HTC Evo 4G
HTC's EVO 4G packs in all that anyone can dream of. 4G connectivity, HD camcorder, camera for video chatting, and especially the multiuser mobile hotspot capabilities are EVO's pride - features that high end phones will emulate in future. However, this is not expected anytime soon. Till then EVO would rule. Although it may not be the best android phone available currently, it is a solid phone with great hardware features that runs on the Android.
Design, Dimensions
The Evo 4G is quite big in size. It is taller as it is wider than the iPhone. However it is quite sleek and is comfortable to hold in ones hand. Under the 4.3 inches display lies the touch sensitive buttons. The EVO features the kickstand that makes watching videos on the device in landscape mode enjoyable. Its dimensions are 4.80 x 2.60 x 0.50 inches.
Camera
The HTC EVO has an 8megapixel camera which is great to use and provides quality photos. When the camera mode is on it automatically starts reacting to the environment but focussing and adjusting exposure is necessary. This means on touching the scren the picture is taken almost immediately. Its dual LED flash allows photos to be taken even in a dark room. 
Basic Features
The HTC EVO sports a huge 4.3 inches display that dominates the front part. It is the first phone in the US to support 4G network connectivity. This facilitates better video streaming, faster data transfers, and a video camera for video calls. Also , it runs on the latest version of Android.On top of it, it has the HTC Sense UI.
Interface: The EVO runs on the Android 2.1 and by default offers 7 home screens. On swiping to the right one can find a Sprite screeen with shortcuts to applications like Sprint Navigtor, Sprint TV, web bookmarks and a Friend stream. On the left of the main screen one can find the Favourite widget for quickly contacting ones friends and family. All of these elements can be moved around.
Phone Book: The phone book capacity depends on the system memory. The phone book can be searched by first name and last name. Multiple contact numbers can be assigned to a contact and caller groups can also be created.
Screen
The EVO has a 4.3 inches display. The screen is bright and crisp. This WVGA display which is significantly larger than most mobile phones has a pixel resolution of 400 x 800 pixels. The colors look rich and vibrant on the phone. As far as the touchscreen is concerned it is very responsive.
Keypad and Controls
The HTC EVO 4G lacks a physical keypad and possesses a virtual one. As the screen is quite large , the virtual keyboard is much easier to use on the EVO than in other phones.
The power button and the headphone jack lies on the top of the phone. On the top right side one can find the long narrow volume buttons.
Audio
The music player in the EVO is amazing. The external speakers also produce very loud and clear sound. Headphones also provide even better sound. AAC and MP3 file formats are supported for playback. An FM radio application is also present in the phone.
Messaging
Creating a Google and Yahoo account in the EVO is a breeze. It is also quite amazing to see that it allows easy viewing and searching ones inbox. However it would be helpful if the notification drawer indicated the email provider as one might get confused as to which account the mail belongs to. Instant messengers work as well in EVO as SMS applications.
Media
The media elements in the EVO are really great. There is so much for one to do that it often becomes difficult to decide. There is the mobile video, games, music player and web browsing too.
For the social metworking freaks the Peep and Facebook are included. For the game lovers the Teeter game is a good one. The music player is pretty good and it has great external speakers.
Internet
The EVO offers a great web browsing experience specially with the 4G connectivity. The web pages land almost immediately even if there are a lot of ads. Another benefit of using the 4G is one can be on a call while surfing the net. Even if one is connected to the web through the Wifi this facility is available.
Storage
The device comes with a microSD slot and its memory can be expanded considerably.
Connectivity and Data
It also features Bluetooth, A2DP support and a microUSB connectivity. It is also compatible with WiFi technology.
Usability & Performance
As expected the EVO 4G is really fast. One does not have to wait for anything that requires network conectivity. The android 2.1 along with HTC Sense UI is a great combination offered in EVO. Its pinch-to-zoom gesture is also intersting.
Responses to call quality is somewhat mixed. Indoor results were certainly better, but when ouside there could be a little problem with the background sounds.
HTC Evo 4G Phone Specifications
- Weight: 6 oz - 170 g
- Width: 4.8" - 122 mm
- Height: 2.6" - 66 mm
- Thickness: 0.5" - 13 mm
- Display size: 4.3"
- Announced: 2010, March
- Colors: Black
- Network: CDMA 800 / 1900 - CDMA 800/1900 MHz EVDO Rev. A,
- Screen Resolution: 480 x 800 pixels - WVGA resolution TFT capacitive touchscreen - Multi-touch Screen with 65K colors
- Data: 3G HSDPA, Rev. A, up to 3.1 Mbps, WiMAX 2. 5 to 2.7GHz; 802.16e, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP, USB microUSB v2.0
- Memory: Internal phone storage 1GB ROM - 512MB RAM, microSD, up to 32GB, 8GB included
- Connectivity: USB v2.0 microUSB, Bluetooth 2.1
- Web Browser: HTML
- Media and Music: MP3/AAC+/WAV/WMA9 player, MP4/H.263/H.264/WMV9 player - Support; aac, .amr, .ogg, .m4a, .mid, .mp3, .wav, .wma (Windows Media Audio 9), 3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .wmv
- Camera: 8 megapixel with Auto Focus and 2x LED - Flash, 1.3 megapixel fixed focus front facing camera
- Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
- Expansion Slot: microSD
- Tones: Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones
- Software Features: Android OS, v2.1 (Eclair)
- Other Features: Friend Stream, HTC Sync, HTC Sense, Amazon MP3, Google Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk, Picasa integration, Voice memo/dial, T9, HTC Widgets, Stereo FM radio with RDS, Games
- US Sar Values: Head: ---, Body: ---
- CPU Processing Speed: Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD 8650 (1GHz) processor
- Battery: Li-Ion 1500 mAh
- Talk Time: up to 312 mins
- Standby: up to 146 hours
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Large and beautiful screen
- Sleek and compact design
- Front-facing camera for video chats
- Great speed
Cons:
- Bad battery life
- Lack of dedicated camera button
Related Phones: HTC Desire Z - Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 - Motorola Droid X
Conclusion
The HTC Evo 4G is an impressive phone but it is not perfect. It has a stunning display and offers a decent call quality. It has great specifications-all that a power user would want but unfortunately it comes with a grave drawback in the form of a short battery life.