In a season filled with almost endless smartphone hype and announcements, you’d be forgiven if you missed that HTC, once a major player in the Android world, announced and released a new, high-end phone. That phone, the $750 U Ultra, is the company’s current flagship, and the first major device released under its own name since last spring’s HTC 10.

But there’s little about the U Ultra, apart from its screen size (5.7 inches) and price (high), that makes it feel like much of a flagship. The way HTC is selling it — unlocked, through its own online store, and without any carrier involvement — isn’t typical for top-tier phones. Even more importantly, the U Ultra doesn’t have its own identity, instead recycling a pile of ideas first…

Continue reading…