HTC U12+ Review: A Phone With No Buttons!

The HTC U12 Plus is presented as a flagship that deliberately avoids the notch and leans into several unconventional ideas, starting with the design. Marques Brownlee highlights the translucent blue finish, describing how the glass back looks sophisticated and distinctive, even as it collects fingerprints. He notes that there is no wireless charging, and while the color and translucence are appealing, practical considerations like grip and handling play a major role in his assessment. The video then shifts to the phone’s distinctive squeeze interface and pressure-sensitive sides, which can trigger shortcuts like one-handed mode and app launching, with nuanced performance that sometimes misbehaves but overall represents a thoughtful approach to gesture controls. Brownlee emphasizes that the U12 Plus relies on fake physical buttons that simulate a press via haptics, comparing the feel to other devices and calling out that the experience is not as convincing as Apple’s or other high-end haptics. Finally, he discusses the camera system, highlighting dual front cameras for portrait selfies and a robust rear camera setup with a main sensor and a telephoto, noting that while the results are strong, automatic exposure can overshoot and dynamic range is not class-leading. In sum, the U12 Plus checks many flagship boxes,specs, build, water resistance, microSD expansion, and a clean software experience,but it also reveals trade-offs, particularly in battery life and the haptic button implementation, leaving buyers weighing the novelty against practical daily use.

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