HTC EVO 4G - 4G vs 3G, A Tale of The Tape

Sprint may have touted "firsts" when it launched the EVO 4G and its WiMAX network, but the wireless carrier knows that its competition isn't far behind. As a result, Sprint must offer compelling handsets as well as killer speeds to attract users.

The HTC EVO 4G  offers all of the top features you'd expect in a high-end smartphone including a large, 4.3-inch display, thin form factor, a fast 1GHz processor, and more. This phone also has the added benefit of being able to utilize Sprint's 4G network. When a 4G connection isn't available, the EVO 4G offers 3G and Wi-Fi connection options. Because this phone has such a large, gorgeous display, we wouldn't be surprised if you find yourself watching YouTube clips and movies on the handset during some downtime. The phone's included 8GB microSD card will certainly come in handy for storing these clips.

The EVO 4G's integrated 8 megapixel camera produced impressive images during our tests. In addition, having a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera for video chat is handy as well, especially if you find yourself in a 4G coverage area.

In terms of smartphones, there are only two handsets on the market today that can boast of 4G speeds. One of these phones is the HTC EVO 4G. The other 4G-capable phone, the Samsung Epic 4G, recently won our Editor's Choice award. So is the Epic 4G better than the EVO 4G? We wouldn't say that. All in all, the two phones appear to be very comparable in terms of specs and capabilities. Really, the biggest differentiator between these two phones is your preference in form factor—the Epic 4G offers a hardware slide-out keyboard while the EVO 4G features a more thin form factor. Because the EVO 4G still offers some of the best hardware and software specifications available today, we feel that it, too, is worthy of our Editor's Choice award.

 

     
  • Fast 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
  • Vibrant 4.3-inch touchscreen
  • 8 megapixel camera
  • 4G connectivity
  • Mobile Hotspot capable
  • 4G coverage is still somewhat limited
  • Additional $10 fee each month for "Premium Data" service
  • Slightly heavier than competing phones


Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer grew up around technology. From an early age, she was curious about all things related to computers. As a child, Jennifer remembers spending nights with her dad programming in BASIC and taking apart hard drives to see what was inside. In high school, she wrote her senior term paper on her experiences with building custom computers.

Jennifer graduated from the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. After college, she began writing full-time for various PC and technology magazines. Later, she transitioned to the Web. In these roles, Jennifer has covered a variety of topics including laptops, desktops, smartphones, cameras, tablets, and various consumer electronics devices. When she's not playing with or writing about the latest gadget, Jennifer loves to spend time with her family, capture memories with her camera, and scrapbook.

Opinions and content posted by HotHardware contributors are their own.

Related content