HTC Bezel-Less U11 Flagship Smartphone To Launch On Nov. 2

HTC is expected to unveil the successor to its U11 flagship Android smartphone before the end of 2017. Now, the company has sent out invites for an upcoming event on Nov. 2 and it’s expected to be the product launch of the HTC U11 Plus.

HTC’s invitations were sent out yesterday to members of the media. The company’s press event will be happening in Taipei, Taiwan on Nov. 2. The invitation doesn’t really say much apart from the time and place, but it does hint at a new product. The invite includes the “U” logo, as pointed out by Phone Arena. This is the reason why the HTC U11 Plus is expected to make its first official appearance at the upcoming event.

Last month, IBT reported that the rumored HTC Ocean Master smartphone will end up being called the HTC U11 Plus when it’s officially announced. Like the U11, the U11 Plus is expected to be another flagship from HTC. The upcoming device is expected to deliver a major redesign that’s more inline with recent flagship handsets from other manufacturers.

The HTC U11 Plus is expected to arrive with a 5.99-inch (possibly marketed as 6-inch) display with a 1440p quad HD screen resolution. The display is believed to be supplied by Japan Display Inc. and will have an 18:9 aspect ratio, the same one that’s found on the LG G6 and the LG V30.

Since the HTC U11 Plus will have an 18:9 display, it’s likely that the handset will feature a “bezel-less” design. A concept art for the U11 Plus has been circulating online recently, but it hasn't been verified or corroborated by trusted sources yet. It’s being speculated that the HTC U11 Plus might look similar to the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Like the current HTC U11, the U11 Plus is expected to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. The handset will also have 4GB/6GB of RAM and 64Gb/128GB of onboard storage. The U11 Plus will house an 18 Watt battery and will support QuickCharge 3.0 via its USB Type-C port. The 3.5mm headphone jack will not be part of the handset, but it’s expected to ship with USB-C headphones.

The HTC U11 Plus will have a single 12-megapixel camera on its back and an 8-megapixel camera up front. HTC’s squeezable frame feature called Edge Sense is also expected to make a return. The U11 Plus is also expected to be IP68 water and dust resistant.

Since the HTC U11 Plus will be another flagship smartphone, consumers should expect a premium price tag. The original U11 arrive earlier this year for $29 a month for a two-year contract from Sprint or $696 total.

Aside from the HTC U11 Plus, the Taiwanese phone maker might also reveal the HTC U11 Life during its Nov. 2 press event. The U11 Life is expected to be a mid-range handset that will have a 5.2-inch display and will be powered by the Snapdragon 630 processor, according to The Verge.

The HTC U11 Life will be available in two models: one with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and another with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Based on previous leaks, the HTC U11 Life will be part of Google’s Android One program like the Moto X4 and the Xiaomi Mi A1. This should mean that the handset might cost around $400.