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The best phones under $500
Phone makers are trying to outdo one another by racing to add new, advanced features to their flagships, but these tools are not equally useful. Who really needs Face ID, Animoji or eye-sensing authentication? Some of us just want a good, no-frills phone. Plus, not everyone can or wants to spend almost a thousand dollars on something we'll trade in after two years. For these people, there's a range of options from truly basic sub-$250 phones to more powerful mid-range devices that can be had for less than $500. The latter group is better described as aggressively priced flagships that can serve you almost as well as their costlier counterparts -- and there's now a decent selection to consider.
HTC’s U11+ is a more elegant reimagining of its predecessor
With the U11, HTC showed it hasn't completely lost its mojo. A pair of great cameras, a playful and premium glass design and pressure-sensitive sides that enable new features proved the company still has what it takes to hang with the big boys. Understandably, HTC is keen to keep riding this wave and leveraging the U11 pedigree to put its phones into more people's hands. That's manifested itself in two new devices: The mid-range U11 Life and a sequel of sorts, the U11+. As with any "plus" handset, you've no doubt deduced what the main upgrade is already. Yep, it's got a larger display, but as a whole, the increase in handset size is practically imperceptible. If anything, the U11+ is just more refined, and that, by design, makes room for a bigger screen. Perhaps, then, it's what the U11 could've, or should've been.
Leaked HTC U11 Plus video reveals a bigger battery and screen
A hands-on video featuring the upcoming HTC U11 Plus has been leaked to Facebook, showing that the flagship phone will be available in a translucent option, as well as black and silver. Evan Bass, who's known for leaking tech specs, also confirmed the translucent option in a tweet. The video has since been taken down, but the inevitable copies still available online show the U11 Plus will have a six-inch display, 4,000 mAh battery and 128GB of storage (other storage options, if any, are yet to be confirmed). A closer look also reveals a coil beneath the shell, which could indicate wireless charging capabilities.
The Galaxy Note 8 vs. the competition: More than just a stylus
With phone screens getting bigger and bigger, the Galaxy Note doesn't quite stand out the way it used to. The Note 8's 6.3-inch screen is only a tad larger than the 6.2 inches boasted by the Galaxy S8+, and both devices share the same Snapdragon 835 processor. Still, the Note 8 has a few things to set itself apart, including a new dual camera setup like the one on the soon-to-replaced iPhone 7 Plus. Check out the table below to see what Samsung's latest large-screen handset is packing under the hood versus other notable flagships, and check back for our full review of the Galaxy Note 8 in a few weeks.
HTC U11 review: More than just gimmicks
Even die-hard fans have been ready to write off HTC for years now, and I can't blame them. The company's phones have fluctuated between greatness and mediocrity, while its competitors have improved by leaps and bounds. So, what's a company in a kind of existential peril supposed to do? Well, making a phone like the new U11, for starters. It's shiny, laden with gimmicks, and -- spoiler alert -- the whole thing falls short of perfect for a few reasons. Even so, HTC has gotten enough right in this ostentatious package that you should definitely start (or restart) paying attention.
HTC’s squeezable U11 is now available
Back in May, we called HTC's U11 its true flagship phone (albeit with an awful name). We were impressed by both the hardware and its striking profile. Now, you can pick one up for yourself: The HTC U11 is shipping today via Sprint, Amazon and HTC.com. Consumers can also purchase devices today at Sprint retail stores.
Where to buy HTC's U11 and Sony's Xperia XZ Premium in the UK
Over the past couple of days, two new flagship smartphones have landed on UK shores -- HTC's U11 and Sony's Xperia XZ Premium -- and both have their merits. HTC's latest marries powerful innards with elegant looks, all the AI assistants and quirky edge pressure sensors that let you interact with the device in new and interesting ways. Sony's Xperia XZ Premium, on the other hand, is all about top-tier specs and couple of stand-out features, including a 4K HDR display and 960FPS slow-motion video capture. As you'll discover, one has proven far more popular with carriers and retailers than the other, but if you're interested in either handset, we've got the low-down on where to pick it up.
