HTC Desire 826 Dual Sim Specs Prices Pros & Cons Unveiled

Overview of HTC Desire 826 Dual SIM

The HTC Desire 826 Dual SIM, launched in January 2015, stands as a testament to HTC's commitment to providing a balance of performance and design. Although it was discontinued later, its features and performance are still noteworthy for those interested in the mid-range smartphone category.

Design and Build Quality

The HTC Desire 826 features a solid build with dimensions of 158 x 77.5 x 8 mm and weighs 183 grams. The phone sports a traditional dual-tone finish typical of HTC devices, giving it a sleek and stylish appearance. The device supports dual SIM capabilities, utilizing Nano-SIM cards with dual stand-by functionality, which is ideal for users who need separate personal and professional numbers in a single device.

Display

The device boasts a 5.5-inch Super LCD3 display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, achieving a pixel density of approximately 401 ppi. This screen size and resolution offer clear and crisp visuals, catering to users who enjoy media consumption and gaming on their smartphones. The display constitutes about 68.1% of the phone's body, providing an immersive experience.

Performance

Under the hood, the HTC Desire 826 is powered by the Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 chipset built on a 28 nm process. It features an Octa-core CPU with 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 and 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 cores. The GPU is an Adreno 405, which ensures smooth graphics performance for everyday applications and moderate gaming experiences. Coupled with 2GB of RAM, the phone handles multitasking efficiently, though it may encounter limitations with more demanding tasks or recent applications.

Storage

The device comes with 16GB of internal storage, which is standard for devices of its time. However, it includes a dedicated microSDXC card slot, allowing users to expand the storage capacity significantly. This feature enables users to store more apps, media, and documents without worrying about running out of space.

Camera

The HTC Desire 826 sports a 13 MP main camera with an f/2.2 aperture and autofocus capabilities. It includes features such as LED flash and HDR, allowing for satisfactory low-light performance and vibrant HDR images. The camera can record videos at 1080p@30fps and 720p@60fps, providing decent quality for personal use.

For selfies, the device comes with two different front camera setups depending on the market. The Hong Kong model features a 4 MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture, 27mm wide lens, and large 2µm pixels. The India model, however, is equipped with a 13 MP selfie camera. Both variants offer HDR capabilities and can record videos at 1080p@30fps, making it suitable for video calls and social media enthusiasts.

Audio

The HTC Desire 826 is equipped with stereo speakers, providing a rich auditory experience. It retains a 3.5 mm headphone jack, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of audio accessories. This is a particularly welcoming feature for users with legacy audio equipment.

Connectivity

The smartphone supports various network technologies, including GSM, HSPA, and LTE, allowing for versatile connectivity options. It is compatible with numerous bands, making it suitable for international usage, especially for travelers. Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n with dual-band functionality ensures reliable wireless access, while Bluetooth 4.1 supports efficient and low-energy connections with other devices.

Positioning is facilitated through GPS, with GLONASS or BDS availability depending on the market. Though it lacks NFC, which limits contactless payment options, it includes other basic connection methods such as FM radio and microUSB 2.0.

Battery Life

The device is powered by a non-removable Li-Po 2600 mAh battery, supporting up to 626 hours of standby time on 2G and up to 687 hours on 3G networks. It offers talk time of approximately 22 hours on 2G networks and 19 hours on 3G networks, ensuring a full day's usage on a single charge for majority of users.

Operating System and Software

The HTC Desire 826 originally shipped with Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, but it is upgradable to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. It features HTC's Sense UI, offering a user-friendly interface with customizations. The software experience, combined with the performance hardware, ensures smooth operation for daily tasks.

Sensors

The phone is equipped with basic sensors, including an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass. These sensors support essential functionality, such as screen orientation auto-rotation and location-based services.

Colors and Pricing

The HTC Desire 826 was available in a variety of colors, including White Birch, Blue Lagoon, Marshmallow White, Dark Grey, and Purple Fire, appealing to a diverse user base seeking personalization. Initially priced around 200 EUR, it positioned itself as an attractive choice in the mid-range smartphone market, balancing cost with features.