14 DAY TRIAL // HTC unveiled the HTC U Ultra during CES 2017, and it was the first premium smartphone to be announced this year. The company also stated that a variant with Sapphire Screen would arrive later this year.
HTC U Ultra with Sapphire Glass was believed to be limited only to the market in Taiwan, but it seems that HTC intends to make the variant available to other countries as well. A recent report reveals that the U Ultra version will launch in Germany and Switzerland on April 18 for the price of €849.
The regular HTC U Ultra with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 coating currently sells for about €699 in Europe, although its price depends on the market because of different VAT taxes. Sapphire Glass is found on the display of the HTC U Ultra variant, providing the phone with increased protection against scratches and other damages that could occur to the screen.
Sapphire Glass is more expensive than Gorilla Glass coating
Sapphire Glass is also found on the main camera, keeping the sensor protected in case of falls or occasional scratches. Sapphire Glass is made out of crystallizing aluminum oxide and is used in the Apple Watch and a number of devices. It’s more expensive than Gorilla Glass and is believed to provide better protection.
HTC U Ultra with Sapphire Glass is available in Taiwan, for a slightly higher price than in Europe, €880. Inside, the phone has the same specs as HTC U Ultra, running an octa-core Snapdragon 821 processor clocked at 2.15GHz and coupled with 4GB of RAM.
Internal storage capacity reaches 128GB, while the display size is 5.7 inches with 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. The rear 12MP UltraPixel camera has f/1.8 aperture and features 4k video and high-resolution audio capabilities. The smartphone is equipped with a 16MP selfie shooter, a 3,000mAh non-removable battery with Quick Charge 3.0, and a fingerprint scanner.
HTC is working on another exciting smartphone, the U (Ocean), which is believed to feature 6GB of RAM and the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 platform.