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.

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

We still don't know if it supports voice and data at the same time? Damn it! Doesn't TMobile support both at the same time?

WHY GOD WHY!

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

Loving this. So glad I've held onto my tax return and my 1-year Sprint trade-in. Been waiting for something -just- like this.

[Coolguy462 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:52PM]

wooohooo, my 1st year finishes this summer with the Pam Pre on Sprint, I think I might jump ship early to HTC Evo 4G! Sounds good, now if Palm where to negotiate a deal with HTC for them to bring the hardware and Palm the OS, imagine the possibilities, a HTC HD2 or HTC Evo 4G with WEBOS ! I still like WebOS though but the hardware doesn't match with todays smartphone standards

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

bravo ! ... about freakin time

[Plazmic Flame Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:52PM]

OMG, and it has the wifi router app!!! Although, renamed the Sprint Mobile Hotspot App.... FFFFFFFFFFFFFF!! This is epic.

[jebus27 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:53PM]

wtf i thought it was suppose to be amoled???

[jordanc44 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:53PM]

LCD or OLED?

[xkaosu9x Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:57PM]

@jordanc44 TFT LCD

[one2gamble Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:54PM]

what the hell does summer mean, get that thing on the market asap

[Dick Lynch Posted Mar 26th 2010 4:56PM]

@one2gamble
it means all the way till September 22

[airbag888 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:54PM]

It's finally official. What a bummer though for all those not on CDMA networks (aka a lot out of the US) I've waited so long for this phone ;(

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

Want, want, want! Its the HTC Desire with a larger screen, better cam and (for me useless, since im in Denmark) 4G. Hope the price is reasonable, and not $1500 or summink.

[vesterskov Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:55PM]

@vesterskov and then you spot the fail - no AMOLED?! :(

[xkaosu9x Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:59PM]

@vesterskov not such a downfall. at least you'll still be able to see this screen in the sunlight.

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

@xkaosu9x Sunlight is overrated!

[T1cms Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:54PM]

My Moto Droid is crying in the corner!

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

HNNNGGGHHH. I've been wanting to remove myself from my family plan on AT&T, this is so my ticket out. DELICIOUS.

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

at a glance = AWESOME!

all this SPRINT talk makes me wonder if it will come to europe?????

[drksilenc Posted Mar 30th 2010 4:33PM]

@liquidmonkey sprint exclusive device sorry

[Proverb Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:55PM]

0.0

[RedChaos Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:55PM]

@ThatDudeSolo

DAMN! That's gotta be the best phone I ever saw! I was looking to buying the Nexus one but this phone is a beast! 4.2" screen, 8MP camera, and 1GB OF STORAGE! DAMN! :D

[Plazmic Flame Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:56PM]

@ThatDudeSolo

A Supersonic EVOlution...

[HELLA Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:56PM]

the almight question... CAN I USE IT ON SERO!?!?!

well either way, i'm really thinking of finally leaving sero for a real phone and this one just might do it. i'm trying to kick COMCAST/XFINITY broadband internet to the curb. i think i'll be able to live with the 4g connection and wouldn't mind paying the full price (oh should i say regular price because i've been on sero for so long) for monthly service.

[pcdsim Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:56PM]

There really is nothing else to say but, OMG F@*%% WANT!!!!!!

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

So it's basically an HD2 with Android and 4G? I can dig it

Although I'd dig it more if it were WP7 on Verizon LTE....here's hoping for the HD3 (irony of the fact that two months ago I was saying I'd be digging the HD2 if it had Android)

[stabbytheicepic Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:58PM]

@KeegdnaB BING! BING! BING! BING! BING! BING!

Enjoy your mediocre search engine and lack of copy and paste.

[KeegdnaB Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:01PM]

@stabbytheicepic ok, and I'll enjoy my Xbox games and Zune pass music with it

[xkaosu9x Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:57PM]

@ThatDudeSolo i just went from 6:30 to midnight!

[Tactics703 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:57PM]

And it has to be Sprint... epic fail.

[KingCoop Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:58PM]

@Tactics703 Who else would it be on... if it weren't on Sprint it would be called the HTC EVO 3G.

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

@ThatDudeSolo Bye Bye iPhone...

[clos1084 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:57PM]

@Kinte Kunta I just came

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

I don't care about my contract, I don't care whatnot costs, if all this is true and it actually works I'm getting this phone. Glad I bought the 3GS with 32 gig because it is now my iPod.

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

It's a shame that Sprint will offer such a nice phone and then charge double what any other carrier would charge for the same phone. My contract is up with Sprint (after 11 years) in 2 days and I am not sure I want to stick around long enough to be disappointed by another pricepoint that is out of whack....

[one2gamble Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:02PM]

@GSmalley

Arent the sprint plans about 20-30 a month less than anything on another carrier short of tmobile

[v0rt Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:09PM]

@one2gamble Yeah, I don't know what he's talking about. Their plan costs are on par with T-Mobile (20 - 30 dollars cheaper than ATT/Verizon), with much better coverage (they also roam on Verizon's network). Sprint is definitely the best value of the 4 national carriers.

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

Not bad. Looks really good. Not so sure about the bigger screen. Resolution is the same as the nexus one. I can read the nexus one fine. Bigger screen but same screen space isnt very meaningful

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

Does anyone know if this phone will work on the Canadian Telus or Bell (2g/3g)

[spiky32kobe Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:58PM]

Oh c'mon i was just about to go out and buy the HD2. I would have happily bought the HD2 if had similar specs and just a different OS. This phone not only has a better camera, more ram, and a better screen but better battery life as well. This sucks :( I dont wanna change provider im happy just paying $30 a month for unlimited data and messaging. I dont talk on the phone..ever... so i dont wanna pay $70 a month :(

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

@spiky32kobe Get a nexus one on T-Mobile.

[spiky32kobe Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:13PM]

@spiky32kobe I've heard very bad things about that phone and didn't bother to really check it out because of it. The whole screen issue kinda scared me away. I never buy cases for any of my phones and that phone seemed waaaaaay to delicate for my style. lol.

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

@ThatDudeSolo HAHAHHAAHAHAHAHA

My contract runs out in June,they don't even have to entice me with anything for me to renew my contract for this lol

[Nexus One Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:59PM]

Dammit!!

[ThatDudeSolo Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:04PM]

@Nexus One Still thinking about moving to sprint? *evil smile*

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

The phone looks amazing but it should be running WebOS not Android. :(

[blenderman345 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:17PM]

@clacombe : nooott really.. Android + HTC Sense would probably outpace webOS for me.... and I don't really like the small plasticky Pre/Pixy hardware... sorry Palm!

[clacombe Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:25PM]

@blenderman345 Palm's hardware and software don't have anything to do with each other.. I'll admit the build quality of my Pre is awful but WebOS is a solid OS that in my opinion is better than any other mobile OS. The development platform is 100x better than the iPhone and Android, the multitasking is non-existent on any other platform. The only thing lacking on the WebOS is more apps in the App Catalog... And a Microphone API... I'll admit the HTC Sense UI is very nice, (I previously owned a HTC Touch Pro w/ Win Mo 6.1). Palm's WebOS has sooo much potential if they just put it on a solid piece of hardware which I believe this phone will be.

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

@clacombe No thanks. WebOS is nice, but as a major google fan, nothing beats Android for integration with their cloud services.

[clacombe Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:32PM]

@Gigaflop I prefer Palm's cloud integration with there Synergy service. I've never seen anything that can pull data like Synergy does. But just my opinion, I really don't have anything against Android, I think it's a very nice mobile OS although I found it to be a little confusing to use the first time I tried it.

[iPhone 3GS Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:00PM]

@ThatDudeSolo
Shit...