HTC EVO Design 4G Pro Reviews

At a steep $299, the HTC Evo Design 4G is certainly the most expensive smartphone currently in Boost Mobile's lineup. I consider it expensive even given that its price doesn't tie you to a lengthy service contract. Also, just because the phone costs a pretty penny doesn't automatically mean it's the best Boost device money can buy. While I like its premium metal feel, this phone is thick and heavy. Its slow performance is underwhelming, too, and puts a tired face on its fancy Android Ice Cream Sandwich software. That calls into question the usefulness of ICS since I'd rather have pep than a modest software bump. Perhaps the smoothness of Android Jelly Bean would have made the Evo Design more compelling. Additionally the Evo Design's camera is sluggish especially when stacked up against more recent handsets such as HTC's own Evo 4G LTE. A more prudent move would be to scoop up the $129.99 Samsung Galaxy Prevail, which, while not ultrathin and lacking Android 4.0, is much cheaper.

The HTC EVO Design 4G gets you fast data speeds and inexpensive monthly plans, making it a top pick on Boost Mobile.

Decently made hardware with an abundance of middle of the road software that ultimately promises too much and delivers too little. Despite just being released in the fourth quarter of 2011, the handset is now essentially a 4G orphan as Sprint diverts its attention from WiMAX and toward a bright, sunny future with LTE as they struggle to maintain ground against rivals Verizon and AT&T. While Sprint's WiMAX network may not be going anywhere for awhile, we can't wholeheartedly recommend the EVO Design 4G, even at less than a hundred bucks with a two-year agreement, except for international travelers who don't want the hassle of procuring a local SIM at each destination. If Sprint is your network of choice, worldwide roaming on GSM networks might just be a big enough plus to make you turn a blind eye to the handset's other minuses.

So where does that leave us? The EVO Design 4G is certainly a solid contender when vying for your Benjamin, yet we can't help but feel you'd be better off scrounging and ponying up for a more potent WiMax droid, like Motorola's Photon 4G or Samsung's Epic 4G Touch. The EVO Design 4G while well-made, ultimately is a phone trying to be the jack of all trades, yet comes out being the master of none. While plusses include affordability, great materials and a gorgeous screen, it's invariably overcome by negatives like questionable battery life and a hungry WiMAX radio that, for most of us, adds little. Being neither performant, nor frugal, makes its contemporaries shine that much brighter, especially when you consider something like the Epic 4G Touch can be had for the same $100 (if you're willing to look hard enough...), is faster and boasts a longer battery life.

The HTC EVO Design 4G is a capable device, and a good choice for those who are more budget-conscious, since it's $100 less than some of the bleeding-edge devices currently available, and it comes with a qHD display and an 8GB microSD card. It doesn't have the fastest processor, the biggest display, or the highest resolution camera, but it can handle just about everything the average consumer will throw at it. Since it's also a worldphone, it offers some extra flexibility for those who travel internationally. It does suffer from a few concerns, most notably regarding voice quality, but if Sprint's network coverage is strong in your area that may not be an issue for you. The EVO Design 4G may not be the current "gee whiz" device, but it gets the job done and is worth a closer look to see if it meets your needs.

For Sprint customers on a budget, it’ll be hard to decide between the HTC Evo Design 4G and the like-priced Samsung Nexus S 4G. If you want a slightly more powerful processor, and you're in love with the HTC Sense overlay (even if it is a resource hog), then pick up the Evo Design 4G. If you would like to experience an unmodified version of Android, go with the Nexus S 4G. Either way, you’ll be getting a 4G phone that didn’t cost you an arm and a leg.

The HTC EVO Design 4G is a comfortable world phone that offers solid performance and 4G speeds at a good price.

The HTC Evo Design 4G gives you a lot of smartphone for an excellent value--fast 4G speeds, a good camera, a strong processor, and a sophisticated design. It's an excellent choice for Sprint customers, except those who are specifically looking for a dual-core phone. The fifth to join the Evo family, the HTC Evo Design 4G is a slightly smaller, more budget-conscious version of the classic Evo 4G and more recent Evo 3D, complete with the family's typical Sprint WiMax 4G speeds. It also has the distinction of being the first globe-trotting Evo, with a GSM-friendly SIM card slot hidden beneath the battery cover (and yes, it will only work overseas.)

The HTC EVO Design 4G isn’t a premium phone, but it sure acts and feels like one a lot of the time. The build is simply one of the best on the market, with a gorgeous display to compliment the clean lines. Performance is fluid, connectivity options are plentiful and battery life was solid. The camera could be better and callers weren’t thrilled with the microphone pickup, so there is some room for improvement. Still, as a “budget” 4G device a $99 EVO Design 4G is a steal even when you don’t consider that the Samsung Conquer is the competition. In fact, it’s really just a dual core processor and a slight bump in memory away from being one of the finer devices available.

This device isn’t going to be the next step for you if you’re looking to upgrade from the previous EVO or especially the EVO 3D since its processor takes the EVO Design to the cleaners, but without comparing to the rest of its close family, this device isn’t half bad. Like the rest of the HTC line, this device is extremely high quality and made not only to last but to function perfectly well through at least the 2-year contract period you’ll have to sign up for. Not only that, this device takes HTC’s design evolution and adds just a couple of unique cues that make this little monster look pretty neat – and it’s quite comfortable to use as well.