With an ultra-clear 5.2-inch Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) display in an enclosure that feels more like a 5-inch phone, the HTC 10 is one of the more compact flagships. By moving the dual speakers into a bottom firing and front facing position (as well as deleting the navigation keys), it is easier...

Flagship smartphone finally cuts it at the top end with great camera, good screen, 1.5-day battery life and snappy performance

good battery life; excellent camera; good screen; microSD card support; USB-C; snappy

no removable battery; design a bit plain compared to high-end rivals; no front-facing speakers

My very first smartphone was a HTC. Well, it was built by HTC. It was a second hand i-Mate JAMin, a comparatively chunky Windows-powered pocket PC that predated the original iPhone. If you wanted a smartphone back then, there was a good chance that HTC built it.

Polished design; Bundled headphones are great; Clean Android overlay

Slow to open camera with software quirks; No wow factor; Comparatively dim screen

The HTC 10 is not a design revolution. Changes in hardware and software are somewhat conservative. Many minor changes combine here to give us an improved flagship that is adequate for its time.

Excellent craftsmanship; Very good ergonomics; High performance; Very good camera; Front camera has OIS; Very good sound

Light power loss when warm; Smartphone warms up under load; Laser autofocus cover malfunctions when dirty

You can get a decent Android phone like the Oppo F1 for $300 these days. If you want something more premium, the Samsung Galaxy S7 can be had for under $700 while the Nexus 6P, with its huge AMOLED display and full metal body can be had for nearer $600. So if a phone is going to carry a big premium price like the Galaxy S7 Edge ($900) or LG G5 ($950), it can't leave us wanting. The price has now been set in Australia - it's $1,099. However, you can get it for around $950 online.

A great camera, 24-bit audio, decent interface and Vive VR partnership are all attractive.

Great 24-bit sound; Good camera; Fast; Looks and feels good; Vive VR partnership;

Battery isn't great; Expensive in a sea of good rivals;

HTC has developed an excellent piece of technology with its new top smartphone, which many would not have expected from the manufacturer. The smartphone shines with its superb display, decent camera, awesome interface configuration and great audio qualities.

clear-cut design, fast SoC, decent speakers, extensive configuration, expandable storage, fast micro-SD slot, USB Type-C 3.1 gen; 1, nice panel, good camera, superb headset

no infrared; no radio receiver; SoC throttles during load; high idle power consumption when radio modules enabled

This has got everything and the kitchen sink. WiFi calling, a great build quality, a fantastic design, brilliant screen and a robust finish that keeps it looking new even if you dare to go "bare".

First up, let's deal in the specs, because finding out what is inside this phone is just as important as using one, that way you know what you're dealing with. HTC flagships for the past four years, with the 2013 One M7 on the left, the 2014 One M8 the second model, the 2015 One M9 the third...

Comfortable design that fits nicely in the hand; Beautifully clear screen; Fantastic build; Can be upgraded with microSD storage; Sharp screen; Fingerprint sensor is very fast; Supports 24-bit sound with an amp capable of turning up the volume very well; Ear profiling is one of the more unusual but...

Design is odd: like HTC was melted into an Apple and Samsung; No water-proofing; No wireless charging; Qualcomm's QuickCharge is supported; just not in the box; Screen could be brighter; BoomSound makes headphones sound overly bassy and pretty unbalanced; Speakers don't sound as clear as they've...

Thanks to very well-balanced noise reduction across the ISO range the HTC 10 produces very good image detail, falling just shy of the very best current smartphones. Panorama and HDR modes lack behind the best but on the upside the HTC offers full manual control and DNG Raw capture for those who want maximum control over capture and editing. If image quality is a key priority and you can live with the HTC 10's rather minor shortcomings the device is an easy recommendation for any mobile photographer.

Capturing excellent image detail across all light levels and full manual control;

Panoramas and shooting in adverse weather conditions;

The HTC 10 is HTC's best flagship in a long time, but it may have come a bit too late. It's on par with current flagships, and has a lot going for it.

Great camera; Fast; Best audio quality amongst smartphones; Adoptable storage

Camera isn't always dependable; Battery life isn't very good