Aaron’s HTC EVO 4G review
Overview
What’s Good: 4.3-inch screen, Android 2.1, 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, 8.0-megapixel camera.
What’s Bad: Battery life is quite bad. 4G only available in select markets.
The Verdict: The EVO 4G is a powerhouse with a beautiful display, great camera, and speedy processor. Just watch that battery life.
Introduction
When the WiMAX-enabled HTC EVO 4G was announced at CTIA 2010 in March, I was astounded. The common complaint surrounding the HTC HD2 was “it needs Android,” and HTC delivered, along with additional upgrades. With a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, Android 2.1 with HTC’s Sense UI, 8.0-megapixel camera, VGA front-facing camera with video calling capabilities, Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G connectivity, I remember thinking to myself “wow, Sprint and HTC went all out and made a fantastic device.”
Then the DROID Incredible launched on Verizon Wireless, and the gap between “other Android devices” and “EVO” shrank. Though the Incredible offered a 3.7-inch AMOLED display versus the 4.3-inch WVGA screen found on the EVO, features like the 8.0-megapixel camera, Snapdragon processor, Android 2.1, and Sense were shared between the two devices. The EVO still led the pack thanks to a few choice options omitted from the Incredible, but I’d say that the Incredible’s spec sheet and Verizon’s perceived network superiority in the US caused a lot of Sprint-bound Verizon customers to stay put.
Launch timing aside, the HTC EVO 4G is an awesome device and reigns supreme as the king of Android devices (though, given today’s phone market, it won’t last long). While it’s not the first WiMAX-enabled device in the US (Samsung Mondi and Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition take that crown), the EVO 4G is the first device to offer both 3G and 4G connectivity. That being said, it’s not without its flaws. Read more here