HTC Desire 500 Comprehensive Review Specs and Pricing

Introduction to HTC Desire 500

The HTC Desire 500 was introduced in August 2013 and launched into the market by September of the same year. The device falls within the mid-range smartphone segment, offering a blend of essential features suitable for day-to-day usage at a reasonable price of about 180 Euros. Despite being discontinued, it left a mark in its era known for its solid performance and value package.

Design and Build

With dimensions of 131.8 x 66.9 x 9.9 mm, the HTC Desire 500 presents a comfortable and sleek design. Weighing 123 grams, it is lightweight and portable. The phone hosts a plastic body with a glossy finish, available in Black and Silver colors. It supports either a Single SIM (Micro-SIM) or Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual standby) configuration, providing users with more flexibility.

Display Features

The HTC Desire 500 features a 4.3-inch TFT display, offering a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. This results in a pixel density of approximately 217 ppi. The display size is sufficient for tasks such as browsing, reading, and social media, though not particularly sharp compared to recent advancements. The contrast ratio stands at nominal 1198:1 and 2.129:1 under sunlight.

Performance and System

Under the hood, the HTC Desire 500 is powered by the Qualcomm MSM8225Q Snapdragon S4 Play chipset, with a quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A5 CPU and Adreno 203 GPU. The device runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, enhanced by HTC's Sense UI 5 interface, which enriches the user experience with additional customization features.

Memory and Storage

The device comes with 4GB of internal storage paired with 1GB RAM. Fortunately, HTC included a dedicated microSDXC slot, allowing users to expand storage as needed without concern about running out of space. The RAM size ensures smooth operation for basic multitasking and day-to-day applications.

Camera Capabilities

HTC Desire 500 sports an 8 MP rear camera, featuring an aperture of 1/3.2" and a pixel size of 1.4µm which aids in capturing decent images with average lighting. It is supported by an LED flash for low-light photography and is capable of recording 720p videos at 30fps. On the front, there is a 1.6 MP camera, useful for video calls and casual selfies.

Audio and Communication

The phone includes a loudspeaker and a standard 3.5mm audio jack, ensuring compatibility with most earphones and headphones. For connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with hotspot and DLNA features, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP and aptX, GPS positioning but lacks NFC functionality. It also includes a stereo FM radio with RDS for traditional media consumption.

Battery Life

The HTC Desire 500 houses a removable Li-Ion 1800 mAh battery, boasting a standby time of up to 435 hours on 3G and talk time of up to 12 hours and 6 minutes on 3G. Despite the modest capacity by today’s standards, the device manages an endurance rating of 47 hours, making it adequate for moderate daily usage.

Network and Connectivity

Supporting GSM and HSPA networks, the device offers smooth connectivity with 2G capabilities for GSM bands 850/900/1800/1900 and 3G for HDSPA bands 900/2100. It enables HSPA speeds up to 7.2/5.76 Mbps, adequate for browsing and media streaming without significant delays.

Additional Features

The smartphone is equipped with standard sensors like the accelerometer and proximity sensor. Although it lacks advanced biometric sensors found in more modern devices, the available features were well-suited for the time of its release.

Conclusion

The HTC Desire 500 offered a balanced blend of performance, design, and features during its time. While it has since been overshadowed by newer technologies and advancements in the smartphone market, it remains a testament to HTC's ability to deliver quality devices for everyday users. Its removable battery, expandable storage, and dual-SIM capability were highlights among budget-conscious consumers seeking functionality at a lower price tier.