The first HTC EVO Android smartphone was huge for Sprint. No, we don't mean it was a really big phone (though it was), but it had the right mix of high end features to ride as Sprint's flagship phone for quite some time. Follow up EVO models haven't been as hot, but with the HTC EVO 4G LTE, we've once again got an iconic device for Sprint from HTC.
The EVO 4G LTE shares a lot of DNA with the HTC One X, but Sprint EVO-ized it with a two-way kickstand and an industrial modern design look that's less curvy than the One X. Inside you'll get the same excellent 1.5GHz dual core Snapdragon S4 CPU that smokes the competition for performance and battery life. There's a gig of RAM, 16 gigs of internal storage and a 2,000 mAh battery. The phone runs Android OS 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich with HTC Sense 4. The software experience is once again very close to the HTC One X, and you even get the same default wallpaper. Like other recent Sprint smartphones, it has NFC with Google Wallet.
Design and Ergonomics
Though the gloss black section on the back will no doubt be a point of contention, we think the EVO 4G LTE is one stupendous looking smartphone. Plastic phones abound, even at higher price points, and the LTE EVO is a breath of fresh metal. It looks like a quality piece and the cool feel of the metal sides and back are reassuring. Though large, this is a skinny phone that measures 0.35". HTC does a great job of making their 4.7" phones about the same height and width as some 4.3" and 4.5" phones, so we're not complaining about the size. But those of you who detest today's popular big phones might disagree.
The phone has 3 capacitive buttons that are masked in white for good contrast, and the controls are where you'd expect on an HTC smartphone. The power button is up top and the volume controls are on the right. The buttons don't rattle like some 2011 HTC phones. The micro USB port is on the left side as it is on the HTC One X, and it's located there to work with HTC's desktop cradle that holds the phone in landscape mode. Thanks to the two-way metal kickstand design, you can charge the phone when the kickstand is deployed (just flip it so the USB port is on top).
The back is metal except for the slide-off gloss black plastic panel that covers the microSD card slot. Why plastic? It allows for better reception. Why gloss? We assume Sprint liked the texture contrast and it does look good until it gets grimy (which happens quickly). The kickstand and its surrounding band are metallic red and look cool.
Phone and Data
This is Sprint's third LTE phone, and yes it will be released before Sprint actually has an LTE network. We know this is confusing for some buyers who think they're actually getting 4G LTE right now, but we understand Sprint's awfully difficult position: they're moving away from WiMAX and thus won't introduce new phones with that service anymore. We wouldn't want them to sell a dead end service, but offering hot new phones with 3G just won't cut it. So they're jumping the gun and offering future-ready LTE phones, even though their network won't start lighting up until summer 2012. Six cities will get LTE this summer, with the rest of the country to follow at an undisclosed rate.
What does that mean to you? The HTC EVO 4G LTE is functionally an EV-DO Rev. A 3G phone now, and at some time in the future, you should be able to use it on Sprint's LTE network. I know: that's a little weak. Sprint's 3G service in our area of the Dallas metroplex is the slowest of the big 4 carriers, and that's a double ouch. The EVO LTE managed faster 3G download speeds than the Galaxy Nexus, and was on par with the LG Viper. In our area we averaged 650kbps down and 550kbps up, which is terribly slow, but if you're a Sprint customer who usually gets better speeds in your area, you should see your "normal" 3G speeds which may be better than ours.
Voice quality on the EVO 4G LTE is quite good and it will get better when Sprint enables Qualcomm's new HD Voice codec on their network. We tested HD Voice at the CTIA trade show a few weeks back, and it was noticeably better than standard cell voice. HD Voice only works if the feature is enabled on the carrier's network and if both phones have the HD Voice feature. Until Sprint releases more phones with this feature, this means EVO LTE to EVO LTE only.
But as we noted, standard non-HD call quality on both ends is quite good on the EVO, though not quite as impressive as the HTC One X (the One X is one of the best voice phones to cross our ears in the past year). Call volume is average and the rear firing speakerphone is clear though not terribly loud. Typical of HTC, if you turn the phone over and rest it face down on a desk, it will automatically switch to speakerphone mode. It also has HTC's pocket feature where it will increase ring volume if the phone senses it's in a pocket or bag and it has their quiet ring on pickup that deceases volume if you move the phone.
