HTC EVO 4G Review: Everything And The Kitchen Sink

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These days every manufacturer sets out to pack everything including the kitchen sink into a device but very few actually achieve such nirvana. HTC, however, managed to cram everything and anything into the EVO 4G for Sprint.

At its core, the EVO 4G is a beast of a device, both in size and specs. The 4.3-inch 800×480 screen is nothing short of amazing. No other device available in North America has an 8-megapixel camera that shoots 720p video and a forward facing camera for video chat. The EVO 4G is a well-oiled machine thanks to the 1GHz Snapdragon processor. And let’s not forget about the kickstand or 4G WiMax support, as well as wireless hotspot functionality. Bottom line: It has everything you need.

The one caveat and this is nothing against HTC is that the EVO 4G is running Android 2.1 even though Google announced Android 2.2 at the I/O conference. Fragmented release builds are nothing new for Android owners but everyone at the conference received an EVO 4G after the Froyo announcement. And neither HTC nor Sprint has said when Froyo will be rolled out for the EVO.

(More on Techland: Hands-on With Android 2.2 (Froyo) and Flash 10.1)

With that being said, the EVO 4G lacks the following features that are now available on devices running 2.2, which is currently limited to Nexus One devices.

• Automatic application updating
• OTA app downloads
• Remote wipe for enterprise
• iTunes sync
• Native hotspot support (There is Sprint Hotspot, though)
• Support for Flash 10.1
• App storage on a microSD card

From a day-to-day usage perspective, the EVO falls short mainly because the battery sucks. I’ve said in the past that any 3G device – 4G in this case – is going to have terrible battery life but the EVO takes the cake. I can’t even imagine what battery life is like when connected to 4G, but running on Sprint’s 3G network with moderate usage (web browsing, push e-mail, Twitter, Gchat, Google Maps) will fetch roughly 4.5 to 5 hours. Anytime you’re near a power port, I suggest you keep this vampire plugged in.

Like its T-Mobile HD2 (review) counterpart, the EVO 4G’s screen is massive making it a rather large device to lug around. It’s relatively lightweight given its size but has just enough heft to it that it doesn’t feel dainty. TheIncredible for Verizon (review) was the complete opposite. I’m pretty sure my house key weighs more than the Incredible, but that’s besides the point.

When I showed the EVO 4G to a friend last week in San Francisco, the first thing he said was “that’s not a phone, that’s a boat!” and I sort of agree. But viewing web pages, checking Twitter, finding out WTF I am via Google Maps and watching videos is so much more pleasurable. In other words, there’s plenty of breathing room. And having a kickstand that’s sturdy with satisfactory viewing angles makes a difference when watching video.

If that weren’t enough to sate your appetite, the screen isn’t OLED or AMOLED so you can actually use it outside under the sun.

Oh, and let’s not forget the keyboard. Since the EVO is running HTC’s Sense UI, you get the Sense keyboard, which is nice but until now has been relegated to small screen devices. With a 4.3-inch screen, I found myself tapping away at lightning speeds.

In America we typically think “the bigger the better” and most times that’s not true. As is the case with the 8-megapixel camera attached to the rear of the EVO 4G. When lighting is adequate – when you’re outside and not in dimly lit bar – the thing excels but the same could be said for any and every camera phone released in the last year. Camera controls are impressive thanks to HTC’s Sense.


The dual LED flash is nice but will blind anyone caught in its path. Testing the EVO in a dark bar was a very bad idea. You’d think I had taken the curtains off a vampire nest or something.

Click to enlarge all images.

This one was taken in my dark living room after an episode of “The Big Bang Theory”.

This was taken on Minna Street in San Francisco.

This was taken from my hotel room in San Francisco last week around 8AM.

This was taken under harsh lighting conditions.

This was taken with the forward facing camera.

HD video capture is certainly something to boast but it ain’t pretty on the EVO. Check it out.

Unfortunately, I can’t comment on 4G at this time, as there is no 4G running in NYC. And that’s a huge part of what makes this device special. Otherwise, it’s just another Android device from HTC.

But I can speak to data plans and what features excel under broadband-like speeds. One downside to having an EVO in parts of the country where there is no 4G service is the inability to avoid the 4G WiMax tax (it’s not really a tax) that adds $10/month to your bill. Aside from that, the Sprint Hotspot is an additional $30/month allowing up to eight devices to leach off your Sprint connection. During my testing, I was only able to tether two additional devices (iPhone, Laptop and/or BlackBerry).

• $69.99/month – 450 anytime minutes including unlimited text
• $89.99/month – 900 anytime minutes including unlimited text
• $99.99/month – Unlimited Minutes

Keep in mind that you have to tack an additional $10/month for any of the above plans and an additional $30/month for Sprint Hotspot. It ain’t cheap, but you’re getting a whole lotta phone. The EVO 4G retails for $199.99 from Sprint after a two-year contract and $100MIR.

My one major complaint with the EVO 4G is that it doesn’t support TIME’s Exchange server. When I set it up and restarted the device it went into a loop of the Sprint animation. It’s a known issue and I’m told HTC is working on a patch. Not all Exchange accounts will trigger this bug, but mine did.

It seems as though every new HTC device ends up being the best Android device available. The same could be said for the EVO 4G, but this is likely the one device to stand the test of time. It has all specs to make any fanboy drool and once Sprint/HTC roll out Android 2.2, the EVO 4G will reign supreme. That is until HTC decides to one up itself.

The HTC EVO 4G will be available starting tomorrow at your local Sprint and Radio Shack stores.

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