HTC Aria Review

First we were hit by a Wildfire, now we’re being soothed by an Aria. The HTC Aria shares a lot of DNA with the HD mini, but makes the jump to Android and is ready to take on compact touchscreen midrangers.

HTC Aria official photos
The HTC Aria goes against the current trend of ever growing touchscreens. HTC are already pushing the limits with the 4.3” display on the Evo 4G. The Aria settles for a more compact 3.2” screen and it opts out of the gigahertz race too – with a 600MHz CPU inside.
But it doesn’t show – the software on the HTC Aria is ticking fast and smooth, no lags and speed bumps. And that’s on Eclair – when Froyo arrives it will make things even smoother.
Here’s how much (or how little in fact) the Aria has changed since the HD mini.
Key features
3.2? 256K-color HVGA capacitive touchscreen with multi-touch input
Compact body and bold industrial design
Android 2.1 Eclair with Sense UI
Qualcomm MSM7227 600 MHz CPU and 384MB RAM
Quad-band GSM support with dual-band HSDPA 7.2Mbps and HSUPA 2 Mbps
Wi-Fi b/g connectivity
Built-in GPS receiver with A-GPS support
5 MP autofocus camera; touch focus, geotagging and face detection
VGA video recording at 30fps
microSD card slot (32GB supported, 2GB included)
Office documents and PDF viewer
Optical trackpad
Standard microUSB port and Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
Stereo FM radio with RDS
Flash support in the browser
YouTube client, Facebook and Twitter integration
Very good audio quality
Excellent loudspeaker performance
USB tethering
Main disadvantages
Poor display sunlight legibility
Patchy Flash support in the browser
Card slot under the battery cover
No DivX/XviD video support out-of-the-box
No secondary video-call camera
No voice dialing
No dedicated camera key, no lens cover and no camera flash
The front has changed a bit – mostly the keys and the fresh addition of an optical trackpad. The signature screws on the back are here again – they serve both a decorative and a practical purpose, not to mention they make the HTC Aria look tough and rugged.
 

HTC Aria live shots
Other than that, the HTC Aria promises the same solid user experience as the other HTC droids with Sense UI. It comes with a great software package out of the box (Office document viewer, social networking apps) so we don’t anticipate any problems on that score.
The HTC Android genealogy is getting quite tangled up – the Legend is Hero’s successor and the Wildfire is a bite-sized Desire, with the HTC Aria sitting somewhere in-between those two.
The devil’s in the details though. Its specs are very close to both the Wildfire and the Legend, so it’s going to be the minor differences that decide which one you get.

HTC ChaCha Review

Standing out in the ever growing crowd of droids is a tall task indeed. Doing so while keeping the whole thing affordable, is next to impossible. HTC – of all makers – somehow managed to achieve it, vastly improving the market prospects of their ChaCha, aka the Facebook phone.

Who would say no to a friendly smartphone with a thing for social networking? It takes a little blue button and we get the point, but the QWERTY keyboard is a statement of its own too. Facebook integration is said to be deeper than ever (and that’s on Android 2.3 where it was just fine from the get-go).
Key features
Light and compact metallic body
2.6? 256K-color TFT capacitive touchscreen of HVGA (480 x 320) resolution
Full four-row QWERTY keyboard and a dedicated Facebook button
ARMv6 800MHz CPU, 512MB RAM, 512MB ROM
Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) with HTC Sense 2.1 for Messenger
Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G support, 7.2 Mbps HSDPA
Wi-Fi 802.11 b, g, n with Mobile Hotspot functionality
GPS with A-GPS connectivity; digital compass
5 MP autofocus camera, D1 (720 x 480 pixels) video recording @30fps
microUSB port (charging)
microSD slot (up to 32GB, 2GB in box)
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
Accelerometer and proximity sensor
Stereo Bluetooth v3.0
Document editor (free download from HTC Hub)
Stereo FM radio with RDS
Smart dialing
Secondary video-call camera
Main disadvantages
Awkward landscape UI and limited compatibility with some apps
Limited Adobe Flash support in the browser
Sub-par camera image quality
D1 video recording is short of inspiring
Non-hot-swappable microSD card slot
Even if you take Facebook out of the equation, the HTC ChaCha seems fit to tackle its rivals in the mid-range. Targeting the young, where heavy-texters are in no short supply, the QWERTY keyboard will earn itself quite a few fans. The quality metal finish makes for an upmarket look and feel.
On the software side of things, you get the latest version of Android, 2.3.3 Gingerbread, and the latest release of the HTC home-brewed launcher, Sense. It all adds up to a pretty good combo, so if real-life performance spares us any nasty surprises, the ChaCha is well on target.

HTC Desire HD Review

Proceed with caution, big Snapdroids ahead. We guess that sign is due wherever someone mentions Desire HD. It’s big and bad and it takes no prisoners. HTC certainly took their time with releasing a bad-ass Android handset on our side of the pond but their timing is perfect now. We’re about to enter the holiday shopping spree and HTC Desire HD is in for the kill.

HTC Desire HD official photos
Powered by the latest Android 2.2 Froyo hand in hand with the latest HTC Sense, the HTC Desire HD is what the HD2 was to HTC Windows Mobile portfolio. With an 8-megapixel camera and HD video it may as well unsettle quite a few of the top smartphones out there. The innovative fast boot, the complete connectivity set and solid multimedia capabilities round off a great package. HTC might just have a natural bestseller on their hands.
You might want to have a closer look:
Key features:
Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G support
14.4 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA
4.3? 16M-color capacitive LCD touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels)
Android OS v2.2 Froyo with HTC Sense UI
Unibody design
Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8255 1 GHz processor
768 MB RAM and 1.5 GB ROM
8 MP autofocus camera with LED flash and geotagging
720p video recording @ 25fps
Wi-Fi b/g/n and DLNA
GPS with A-GPS
microSD slot up to 32GB (8GB card included)
Accelerometer and proximity sensor
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
Stereo FM radio with RDS
microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.1
Smart dialing, voice dialing
DivX/XviD video support
Dolby Mobile and SRS sound enhancement
HTC Locations app
HTCSense.com integration
Ultra-fast boot times (if you don’t remove battery)
Main disadvantages:
LCD isn’t quite as impressive as Retina or Super AMOLED (lower contrast, more reflective)
No dedicated camera key and no lens cover
No front facing camera
Quite heavy at 164 g (not that we mind)
The two lids at the rear have questionable aesthetics and usability
Disappointing audio reproduction quality
But there’s more to it. The HTC Desire HD is a mongrel. It doesn’t even warrant a name of its own. Desire is cheesy and HD is worn-out. And they both are OLD phones’ names. Alright, don’t take it literally. It’s not as simple as saying HTC got themselves a brand new phone out of two older ones. The HTC Desire HD goes beyond the massive screen and powerful hardware that we’ve already seen elsewhere.
 

HTC Desire HD live shots
But whatever the name – bad Snapdroids get all the attention. And we have one at our hands and no time to lose. Unboxing and hardware follow right after the jump.

HTC Desire S Review

Powerful hardware, large high-res screen and the latest Android version in a solid metal body– the recipe did wonders for the original Desire so no wonder HTC are in no mood to experiment with the sequel. Take the best and make it better pretty much sums up the game plan.

HTC has the Sensation to send against the heavyweight competition. The new Desire is given a different, though no less important role. Ideally, it should be the smartphone that has broader appeal, the one to offer as reward to loyal upgraders. The phone to give you – wait for it – more bang for your buck than we’ve come expect from HTC.
Here’s what it puts on the table summarized.
Key features
Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G support
14.4 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA
3.7? 16M-color capacitive LCD touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels)
Uses the best screen from HTC so far (along with the Incredible S)
Android OS v2.3 Gingerbread with HTC Sense
1 GHz Scorpion CPU, Adreno 205 GPU, Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 chipset
768 MB RAM and 1.1 GB ROM
5 MP autofocus camera with LED flash and geotagging
720p video recording @ 30fps
Wi-Fi b/g/n and DLNA
GPS with A-GPS
microSD slot up to 32GB (8GB card included)
Accelerometer and proximity sensor
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
Stereo FM radio with RDS
microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.1
Smart dialing, voice dialing
Front facing camera, video calls
DivX/XviD video support
Compact aluminum unibody
Gorilla glass display
HTC Locations app
HTCSense.com integration
HTC Portable Hotspot
Ultra-fast boot times (if you don’t remove battery)
Main disadvantages
No dedicated camera key and no lens cover
Poor camcorder performance, jerky 720p videos
Below-par sunlight legibility
Wi-Fi signal degrades when you cover the top part of the back panel
microSD is below the battery cover
Those coming from the original Desire will certainly notice the absence of the optical trackpad and that now capacitive keys replace the hardware buttons. It’s a different way of interacting with the phone but by no means less comfortable. Other than that, the new smartphone certainly does well to upgrade the original. You get more RAM, a slightly more compact and lighter body, which is still solid enough thanks to all the metal, along with the latest Android and a more powerful GPU.

HTC HD Mini Review

There was a time when Windows Mobile used to rule the smartphone seas. Then along came Symbian but that’s a whole other story. It was touchscreen that showed to all the willing challengers that Windows Mobile is just too big to turn around quickly enough and catch the new wind. HTC however seem to disagree and dispel doubts of jumping ship. They have not given up on the cause and the HTC HD mini is the living proof.

So, mini is perhaps the right approach to users who would otherwise feel timid about giving Windows Mobile a try – especially with so many touchscreen temptations around. On the other hand, it does matter whose mini version it is. The almighty HD2 was the first PocketPC with a capacitive screen and a Snapdragon core.
Now, the HTC HD mini is obviously shorter on size, resolution and processing power. But it may be well worth the resources invested in making it what it is – a pocket-friendly, but still powerful handset with solid build, slick design and a touch-friendly UI.
Check out the HTC HD mini key strengths and possible turn-offs in the lists below to get an idea if this is the handset that will suit you.
Key features
3.2? 65K-color HVGA capacitive touchscreen with multi-touch input
Compact body and bold industrial design
Windows Mobile 6.5.3 Professional OS with Sense UI
Qualcomm MSM7227 600 MHz CPU and 384MB RAM
Quad-band GSM support with dual-band HSDPA 7.2Mbps and HSUPA 2 Mbps
Wi-Fi connectivity
Built-in GPS receiver with A-GPS support
5 MP autofocus camera with touch focus
VGA video recording at 30fps
microSD card slot
Standard microUSB port and Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
Stereo FM radio with RDS
MS Office Mobile document editor
Opera 9.5 web browser
YouTube client, Facebook and Twitter integration
Very good audio output quality
Excellent loudspeaker performance
Main disadvantages
Poor display sunlight legibility
No dedicated camera key and no lens cover
Card slot under the battery cover
No DivX/XviD video support out-of-the-box
Preloaded CoPilot Live navigation software is a trial version only
No secondary video-call camera
No voice dialing
No handwriting recognition
Unreliable Flash support in IE Mobile
We all know there’s more to a contemporary smartphone (touchscreen at that) than its spec sheet. The HTC HD mini certainly has the pedigree but the verdict will only be passed on its performance.
Windows Mobile has been known to be pretty demanding on a phone’s processing power, and the Sense UI probably takes its toll too. Our initial impressions of the HD mini were downright positive but it still needs to pass the test of a full review.

HTC HD7 Review

There’s no such thing as a small WP 7 phone. However, 4.3 inches of screen estate are really something else. The best case scenario: the HTC HD7 is the phone you’ve been waiting for. The worst case scenario: it’s too big to fail.
The HTC HD7 was inevitable. Was it not the first Windows Phone 7 ever rumored? And rightly so. There’s no phone too big or too powerful for Windows Phone 7. In fact, if you ask Microsoft they’d say the bigger the better. HTC – on their part – didn’t have to think too hard. They simply skipped right to number seven.

HTC HD7 official photos
Come to think of it, it may as well have been exactly with the HTC HD2 in mind that Microsoft laid down the law about the Windows Phone 7 required hardware. Effectively, HTC had a Windows Phone 7 flagship on standby for nearly a year – waiting for as much as a nod from Microsoft to let it off the leash. Anyway, as we’ve seen on a number of occasions, this whole thing is about getting things done on the biggest mobile screen possible. And the HTC HD7’s best course of action is to ensure no surprises.
Key features:
4.3? 16M-color capacitive LCD touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels)
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
Dual-band 3G with HSDPA (7.2 Mbps) and HSUPA (2Mbps)
Windows Phone 7 operating system
1GHz Snapdragon CPU, 576MB RAM, 512MB ROM
5 megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash, geotagging
720p video recording @ 25fps
8GB of built-in storage
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
Standard microUSB port (charging)
Dolby Mobile and SRS sound enhancement
Wi-Fi b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP
Accelerometer for screen auto rotation
Office document editor
Facebook integration and cloud services
Built-in A-GPS receiver
Stereo FM Radio with RDS
Comes with HTC Hub and exclusive HTC apps
Voice-to-text functionality
Kickstand with trademark yellow accents
Great audio quality
Main disadvantages:
High screen response time causes visible ghosting
Non-expandable storage
No lens protection
Quite heavy at 162 g (not that we mind)
Somewhat susceptible to the “antenna death grip” (signal drops by at least two bars)
WP7-specific limitations
No system-wide file manager
No Bluetooth file transfers
No USB mass storage mode
Limited third-party apps availability
No Flash (nor Silverlight) support in the browser
Too dependent on Zune software for file management and syncing
No video calls
New ringtones available only through the Marketplace
Music player lacks equalizer presets
No multitasking
No copy/paste
No DivX/XviD video support (automatic transcoding provided by Zune software)
No sign of free Bing maps Navigation so far
No internet tethering support
No handwriting recognition support
Alright, one thing we can be sure of – the HTC HD7 is playing strictly by the Microsoft book in terms of hardware. On the other hand, it does look like a simple copy/paste job. You know, WP7 phones have a hard time demonstrating a personality. The HD7 has the extra task of identifying itself as something different from the HD2.
The brand new OS is the right place to start. In terms of hardware, the kickstand is certainly an eye-catcher – not to mention it tells you’re dealing with a phone that will keep you entertained. Next on the list is the HTC Hub and the exclusive apps it offers.
 

HTC HD7 live shots
It still seems the HTC HD7 offers little in the way of creativity. It will be up to the other WP7 phones in the HTC portfolio to do that. The HD7 might just be supposed to be a mere display of power – the one that completes their grand slam of massive screens

HTC Incredible S Review

The unfortunate naming aside (seriously, didn’t anyone say it out loud before they announced it?), the Incredible S is a pretty great smartphone. You’ve got spotless connectivity, an exciting new screen, those cool rotating buttons and the proven power of Snapdragon under the hood.

HTC Incredible S official photos
HTC has earned a name for itself and there’s no wonder that the launch of the Incredible S was greeted with excitement. Their new potential bestseller is too important a device to go unnoticed even if it tries to be merely an evolutionary, rather than revolutionary step forward.
It seems the Incredible S has got the proper set of ingredients to make for a really capable smartphone at a reasonable price (for a high-end device, that is).
Key features
Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G support
14.4 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA
4? 16M-color capacitive LCD touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels)
The best screen on an HTC device by some distance
Android OS v2.2 Froyo with HTC Sense UI (ver. 2.3 update promised soon after launch)
1 GHz Scorpion CPU, Adreno 205 GPU, Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 chipset
768 MB RAM and 1.5 GB ROM
8 MP autofocus camera with LED flash and geotagging
720p video recording @ 30fps
Wi-Fi b/g/n and DLNA
GPS with A-GPS
microSD slot up to 32GB (8GB card included)
Accelerometer and proximity sensor
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
Stereo FM radio with RDS
microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.1
Smart dialing, voice dialing
Front facing camera for video calling
DivX/XviD video support
Dolby Mobile and SRS sound enhancement
HTC Locations app
HTCSense.com integration
HTC Portable Hotspot
Ultra-fast boot times (if you don’t remove battery)
Main disadvantages
No dedicated camera key and no lens cover
Runs Froyo on launch, instead of Gingerbread
Poor video recording, 720p footage is pretty jerky
Uninspiring audio quality
2010 was the year of the droid in the smartphone calendar and Google will undoubtedly try to serve us more of the same in 2011. To achieve such an explosive growth is a tall task, but certainly not impossible. There are two things that the Open Handset Alliance will need to achieve in order to complete it.
First, they will need to finally grab a sizable share of the lower mid-range market and second they need to maintain their positions in the high-end segment, which has been their stronghold lately.
And while the implosion of Symbian will certainly help the droid army with their march towards lower segments, some serious efforts will be required to keep iOS and the rapidly improving WP7 at bay on the top.
That’s why devices like the HTC Incredible S are so important. Not only do they need to generate as much revenue as possible for their manufacturer, but they also need to perform well to maintain the platform’s reputation.
 

The HTC Incredible S live shots
This certainly is a heavy burden, but is the Incredible S fit to carry it? We’ll find out in the course of this review.

HTC Smart Review

Being a veteran in the smartphone market is huge advantage when you decide to come up with something new. After so many Windows Mobile and Android devices, HTC surprised us with a completely different product – HTC Smart. It’s a semi-smartphone that runs on the unusual Brew Mobile platform strengthened with the fancy Sense UI.

Throwing another mobile OS on the market is hardly the right move since the smartphone arena is already over-crowded. But it seems HTC Smart is HTC’s way of making a feature phone. The Linux-based Brew Mobile platform used for the HTC Smart hardly makes it a proper smartphone to boot. Truth is, there are modern touch feature phones that have more “smart” in them than this one.
But enough about software, let’s see what HTC Smart has to offer in terms of hardware.
Key features
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
3G with HSDPA 3.6 Mbps
Brew Mobile software platform with HTC Sense UI and social networking integration
2.8? resistive touchscreen of QVGA resolution
300 MHz processor, 256 MB RAM, 256 MB ROM
3.15 megapixel fixed-focus camera with LED flash
Standard miniUSB port for charging and Mass Storage data transfers
Stereo Bluetooth (A2DP)
microSD card slot, up to 16GB support
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
Smart dialing
Stereo FM radio with RDS
Excellent loudspeaker performance
Main disadvantages
No Wi-Fi connectivity
QVGA resolution doesn’t do Sense UI graphics justice
Screen has poor sunlight legibility
No video-call camera
No voice dialing
Camera lacks auto focus, records QVGA@15fps video only
Only few applications preinstalled and no access to app repository for native BREW apps
Limited organizer functions – no notes/memo, no voice recorder or an office document-viewer
No multi-tasking
Web browser poor and rather slow
Exploring its features and the possible drawbacks leaves us with mixed first impressions from the HTC Smart. But we are still in the beginning of our Smart meeting and things may still change.
HTC Smart is a stylish, pocket-friendly device powered by a new OS and skinned with one of the best mobile user interfaces – the Sense UI.

HTC Salsa Review

It takes two to tango, HTC seem to think. The HTC Salsa joins the ChaCha in a bid to treat young Android users to as much Facebook as they can handle. The little blue button makes an appearance again, this time in a more familiar context. While the ChaCha takes its QWERTY keyboard off the beaten path, the Salsa is a typical Android package. It’s got a solid build and seems like a well spec’d midrange smartphone – an HTC Wildfire S for Facebookers.

The HTC Salsa official photos
The Salsa has something the ChaCha doesn’t: a family tree. The Salsa is part of the new generation of midrange phones by HTC, along with the likes of the Wildfire S. But calling it a Facebook-centric Wildfire S would be oversimplifying or just plain wrong. As a matter of fact, HTC went on to give the Salsa more than just that tiny Facebook button. It tops the Wildfire S in terms of screen size and processor clock speed, and throws in a few features that the Wildfire S didn’t bother with – like video calls, HD video and web Flash support.
Let’s take a look at the complete feature list and the possible deal breakers.
Key features
Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G support
7.2 Mbps HSDPA and 384 Kbps HSUPA
3.4? 16M-color capacitive TFT touchscreen of HVGA (320 x 480) resolution, Gorilla glass
Android OS v2.3 Gingerbread with HTC Sense
800 MHz CPU, Adreno 205 GPU, Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM7230 chipset
512 MB RAM and 512 MB ROM
5 MP autofocus camera with LED flash and geotagging
D1 video recording @ 30fps
Wi-Fi b/g/n and DLNA
GPS with A-GPS
microSD slot up to 32GB (2GB card included)
Accelerometer and proximity sensor
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
Stereo FM radio with RDS
microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.1
Smart dialing, voice dialing
Front facing camera, video calls
DivX/XviD video support
Compact aluminum unibody
HTC Locations app
HTCSense.com integration
HTC Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot
Ultra-fast boot times (if you don’t remove battery)
Main disadvantages
Below-par screen sunlight legibility
Camera not the best we’ve seen
microSD slot under the battery cover, not (quite) hot-swappable
No HD video recording
There seems to be so little to worry about but we’re yet to get into the details. As a mid-range smartphone, the Salsa will not set your expectations too high. But users who know what to expect will not be disappointed. The unibody design, the hallmark build quality and the latest Android are all in the deal.
 

HTC Salsa live pictures
So, it’s a neat little smartphone with a thing for Facebook, one that many are getting ready to befriend. As for us, we have a job to do before we hit “Like”.

HTC Wildfire Review

Occasionally HTC takes a little break from high-end smartphones and dips its toes in the waters of the lower midrange. The HTC Wildfire is a down-sized, down-clocked and down-priced version of the HTC Desire. If Sony Ericsson can do it with the X10 mini, then HTC have all the right in the world to make a Desire mini too.

HTC Wildfire official photos
But while the Desire was something that easily snatched everybody’s attention, the Wildfire is a bit more toned down despite its fire-some name.
Key features
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
3G with 7.2 Mbps HSDPA
Android OS v2.1 (Éclair) with Sense UI
3.2? capacitive touchscreen of QVGA resolution
Multi-touch support
Qualcomm MSM 7225 528 MHz CPU, 384 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM
5 megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash and touch focus
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and GPS receiver
Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
Turn-to-mute, lift-to-tone-down
Proximity sensor
Smart dialing
Standard miniUSB port for charging and data
Bluetooth with A2DP, file transfers
microSD card slot, a 2GB card in the box
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
Social network integration: Facebook, Twitter and Flickr through Friend Stream
Flash-enabled browser
Direct access to the official Android repository
Stereo FM radio with RDS
Main disadvantages
Poor screen image quality, QVGA doesn’t do Android OS and the display size justice
No video-call camera or videocalling whatsoever
CIF@15fps video recording (352 x 288 pixels) is below par
No voice dialing
No DivX or XviD video support out of the box
No TV-out port
The Wildfire is certainly the right phone for those who like to always stay in touch. The high-end connectivity is all there, along with solid social network integration and browsing. It seems the display and CPU are the only downgrades from the Desire.
But that’s still a lot. Android phones with QVGA screens have failed to impress and the size of the Wildfire’s display gives no reason to be optimistic here.

HTC Wildfire at ours
On the other hand, the Wildfire boasts the premium finish of the Nexus One and the HTC Desire. Not only is a touch of style always welcome in the lower tiers of the market but users will probably appreciate the compact size too.
So, repackaging a flagship device to sell to a wider range of customers is easier said than done, so let’s see what the Wildfire has to offer. By the way, choosing a name that’s so much catchier is a good way to start.

HTC EVO 3D Now Available for Pre-Order SIM-Free

When the HTC EVO 3D became official in Europe a few days ago, the information on its pricing was rather scarce. Today, we know how much one will set you back, should you decide to order this highly desirable handset sans contract and SIM card.

As you can see above, the HTC EVO 3D is currently available for pre-order from Amazon UK for £569.99 (€631;$917). Shipping is set to commence on September 12, but we do believe that this might be subject to change (assume earlier rather than later).
While not cheap, the price is pretty much in line with the cost of the other top Android offerings at the moment. Should you decide £569.99 is too much, you can always opt for a contract with Vodafone. We told you a few days ago that the UK operator is set to begin taking pre-orders for the device any moment now as well

HTC Desire Review

If you’ve seen the Google Nexus One, you’ve seen the HTC Desire. End of story. We liked the Nexus One so be our guest, HTC Desire. But is it all that simple?

HTC are so good they build phones for the competition. HTC are so mean they have no issues competing with their own clients. And is it us or are the clients ultimately left with a rather disturbing question: do HTC work for us or do we work for them? Go ask Sony Ericsson and Google.

It doesn’t quite make sense to go as far back as the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 and the HTC Touch Pro. Today’s story is about another couple of twins. And because the children are nearly identical, we’ll try to see what it’s like being mom’s favorite or dad’s.

Official photos of the HTC Desire

The Desire produced a good deal of anticipation and its prompt release after this year’s MWC proves HTC know good timing. But by no means can it match the hype that surrounded the Google Nexus One. What’s in a name? No, really.

And while we’re at it, any other – less cheesy – name would’ve really suited the top HTC Android better. But well, that’s minor stuff compared to what’s inside. Here it goes.

Key features:

Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G support
7.2 Mbps HSDPA and 2 Mbps HSUPA
3.7? 16M-color capacitive AMOLED touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480x 800 pixel)
Android OS v2.1 with kinetic scrolling and pinch zooming
Slim profile and great build quality
Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 1 GHz processor
576 MB RAM and 512 MB ROM
5 MP autofocus camera with LED flash and geotagging
WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) video recording @ 15fps
Wi-Fi and GPS with A-GPS
microSD slot, bundled with a 4GB card
Accelerometer and proximity sensor
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
Stereo FM radio with RDS
microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.1
Optical trackpad which doubles as a button
Smart dialing
Main disadvantages:

Disappointing video quality
Limited storage available to the user on the system partition (you are left with only 120 MB for installing apps)
No DivX and XviD video playback
No voice dialing
Non hot-swappable memory card
While the Google Nexus One is still confined to selected countries, its twin, the HTC Desire, is already in stores across the globe. And that may be great news for users on markets still ungraced by Google. It’s the same phone – take away the Google logo, and add a few nice little things.

But it’s not the differences that you’ll care about. It’s what both devices have in common that make them so attractive.

Of course we mean the large capacitive AMOLED touchscreen, the fresh Android OS v2.1 they run, the great performance on the 1GHz Snapdragon processor, and the 5-megapixel autofocus cameras they come with

HTC Desire live shots

Eventually, you’ll notice that these are actually two different phones. The Nexus One’s trackball is gone for an optical trackpad. The controls on the Desire are actual buttons instead of the capacitive keys on the Google phone. On the homescreen, you’ll see the latest Sense UI waving Hello.

Some platforms just don’t seem to change for years. The Android OS is evolving at amazing speed. The Desire is one of the first devices to come with the latest version of the Android operating system but more importantly, being so powerful, it’s among the few to reveal what ?clair is actually capable of.

Those lines sound as if the Desire is free from sin. It really isn’t. There is always room for improvement – and that’s especially true for Android handsets.

HTC EVO 3D and EVO View 4G tablet now available at Sprint

HTC EVO 3D and EVO View 4G tablet now available at Sprint

The wait is over, Sprint’s brand new EVO 3D Android smartphone and EVO View 4G tablet are now available to all customers.

The EVO 3D, which offers a glasses-free 4.3-inch 3D display, 4G WiMAX connectivity, a 1.2GHzprocessor, and the ability to record 1080p video, is available for $199.99 with a new two-year Sprint contract. We ran our review earlier this month and called it our “favorite Sprint phone, hands down.” The EVO View 4G, which we also recently reviewed, is powered by a 1.5GHz processor, has a 7-inch display, 4G WiMAX connectivity, and runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It’s available for $400 with the Scribe pen for a limited time.
Full press release from Sprint:

Exclusively from Sprint and Available Today: HTC EVO 3D, America’s First 3D-Enabled Smartphone in the United States, and HTC EVO View 4G, with New Digital Pen Technology

Sprint Stores nationwide open at 8 a.m. local time for customers to get a jump-start on purchasing this summer’s hottest devices

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Two of the most highly anticipated wireless devices of 2011, HTC EVO™ 3D and HTC EVO View 4G™, debut today, exclusively from Sprint (NYSE: S). HTC EVO 3D, America’s first glasses-free 3D phone will cost $199.99 and HTC EVO View 4G, the first 4G-enabled tablet in the United States, will cost $399.99. Both prices exclude applicable taxes, and the devices require a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade.

“When it comes to gaming on the HTC EVO 3D, I am impressed.”

Sprint Stores nationwide will open at 8 a.m. local time. HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G will also be available through Sprint Business Direct Sales, www.sprint.com and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1), as well as RadioShack and Best Buy stores.

“HTC EVO 3D brings to life a visual experience that comes alive in front of the viewers’ eyes and offers crisp, clear pictures on the large display that showcases yet another new innovation from Sprint; and HTC EVO View 4G combines a wonderful tablet experience with the ability to use the optional HTC Scribe digital pen to take notes on web pages, e-books, PDF documents and more, in an easy and natural way,” said Fared Adib, vice president – Product Development, Sprint. “We’re looking forward to seeing our customers’ reactions to the glasses-free 3D experience when they get their hands on these exciting new devices today.”

Glasses-Free 3D plus Sprint 4G

HTC EVO 3D takes the mobile multimedia experience to a new level, providing the ability to capture and view in 3D and share at 4G speeds while offering consumers the ultimate glasses-free 3D experience. Built with the Android™ 2.3 operating system (Gingerbread) with the latest version of the acclaimed HTC Sense experience, HTC EVO 3D features America’s first 4.3-inch, qHD 3D display and a powerful 1.2GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® dual-core processor. HTC EVO 3D also features dual 5-megapixel cameras, which can be used to capture high-quality conventional and stunning 3D images and videos, opening up new frontiers for user-generated content, social networking and streaming video.

Respected technology media agree Sprint has done it again with HTC EVO 3D. Here are a few accolades from early reviews:

“A lot of the hype on this phone will be centered on its 3-D capabilities. But take away the 3-D and you still have one of the better smartphones in the market.” – The Wall Street Journal
“When it comes to gaming on the HTC EVO 3D, I am impressed.” – TheGamerAccess
“So, if the way you use your phone and ease of navigation and functions is important, you want the best Mobile UI on the market, and you love glasses-free 3D technology, get the only phone that has them both, the HTC EVO 3D 4G for Sprint.” – VideoGamingPros
“The HTC EVO 3D builds on the original EVO 4G in every way possible. It’s thinner, it feels better in the hand, and it’s way more powerful.” – BGR
“The EVO 3D is more or less the same ass-kicker its 2D predecessor was, but a year later and faster.” – Gizmodo
“There’s no question that the 3D powers are an appealing feature of the EVO 3D. Taking 3D images and 3D video offers that ‘wow’ feeling almost each and every time, and makes even the most mundane subjects somehow more interesting. It helps that the EVO 3D’s camera is top notch. Even if the EVO 3D were a 2D-only shooter, it would be worth recommending for the camera performance alone.” – Phonescoop
“So let’s ignore 3D for a second. The EVO 3D is fast, sleek, up to date, and packs a pretty great qHD display.” – This is My Next

HTC EVO 3D requires activation on one of Sprint’s Everything Data plans plus a required $10 Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones. Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $69.99 per month plus required $10 Premium Data add-on charge – a savings of $39.99 per month versus Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and web or $9.99 per month versus Verizon’s 450-minute plan with unlimited text and web. The Mobile Hotspot option is available for an additional $29.99 per month supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously. (Pricing excludes taxes and surcharges.)

An Unparalleled Tablet Experience

HTC EVO View 4G brings the best of the EVO experience to a tablet design with a 7-inch touchscreen, 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and latest version of HTC Sense. It will launch with an Android 2.3 operating system (Gingerbread) with a future update to Android 3.0 (Honeycomb). As the perfect combination e-reader, media player and portable computing device, HTC EVO View 4G offers a premium entertainment experience with HD-like quality video and a rich web-browsing experience with the ability to browse the web on Flash-enabled sites.

Here are a few nice things industry experts had to say about HTC EVO View 4G:

“I love the form factor and absolutely solid build quality of the View 4G. It’s a top notch tablet, the size is great, and it’s lovely having 4G WiMAX data speeds wherever I go.”2 – BGR
“The EVO View’s 7-inch, 1024 x 600-pixel glossy display is one of the brightest and most vibrant we’ve seen on a tablet. With the brightness turned up, images appeared bright and colorful even at 90-degree viewing angles.” – Laptop Magazine
“The HTC EVO View 4G for Sprint adds a fast 4G connection to the HTC Flyer, an already capable tablet with excellent pen input options.” – PC Magazine
“The HTC EVO View 4G is undeniably fun to use. The interface is fast and responsive.” – CNET

Additionally, for a limited time, any customer who purchases HTC EVO View 4G will receive the HTC Scribe™ digital pen (otherwise sold separately) at no additional charge, while supplies last, with a two-year service agreement – providing an additional savings of $79.99 on their purchase.

Rate plans for the HTC EVO View start as low as $34.99 per month for 3GB of 3G data and unlimited 4G data usage while on the Sprint network, when bundled with an eligible handset plan3. Unlimited text, picture and video messaging are included at no additional charge. Additional plans, including 3G-only plans, are available to meet customers’ needs. Optional add-on services include GPS Navigation for $2.99 per day or $9.99 per month and the Mobile Hotspot option for $29.99 per month supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously. (Pricing excludes taxes and surcharges.)

For an all-star look at HTC EVO View 4G, tune in to the BET Awards at 8 p.m. Eastern Sunday, June 26. Celebrity presenters will forego the traditional envelopes during the awards presentation in favor of HTC EVO View 4G tablets. During the live telecast from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the presenters will be using Sprint’s latest tablet to announce the winners.

Sprint was unbeaten among major wireless carriers for customer satisfaction according to results from the 2011 American Customer Satisfaction Index. In addition to tying for first place among wireless carriers, Sprint was also the number one most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all industries, over the last three years, according to the survey.

As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Sprint currently offers 4G service in 71 markets in 28 states. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.

HTC Sensation

HTC burst right onto the dual-core scene with a phone that’s set to be an Android sensation. They’ve gone all out with the design of that one – from screen, through camera to the powerful chipset. No cutting corners, no compromise on features.

HTC Sensation official photos

HTC has a flair for big names but Sensation sure is something else. The name simply sticks. We’re talking a monster 4.3? S-LCD screen with qHD resolution (540 x 960). If the bump in resolution doesn’t mean much to you, picture this – the Sansation’s 4.3-inch screen has the same pixel density as a much smaller 3.7? screen with regular WVGA resolution.

The 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon chipset with the new Adreno 220 graphics bodes no good for rivals. But hey, that’s the news we’ve been waiting for. A battle is brewing and dual-core domination is the prize.

Before we let the excitement of benchmarks cloud our minds, let’s get the laundry list out of the way. Here’s what the HTC Sensation has to offer and what didn’t work all that well.

 


Key features

Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G support
14.4 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA
4.3? 16M-color capacitive LCD touchscreen of qHD resolution (540 x 960 pixels); Gorilla glass
Android OS v2.3 Gingerbread with HTC Sense 3.0
1.2 GHz dual Scorpion CPUs, Adreno 220 GPU, Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8260 chipset
768 MB RAM and 1 GB storage for apps
8 MP autofocus camera with LED flash; face detection and geotagging
1080p and 720p video recording @ 30fps
Wi-Fi b/g/n and DLNA
GPS with A-GPS
Stereo FM radio with RDS
microSD slot up to 32GB (8GB card included)
Accelerometer, proximity sensor and an auto-brightness sensor
Front facing camera with video calls
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v3.0
MHL TV-out (requires MHL-to-HDMI adapter)
Smart dialing, voice dialing
DivX/XviD video support
HTC Locations app
HTCSense.com integration
HTC Portable Hotspot
Ultra-fast boot times (if you don’t remove battery)
Office document editor
Main disadvantages

Serious “death grip” issue with Wi-Fi radio
Less than impressed with the screen’s outdoor performance
Performance not quite as convincing as other dual-cores
No dedicated camera key
microSD is under the battery cover
No unibody construction as advertised
You’ll notice that “unibody” is not on the feature list – the back cover is certainly interesting but this is by no means a unibody. Let’s not let that sully the great impression though – the Sensation is one of the most powerful droids around and it’s on the shortlist if you’re looking for the ultimate in smartphones.

The 8MP camera with 1080p video recording begs for a camera shootout. And the high-res S-LCD unit calls for another display test. So that’s a lot of testing we have ahead of us.

 
The HTC Sensation at ours

But before we get busy, we need to give credit where it’s due. HTC have been perfecting their interface designs for years and the latest Sense UI 3.0 is laced with equal amounts of useful features and eye candy.

With all the tests and benchmarks that await us, we just have to let the HTC Sensation out of the box. That’s exactly what we do on the next page and then go on to check out the hardware.