HTC Evo 4G Smartphone Review

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HTC Evo 4G Smartphone Review

The HTC Evo 4G was the first 4G smartphone to be made available in the USA. Although there are now a number of other 4G rivals, how does the Evo compare to what’s out there? Is it worth getting your hands on?

Key Features Of The HTC Evo 4G

Rough Price: $160 to $500
Release Year: 2010
Operating System: Android 2.3
Size: 4.8 x 2.6 x 0.5
Weight: 6 oz
Storage Options: 8 GB included, micro-SD expandable up to 32GB
Processor: 1GHz Snapdragon
Screen: 4.3 WVGA capacitive touchscreen
Resolution: 800 x 480 pixels
Cameras: 8 MP Main Camera/ 1.3 MP front-facing camera
Internet: 4G, HSDPA, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Battery Life: 5.2 hours talk time, 146 hours standby
Service Provider: Sprint

Benefits Of The HTC Evo 4G

4G Connectivity

As mentioned earlier, 4G was the biggest selling point of this device. 4G is another type of mobile broadband connection that means you’ll still be able to connect to the internet even when away from a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The best thing about 4G is that it’s a lot faster than 3G or HSDPA – the technologies currently available to most users. The speeds depend on the network, but Sprint say you should be able to achieve average download speeds of between 3 and 6 Mbps when using your Evo. If your area isn’t served by 4G (which is very much a growing technology) then you can still connect to 3G broadband.
Hotspot Functionality

Above and beyond the 4G connectivity options, you’ll even have the ability to turn your phone into a hotspot for other devices. Up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices can be connected to share your 3G or 4G connection, which is very useful if you want to connect your laptop or games console where you wouldn’t normally be able to! As expected, this feature does add a little onto your monthly bill.
Screen

The screen on this device is bigger than what you’ll see on some others, with an excellent quality 4.3 inch display. The size of this screen is slightly larger than most other smartphones available to buy at the moment, which does make a difference when viewing web pages or performing other tasks. Every little bit of space counts when you’re looking at a device as small as a smartphone!
High Quality Camera

The camera on the HTC Evo 4G is one of the best you’ll find on a current smartphone. With 8 megapixels, you can capture very good quality photographs and HD videos. The front camera comes in at 1.3 MP for making video calls, which is always good to have on a smartphone.
Video Calls

Speaking of video calling, the included Qik chat application will let you make video calls even to people who don’t own a compatible phone. With other smartphones, the other user is usually required to have the same software. But Qik chat on the HTC Evo 4G can be used to chat with people who have the application installed on their PC.
Design

The design of this phone looks pretty good considering the size of the screen. One useful feature is a snap out stand at the back of the device. This lets you prop it up to watch videos and movies hands-free.
Call Quality

The call quality on the HTC Evo 4G is exceptionally good, whether you’re using standard calls or the speakerphone.
HTC Sense

On the HTC smartphones, you’ll usually find that the HTC Sense interface has been put over the top of the Android operating system to help add new features and give the phone a unique way of working.

If you’re a tech geek who loves Android exactly the way it is then you may not be happy about this fact. However, HTC Sense does genuinely add something to the interface. Where Android can sometimes be a bit complicated for the user, HTC Sense helps to keep things as easy to use as possible. It also adds a number of widgets and tools that’ll help pull all your social networking accounts into one place. It’s extremely easy to use and genuinely looks good.
Controls

The HTC Evo 4G comes with an excellent touch screen keyboard. It doesn’t feel cramped when you’re using it (thanks to the slightly larger screen), and is easy to type with a good level of accuracy. This smartphone also makes use of four touch-sensitive navigation buttons below the screen that help make it easy to access your menu or search everything on the phone.
Connections

The HTC Evo 4G comes with a standard micro-USB port and a Type D connector HDMI port. This means, with the right cable, you can connect the phone up to your TV to view your photos or videos on a bigger screen.

Drawbacks Of The HTC Evo 4G

Size

The HTC Evo 4G does look a little chunky thanks to its bigger screen, and this is a noticeable difference to some of the older HTC smartphone models. It’s also larger and thicker than some of the top smartphone players out there, such as the Apple iPhone 4.

However, most people will be able to put up with this once they see just how good the screen looks on this phone.
Limited 4G

When buying any 4G smartphone it’s always crucial to realize that 4G is not available to everyone at the moment. Always check with the cell phone carrier that you’ll be able to access 4G in your area before making your buying decision on the inclusion of 4G alone.
Battery Life

A large screen like this is bound to use up quite a lot of battery life, unfortunately. Talk time battery life is low at just over four hours, and standby is a measly 146 hours. This is one of the poorest batteries of all the smartphones on the market, so be prepared to use energy saving tricks (such as turning off Wi-Fi, lowering brightness etc.) if you want to get the most out of this smartphone.

Should You Buy The HTC Evo 4G?

With a good quality camera, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, and a middle-of-the-range price, the HTC Evo 4G is one of the best Android smartphones available to buy, especially if you live in an area where you can take advantage of the excellent 4G download speeds!