HTC has unveiled its latest handset, the HTC U11, after opting for the number “10” last year (HTC 10) sans a front letter. The new handset, though, breaks away from the old aluminum metal mold for a glass back with a liquid glass surface that makes the back cover shine from every angle.

We just received word a few hours ago that the HTC U11 is soon to launch in India but the latest from the Taiwanese phone maker has gone live in the United Arab Emirates. The HTC U11 is retailing for Dh2,599 ($707 USD) in the UAE and Middle East, which is right there with what the unlocked U11 sells for in the US ($650). US pre-orders come with a $50 discount.

The HTC U11, apart from its use of glass and breakaway from traditional aluminum metal for its flagships, also brings other surprises such as a new and improved 12MP Ultra Pixel 3 back camera that mobile photography expert DxOMark Mobile has ranked the highest-performing smartphone camera on the market with a score of 90 out of 100. The IP53 water and dust resistance of last year’s HTC 10 has now given way to an IP67 water and dust rating.

Read: How to Root HTC U11, install TWRP recovery and unlock bootloader

The HTC U11 engages the new AI trend in smartphone tech by bringing HTC’s own Sense Companion AI to the table, in addition to Google’s Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa, but this is all designed to cater to “U” (hence the phone moniker). Other noteworthy features include the manufacturer’s new Edge Sense, which lets buyers customize the experience to open their camera or launch an app by squeezing the sides of the phone.

The HTC U11 comes in five colors: Amazing Silver, Sapphire Blue, Brilliant Black, Ice White, and Solar Red. The UAE is getting the 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant, showing that the early list of variant-eligible countries is only preliminary.

Source: HTC