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.

[angermeans Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:52PM]

@sodaboy581 I just unloaded my 3Gs yesterday and ordered my ATT band N1 it will be here tomorrow. This phone almost makes me wish I had waited, but oh well I just want to be out of the walled garden

[Zerohour Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:09PM]

@sodaboy581 Any other 4G phones gonna be out by then? No? Oh, well then I guess it'll still stand out.

[ThatDudeSolo Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:10PM]

@angermeans We still welcome you to the side of android either way with open arms. *gives complementary chocolates*

[sodaboy581 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:12PM]

@Zerohour It will stand out a little, but not much. Sprint's 4G network is only in select cities. There's really only a few cities that it works in. Perhaps if their 4G coverage has expanded by the release of the phone, the fact that it is 4G will make a significant difference.

[MegaJapan Posted Mar 23rd 2010 6:46PM]

@sodaboy581
I don't care the amount of cities Sprint has 4G as long as it has it in MY city. And they've confirmed they will have 4G in New York City pretty damn soon.

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

This is a great phone! I've only had my G1 for barely a year! I wish i could give it up for this :(

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

this is what we've all been waiting for! now roll out WIMAX in major cities in all states wtf sprint come on!

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

@InternetExplorer Still trolling? Last time you said Android had no apps. Why don't you go stand in the corner or something?

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

That is one great looking phone. Though I don't have Sprint, if i did i would pre order this as soon as i could.. wow.. that looks awesome

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

@ThatDudeSolo Bye bye AT&T

[ThatDudeSolo Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:35PM]

@InternetExplorer You again? Sigh...DOWN WITH HIS RANK MY MINIONS!

[jonnythan Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:35PM]

@ThatDudeSolo Yeah really.

Holy freaking hell. All of a sudden, this is the biggest, baddest phone ever in America. Wow. What a monster.

Sprint isn't exactly behind the curve these days are they? First WebOS phone, first SenseUI Android phone, first 4G phone. And it's a doozy.

[Addyct Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:35PM]

OH i want that.
I would give up my Droid for that on Verizon in a HEARTBEAT

[brokensticks Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:20PM]

@Addyct you wouldn't get 4G on verizon though

[krische Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:42PM]

@brokensticks

Yeah but chances are if you're on Sprint you probably won't get 4G either. I just want Sprint to build a 4G network here in Milwaukee, I'll have to rock this on 3G till then.

[brocko Posted Mar 25th 2010 11:02PM]

@krische So u could buy this phone and do that?

[jebus27 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:35PM]

ITS CALLED EVO!!!! sorry palm unless u bring out something by june imma be rockin a Evo in a Evo :-)

[donatom3 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:00PM]

@jebus27 Same here, using my premier upgrade to dump my Pre for a Evo. I know I had said earlier that I would have to see WP7S in person before jumping into the Supersonic, but after seeing this I see absolutely no reason to wait. I'm already tied into the google cloud, might as well jump into android.

[mhunterjr Posted Mar 23rd 2010 6:39PM]

@jebus27 i'm gonna give palm until june to announce something that can compete with this. This thing has two things going against it in my book: lack of keyboard, android fragmentation, and clucky multitasking. Palm has until june get HTC to put WebOs on this device and add a keyboard...

[Himcor Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:36PM]

why would you want the desire at this point? :O

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

@InternetExplorer
I guess both phones are equally much google and htc..
And i wonder if anyone agrees with you that android is the worst phone os ever, that doesnt even make sense.

[Ubuntujunkie Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:53PM]

@InternetExplorer it has a trackball? i didnt see any trackball!

[HardToBelieve Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:54PM]

@Ubuntujunkie

*Stereotypical native American voice* Powerful magic weed he is smoking.

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

@HardToBelieve ya. i bet it is bill gates himself.

[nwhat Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:36PM]

MY NEXT PHONE!

[budice4ever Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:41PM]

@nwhat My Pre is being posted up on eBay as we speak, this is my next phone

[newjaruz Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:36PM]

@ThatDudeSolo
Weres my nexus? I think it left crying and I cant find it!

[frewster Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:36PM]

Wow. HTC continues to impress me 90% of the time they release a new product. Outstanding.

[Alexpeegs Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:36PM]

@InternetExplorer
worst troll ever... you've never used sense UI so go to hell

[TheTechLife Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:36PM]

That is one great looking phone. Though I don't have Sprint, if i did i would pre order this as soon as i could.. wow.. that looks awesome

[HardToBelieve Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:36PM]

*Braingasm*

[Plazmic Flame Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:40PM]

R.I.P @HardToBelieve

Shows how epic this phone is...

[beemop Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:36PM]

Oh wow, amazing. I want one now. Sorry Palm Pre, you were a great friend for a year, but this thing is amazing.

[AlexSanchez Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:37PM]

It's like my dreams have come through.

[CeNeTti Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:37PM]

TFT ???? PASS!
I WANT AMOLED

[supersonicfanboi Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:37PM]

To everyone that was doubtful about the specs that I posted previously:

Congratulations! This is a true SUPERPHONE, it IS a new breed altogether, and anyone who says otherwise is just bitter.
SUPERSONIC FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chi Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:37PM]

Well, good-bye Sprint Overdrive. I've had you for 2 weeks to test you out and you made me love 4G but I have to drop you for this MONSTER! Go Supersonic! Or Evo. I'll just call it "God"

[donatom3 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:26PM]

@Chi They're probably going to charge an extra monthly fee for wifi tethering on this of course that will probably still be cheaper than paying for service on an Overdrive and this phone.

[PaladinX13 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:37PM]

Mine.

[Theli Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:37PM]

Remember a year ago, when the state-of-the-art (only) Android phone from HTC was the Dream (T-Mobile G1)?
Remember how it didn't even have a headphone jack?
Remember how it couldn't even record video at the time?
Remember that it had 192MB RAM and 256MB storage?

[Tes Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:28PM]

@Theli

Pembridge Farm remembers...

[Byrdman Posted Mar 23rd 2010 6:33PM]

@Tes

I believe that is Pepridge Farm, but still +1 for the reference

[cloud858rk Posted Mar 24th 2010 6:50PM]

@Byrdman http://www.pepperidgefarm.com/

[Plazmic Flame Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:37PM]

This phone revived Sprint, lucky freakin' bastards!!!

[ThatDudeSolo Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:52PM]

@Plazmic Flame It's like the hero and moment opened the huge doors to the sprint building -- then EVO busted in and said...BITCH I'M HOME!

[ricorich196 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 7:25PM]

@ThatDudeSolo More like it busted in and yelled "Oh it's the Juggernaut Bitch!"

[Ameen Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:38PM]

HOLY CRAP !!

I have to move to U.S. NOW !!!

Well done HTC + Sprint.

[zephxiii Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:38PM]

iPhone killer? lol

[mikachu Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:38PM]

Now there's a phone that is truly awesome, every gadget freaks wet dream... *drool*... Darn I'm still on my first year of 2 year deal with Hero, allthough I'm loyal to Hero this would be one phone that could replace it. Very nice HTC... Very nice indeed...

[sfox8 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:08PM]

@mikachu
With Sprint don't you get an upgrade every year though? I'm definitely replacing my Hero with this.