HTC EVO: Hands-On with the First 4G Phone

Nadia Naila

Thursday, 20 May 2010

The HTC EVO 4G will be the first phone in the U.S. to take advantage of Sprint’s 4G cellular network, up to 10 times faster than current 3G speeds. The Android handset will also be one of the most powerful “superphones” to hit the U.S. market when it launches on June 4. We had a chance to go hands-on with the device and get a demo of the phone’s hardware and software, which includes the HTC Sense user experience on top of the typical Android UI.

Google (), Qik and other application developers have stepped in to develop versions of their apps customized for the HTC EVO 4G experience, including a YouTube () client that will auto-detect your connection speed and serve up content in high-definition when on a 4G or fast 3G connection. The Qik application takes advantage of the phone’s two cameras — one 8-megapixel and one front-facing 1.3-megapixel — to provide on-the-go videoconferencing support.

Sprint told us the HTC EVO 4G so far has garnered “the highest interest of any device we’ve ever announced,” and there are plenty of reasons why. Beyond the promised 10-fold speed boost from 4G, which Sprint will be the first to market in the U.S., the device can also act as a mobile hotspot, connecting up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices to the Internet (). Add to that the overall hardware specs of the device, which render it a more powerful workhorse than even the Nexus One, and it’s no surprise that the HTC EVO 4G is one of the most hotly anticipated phones launching this summer.

The phone will be available June 4 at retail partners Best Buy, RadioShack, and Wal-Mart as well as at Sprint.com for $199.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 rebate (pro tip: picking up the phone at Best Buy Mobile nets you the rebate price on the spot). Everything Data plans start at $69.99 per month, and the HTC EVO 4G will also carry a $10 per month Premium Data requirement. Use as a mobile hotspot is an optional extra at $29.99 per month — although at half the cost of the typical mobile broadband plan for devices like the MiFi or 3G broadband card, the portable hotspot cost is actually a good deal.

Check out the video demo below and let us know what you think. We’ve included some still photos after the video as well. If you’re in the market for a new phone in the near future, does the HTC EVO 4G make the list of potential purchases?