HTC Hero Full Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Released in mid-2009, the HTC Hero marked a pivotal moment in the smartphone industry. As one of the first devices to feature the groundbreaking Android operating system integrated with HTC's Sense UI, it offered users an innovative experience that set it apart from its competitors. Despite being discontinued, it remains a crucial piece of smartphone history. This article will delve into the various aspects of the HTC Hero, from its design and hardware to its operating system and user experience.

Design and Build

The HTC Hero featured a compact design with dimensions of 112 x 56.2 x 14.4 mm, weighing just 135 grams. Despite its compact size, it was praised for its ergonomic design, fitting comfortably in the user's hand. The Mini-SIM slot is straightforward, reflecting the standard for the period.

The available color options — Brown, White with a Teflon coating, Graphite, Black, and Pink — provided users with a degree of personalization. The Teflon coating on some models was a novel feature aimed at reducing fingerprint marks, showcasing HTC's attention to detail in consumer electronics.

Display

The HTC Hero was equipped with a 3.2-inch TFT display capable of showing 65,000 colors. The resolution of 320 x 480 pixels (~180 ppi) provided a decent viewing experience for the time. Though not as sharp as modern displays, it was sufficient for the needs of 2009 smartphone users. The screen was protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, ensuring durability against scratches and minor drops.

Hardware and Performance

Under the hood, the HTC Hero was powered by a Qualcomm MSM7200A chipset with a 528 MHz ARM 11 CPU and an Adreno 130 GPU. While humble by today's standards, this configuration offered smooth performance for everyday tasks during its era.

The device included 288MB of RAM and internal storage of 512MB, expandable through a dedicated microSD slot. This feature was crucial for users needing additional storage for apps, music, and other media, especially given the limited internal capacity.

Camera

The HTC Hero featured a 5MP rear camera with autofocus capabilities. Although it lacked advanced features found in modern smartphones, the camera performed reasonably well under good lighting conditions, making it a suitable choice for casual photography. The ability to record CIF video at 15fps was useful during its release, albeit basic for today's video recording standards.

Operating System and UI

One of the standout features of the HTC Hero was its use of the Android 1.5 (Cupcake) operating system, augmented by HTC's Sense UI. This combination provided users with a customizable interface differentiated by its unique design aesthetics and useful widgets. The Sense UI was praised for its ease of use and added functionalities, like the HTC Sense widget system, which allowed for swift access to various applications.

Network and Connectivity

The HTC Hero supported GSM/HSPA network technology, providing users with connectivity options across 2G and 3G bands. The phone featured Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth 2.0, offering avenues for wireless connectivity. However, it lacked a radio, which was a slight oversight for those accustomed to FM tuners on mobile devices.

GPS capabilities were included, facilitating location-based services essential for navigation apps. The miniUSB 2.0 port allowed for data transfer and charging, another standard feature for smartphones of its time.

Battery Life

The device was equipped with a removable Li-Ion 1350 mAh battery. In terms of endurance, it offered up to 440 hours of standby time on 2G networks and up to 750 hours on 3G. As for talk time, users could expect up to 8 hours on 2G and up to 7 hours on 3G networks, satisfactory figures for average daily use.

Audio and Sound

The HTC Hero came with a built-in loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, a staple for most smartphones of its time. The audio quality was respectable, with the loudspeaker adequately serving its purpose for calls and media playback. The headphone jack facilitated compatibility with a wide range of earphones and headphones, maintaining user accessibility.

Additional Features

The HTC Hero included several sensors, such as an accelerometer and a compass, which enabled a variety of applications and functionalities. The HTML browser laid the foundation for internet browsing, aligning with the computing capabilities of the early smartphone era.

Conclusion

The HTC Hero was more than just a smartphone; it was a cultural artifact embodying the technological innovations of its time. Its blend of functional hardware, the novel Android OS, and external design appealed to a generation of users transitioning from traditional mobile phones to the more integrated and smarter mobile devices. Although its specifications might seem modest today, the HTC Hero's impact on the smartphone market cannot be overstated. As technology advanced, it paved the way for future Android devices, setting standards for design, functionality, and user experience.