The HTC Evo Shift 4G will go head to head with the likes of T-Mobile G2 and Samsung Epics 4G due to its key feature, the slide out QWERTY keyboard. The camera is a 5-megapixel with LED flash with no dedicated camera button. Powering up the HTC Evo Shift 4G we find the 800MHz 2nd-gen Snapdragon processor up to par with other 1Ghz Android handsets on the market. Supporting Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS, Proximity sensor and light sensors, this Android can stand with the best.
As for YouTube, the videos look great in the built-in YouTube app but not so great from the Web browser (grainy). Moving on to the 5-megapixel camera, the HTC Evo Shift 4G does both image and video well. Color balance was good, Contrast slider worked well to combat backlight problems and its flash worked very well for darker shots. As for sound recording, it would be the HTC Evo Shift 4G handset's weak spot.
With plenty of useful apps preloaded and Sense UI features, exceptional processor, keyboard and 4G WiMAX capability, the" HTC Evo Shift 4G" is a worthy new addition to the Sprint network. The HTC Evo Shift 4G is officially available on January 9 at $149.99 with a two year contract and $100 MIR.
Will the HTC EVO Shift 4G have what it takes to destroy the Samsung Epic 4G, Motorola Droid 2, and T-Mobile G2? HTC EVO Shift 4G Design
In terms of architecture, the closest neighbors to the HTC EVO Shift 4G are the Samsung Epic 4G, Motorola Droid 2, and T-Mobile G2, as all three phones specialize in slide-out QWERTY keyboards. The buttons on the HTC EVO Shift 4G's keyboard are small, but they're nicely spaced and include a Function button for fast action.
Speaking of touchscreens, the HTC EVO Shift 4G has a 3.6-inch WVGA capacitive display with fantastic sensitivity. HTC really knows their stuff when it comes to the construction of a quality phone, and the HTC EVO Shift 4G is no exception.
The HTC EVO Shift 4G also lacks a Camera button, so it's definitely not the most equipped phone when it comes to external controls. The 5-megapixel camera lens with LED flash is embedded in back, and the HTC EVO Shift 4G has a 3.5mm audio jack.
HTC EVO Shift 4G Software and Interface
The HTC EVO Shift 4G excels when it comes to speed and productivity. For our browsing pleasure, the HTC EVO Shift 4G utilizes HTC Sense in conjunction with Android 2.2, the latter contributing to the speed boost and compatibility with Flash 10.1 while browsing the Internet. The HTC EVO Shift 4G is a beast in QWERTY clothing, and we found the phone to be highly efficient when it came to speed. The EVO Shift 4G was one of the quickest phones we've tested to date. The HTC EVO Shift 4G allowed us to select our favorite contacts and display them on one of the 7 home screens, in addition to web page bookmarks.
The HTC EVO Shift 4G also handled 3D games without any problems, thanks to its 6-axis sensor, and the revamped Android Market offered over 100,000 applications to download. Like any Sprint phone, the HTC EVO Shift 4G includes NASCAR, Sprint Football Live, Sprint TV, and Sprint Zone, which need subscriptions. Everything about the HTC EVO Shift 4G's interface and navigation experience was seamless, and it was one of the most pleasurable browsing experiences we've had on a phone to date.
Although the HTC EVO Shift 4G is only equipped with one microphone, it excels with very good call quality.
HTC EVO Shift 4G Camera
It feels odd to notate the following, but the HTC EVO Shift 4G was the first phone to actually reestablish our hope for the world of digital imaging within the cell phone landscape. In low light, the HTC EVO Shift 4G had the same sensitivity as the Epic 4G, but its flash performance was superior.
The HTC EVO Shift 4G can capture 720p HD videos with its 5-megapixel camera at 30fps, though in low light, the fps drop significantly. The HTC EVO Shift 4G for Sprint is a definite winner. The EVO Shift 4G also proves its versatility with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and access to plenty of applications like Quickoffice, HTC Mail, the Android Market, and a robust Google Suite. Consider the HTC EVO Shift 4G to be the subdued version of the 4G phone that started it all.
Price and Release Date
The HTC EVO Shift 4G will be available from Sprint on January 9.