get new customers to buy a high-price flagship device then they should also offer a deep discount on the device as well.

HTC 10 design and build quality

The design of the HTC 10 will no doubt be a topic of heated debate once more, because HTC has largely stuck to the design of last year's models, as that of the One M7, M8 and M9. HTC has adjusted the phone so that it differs from its predecessors, but it has not abolished the HTC One design aesthetic.

AndroidPIT HTC 10 Hands on 5049
The HTC 10 is easily recognized as an HTC smartphone. / © ANDROIDPIT

The most striking design feature of the HTC 10 is the very wide, diamond-cut edges on the back of the device . These wide edges have received additional polishing, while the rest of the slightly curved back is brushed and has a shimmering matte appearance.

The wide diamond cut and the curved back of the HTC 10 makes it appear as though floating when laid flat, and offers it the impression of a very thin side profile. At its narrowest point, the HTC 10 is only 3 mm thick, while it is 9 mm thick at its center.

AndroidPIT HTC 10 Hands on 5076
In profile, the HTC 10 looks thinner than it actually is. / © ANDROIDPIT

On the front of the device, HTC fans have become accustomed to a rather faceless smartphone, and the HTC 10 takes this further. The HTC logo between the fingerprint sensor and the display has disappeared, leaving a brandless smartphone behind. HTC has also modified the classic BoomSound stereo speaker, so that at the front, only one speaker can be seen, at the top of the device. The second speaker is placed out of sight on the lower part of the frame.

AndroidPIT HTC 10 Hands on 5065
The second speaker is now next to the USB Type-C port. / © ANDROIDPIT

New to the HTC 10, two capacitive buttons are now located to the left and right of the fingerprint sensor, which also functions as the home button. thus HTC utilizes the entire 5.2-inch WQHD display for displaying content. No ugly black bar with software keys reduces the display size on the HTC 10.

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The 3.5 mm headphone jack is still at the top, but the infrared transmitter is gone. / © ANDROIDPIT

The volume rocker and the power button on the side of the device remain unchanged, except for the addition of a textured surface to power button similar to what we saw on the HTC One A9.

AndroidPIT HTC 10 Hands on 5068
The on-off switch is like that of the HTC One A9. / © ANDROIDPIT 

In all, the changes in design from the One M9 to the HTC 10 seem small, but I, personally, have always welcomed a clear design philosophy from manufacturers. HTC brings a defined vision to its top smartphones, as Sony does to its product line, with the OmniBalance design principles. And, from a distance, smartphones like these from HTC and Sony are easily recognizable.

HTC 10 display

The display of the HTC 10 is not, as had been erroneously suggested prior to the official presentation, an AMOLED display. Instead we find a Super LCD display 5. With Super LCD, which HTC employed on the 10’s predecessors, there is virtually no space between the display and Gorilla Glass cover. The display has been placed directly against the glass.

AndroidPIT HTC 10 Hands on 5043
The laminated-glass LCD panel shines in rich colors, almost like an AMOLED display. / © ANDROIDPIT

In practice, the colors are very rich and almost AMOLED quality . In our short time during the hands-on, the 5.2-inch display, with its 1,440 x 2,560 pixel resolution shone brightly and was easily legible even under direct light. A color shift was not noticeable even at shallow viewing angles.

HTC 10 software

Regarding software, there is good news: HTC has purified the software of its flagship smartphone . The HTC 10 is delivered from the factory with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and equipped with the HTC Sense 8.0 interface. But HTC has also dropped a lot of pre-installed apps as well. Rather than having a pile of duplicate apps, those from HTC and those from Google, only Google apps are loaded from factory when an HTC equivalent isn’t needed. An example is the gallery app. The HTC Gallery app has been dumped in favor of Google Photos. Two isn’t better than one when one does what two can.

AndroidPIT HTC 10 Hands on 5089
Android Marshmallow is installed from the factory. / © ANDROIDPIT 

Why has HTC taken this step? Firstly, HTC’s European product director Fabian Nappenbach said that Google is one of HTC’s most important partners. It was also decided so as to speed up the software update procedure, both for apps and operating system. As such, it is also a service to the end user, because this gets out updates faster. Well done, HTC.

HTC 10 Sense 8 0
HTC Sense 8.0 has Stock Android elements. / © ANDROIDPIT

Actually, this approach to stock Android has already begun with the HTC One A9. There, we saw the notification bar and quick settings become stock Android; a step back from HTC’s complete Sense UI. More visible changes can also be seen in the respective switches in the settings of the HTC Sense interface. These follow the Android standard, even if the arrangement in the settings are still HTC-owned. HTC’s minimalist adaptation means that faster updates are easier to release, which benefits HTC as well with the need for fewer adjustments.

HTC 10 Sense 8 0 freestyle
In Freestyle mode, apps and widgets can be aligned without the grid. / © ANDROIDPIT

Those who wish to have more flexibility in the design of home screens can go for Freestyle mode. In this mode, apps and widgets can be freely arranged on the home screen. But bear in mind that to do this, you’ll have to download this theme from the Theme Store.

HTC 10 performance

The HTC 10 is the best phone the Taiwanese company builds right now. Accordingly, it should only come with the best hardware. For the CPU, HTC used the tetranuclear Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 with a maximum clock speed of 2.2 GHz. It also packs an Adreno 530 graphics chip, 4GB of RAM and internal memory of 32 GB. The latter can be expanded with a microSD card of up to 2 TB capacity.

AndroidPIT HTC 10 Hands on 5063
There are gold, black and a silver variant. / © ANDROIDPIT

Phone with similar include the LG G5, or when it imported from China, the Xiaomi Mi 5. The latter had shown, during testing, that Qualcomm's newest processor delivers performance similar to the Exynos 8890 of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. So the HTC 10 is certainly powerful.

HTC 10 AnTuTu
The AnTuTu scores are in the context of what can be achieved with a Snapdragon 820. / © ANDROIDPIT

In benchmark tests, we see that the HTC 10 has similar performance to that of the LG G5 and Xiaomi Mi 5. However, neither these two other devices, nor the HTC 10, can displace the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge from first place in the benchmarks.

HTC 10 Vellamo Geekbench
Vellamo and Geekbench are no different. / © ANDROIDPIT

However, in everyday life you won’t notice much of a performance difference between an HTC 10 and Samsung Galaxy S7 ). Both smartphones are very fast in everyday use. But something to note is that the HTC 10 can be a little warm after an intensive game session. Warmer than other flagships, anyhow. The reason is that the HTC 10 has a full metal housing, through which the waste heat is released. But does the 10 get really hot? No, never.

HTC 10 Basemark medium
In games here the Adreno GPU performs well. / © ANDROIDPIT

HTC 10 audio

HTC smartphones are known for their BoomSound directional stereo speakers. With the HTC 10, stereo speakers are still installed, only with a slight difference this time. One speaker is now no longer on the front, but on the underside. The speaker above the display now acts as a tweeter and the speaker in the bottom of the frame is used for reproducing low frequencies.

AndroidPIT HTC 10 Hands on 5081
Above the display sits one of the two BoomSound speakers. / © ANDROIDPIT

Stereo sound is only reproduced while you play video or watch games. This new boom sound system, which HTC calls Hi-Fi Edition, sounds good during music playback, as well as with videos and games . It’s quite powerful for a smartphone.

HTC 10 Audio Fragen 1
Sound profiles can be set for headphones... / © ANDROIDPIT

In order to achieve an optimal sound experience on the HTC 10, the user needs to modulate the sound only once on their own hearing. To do this, you can conduct a hearing test, which is reminiscent of a test at the ear, nose and throat doctor. It plays sounds at different frequencies and you have to adjust the volume for as long as you can hear the tone. After the test, sound is then optimized to your own hearing. According to my ear, I perceived enhanced sound after this.

HTC 10 Audio Toene
...or through a hearing test. / © ANDROIDPIT

HTC 10 camera

The cameras in HTC’s top smartphones have been innovative, but unfortunately were always one or two steps below the competition for picture quality. HTC had touted the benefits of larger pixel size for better low-light performance, producing an ‘Ultrapixel’ camera in the HTC One M7 with a resolution of only 4 MP. That was not enough for the year 2013. Since the end of 2015, manufacturers like Huawei for the Nexus 6P, Samsung for the Galaxy S7 and Apple for the iPhone 6S used image sensors with low megapixel counts to provide larger and more light-sensitive pixels.

AndroidPIT HTC 10 Hands on 5055
HTC uses the Sony IMX377 image sensor, which is used in the Nexus 6P, but with OIS and a larger aperture. / © ANDROIDPIT

In 2014, HTC introduced the One M8 with a camera that had low resolution but large pixels. HTC was once again innovative, but unfortunately the camera’s image quality wasn’t convincing enough. In 2015, manufacturers like Huawei and Honor developed smartphones that were equipped with two image sensors that created photos with simulated depth of field effects like that of DSLR cameras with large aperture.

htc one m9 powerbuttons
Last year, HTC tried to convince us with a 20 MP camera. / © NextPit

With last year’s One M9, HTC went for a more innovative camera that kept up with the ever-growing megapixel trend. The 20 MP camera looked great on paper and, although it appeared to be able to compete with the LG G4 and Galaxy S6, its image quality was once again a disappointment.

The HTC 10 has a 1/2.3-inch image sensor with 12 MP resolution in which the pixels are 1.55 microns in size. The aperture of the camera is large at f/1.8 and also comes with laser and hybrid autofocus to ensure fast focusing .

AndroidPIT HTC 10 Hands on 5093
Images can be saved in RAW format. / © ANDROIDPIT

When reading the technical specifications of the camera, I noticed that it is highly likely that this module is already being used in another phone - such as the Nexus 5X or Nexus 6P. HTC has confirmed this suspicion. We can say with certainty that inside the HTC 10 is a Sony IMX377 sensor. Unlike the two Nexus smartphones, the HTC 10 has a larger aperture and an optical image stabilizer.

AndroidPIT HTC 10 Hands on 5096
Manual mode will please ambitious smartphone photographers.  / © ANDROIDPIT

The front camera has, at first glance, only a 5 MP image sensor (with enhanced autofocus), an f/1.8 aperture and an optical image stabilizer. The HTC 10 could be one of the best selfie smartphones that is currently available.

But unfortunately the cameras of HTC’s flagship smartphones have always looked good on paper. In the end what counts most is image quality. We’ll be sure to test it when we get the final smartphone with finished software. Despite this, focusing was fast and colors were naturally captured.

After our testing, we can say that the HTC camera finally provides adequate image quality. The main camera has a 12 MP image sensor and produces very good photos in daylight and also in low-light. Thanks to the large pixel, low light images aren’t too noisy.

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The camera of the HTC 10 utilizes both a hybrid autofocus and a laser to focus on objects. / © ANDROIDPIT

Weak spots in picture quality appear when you enlarge part of an image. You realize that the transitions between details are not strongly defined and there is something lacking with regards to image sharpness. We also noticed that when using the main camera, the laser autofocus responds somewhat to dirt and grime. I’d recommend that you clean the cover of the laser autofocus whenever you want to shoot.

Kamera App 3
There are fingerprints on the cover of the laser autofocus... / © ANDROIDPIT

The front camera of the HTC 10 takes good selfies thanks to an optical image stabilizer. The main camera has OIS and compensates for shaky shots. Here, videos are recorded in 4K with a maximum of 30 frames per second or 120 frames per second in slow motion mode.

Kamera App 2
The camera app is tidier and easier to use. / © ANDROIDPIT

The camera app has been tidied up and now comes with fewer settings. By default, it’s set to shoot HDR images automatically. If you’d prefer not to shoot like this then don’t forget to disable HDR mode. Whoever wants to have even more settings choose Pro mode. Here, you can modify white balance, exposure compensation, ISO speed, shutter speed and focus all manually using the slider.

Kamera App 1
In Pro mode, the key settings can be adjusted manually. / © ANDROIDPIT

So that you can convince yourself of image quality from the HTC 10 camera, we have all the pictures saved not only in the following photo gallery, but also in full resolution.

HTC 10 battery

Regarding battery capacity, HTC has given us a bump here. Three years ago, the HTC One M7 was stuck with a battery of only 2,300 mAh; the One M8 had 2600 mAh and last year HTC built the One M9 a battery of 2,840 mAh. The HTC 10 has a battery capacity of 3,000 mAh. Compared to the competition, HTC 10 battery capacity is about average .

The HTC 10 battery test scores in AnTuTu Tester results are unsurprising. The score is in the range of the LG G5, Xiaomi Mi 5 and the Huawei P9. In daily usage there was, in this respect, no significant outliers. The battery capacity was 37 percent after a 12-hour day. If one more frugal with this smartphone, you might actually achieve the specified HTC duration of two days on a charge.

AndroidPIT HTC 10 Hands on 5119
Exemplary: HTC provides Quick Charge 3.0 power supply. / © ANDROIDPIT

Thanks to Quick Charge 3.0, the battery should be charged to 50 percent within 30 minutes. The corresponding power supply now delivers this speed by default. With the HTC One A9, that was not the case.

HTC 10 technical specifications

Final verdict

The HTC 10 is not a design revolution. Changes in hardware and software are somewhat conservative. Many minor changes combine here to give us an improved flagship that is adequate for its time.

But HTC has finally eliminated a weak point of past devices  - the camera. After several experimental years, the Sony IMX377 image sensor with OIS and a large f/1.8 aperture has been used in a very good HTC 10 camera. There’s no need to fear a comparison with the Galaxy S7 or LG G5.

The HTC 10 is a thoroughly enjoyable smartphone without technical shortcomings. But even so, it lacks a unique selling point and wow factor to inspire the masses. Samsung's Galaxy S7 has been on the market for more than a month and in many places is already cheaper than it was at launch. The HTC 10, at its price right now, is more expensive than the Galaxy S7. LG can emphasize with its modules that the G5 is an innovator. Huawei has a dual camera made in collaboration with premium brand Leica in its P9. But where does HTC stand?

I, for one, can say that the HTC 10 is worth a look, even if the device is not so impressive at first glance. Small touches in the software, in the design, the ergonomics and the BoomSound are what makes the HTC 10 into a real and evenly-matched alternative to Galaxy S7, LG G5 or Huawei P9. Welcome back, HTC, in the Champions League of smartphone manufacturers.

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Shu On Kwok

Shu On Kwok
Senior Editor

Since 1999, Shu has written about the colorful world of IT and telecommunications. His career started as a presenter at the five-hour TV show NBC GIGA, which led him through several career stages until he finally joined the AndroidPIT team in May of 2015. His passion for mobile devices and gadgets knows no boundaries. Whether Android, iOS or Windows, Shu feels at home with any OS.

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24 comments
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  • 1
    Bob Helldof Jul 6, 2016 Link to comment

    The Phone deffinitly does have a USP that simply isnt understood by the reviewers where music and audio isnt such a big deal. the 24bit audio processing capability that uplscales audio and with an hefty headphone amp built in (first time this has been done on a non specialist android phone). the sound is phenomenal and has the capability to drive my big monitor headphones and significantly increase the quality of music coming out of my monitor speakers. If you love music then this phone is light years ahead, even miles ahead of apples products.


  • 1
    jessy miranda May 16, 2016 Link to comment

    HTC Phones are now on sale only at NewSmartphoneDeals;com


  • 12
    Emma William May 14, 2016 Link to comment

    Those who have HTC 10 can speed up their device by changing some setting in seconds.

    Robert denaro DenaroAva James


    • 2
      Robert denaro Denaro May 15, 2016 Link to comment

      How ?


  • 8
    Frank May 13, 2016 Link to comment

    "The speaker above the display now acts as a tweeter and the speaker in the bottom of the frame is used to produce low frequencies."
    Sorry, but what you just described is a 2-way mono speaker. If you are hearing stereo, it would have to be electronically produced and is not true stereo.


  • peter v 1
    peter v May 8, 2016 Link to comment

    I have owned Apple Samsung and now on my second htc , my first was the m8. Loved it. I like the iPad but I also own Samsung galaxy tab. So far the htc 10 taking a little to get used to but in my opinion very nice phone .i phones are a clicky crowd they are like drug addicts , they just have to have it. Most just like the idea of having an iPhone thinking it makes you someone. I was never really satisfied with the iPhone but my 11 year old loves hers lol. Will stick with my htc ,love the aluminum body ! better then plastic any day. Takes nice pictures, and if I wish to take really nice pictures I break out my Nikon. I mean that is what you take pictures with a phone is a quick fix.


  • Brian Bergquist 1
    Brian Bergquist May 2, 2016 Link to comment

    Would have been nice to see more pictures taken. Those test shots are terrible and it wouldn't matter what kind of phone was being used. Please don't say a phone camera is adequate (or poor) when it's obvious you don't know how to shoot. I'm still using my HTC One M8 and get excellent pics under good lighting conditions.


  • Alex 17
    Alex Apr 26, 2016 Link to comment

    Can find a better Phone than this in the Market!!

    Robert denaro DenaroEmma William


    • Omar Hamwi 17
      Omar Hamwi Apr 28, 2016 Link to comment

      I can't find a better chamfer!

      Robert denaro DenaroAva JamesAlex


      • Alex 17
        Alex Apr 30, 2016 Link to comment

        Are you using this Phone?Omar?/

        Robert denaro DenaroAva James


    • 12
      Emma William May 15, 2016 Link to comment

      No

      Robert denaro DenaroAva James


  • CJ Brown 29
    CJ Brown Apr 24, 2016 Link to comment

    This is a beautiful device from HTC

    A beautiful device that does not require over paying a celeb to endorse it (cough cough Robert Downey jr. Commercial)

    It is a device which HTC needs to sell using a decent ad campaign (in print, online, on TV, in theatres, etc)

    I applaud HTC for not coming out with too many electronic goods, but I wouldn't pay the suggested No Contract price (nor would I enter into a contract to buy one). Regardless, I want HTC to succeed :)


  • 7
    marty lk Apr 17, 2016 Link to comment

    Looks like HTC put some serious R&D into the 10. From all I've read on the web about the new 10, HTC really labored over the details and engineering like Apple does with the iPhone. But when your future is in question, companies tend to do that.

    I really hope HTC pulls through the hard times with the 10. I've been a long time HTC device owner beginning with the Palm Treo 600 and starting HTC branded devices with the HD2. Their devices have been very compelling and my One M8 is the best one so far. Still using it over the Galaxy S6 I have because I like it better. It even approaches the performance of the GS6. It's no wonder recent benchmarks of the 10 are higher scoring than its rivals. HTC seems to be a master of software optimization.

    CJ Brown


  • 9
    Babak Sanei Apr 15, 2016 Link to comment

    Perfect! HTC collect the bests, Build Quality, Camera, Audio, Speakers, LCD, Battery life, SoC Performance, Touch Response, and sure exceptional software stability and performance that belong to all HTC device which now become even better, ALL IN ONE. so, what do you want exactly?

    Robert denaro Denaro


  • 7
    Harshith Apr 13, 2016 Link to comment

    HTC is becoming dumb these days!!
    no innovation it's not the beginning it's the end

    Robert denaro DenaroDeactivated Account


  • 46
    Deactivated Account Apr 12, 2016 Link to comment

    " A new beginning" Nothing new here, Good bye HTC

    Harshith


    • 12
      Emma William May 15, 2016 Link to comment

      Its not end its the start.

      Robert denaro DenaroAva James


      • 4
        Ava James May 15, 2016 Link to comment

        yes you are right

        Robert denaro Denaro


      • 2
        Robert denaro Denaro May 15, 2016 Link to comment

        I 2nd you


  • 6
    Ahmad M. Cnx Apr 12, 2016 Link to comment

    I'm expecting this mobile to be the real deal, I never been a HTC fan but this one changed my opinion about HTC, however I still don't like their Sense OS.

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