HTC Desire 12

Over the years, smartphones are increasingly being judged by the multimedia, internet, and gaming experience that they offer. The craze for great display has without doubt been rising and this is where HTC Desire 12+ ranks above the rest. With a clear and vivid 6″ big display and light weight, compact packing into a sleek design that fits comfortably in the hand, this phone exhibits design as sleek as it gets.

It is somewhat surprising how a 6″ display offers great single handed functioning and switching between apps, but it’s true – and the credit goes to HTC. The 13MP main camera allows multiple focus for beautiful group photos and enjoyable photography experience in capturing natural settings. The selfie camera is decent too and works genuinely well with low light settings as well.

HTC Desire 12+ is backed with HTC Sense Companion which allows smart scheduling to take care of not just important meetings and events but also that extra sleep that you need on weekends. Above that, its curved edges impart a feel and touch of class.

The phone is easy to carry, handle and work with one hand, however the acrylic body leaves too many fingerprints. This balances its otherwise stylish body and appealing looks. Added to that there is no water and dust protection, so it demands a bit of extra care if you do not like switching phones frequently. From a distance, its looks easily beat its price.

The fingerprint scanner is fast and accurate and located favourably at a point where the finger is usually placed while usage. The noise-cancelling microphone is next to the cameras on top left which add to its sleek look.

To a bit of surprise, the top of the phone is blank while the bottom is congested with 3.5 mm headphone socket, mono-speaker, mic and USB port. Again, it is surprising that HTC chose a micro USB port which is outdated in Android phones. The dual SIM cum microSD tray and volume and power buttons on the top sides are hassle free in usage.

Its huge 6″ display makes it special but it also brings down its PPI as it offers a somewhat average resolution of 720 x 1440. Offering an aspect ratio of 18:9, the phone offers joyful movie experience, even if some of the multimedia features could have been better. It needs to be kept in mind that some Android Apps are not designed for 18:9 aspect ratio. Given that most companies in this price have started offering 1080p display, it is worth a worry for movie buffs and gaming enthusiasts. The IPS panel makes the display dull but display settings make of for that to some extent.

Lack of 5 GHz wi-fi band and NFC support place this phone just above the average mark but far from good. The phone is backed by Snapdragon 450 which handles rigorous smartphone usage efficiently. It may not be able to handle high-end games but it remains mostly smooth and efficient with 2D games and basic multitasking.

‘Bokeh’ effects are outstanding on the Dual 13MP + 2MP cameras with LED flash light. The 8MP selfie camera is not just satisfying but at times overwhelming. The 2MP snapper is meant only for depth information which comes into play in applying the Bokeh effect to allow a realistic blur to photos by using depth information. Multiple focal points feature is available. Overall, the dual camera system is impressive but for its slow shutter speed, which sometimes puts the photographer in doubt and dismay. Even if the quality of photos is great, the photographer cannot really feel easy and it will take some time to adjust to it if one has worked with faster camera. Even though the colours give an accurate sense of reality, capturing or shooting in the dark can be frustrating with a slow shutter even if the noise is largely cut. The HDR mode lives up to its expectations in every department. Lack of video features and 4K mode fail to impress unlike other major brands and models.

HTC Desire 12+ is backed by 2,965 mAh battery which does not go well with a huge display. It may last for a day if the usage is not heavy but there is no fast charging or wireless charging feature. The battery will not last for 48 hours so it is better to carry a wall-charger when on the move.

HTC Desire 12+ is comparable to Honor 7X, Nokia 6, and Honor 9 Lite. Looking from the price angle, it is a good phone but far from special. With a decent configuration, quality camera and attractive looks, ignoring this phone will be tough, but so will be choosing it – because there are much more balanced smartphones in the same price bracket.