Overview

The HP Veer 4G was launched in May 2011 as a compact smartphone targeted towards users who appreciated small form factor devices. Manufactured by Hewlett-Packard, the Veer 4G combined the iconic webOS platform with modern smartphone technology of its time, packaged into an innovative and compact design.

Design and Build

The HP Veer 4G boasts a unique and small design, measuring just 84 x 54.5 x 15.1 mm and weighing a mere 103 grams. Its compact build made it one of the smallest smartphones available at its release, comfortably fitting into any pocket or purse. The device features a sliding QWERTY keyboard, an elegant design choice that catered to users who preferred physical keyboards over virtual ones.

Display

The smartphone is equipped with a 2.6-inch TFT display, set at a resolution of 320 x 400 pixels, which contributes to a relatively dense pixel density of approximately 197 ppi. Although the screen is small by today's standards, it serves its purpose for basic smartphone tasks efficiently, displaying clear and vibrant visuals in 256K colors.

Performance

Under the hood, the HP Veer 4G is powered by a Qualcomm MSM7230 chipset with an 800 MHz Scorpion CPU and an Adreno 205 GPU. This hardware configuration, while modest, was capable of running the HP webOS 2.1 operating system smoothly, allowing users to effectively manage tasks and applications.

Storage and Memory

The phone comes with 8GB of internal storage, with approximately 6.1GB available for user data, bearing no expandable memory option. This limitation pressed users to be mindful of their available storage, especially when downloading apps or media.

Camera

The HP Veer 4G is equipped with a 5-megapixel main camera with fixed focus capability, a standard offering for smartphones of its class at the time. It lacked additional features such as LED flash or autofocus, but it still enabled users to capture decent quality images and videos.

Connectivity

The device supports GSM and HSPA network technologies, ensuring reliable connectivity for voice and data needs. The Veer 4G featured Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, and GPS with A-GPS support, making it equipped for most connectivity scenarios. Notably, it lacked an FM radio and a 3.5mm headphone jack, requiring a microUSB to 3.5mm adapter for audio output.

Battery Life

The HP Veer 4G is powered by a removable Li-Ion 910 mAh battery, which was capable of providing up to 300 hours of standby time and up to 5 hours of talk time. Given the phone's small screen and efficient OS, the battery life was adequate for a full day of moderate use.

Operating System

The device ran on HP webOS 2.1, a distinct operating system known for its intuitive user interface and multitasking abilities. While webOS was praised for its card-based multitasking and notifications system, it was hampered by a lack of widespread app support compared to other platforms.

User Experience

Users found the HP Veer 4G to be a refreshing alternative to the larger smartphones of the era. Its petite size made one-handed use a breeze, and the slide-out QWERTY keyboard offered tactile feedback that virtual keyboards couldn't match. While the lack of app support on webOS was a drawback, its fluid multitasking and user interface kept the overall experience positive.

Market Position and Legacy

Despite its innovative design and the expectations surrounding HP's acquisition of Palm, the Veer 4G, like other webOS devices, faced challenges in the market. The dominance of Android and iOS, coupled with a limited app ecosystem, ultimately led to the discontinuation of the Veer 4G. Nevertheless, it remains a memorable device for enthusiasts of compact smartphones and collectors of unique tech.

Conclusion

The HP Veer 4G stands out in the annals of smartphone history as a unique offering that prioritized compactness and design over raw power and extensive feature sets. Though it did not achieve commercial success, it offered a glimpse into what could have been a viable niche in smartphone design, appealing to those seeking simplicity and portability.