I've just spent time with the new HTC EVO V 4G from Virgin Mobile, and I think that it's one of the finer Android devices that have been produced; possibly the best one on Virgin's network. Its competitive pricing, excellent hardware, and overall bang for the buck propel it further than most Android phones on the market.
As with most phones, one of the first things that you notice about this model is the hardware. Following HTC's design language, the phone has a large screen, four touch-sensitive buttons at the bottom, a rubberized back to keep the phone from slipping, and, most notably, three cameras total - one front-facing camera and two on the back. That's right, the phone has two cameras on the back, which enable the device to take 3D images. That is a really cool idea, however, because few devices can properly implement this idea and show photos in 3D, it would be great if more phones and devices shared the technology. In 2D mode, the 5MP images were sharp and clear, and the digital controls allowed a fair amount of manipulation.
When you hold the phone in your hand, it feels very sturdy and solid, although I think the buttons and rockers could be a bit tougher. This EVO comes equipped with dedicated camera buttons - one button to quick-start the camera and take pictures in the app, and another to switch between 3D and 2D image modes. The construction is pretty solid, but the camera buttons could have a bit more heft to them. The 4.3-inch touchscreen is fast, responsive, and gorgeous to look at it.
Luckily for the EVO, the user experience is fast, solid, and all-around pleasant to use. The EVO V 4G is Virgin Mobile’s first Android to run Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), and it brings a number of improvements and changes to the system and user interface, many of them pretty radical. Unfortunately for the user, most Android manufacturers feel the need to layer their own skin and personalization on top of the regular Android experience, including HTC, who put their Sense UI on all of their devices. By putting on their own skins, they hamper Google’s efforts to create a seamless interface, and create redundancies that ultimately are to their own detriment. No matter, though, because ICS is so slick and well thought out that many of the menus and interfaces survive, possibly because HTC Sense seems to have been thrown on at the last minute, with a fair amount of inconsistencies. If you need a phone that tells you where to go, you’ll enjoy Google Maps with Turn-by-Turn GPS Navigation. Its native on the phone and runs like a charm – something that folks with that skinny new phone from Cupertino can’t say!
The surface of the EVO is very smooth, and you can tell that Google has put a lot of quality time into helping the phone's OS look and feel tighter. It’s not quite on par with Apple’s iOS yet, but it’s getting much better. Menus make sense and are laid out much better, the notifications are easier to understand, and ICS has a number of cool gimmicks, such as being able to limit how much data you get. My favorite is the Face Unlock, which uses the built-in camera to recognizing the user’s face, thereby unlocking the phone.
The phone runs like a dream and provides excellent call quality. Maybe this is thanks to Sprint’s 4G network, but I never experienced an unintelligible call or a sudden loss of data as is all too common with many other phones. The apps load fast, run fast, and look excellent, and the phone rarely skipped a beat thanks to the 1.2 GHz processor and gorgeous screen. The phone could even handle an inordinate amount of widgets and apps clogging up the desktop and still keep things smooth. While internal memory only stands at about 1 GB, the included 8GB MicroSD cardsoftens the blow.
I found that in many cases, 3G was actually faster than 4G. Whether this was because of incomplete coverage or simply a data error, 3G was more responsive and got me online quicker than 4G. Once in a solid 4G spot, the speed jumped as expected. The Wi-Fi hotspot option is great for users on the go who need a mobile network, and we used it with an iPad and Samsung tablet without a hitch. The Wi-Fi is also great for those seeking free fast data coverage, since thankfully (or not) there seem to be more Starbucks per square mile than cell phone repeater stations. The only real problem lies in Virgin’s (and by extension, Sprint’s) lack of coverage in some rural areas, so I’d suggest checking coverage if you are heading out on the open road first. As with other carriers, 4G coverage is still limited in many areas.
The Virgin Mobile HTC EVO 4G is another fine addition to HTC’s family of phones. It’s fast, responsive, and actually has usable internal storage, a rarity for prepaid Androids. With its incredibly cool 3D camera and screen, the camera ventures into new territory and makes sure all the photos you’ve been taking of your two new adorable kittens really spring to life! In case you are still wondering what the V is for in the name, think Virgin. The Virgin Mobile HTC EVO 4G is definitely one of the best Android phones available for those on a budget, and one of Mac Edition Radio’s top picks for cellphones. Highly recommended!
Thomas Fogel, posted 10/14/12
For more information on the Virgin Mobile HTC EVO V cell phone visit: www.virginmobileusa.com
