HTC Velocity 4G InDepth Review & Pricing Unveiled

Overview of HTC Velocity 4G

The HTC Velocity 4G was a groundbreaking device during its release in January 2012. As one of the first 4G smartphones, it showcased HTC's commitment to integrating advanced technology in mobile devices. The phone managed to blend a powerful performance with a sleek design, offering users a robust communication tool that capitalized on the emerging LTE networks.

Design and Build Quality

The design of the HTC Velocity 4G highlights the balance between functionality and aesthetics. With dimensions of 128.8 x 67 x 11.3 mm and weighing 163.8 g, the smartphone was slightly heavier and bulkier compared to other devices at the time. The solid build with a black finish gave it a professional look, while the use of durable materials ensured longevity.

Display

HTC equipped the Velocity 4G with a 4.5-inch S-LCD screen, offering a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels. This provided a pixel density of approximately 245 ppi, contributing to crisp and clear visuals. The screen delivered vibrant colors and decent viewing angles, making it suitable for multimedia consumption and everyday tasks.

Performance

Under the hood, the HTC Velocity 4G was powered by a Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon S3 chipset. The dual-core 1.5 GHz Scorpion CPU, paired with the Adreno 220 GPU and 1GB of RAM, facilitated smooth multitasking and efficient performance. The device ran on Android 2.3.7 Gingerbread, with an upgrade path to Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, enhanced with HTC's Sense UI 3.5.

Camera Capabilities

The device featured an 8 MP rear camera with autofocus and dual-LED flash, capable of shooting high-quality images and recording videos at 1080p up to 60 fps. The front camera, with a resolution of 1.3 MP, supported 720p video recording, providing satisfactory quality for video calls and selfies.

Storage

HTC Velocity 4G offered 16 GB of internal storage, of which 13 GB was available to the user. Additionally, it supported expandable storage through a dedicated microSDHC slot, allowing users to increase storage capacity for applications, media, and documents.

Battery Life

The device came with a removable Li-Ion 1620 mAh battery, which was typical for smartphones of that period. It provided a standby time of up to 293 hours on 2G and up to 248 hours on 3G networks. Talk time was around 7 hours and 40 minutes on 2G and nearly 5 hours and 10 minutes on 3G, which was adequate for daily usage.

Connectivity Options

Connectivity was one of HTC Velocity 4G’s strengths. It supported GSM, HSPA, and LTE technologies, ensuring fast internet and reliable network coverage. The smartphone offered Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with DLNA and hotspot capabilities, Bluetooth 3.0, A2DP, and GPS with A-GPS support. Additionally, it included stereo FM radio with RDS and a microUSB 2.0 port that supported MHL TV-out.

Additional Features

In terms of additional features, the HTC Velocity 4G included a range of sensors such as an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass. Sound quality was solid, with a built-in loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which was a standard requirement for audio enthusiasts.

Conclusion

Though discontinued, the HTC Velocity 4G remains a significant device in the evolution of smartphones, especially in the era of 4G connectivity. With a price of approximately 200 EUR at its launch, it provided a substantial value, combining innovative technology and reliable performance. It set a benchmark for future HTC devices and contributed to the competitive landscape of mobile technology.