HTC’S dual-screen smartphone is seriously pretty, as lon as you’re careful not to drop it... Rob Leedham says the lass finish is worth the shatter amble

TC used to be famous for its metal phones. Then everyone else decided to make them too. Wanting to be a unique snowflake, HTC went and made one that’s almost entirely glass instead – and it looks awesome. How long, do you think, until everyone goes glass too?

With glass that curves out to its four corners, the slender U Ultra is a uniquely handsome phone – but it won’t be for everyone. It’s ridiculously prone to smudges and – newsflash! – glass shatters. HTC says it’ll survive a fall of about a metre but do you really want to be the one to test that out?

It’s the first phone you can buy in the UK with two screens: one gigantic 5.7in affair, the other a thin 2.05in strip for instant notification gratification.

The main screen is quite something, even if it lacks the wow factor of Xiaomi’s bezel-less Mi Mix. Since it’s LCD rather than AMOLED the contrast could be better, but a generous 2560x1440 resolution means you’re treated to visuals with plenty of punch and vibrancy. While the second screen is by no means essential, you’ll find yourself using it more than expected (see panel opposite). It’s a bit like having a smartwatch, only it won’t cost you an extra £300.

Under the hood it’s pretty much the same as the Pixel (minus Google’s Assistant, although you do get HTC’S Sense Companion). There’s a nippy Snapdragon 821 processor and 4GB of RAM. We pummeled its 3000mah battery with some hefty downloads, video streaming and games, and it still managed to muster a full day.

Where it does lose out to the Pixel is on camera performance. The U Ultra’s pictures are good but not great – and considering we’re pretty sure it’s using the same 12MP camera as the Pixel, that can only be down to the software. Selfies are better: the 16MP front sensor delivers spot-on skin tones.

With no headphone socket you’re forced to use either USB-C or Bluetooth buds. HTC has bundled a pair of the former but its Usonic ear-analysing tech managed to suck all the life out of everything we listened to.