Deutsch
Español
Français
Italiano
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Русский
Türkçe
Svenska
Chinese
Magyar
HTC U24 Pro smartphone review - Modern and yet out of date
Florian Schmitt, 👁 Florian Schmitt, ✓ Brian Burriston (translated by DeepL / Ninh Duy) Published 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 ...
Possible competitors in comparison
Rating | Version | Date | Model | Weight | Storage | Screen size | Resolution | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76.9 % | v8 | 09/2024 | HTC U24 Pro SD 7 Gen 3, Adreno 720 | 199 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.80" | 2436x1080 | |
| 82.2 % | v8 | 08/2024 | Xiaomi Poco F6 SD 8s Gen 3, Adreno 735 | 179 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.67" | 2712x1220 | |
| 87.6 % | v7 (old) | 05/2024 | Motorola Edge 50 Pro SD 7 Gen 3, Adreno 720 | 186 g | 512 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.70" | 2712x1220 | |
| 75.7 % | v8 | 08/2024 | HMD Skyline SD 7s Gen 2, Adreno 710 | 209.5 g | 256 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.55" | 2400x1080 | |
| 81.9 % | v8 | 07/2024 | Google Pixel 8a Tensor G3, Mali-G715 MP7 | 188 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.10" | 2400x1080 |
Note: We have updated our rating system and the results of version 8 are not comparable with the results of version 7 here available here.
Case and features - stylish chassis with narrow edges
This year, HTC, the former innovation leader in the smartphone business, is once again offering a phone costing around 600 Euros (~$664). Apart from its predecessor, the HTC U24 Pro is the only model that the manufacturer still officially offers.
The casing has been significantly modernized and now has a display with glass that extends over the edges. There are also only very narrow edges at the top and bottom. The frame is made of aluminum and the back has been treated with sandblasting, sanding and heat compression to give it a matte surface and reflect light with a slight shimmer. This looks very good on the dark blue version, which is currently the only one available in Europe. Internationally, there is also a version with a beige color.
The casing can be slightly dented, but is very sturdy overall. The transition between the back and the frame is clearly noticeable. The slight bend in the frame gives the HTC U24 Pro a unique feel and still fits comfortably in the hand. The chassis is protected against dust and water in accordance with IP67.
256 GB of mass storage and 12 GB of RAM are rather standard features in this price range; competitors such as Xiaomi or Motorola now offer even more. The USB port complies with the USB 3.0 standard and can transfer data at up to 5 GBit/s. The HTC U24 Pro also has a 3.5 mm jack connection for audio devices and a notification LED on the front, which flashes when there is something new, even when the display is switched off. However, there is now also an always-on display that provides information about the time and notifications.
There is no eSIM support, but you can insert two nano-SIMs. However, if you want to use a microSD card to expand the memory, one of these slots is no longer available. We test the speed of the card reader with our reference microSD Angelbird V60: This proves to be somewhat below average in comparison to other phones in the price range and is also unable to utilize our fast microSD overall.
| SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| HMD Skyline (Angelbird V60) | |
| HTC U24 Pro (Angelbird V60) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (7.7 - 77, n=87, last 2 years) | |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
Sustainability - unfortunately only little data
If you want to find out how sustainably the HTC U24 Pro is built, it is difficult to find data on the internet. HTC's official sustainability reports focus more on the Vive VR headsets than on the smartphones.
Nevertheless, it is stated here that the packaging is already made from 100% recycled materials and is also largely plastic-free. However, there is no information on the materials used in the product itself, nor can any statements or prices for spare parts or a repair manual be found online.
Due to the scarce software support and the unknown repairability of the phone, we have to assume that the product is not very sustainable.
Communication, software and operation - Strange errors
In terms of WLAN, HTC aims to impress with WiFi 6E and thus access to the little-used 6 GHz network. However, the transfer rates here climb to a maximum of 932 MBit/s. This means that a gigabit Internet connection can be used well, but other phones in this price range can transfer data much faster.
If you look at the supported frequencies in the 4G and 5G range, there are many available. The HTC U24 Pro is not quite a true world phone that can be used anywhere in the world, but access to mobile Internet should be possible in many countries.
The software is based on Android 14, but the design of some areas is still reminiscent of much older Android versions from HTC's heyday around 10 years ago. The translation into German is also not complete in all areas.
It is strange that the date of the security patches is September 2024, which had not even been released at the time of our test. This does not necessarily boost confidence. Unfortunately, HTC also makes no promise to update the HTC U23 Pro, there was only one for 2 years. So you shouldn't look forward to a long update period.
The touchscreen is very sensitive right up to the corners and can be operated very well. Touching the sides with the palm of your hand is also recognized well and does not have a negative impact on operation. A fingerprint sensor is hidden behind the screen, which can be used to unlock the phone and identify yourself in apps. The setup works smoothly and the recognition is precise. However, you first have to activate the lock screen when the phone is switched off in order to use the fingerprint sensor. This also applies when the always-on display is active.
If you want to use facial recognition in addition or instead, you also have a reliable unlocking option. In the dark, the light from the screen is usually sufficient for recognition.
| Networking | |
| HTC U24 Pro | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| Xiaomi Poco F6 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| Motorola Edge 50 Pro | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| HMD Skyline | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| Google Pixel 8a | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
Cameras - blur always with you
There are both advances and setbacks in the cameras compared to the predecessor HTC U23 Pro. On the one hand, the main camera now has fewer pixels, namely only 50 megapixels instead of 108 megapixels and a slightly lower light sensitivity.
On the other hand, the pointless 2-megapixel camera has been retired and a second 50-megapixel telephoto camera has been installed, which takes over from 2x zoom and significantly increases the flexibility of the camera system. In addition, there is still an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens.
At first glance, wide-angle shots appear quite colorful and rich in contrast, but even without magnification, the lack of detail in the trees is noticeable, which becomes even more pronounced when you take a closer look at the image.
With the main camera, it is possible to take decent pictures of close objects or plants, and the camera also creates a credible bokeh. However, the sharpness of the actual subject could be even better. Even when taking pictures of the surroundings, the details are clearly blurred. In low light and high contrasts, there is a lack of dynamism in both very bright and very dark areas.
The photo of the test chart under studio lighting is very grainy.
Videos can be recorded with the main camera in 4K at a maximum of 30 fps. The general image sharpness is also an issue here, but the autofocus reacts quite quickly. However, the exposure compensation works with a slight delay from time to time.
Selfies with the front camera have a good overall quality, but should not be enlarged too much, as this will result in a rather coarse image. The dynamic range in dark areas could also be better.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main Camera PlantMain Camera EnvironmentMain Camera Low LightUltra Wide Angle Camera
Display - Only low maximum brightness
The HTC U24 Pro offers the largest display diagonal among the comparison devices at 6.8 inches. However, the phone's resolution of 2,436 x 1,080 pixels is only in the midfield. Nevertheless, the display is fine and quite sharp.
Compromises have to be made when it comes to maximum brightness: We only measured 630 cd/m² as the maximum. This is weak in this price range and even the predecessor HTC U23 Pro offers a little more here. Outdoor use in brighter environments is still possible, but the low maximum brightness is particularly problematic for HDR content.
There is also a clear blue cast in the color display, which cannot be reduced with on-board tools such as the color profiles. We also notice PWM, although at a higher frequency than on the predecessor. However, the amplitude, i.e. the fluctuation range of the brightness, is relatively high at 22%. Sensitive people should therefore definitely test the screen before buying.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 609 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.66 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.95
ΔE Greyscale 4.6 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
148.6% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.255
| HTC U24 Pro OLED, 2436x1080, 6.8" | Xiaomi Poco F6 AMOLED, 2712x1220, 6.7" | Motorola Edge 50 Pro P-OLED, 2712x1220, 6.7" | HMD Skyline P-OLED, 2400x1080, 6.6" | Google Pixel 8a AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.1" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response Times | -1% | 82% | -100% | -1% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 2.6 ? | 1.741 ? 33% | 1.6 ? 38% | 9.4 ? -262% | 2.83 ? -9% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 3 ? | 1.69 ? 44% | 1.2 ? 60% | 2.2 ? 27% | 1.05 ? 65% |
| PWM Frequency | 288.2 | 60 -79% | 714 148% | 100.22 -65% | 120 -58% |
| Screen | 52% | 59% | 11% | 81% | |
| Brightness middle | 609 | 1031 69% | 1064 75% | 497 -18% | 1518 149% |
| Brightness | 607 | 1028 69% | 1038 71% | 481 -21% | 1466 142% |
| Brightness Distribution | 92 | 96 4% | 88 -4% | 92 0% | 88 -4% |
| Black Level * | |||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 5.66 | 1.4 75% | 1.17 79% | 4.24 25% | 1.2 79% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 9.06 | 3.7 59% | 2.47 73% | 8.37 8% | 3.3 64% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 4.6 | 2.9 37% | 2 57% | 1.4 70% | 2 57% |
| Gamma | 2.255 98% | 2.21 100% | 2.238 98% | 2.219 99% | 2.2 100% |
| CCT | 7625 85% | 6560 99% | 6423 101% | 6579 99% | 6786 96% |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 26% /
35% | 71% /
66% | -45% /
-26% | 40% /
54% |
* ... smaller is better
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.2 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 1.8 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 10 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.1 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 2.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.4 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 1.2 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 8 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.2 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 288.2 Hz Amplitude: 22 % |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 288.2 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 288.2 Hz is relatively high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. However, there are reports that some users are still sensitive to PWM at 500 Hz and above, so be aware. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17348 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
Measurement series with fixed zoom level and different brightness settings
Performance, emissions and battery life - Wireless charging also possible
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 is a good choice for this price range; it is also used, for example, in the more expensive Motorola Edge 50 Pro for example. However, HTC cannot really get much out of the processor: In some benchmarks, the HTC U24 Pro lags behind all comparison devices. In everyday use, however, our test phone always runs smoothly in the menus and can hardly be brought to a standstill with any app.
If you run very complex processes on your smartphone, you will be better off with the competition overall. On the other hand, the HTC U24 Pro can keep up well when gaming and surfing the Internet. Memory access is also reasonably fast.
Under prolonged load, we measured a significant warming of the entire casing. However, this is a maximum of 44.5 °C (112.1 °F) and is therefore not critical. Overall, HTC manages the cooling quite well. The system does have to accept slight losses in performance after 20 runs of the 3DMark benchmarks, but these are not critical.
HTC was once a leader in smartphone speakers and built great speakers into its phones. Nowadays, the audio solution is more conventional, but hybrid stereo speakers are still available. The dedicated speaker on the lower edge is combined with the earphones in the upper area. At maximum volume, the duo often seems slightly overwhelmed, especially with powerful orchestral music or cheering fans in the background. Overall, the sound is suitable for the price range, but not outstanding.
If you want to connect headphones or speakers to the phone, you can do so via a 3.5 mm audio cable or Bluetooth. The following wireless audio codecs are available: SBC, AAC, Qualcomm aptX, aptX HD, LDAC, LC3, Opus, aptX Adaptive-Audio and aptX TWS+.
The 4,600 mAh battery is of average size for the price range and also achieves a decent runtime of 15:03 hours in our Wi-Fi battery test. The phone can be charged with up to 60 watts, but a suitable charger is not included. Wireless charging with up to 15 watts or wireless reverse charging from other devices with up to 5 watts is also possible.
| HTC U24 Pro | Xiaomi Poco F6 | Motorola Edge 50 Pro | HMD Skyline | Google Pixel 8a | Average 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 43% | -22% | -41% | -50% | -20% | -21% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 2036.9 | 4103.79 101% | 1023.6 -50% | 921 -55% | 1509.65 -26% | 1756 ? -14% | 1715 ? -16% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 1780.7 | 3143.04 77% | 1025.9 -42% | 730.6 -59% | 255.31 -86% | 1152 ? -35% | 1327 ? -25% |
| Random Read 4KB | 337 | 312.22 -7% | 337 0% | 275.2 -18% | 165.98 -51% | 285 ? -15% | 265 ? -21% |
| Random Write 4KB | 374.7 | 373.77 0% | 390.2 4% | 255.4 -32% | 243.82 -35% | 316 ? -16% | 291 ? -22% |
Temperature
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 44.5 °C / 112 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 43.5 °C / 110 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 22.7 °C / 73 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Wild Life Stress Test
Speaker
HTC U24 Pro audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 29.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.8% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.9% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (6.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 50% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 41% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 69% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 25% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Google Pixel 8a audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (89.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (14.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 1% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 97% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 17% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 79% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery life
| Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Pro | |
| Xiaomi Poco F6 | |
| Average of class Smartphone (476 - 3244, n=203, last 2 years) | |
| HTC U24 Pro | |
| HMD Skyline | |
| Google Pixel 8a | |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - Difficult market environment for the HTC Phone
With the HTC U24 Pro, the manufacturer is unlikely to succeed in recapturing significant market share, as the competition is already too far ahead: With no update promise, a comparatively dark display and only average performance, the phone can't really stand out from the crowd.
In terms of features, there are a few details that make the phone special: The 3.5mm audio port, the notification LED and the large screen with narrow edges. The casing is also stylishly designed, a clear improvement on the HTC U23 Pro.
The camera system is flexible and takes decent photos for the price range, the case can also be submerged in shallow fresh water and the battery life is perfectly adequate for everyday use. The phone also charges very quickly with a suitable charger and can be charged wirelessly if desired.
The HTC U24 Pro is an upper mid-range smartphone with unusual features such as an audio jack and a notification LED. However, shortcomings in the software and a dark screen dampen enthusiasm.
There are many alternatives in this price range: You get more memory with the Motorola Edge 50 Pro or more power with the Xiaomi Poco F6.
Price and availability
At the time of testing, the HTC U24 Pro is only available directly from the manufacturer at https://www.htc.com/de/smartphones/htc-u24-pro/ for 549 Euros (~$608).
At the moment, amazon.de only offers a comprehensive range of accessories for the smartphone; the device itself is not (yet) available there.
Note: We have updated our rating system and the results of version 8 are not comparable with the results of version 7 here available here.
HTC U24 Pro
-
08/31/2024 v8
Florian Schmitt
Total Sustainability Score: Transparency
The present review sample was made available to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or a shop for the purposes of review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.
Price comparison
