HTC U19e revealed: More expensive than Google Pixel 3a, but what do you get?

HTC announced a June 11 event last week, and the company has indeed revealed a new smartphone today. The HTC U19e isn’t a follow-up to the HTC U12 Plus though, as it targets the upper mid-range price bracket.

The new HTChandset sports a Snapdragon 710 chipset, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, and a 6-inch full HD+ notch-free screen (OLED with HDR10 support). A 3,930mAh battery with Quick Charge 4.0 via USB-C keeps the lights on. You’ll need to buy a Quick Charge 4.0 adapter though, because the phone only comes with a Quick Charge 3.0 charger.

Moving to the camera arena, the HTCU19e offers a 12MP+20MP 2x telephoto dual rear camera pairing, as well as a 24MP and 2MP selfie pairing with face unlock. Don’t care for face unlock? Then you’ve also got a rear fingerprint scanner as well as iris unlock via a dedicated sensor between the two front cameras.

The Taiwanese firm’s latest device also sports NFC, HTC’s Sense UI atop Android Pie, and dual nano-SIM support. HTC’s new phone is available in Extraordinary Purple (a translucent look much like the U12 Plus) and Modest Green.

The HTCU19e has a recommended retail price of 14,900 Taiwanese dollars (~$475), making it more expensive than the $400 Google Pixel 3a. You’re getting more cameras, iris unlock, a slightly more powerful chipset, a bigger display and battery, and more (expandable) storage by opting for the HTCU19e.

Google’s device definitely has a few upsides though, delivering stock Android, class-leading photo quality, and a firm commitment to brisk updates. That last point is particularly noteworthy, as HTC’s 2017 and 2018 flagships are only getting Android Pie now. HTC’s phone doesn’t feature a headphone port either, unlike the Google mid-ranger.

This wasn’t the only device launched by HTCeither, as it reportedly revealed the Desire 19 Plus as well. The phone packs a 6.2-inch HD+ screen, entry-level Helio P35 chipset, 4GB/6GB of RAM, and a 3,850mAh battery. HTC’s cheaper device also offers a 16MP camera in a waterdrop notch as well as a triple rear camera combination (13MP/8MP ultra wide/5MP depth). The Desire 19 Plus starts at 9,990 Taiwanese dollars (~$318).

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