HTC EVO 4G is Sprint's Android-powered knight in superphone armor, we go hands-on

We've been rumoring a WiMAX "HTC Supersonic" for a while now, and Sprint just dropped the hard news: the phone will be dubbed the HTC EVO 4G, will be released this Summer and it's easily the best specced phone we've ever witnessed. The hardware is of quite obvious HD2 descent, but with Android onboard and some nice aesthetic tweaks, the EVO 4G takes on a life of its own. The handset is centered around a 480 x 800 4.3-inch TFT LCD, with a Snapdragon QSD8650 1GHz processor under the hood (the CDMA version of the QSD8250 in the HD2 and Nexus One), and even a helpful 1GB of built-in memory and 512MB of RAM -- hello app storage! Even the battery is bigger than the HD2, and the camera is an 8 megapixel monstrosity with flash, that's capable of 720p video, and is augmented by a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera for good measure. The phone features HDMI out (though you'll need an adapter for turning it into a TV-familiar HDMI plug), 802.11b/g WiFi, and an 8GB microSD card. There's that still-rare Android 2.1 underneath an updated version of HTC's Sense UI. But... despite all these wild features, what actually sets the EVO 4G apart is the fact that it's Sprint's first 4G phone. The handset runs a combo of EV-DO Rev. A and WiMAX, with calls still being made over CDMA and the EV-DO / WiMAX options for data. Interestingly, it sounds like concurrent data and voice use might be possible for the first time on CDMA carrier in this way (killing AT&T's well-advertised differentiator), though Sprint says that's still in the testing phase. One other new feature is the Sprint hotspot app, another MiFi-style connection sharing number, which is obviously aided greatly by the WiMAX on board and can support up to eight concurrent users. Follow after the break for our hands-on impressions and videos of the phone in action, including an up-close-and-personal test of the touchscreen keyboard. Below you'll find galleries of the phone by its lonesome and up against the Nexus One and iPhone 3G.

Update: We've got a graph comparing the Nexus One and Droid with the EVO spec for spec, and there's also a pictorial shootout with the Desire and HD2. Pick your comparo poison!

HTC EVO 4G press shots

HTC EVO 4G hands-on

HTC EVO 4G vs. iPhone vs. Nexus One

We got to play with the phone for an all-too-brief matter of minutes, but everything we saw was frankly breathtaking. The camera does seem to be indeed of a high quality (though we'll still be holding on to our compact shooter, thank you very much), the screen is naturally gorgeous, and the Sense UI was as responsive as we've seen it, and frankly delicious at this jumbo size. The capacitive face buttons are flat and almost a little difficult to see due the thin chrome icons, but the physical buttons (a volume rocker and a power button up top) are very large, tactile and friendly. Around back there's strong, chrome kick stand, and when you pop off the cover the battery is surrounded by beautiful "Ferrari red" plastic. The touchscreen keyboard is positively ginormous, though we're not sure we're feeling some of the recent things that have been crammed in there like huge cursor buttons and the voice recognition button -- just because you can fit stuff in there doesn't mean you should, and they look a little comical at this size. In our testing we weren't really able to get a feel for the browsing speed on WiMAX, but at this point we're primarily enthused that it's even an option, and obviously the theoretical speeds are far beyond 3G, with a bunch of new markets due to go online this year. Battery life is stated as "comparable."

Our biggest questions at this point are availability and pricing. Sprint is keeping mum, just stating a "Summer" availability, and interestingly clarified that not only is it not announcing device pricing, but it's not announcing plan pricing yet either -- sounds like a 4G-on-a-phone surcharge could be somewhere in our future.

[Luffy Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:07PM]

@InternetExplorer zune and xbox are both pretty terrible

[Macc55 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:16PM]

@PBRstreetgang I don't even want know what you're gonna do when the next phone after this one comes out.

[Dellibedaboss Posted Mar 26th 2010 12:55AM]

@Luffy Not really. The Xbox is pretty successful, a "mini" refresh on the way, as well as Natal. Terrible is far off my friend. Also, I prefer the Zune over the iPhone/iPod Touch because its is an all-around better multimedia device. I have a phone for apps, so i caould care less about that. Take that out of the equation and I pick zune. The software is beautiful, as well as the animations on the ZuneHD. And you cannot beat the Zune subscription music. Thats REAL music discovery... that's what I was paying for. KIDS can have their gaming apps/"device" from Apple.. With the Zune software coming to Windows Phone 7 Series and better integration w/ Xbox, can you say "three-screen scheme"!!?

[benthe1 Posted Apr 19th 2010 12:46AM]

Man the specs on this phone are sick. I just hope Sprint will market this the right way. They need to make their comercials interesting to catch the viewer's attention and then show what makes it better then any other phone out right now; (1) 720 hd recording, (2) 4.3 in. screen, front facing camera for video chat on the go, (3) 4G!!, (4) hdmi out port to watch HD content from phone to TV,(5) 1 Ghz processor, (6) 8 mp camera, (7) Android 2.1 OS, aaand..... (breath) (8) connet up to 8 devices at once via Mobile Hotspot feature. WOW!!!!!! Only a very few have just one of these features and even fewer have only two. Only one other device has three of these features which comes out for Verizon on the 29th of April, the HTC Incredible. Just a little over a month after that the EVO will come out and destroy the competition. EVO FTW!!!!

[benthe1 Posted Apr 19th 2010 12:48AM]

Man the specs on this phone are sick. I just hope Sprint will market this the right way. They need to make their comercials interesting to catch the viewer's attention and then show what makes it better then any other phone out right now; (1) 720 hd recording, (2) 4.3 in. screen, front facing camera for video chat on the go, (3) 4G!!, (4) hdmi out port to watch HD content from phone to TV,(5) 1 Ghz processor, (6) 8 mp camera, (7) Android 2.1 OS, aaand..... (breath) (8) connet up to 8 devices at once via Mobile Hotspot feature. WOW!!!!!! Only a very few have just one of these features and even fewer have only two. Only one other device has three of these features which comes out for Verizon on the 29th of April, the HTC Incredible. Just a little over a month after that the EVO will come out and destroy the competition. EVO FTW!!!!

[polird Posted May 9th 2010 5:17PM]

@Luffy
I can agree with you on Internet Explorer, but don't talk about Zune. Once you use one (especially the Zune HD) you will never say that again. Also, even though i don't have one, what's wrong with xbox?

[fparklin Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:29PM]

I want one now.. good bye hero, hello evo

[CaptainPlanet Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:57PM]

The Power Is HTC EVO!

[keinaleiska Posted Apr 6th 2010 3:32AM]

@fparklin Ditto, I agree, make the EVO the superphone for all! :) A comparison with other top smartphones today: http://bit.ly/evo-4g-phone-comparisson

I'm very happy for the success of HTC

[TheLukeSkywalker Posted Apr 17th 2010 12:09PM]

@fparklin : The Force is strong with this one.

[FORDY Posted Apr 24th 2010 11:47AM]

@fparklin
Dude, look at that screen! :P

[yulebellow Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:30PM]

Wait HD2 + Android...

The sound you head is thousands of geeks changing their pants.

[Triscuit Posted Mar 25th 2010 10:43AM]

@yulebellow I felt a great disturbance in the force, as if millions of geeks suddenly cried out in ecstasy, and were suddenly wet.

[theshadow27 Posted Apr 9th 2010 12:14PM]

@Triscuit

I think they were crying because they will have to pay 5 times the phone without contract when they sign a 2 year contract with sprint just for this phone. T-mobile HD2 ftw!! Cheap contract, acceptable signal (NY), amazing customer service...nahh, I will not risk al I go with big T just for a Logo change at the top of the phone.

[drksilenc Posted Apr 16th 2010 10:34AM]

@theshadow27 u do realize that sprint is just as cheep as tmo right

[Waltah Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:30PM]

All I'm sayin is that thing is hot.

[Brokinarrow Posted Mar 30th 2010 2:21PM]

@Waltah uh yeah.... DO want!

[Giuseppe Posted May 1st 2010 10:02PM]

@Waltah My biggest concern is that the stand will be too loos and just flop out and get in the way at times, because it seemed to do that during the hands on. And I know that this isn't the final product, but still, after some use, that stand may get in the way. Otherwise, a truly remarkable phone, totally stoked!

[ddbrown3 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:30PM]

YESSSSS. FINALLY!!!!

[jrei14mecom Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:31PM]

WOHHHOOOOO

SPRINT REVOLUTION!!!!

[VampireHunterZ Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:53PM]

@jrei14mecom
I knew Sprint would make a come back. I stuck with them for a long time while every other company get cool phones. It doesn't get any better than this. 4G yay!!

[Nitesh Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:31PM]

YESSSS! I always wanted an Android powered HD2, this is a better version of it.

[jaimetech Posted Apr 5th 2010 1:06AM]

@Nitesh Same here. Would love to get this HTC Evo, too bad it's only available in the US...

[Nitesh Posted Apr 5th 2010 8:48AM]

@jaimetech
I'll find some way to get it here to Canada :-)

[Rodney Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:31PM]

after 4 years of loyal service, i bid adieu to you tmobile. sprint looks to be my new home

[Raio Posted Mar 26th 2010 10:08AM]

@Rodney
well by taking a look at the HD2, do you really think you're loosing much by getting the HD2 instead of the EVO?
also you have got to mesure the cost efficiency of switching carrier too.

[JebusChrist Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:31PM]

Finally! Been refreshing engadget all day for this.

[tompccs Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:46PM]

@JebusChrist Heard of RSS?

[donatom3 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:06PM]

@tompccs Haha, I didn't visit the site myself until Google Reader showed this story.

[l3admonky Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:31PM]

YEEEEESSSSSS!!

Ring the damn church bells!

[Luffy Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:32PM]

It's a.... monster. An absolute monster.

[Auggie Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:32PM]

Hot damn.

[Tristan88888888 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:32PM]

so this phone just blew my mind.

[Punjabi Godfatha Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:06PM]

@Tristan88888888 "anything and blow ur mind. but this, this BLASTED MY MIND!"

-Russell Peters

[Punjabi Godfatha Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:12PM]

@Punjabi Godfatha "anything CAN* blow ur mind. but this, this BLASTED MY MIND!"

-Russell Peters

[skywise Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:50PM]

@Punjabi Godfatha mind-BLASTING indeed! :D

[Alexpeegs Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:32PM]

NDFBHGYA*YDYGBGDYHIYGHHIUGBIIHYGBDYVBDIBIYHAUFAJNB JASZBSFBNWSFRNHSFNNSRFNSFNFNFSNSFN - that is alll :))))))

[Rem DX Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:33PM]

This is the greatest phone on the planet isn't it?

[Waltah Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:59PM]

@Rem DX
Yup, for at least a week! lol

[lars1110 Posted Apr 5th 2010 10:34PM]

@Rem DX next week its gonna be a 9.7 inch iPad Phone that gets straped to you face when you need to talk ;)

[angermeans Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:33PM]

WOW! Sprint pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaase take me back, I am sorry for all the mean things that I said about you last year!

[angermeans Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:40PM]

@angermeans Good god sprint what did you have to do to get this wonderful, gorgeous, perfect piece of machinery sent straight from the gods? When Jesus returns to this earth he will be riding on his steed using Google maps on this phone.

[CHICHIgetdaYAYO Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:17PM]

@angermeans

Before or after the Rapture, haha..I dont want the antichrist gettin hold of my hardwarez man!!

[MasterCKO Posted Mar 24th 2010 5:50PM]

@angermeans ROFL

[VanityPhairs Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:33PM]

HOT DAMN

[ChechenTDG Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:33PM]

I want one. Pretty sweet.

[oxeneers Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:34PM]

THANK YOU JESUS

[sodaboy581 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:34PM]

Summer, though? Seriously?

That's at least 3 months from now. I'm a bit tired of waiting for a decent phone on Sprint. Looks like I'll be buying the Nexus One that works on Sprint instead of this, should it come out this month or next.

There's going to be a bunch of nice phones out in 3 months, I imagine, across all the carriers. This one isn't going to stand out as much anymore.

[ThatDudeSolo Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:44PM]

@sodaboy581 well look at it this way, every time a new phone comes out another one will be right behind it. at least we now have a badass android on sprint to wet our whistles with. I'm still buying this badboy. BYE BYE SAMSUNG MOMENT shits been real.

[sodaboy581 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:47PM]

@ThatDudeSolo I guess I'll buy the Sprint N1, then either sell it on CL or pass it to my cousin, and get this one when it comes out then. That is, if the Sprint N1 comes out this month or next. I need me some 'droid on Sprint! Don't want to get the Moment either.