26-03-2021

  • HTC has released its first phone of 2021, the Desire 21 Pro 5G.
  • It offers 5G, a 90Hz display and a 5,000mAh battery, albeit with a Snapdragon 690 chip.
  • It’s on sale for about $428 in Taiwan, but getting it elsewhere may be a challenge.

HTC’s mobile division is a shadow of its former self, and its lackluster U20 5G didn’t exactly help its chances of a turnaround. However, the company is still releasing phones in 2021 — and you might even like what it has to offer. Android Police reports that HTC has introduced the Desire 21 Pro 5G, a mid-range device that packs a fair amount of power for the money.

On top of faster cellular data, the Desire 21 Pro 5G centers on a 6.7-inch, 1080p display with a 90Hz refresh rate (HTC’s first 90Hz screen, believe it or not). Performance will be strictly middling between the Snapdragon 690 chip and 8GB of RAM, but you will get a giant 5,000mAh battery and 128GB of expandable storage.

You’ll also get a healthy selection of rear cameras that include a 48MP primary cam, an 8MP ultrawide, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth sensor. A 16MP hole-punch camera provides selfies at the front. Software isn’t HTC’s strong suit, though, as the phone still ships with Android 10.

The Huntsville Tennis Center (HTC) is a state-of-the-art public facility in Huntsville, Alabama. The facility has 30 clay (rubico) courts and 6 hard courts, which are all lighted for night play. The HTC hosts a variety of tournaments and offers junior, group and private lessons. It sports dual cameras on the front and rear and has the typical pressure-sensitive HTC buttons. It’s actually a better phone than the newer HTC Exodus 1S. The HTC Desire 21 Pro has quad cameras at the back with a 48MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-lens, a 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth lens for portrait shots.

Read more:The best HTC phones you can buy

HTC is selling the Desire 21 Pro 5G in its homeland for 11,990 Taiwan dollars, or roughly $428. It might not offer as much raw value as a device like the Pixel 4a or OnePlus Nord, then, but the combination of features might give it an edge. The challenge may simply be to buy one. HTC hasn’t said if it will sell the new Desire outside of Taiwan, and we wouldn’t count on it when the company has relatively limited resources.

HTC phones simply aren’t what they used to be. The brand has mostly bowed out of the phone business to focus on VR and other efforts, but it’s still not completely done for. Despite falling out of favor, the company has a number of good devices in its lineup at different price points.

  1. Best HTC Phones Android Central 2021. HTC isn't the heavy hitter in the smartphone space that it used to be; in fact, the company hasn't released a consumer-facing phone since 2018.
  2. UTEBIT Mini Ball Head with 1/4' Hotshoe Mount Adapter 360 Degree Rotatable Aluminum Tripod Head for DSLR Cameras HTC Vive Tripods Monopods Camcorder Light Stand,Max. Load 6.6lbs Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1.

Unlike Samsung, LG, and other big brands, HTC only releases a handful of phones per year. We must be honest and say none of them are really that great compared to the competition. Regardless, we know some of you are huge HTC fans and some of their offerings are pretty decent. Here is a list of the best HTC phones around, just in case you need a bit of help.

Competition:The best Android phones available

The best HTC phones:

Editor’s note: The list’s order goes from flagship to budget devices. We will update it regularly as new HTC phones launch.

1. HTC Exodus

The HTC Exodus is undoubtedly among the most powerful HTC phones released in recent years. The Taiwanese manufacturer launched the device at the end of 2018. Despite that, the Exodus is its latest flagship and the most powerful HTC phone on this list along with the U12 Plus. But what makes Exodus special is that it’s basically a hardware wallet for cryptocurrency. In fact, using cryptocurrency was the only way you could initially purchase the device. Nowadays, it’s available for purchase with good old hard cash.

The Exodus is a great phone despite the crypto gimmick.

And it’s not just a gimmick device! The HTC Exodus is quite accessible to crypto newbies. It also sports a premium and eye-catching design with a fully transparent back. No annoying notches or punch holes to be found on the front either!

Samsung

Its specs are quite impressive too, even though it’s almost two years old. The Exodus offers 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and the Snapdragon 845 chipset. It sports dual cameras on the front and rear and has the typical pressure-sensitive HTC buttons. It’s actually a better phone than the newer HTC Exodus 1S.

HTC Exodus specs:

  • Display: 6-inch, QHD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 845
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 128GB
Htc
  • Cameras: 12 and 16MP
  • Front cameras: 8 and 8MP
  • Battery: 3,500mAh
  • Software: Android 8.1 Oreo

2. HTC U12 Plus

The U12 Plus includes a lot of what we loved about the HTC U11 Plus, but with a few obvious upgrades, making it one of the best HTC phones around. HTC continued its minimalist Liquid Surface design language, giving us a beautiful glass design with IP68 water resistance. The biggest design change can be found in the buttons. Instead of physical keys, they are pressure sensitive. While these buttons may not provide a physical click, they do provide haptic feedback to let you know they’ve been triggered.

The rear camera configuration has 12 and 16MP sensors, with the main one supporting optical image stabilization (OIS). Meanwhile, the secondary shooter is a telephoto lens capable of 2X optical zoom and 10X digital zoom. You can also find two wide-angle 8MP sensors on the front, which can be used for quickly unlocking your phone with facial recognition.

Also:Here is a list of the best camera phones available right now

The HTC U12 Plus also supports a new version of the company’s Edge Sense technology and is powered by the Snapdragon 845. It offers 6GB RAM, and sports either 64 or 128GB of expandable storage. There’s also a big 6-inch Super LCD 6 panel with a resolution of 2,880 x 1,140. The battery on the HTC U12 Plus is a bit smaller, going down to 3,500mAh. BoomSound is back for great audio support, but there’s no headphone jack on board.

HTC U12 Plus specs:

  • Display: 6-inch, QHD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 845
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 64/128GB
  • Cameras: 12 and 16MP
  • Front cameras: 8 and 8MP
  • Battery: 3,500mAh
  • Software: Android 8.1 Oreo

3. HTC U20

While it’s not what we expected, the HTC U20 is still one of the best HTC phones you can find. It’s no powerhouse, but the device offers some pretty good specs for the price. It’s also the company’s very first 5G phone, which should make it an enticing option for those who can take advantage of the faster speeds.

More:The best dual-SIM phones

Htc Cameras Review

HTC U20 specs:

  • Display: 6.8-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 765G
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 256GB
Cameras
  • Cameras: 48, 8, 2, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 32MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 10

4. HTC Desire 20 Pro

HTC Cameras

If you are looking for a nicer mid-range device, the HTC Desire 20 Pro is definitely one of the best HTC phones available. Despite being a 2020 device, it has modest specs, including a Snapdragon 665 processor, 6GB of RAM, and a nice 6.5-inch Full HD+ screen.

Some of the features found in this phone are rather surprising, though. This budget handset comes with a massive 5,000mAh battery, a quad-camera set-up, dual-SIM capabilities, and a price that won’t break the bank.

HTC Desire 20 Pro specs:

  • Display: 6.5-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 665
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 128GB
  • Cameras: 48, 8, 2, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 25MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 10

5. HTC Wildfire X

Cameras

After eight years the HTC Wildfire brand made a return with the HTC Wildfire X. Unfortunately, it is not a true return to form, but it’s still one of the best budget HTC phones. The device is a budget phone very similar to the older Desire 19 Plus, but with some key differences.

The Wildfire X has the same 6.2-inch display, down to the waterdrop notch and disappointing 271 ppi density. It offers acceptable specs for its price. The Wildfire X also sports an octa-core Mediatek processor. There’s also a single 8MP selfie camera and a triple rear camera system.

Other options:The best cheap phones available right now

Another major drawback, however, is that HTC had very little to do with this device. The Taiwanese manufacturer licensed it branding to a Chinese manufacturer. Nevertheless, the HTC Wildfire X is a decent phone, but you can probably find better Xiaomi budget devices for your money.

HTC Wildfire X specs:

  • Display: 6.2-inch, HD+
  • SoC: Mediatek MT6762
  • RAM: 3/4GB
  • Storage: 32/128GB

Htc Cameras

  • Cameras: 12, 8 and 5MP
  • Front camera: 8MP
  • Battery: 3,300mAh
  • Software: Android 9 Pie