HTC EVO 3D – A Review!

Launched by HTC, EVO 3D boasts of features, such as Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 1.2 GHz dual core processor with Adreno 220 GPU, Bluetooth,Wi-Fi and Dual 5MP cameras at the rear. But is the handset as perfect and appealing in reality as it appears to be? Let’s make a reality check.

The Built

• With a dimension of 126.1mm x 65.4mm x 11.3mm, the handset is just marginally thinner than the LG Optimus 3D. However, otherwise it appears to be unimpressive in comparison to even Samsung Galaxy S2 (8.5 mm).
• With a weight of 170 gms, the handset may appear to be somewhat heavy for the user who is carrying it.
• The volume rocker and power/lock button constituting part of the back cover give an uncomfortable and pulpy feeling.
• The handset lacks the safety delay present in other recent HTC handsets, which makes it quite possible that the user will accidentally switch on the phone by triggering the power/lock key button.

Display

• It has a smart display with a 4.3 inches screen boasting a 540 x 960 resolution.

However, despite the qHD screen boasting a good pixel density, the overall display performance fails to completely live up to user expectation. While the touchscreen gets washed out in direct sunlight, many users have problems with experiencing the 3D effect on the display despite being instructed to slowly pan sideways till the 3D photos/videos “pop” into places. What is worse is that the screen displays a blurry 3D effect at both the left and right edges of the screen, and pinch-to-zoom switches back the display to 2D. While MPO files and 3D videos were perfectly compatible with a Sharp 3D TV, no 3D content worked on the Nintendo 3DS.

Hardware

• Having one of the latest Android technologies as the operating system is certainly a strong proposition for this product, as it guarantees a quality operational potential.
• Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 1.2 GHz dual core processor with Adreno 220 GPU is another hardware quality that indicates a powerful operational potential, given the fact that its presence endows Gingerbread with completely new level of fluidity.
• The 1.2 GHz dual core processor has given the handset an edge over Optimus 3D in terms operational speed, especially 3D gaming.

Software & Applications

• The software of the handset suffers from the presence of crapware, though fortunately most of it can be removed without hassles.
• All the applications ranging from the basic UI to the web browser to maps are in perfect quality.
• There are applications that you are likely to find useful, such as Adobe Reader, Amazon MP3, Polaris Office, Qik Video and Swype. However, at the same time there are some applications which are at least seemingly not that useful, such as Sprint Mobile, Sprint TV & Movies, Sprint Radio, Sprint Zone, NASCAR and TeleNav.
• As of now the 3D Games points to a website that displays EVO 4G specific titles, and it is expected that it will be appropriately updated, through integration of EVO 3D-specific games.
• There is “Spider Man”, which represents a 3D version of the popular game from Gameloft. There is HTC’s Watch service meant for accessing the movie, launched by The Green Hornet 3D.

Camera

• The primary camera is protruding in such a way that it is very much prone to get scratched in the day-to -day use. For example, you may find it simply impossible to take the handset out of your pocket without leaving your fingerprints on the camera pod.
• The panel protecting the camera pod results in conspicuous halos in the image periphery containing bright light.
• Despite having a usually accurate colour balance, the camera suffers from a light metering that is hit and miss. And that problems gets worse while taking 2D pictures. Moreover, a scene with a wide dynamic range is most of the time over or under exposed.
• The camera also lacks a spot, centre or average setting to control the way light is metered.
• Macro photography is difficult in 3D, with the two cameras being located far apart (precisely 3.25 cm) while capturing close-ups. Besides, the user has to hold the phone in the horizontal position and in the landscape orientation, unless which the cameras get disabled.
• Despite the presence of 1.2GHz dual-core processor, the camera is devoid of 1080p support.

Connectivity

• The WiMAX is not found to be performing better than HSPA+ on other countries. With HSPA+ and LTE being there, WiMAX has in any case lost much of its sheen.
• It also suffers from the issue of power efficiency, given the fact that WiMax requires a separate radio.

Battery

• The battery life is very poor. In one test just 14 hrs and 44 mins of use got the battery down to 7%. This is despite the fact during that time span the handset witnessed a call of 15 minujtes duration, while sleeping for 6 hrs. The rest of the time witnessed snapping of 6 pictures, occasional checking of three email accounts and one Twitter account, with all the radios remaining enabled. A user will especially find it very difficult to use the battery for 3D photography.
• In another test the use of just one and a half hour saw the battery’s charge level dropping from full to 60%, without the activities during this time span being snapping of around 80 photos and capturing of four short videos (with around half of this content being in 3D).

Some feedback from users

So what is the feedback from users? Is it only praise from them? Or is there any complaint on their part, as well?

• Well, users have liked its Dual LED flash. They have found its dual core processor to be fast, and are also appreciative of its call quality.
• Besides, users have shared positive feelings about the camera of the phone.
• And yes, the handset has won appreciation for its battery life as well.
• There have been many users who have said that they have liked all the applications of the phone as a whole.
• However, there have been a couple of complaints about screen black out.
• Then there are some who feel that the screen of the phone could have been more vivid, while some have expressed disappointment over ear speaker.
• Last but not the least, some have also said that they wished the price of the handset were less.
• So it may be felt that the over all user feedback has been good, as there has been no serious complaint about the handset.

Conclusion-  Should you go for it?

• At the end of the day it can be said that HTC EVO 3D is not a perfect handset, as it suffers from certain significant draw backs that were not expected.

However, at the same time it may be said that it is not a handset that should be completely ignored. Despite some drawbacks, it boasts of some utilities that are catchy and attractive, and will probably not be a very bad idea to go for.