HTC has started to make good on its promise late last year to release at least two mid-range phones annually with the debut of the HTC U24 Pro, which comes with solid specs at an affordable price.
To differentiate itself in the market, HTC opted for an unconventional design for the U24 Pro, with a triangular side bezel and a curved screen on two sides. This model brings a nostalgic air, recalling the glory days of the brand, offering a 3.5 mm headphone output and sensors mounted above the screen, in a mini-island that also houses the headphone. The internal storage space, available in 256GB or 512GB variants, can be expanded by adding a microSD card. Other features are state-of-the-art, such as the fingerprint sensor integrated under the screen and the 4600mAh battery with support for 60W fast charging.
At a recommended price of €560, the HTC U24 Pro offers a balanced configuration based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset and supported by 12GB of RAM. The 6.8″ OLED screen has an FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.
The camera setup on the HTC U24 Pro includes a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom.
The phone's case, which has a plastic cover on the back, gives a solid impression and is IP67 certified, guaranteeing protection against water and dust.
When taken out of the box by Zack Nelson, creator of YouTube channel JerryRigEverything, the HTC U24 Pro left an impression of sturdiness, but it didn't excel in ergonomics, with the triangular side bezel proving less comfortable than rounded or flat designs preferred by other brands. Zack also had difficulty registering fingerprints, with the optical sensor failing to recognize biometric features affected by heavy manual labor.
While it lacks the flash of past HTC flagships, the U24 Pro proves to be a well-built and serviceable phone, making it a reliable option for everyday, long-term use. However, it would be desirable if HTC offered more consistent software support, with firmware and security updates over a longer period.
