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HTC 10 review

8.7/10 AVG.
RATING
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HTC 10
HTC 10
HTC 10
HTC 10
HTC 10
HTC 10
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8.7/10
Informr score
The HTC 10 currently has an Informr score of 8.7 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 59 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Great design
  • Flawless performance
  • Stock-like Android experience
  • microSD and Adoptable Storage support
  • Good battery life
  • QuickCharge 3.0
  • Clear display

What's bad

  • Dim display
  • Sketchy Wi-Fi reception
  • Color accuracy issues with camera
  • Non-removable battery
  • Price

Once a top contender and innovator in mobile design, HTC hasn’t exactly dominated with it’s last few releases. You’ve probably heard a lot of hype on both sides of the fence related to their latest release. We’ve dug through the best reviews and insights to highlight the important considerations anyone should look at before investing in the HTC 10.

HTC was a pioneer for the metal unibody design. The HTC sticks with this trend presenting a phone that is a bit thicker than many competing flagships at 9mm. While most reviews noted that the phone was noticeably heavier than many recent phones, they all considered this a good thing. Phone Arena notes, “The HTC 10 not only looks great—it also feels great. In the hand, it's substantial and pleasantly heavy in a way that few phones are.”

Reviews were also positive when it comes to build quality. Tight seams, rigid design and an evolution of the typical HTC formula appears to have paid off. Android Police loved the look, saying, “I don't know of another phone that looks quite like this one.”

And this starts a trend that continues through many reviews in virtually every aspect of the phone. This isn’t a glamorous phone or a game-changer. It’s a durable, utilitarian phone. One made for life and use. From CNet to Pocket-Lint, this sentiment is repeated often.

Coming around to the front of the phone, you’re greeted with a 5.2-inch, 1440-by-2560 display. HTC opted for a Super LCD 5 and this leads to the first of many mixed opinions in the reviews. Android Police was perhaps the harshest, calling the screen, “the 10's weakest attribute.”

While reviews for the screen were generally positive, they all noted minor concerns with brightness and color accuracy. Pocket-Lint stated, “the HTC 10 can look a little dim at times and that makes it seem less impactful than its rivals.” Most also pointed out a blue tint to the image and almost all recommend switching the screen from Vivid mode to sRGB mode. However, all agreed that the details and viewing angles of the screen were great.

Pushing all those pixels, you’ll find what has become a standard in 2016 flagship phones--the Snapdragon 820. Couple that with 4GB of RAM and you’ll enjoy performance that reviews could find no flaws with. Though most reviews were quick to point out that the benchmarks for the phone fall behind some of the other flagships, real life performance appears to be fluid. Alphr noted, “during my time with the handset it scythed through everything I threw at it.” Phone Arena was more impressed, calling the HTC 10, “by far the smoothest-running, non-Nexus Android device to grace our offices.”

The phone dropped with Android 6.0.1 installed. While they haven’t offered the 15-day promise of previous models, HTC tends to offer some of the shortest update times next to Nexus devices. Reviews all noted the near-stock Android experience offered by the 10. SlashGear called HTC’s Sense 8.0, “a far less domineering experience, however, and that's down to some welcome restraint on the part of the software team.” Droid Life again references the utilitarian nature of the phone, calling the interface “a bit boring or bare bones, only in a really, really good way.”

To ensure there’s plenty of room for all of your favorite apps and games, HTC includes 32GB of internal storage on the US/NA model. HTC has mentioned that a 64GB variant will be available in select markets--though they haven’t outlined which ones.

If you’re looking to store your collection of movies, music or games on your device, you’ll find the microSD slot offers support for cards up to 2TB in capacity. This is also where HTC separates itself from the competition. They’re one of the first major handsets to enable Adoptable Storage support in Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. This allows you to, essentially, treat the SD just like internal storage. No more splitting apps between storage and SD or jumping through hoops. Just keep in mind, once you set up a card as adoptable storage, removing it is not recommended. So, it might be a bit of a compromise depending on your usage.

Heading the cameras, you’ll find another mobile first. The rear-facing camera is fairly standard mobile kit these days. A 12+ megapixel lens with UltraPixel 2 technology, optical image stabilization, 4K video support and a wide aperture for decent low-light performance. Where HTC changes things is on the front. The 5MP front-facing ‘selfie shooter’ also features optical image stabilization. If you’re a fan of the front-camera, this should help keep shots clear and crisp.

Reviews for the cameras were a bit of a mixed bag. Reviewers universally agreed that the HTC camera app itself is well-designed and a joy to use. However, many noted that their images took on a pink tint. Some even had trouble with lens-flares and light fringing--something all but eliminated in most high-end handsets these days.

Droid Life summed up opinions on the camera well, saying, “It’s not my favorite camera in the current crop of flagships, but it’s not one that will cause you to question your purchase, should you decide to buy the 10.”

To keep everything juiced up and ready to go, HTC included a 3,000mAh battery in the 10. While it’s not removable, it does support QuickCharge 3.0 and includes a compatible charger with the phone. For most reviews, this netted a 50 percent charge in roughly 20 minutes with a full charge time near an hour and a half.

Battery life will depend on your usage. Droid Life said, “I’m averaging right around 14-16 hours on a single charge with around 3 hours of screen on time.” Phone Arena had better luck, noting, “In everyday usage, you can expect the HTC 10 to handle anywhere between a day/day-and-a-half, depending on how much you stress the device.” While this is a far cry from the two-day life touted by HTC, most reviews note that it should be plenty to get most users through a day without searching for power outlets.

If you’re shopping for an unlocked device, purchasing the HTC 10 direct through HTC will net you a cool perk--12-months of “Uh Oh Protection”. This means you can take your phone on-the-go with the peace of mind of one-time replacement for cracked screens or water damage.
There were, however, a few complaints about the phone. The first being the Wi-Fi strength. Android Police notes, “The 10, in particular, seems to have "death grip" syndrome along the bottom of the device. I can completely lose Wi-Fi connectivity in my bedroom simply by holding the phone tightly in one hand with my thumb along the bottom edge.” While other reviews didn’t get this specific, many noted an obvious problem with range and signal strength.

The other issues mentioned in reviews is the Boomsound Speakers. HTC has always been known for the audio experience offered by their handsets. With the HTC 10, their latest effort appears to have fallen a little short. While most reviews are quick to point out that the speakers aren’t bad, they’re also not the experience many HTC owner’s enjoyed on previous handsets.

One exception to this is for high-end headphones. With a 24-bit DAC and the ability to tune audio profiles for up to three headsets, audiophiles might find a little more to love about the handset once the speakers are out of the picture.

Overall, the reviews ended with a positive note. Though all questioned the pricing of the phone. Android Police called it, “a very good phone - easily the best the company has produced since the original M7.” While most reviews would agree, Alphr provided the best summary of opinions out there, saying, “It’s a great handset, and jumps straight into our league table of the finest smartphones. But, given the strength and popularity of the opposition, HTC may begin to wish it had tried that bit harder to win the all-important price war.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.2 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.2 GHz
5.2"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.2"
12+ MP
Camera
Camera
12+ MP
3000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Pocket-lint
Pocket-lint

The HTC 10 is the most compelling smartphone from HTC in the past few years. This new handset wipes out the spectre of the HTC One M9, presenting a device with serious hardware and build, and finally a camera that gives you good consistent results without much effort.

- Chris Hall, Pocket-lint
Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor

There's a lot to like with the new HTC 10 including a number of hardware upgrades across screen, camera and audio, plus a Nexus-like stock Android experience. However, we're not totally sold on the design and it's tough at the top these days. While the HTC 10 is a solidly good phone and a respectibl...

- Chris Martin, Tech Advisor
techAU
techAU

There’s a lot to like about the HTC 10, the slightly larger display in a similar form factor, the dual OIS in the cameras and the cheaper flagship price than competitors. Despite that its really hard to recommend the HTC 10. Just like phones from Sony, they’re there or there abouts, they tick plenty...

- Jason Cartwright, techAU
The Mobile Indian
The Mobile Indian

HTC 10 has a great spec sheet. But it has few cons which weakens it case a bit. Also it doesn't have any iconic innovations like a dual camera or an edge screen. With a price of above Rs 55,000, the HTC 10 also seems a bit overpriced but with new competitors coming into the market, there could be a...

- Anil Satapathy, The Mobile Indian
Make Use Of
Make Use Of

Get this phone if you’re an audiophile who wants a well-built phone and likes HTC’s software. But if you want something with a little more pizzazz, keep looking.

- Riley J. Dennis, Make Use Of


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the HTC 10 user manual here.


HTC backs up the 10 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your 10 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact HTC support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find HTC's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
5.2"

The HTC 10's screen size is 5.2 inches with 1440 x 2560 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.2 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Quad core 2.2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo) operating system (OS).

Camera
12+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 12+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 5+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
32/64 GB

Internal memory is 32/64 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 2000 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
3000mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 3000 mAh battery. HTC's performance ratings are 1620 minutes, 413 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

HTC 10 Specs

Overview
Release Date May 16, 2016
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Quad core 2.2 GHz
Internal Storage 32/64 GB
RAM 4 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.79 W/kg
Body: 0.62 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB USB Type-C
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC, aptX
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 2000 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
12+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (Dual LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, Multi-shot, Panorama, Self-timer, HDR, Slow motion recording (HD 120fps)
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, MKV
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Auto focus, Image stabilization, Self-timer, Voice activation, HDR
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology S-LCD 5
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1440 x 2560 pixels
Pixel Density 564 pixels
Size 5.2 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 4.0
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 3000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 240 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 413 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1620 minutes
Standby Time Up to 19 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Carbon Gray, Topaz Gold, Glacier Silver, Camellia Red
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14.6 x 7.2 x 0.3 cm (5.8 x 2.8 x 0.1 in)
Weight 161 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Stereo
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
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Additional Information Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Quick Start Guide (PDF)
Manual (PDF)
HTC 10 Reviews
Where to buy HTC 10
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