Welcome to my review of the HTC 10 Evo, also known as the HTC Bolt in the USA. Released in November 2016, this phone has been on the market for a few years now and has garnered mixed reviews from users and tech enthusiasts alike.
The HTC 10 Evo, also known as the HTC Bolt in the US, has a sleek and modern design that is sure to turn heads. The phone's physical appearance is characterized by a unibody aluminum frame with a smooth finish that provides a premium feel. The device measures 153.6 x 77.3 x 8.1 mm (6.05 x 3.04 x 0.32 in) and weighs 174 g (6.14 oz), which makes it relatively large and heavy. However, the weight adds to the phone's solidity, giving it a reassuring feel in the hand.
The phone has a large 5.5-inch Super LCD3 display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels. The screen-to-body ratio is approximately 70.2%, which means that the display occupies a significant portion of the phone's front. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which provides excellent resistance to scratches and drops.
The device is also IP57 dust and water-resistant, which means that it can withstand being submerged in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes. This feature makes the phone suitable for use in wet and dusty environments.
Ergonomics-wise, the phone's power and volume buttons are conveniently placed on the right-hand side of the device, making them easily accessible. The fingerprint scanner is located on the home button on the front of the phone, which is a common placement for most smartphones today.
Overall, the HTC 10 Evo's design and build quality are impressive, with a premium look and feel. However, the large size and weight may not be suitable for everyone, and the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack may be a deal-breaker for some users.
The HTC 10 Evo boasts a 5.5-inch Super LCD3 display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels and a pixel density of 534 ppi. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and has an IP57 rating for dust and water resistance, making it suitable for outdoor use.
In terms of color accuracy and vibrancy, the display is impressive with excellent contrast and sharpness. The colors are rich and vibrant, making it a joy to watch videos and play games on the screen. The brightness levels are also adequate, making it easy to view the screen even in direct sunlight.
The touch sensitivity and responsiveness of the screen are also noteworthy, making it easy to navigate the phone's interface and apps. The screen is smooth to the touch, and the touch response is fast and accurate.
Overall, the HTC 10 Evo's display is one of its strongest features, offering a bright, sharp, and vibrant display that is perfect for media consumption and gaming. With its water and dust resistance, it is also an ideal option for those who enjoy outdoor activities and need a phone that can withstand the elements.
The HTC 10 Evo boasts a Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 chipset and an octa-core processor with a clock speed of 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57. This configuration provides seamless multitasking and enables the phone to handle intensive apps with ease. The device comes in two storage options: 32GB and 64GB, both with 3GB of RAM.
In terms of real-world usage, the HTC 10 Evo delivers a smooth and snappy performance. Apps load quickly, and switching between them is seamless. The phone also handles gaming with ease, thanks to the Adreno 430 GPU.
Benchmark scores for the HTC 10 Evo are decent, with a GFXBench score of 6.9fps. This score is average compared to other phones in its price range. However, in terms of overall performance, the HTC 10 Evo is a solid contender.
One area where the HTC 10 Evo falls short is battery life. The device features a 3200 mAh non-removable battery, which is adequate for moderate use. However, heavy usage can drain the battery quickly. The phone does offer fast charging, which can give you a decent amount of power in a short amount of time.
Overall, the HTC 10 Evo delivers solid performance, making it a suitable choice for everyday use. However, if you're a power user or need a phone with exceptional battery life, you may want to look elsewhere.
The HTC 10 Evo runs on Android 7.0 Nougat, which is sleek and user-friendly. The UI is not heavily skinned, and it is easy to navigate. The phone also comes with HTC's Sense UI, which adds useful features such as BlinkFeed for news and social media updates, and the ability to customize the home screen with widgets and app shortcuts.
There's also an app drawer that is easily accessible, and the notification shade is well-designed. The settings menu is straightforward and easy to understand. The phone also comes with a built-in theme engine that allows users to change the look and feel of the UI.
The HTC 10 Evo comes with some pre-installed apps, but they're not too intrusive. The phone also supports split-screen multitasking, which is useful for productivity.
Overall, the software and user interface on the HTC 10 Evo is impressive. It's not bogged down with bloatware, and it's easy to use. The Sense UI adds some useful features, and the built-in theme engine allows users to customize the look and feel of the phone.
The HTC 10 Evo boasts of a 16-megapixel camera on the rear and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. The rear camera features a f/2.0 aperture, PDAF, and OIS, which promises to deliver impressive image quality. The camera is also equipped with a dual-LED flash and a panorama mode. Additionally, it can record 4K videos at 30fps with 24-bit/192kHz audio. The front camera, on the other hand, boasts an f/2.4 aperture and Auto-HDR mode, which makes it perfect for selfies and video calls.
In well-lit environments, the camera produces sharp and detailed images that are rich in colors. The camera's autofocus is fast and accurate, and the OIS feature helps stabilize images, even in low light conditions. However, in low light settings, the camera struggles to capture detailed images, and the noise levels are high, leading to washed-out and blurry images.
The phone's camera app is intuitive, with easy-to-use controls and various modes, including Pro mode, which allows users to adjust settings such as ISO, white balance, and shutter speed. The camera app also features a manual mode, which enables users to capture RAW images, giving them more control over post-processing.
Overall, the HTC 10 Evo's camera is impressive, although it is not the best camera in the market. It delivers great image quality in well-lit environments, but struggles in low light settings. The camera app is user-friendly, and the Pro mode offers more advanced controls for photography enthusiasts.
The HTC 10 Evo offers a range of connectivity and networking features that make it a versatile device for staying connected on the go. It supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, providing fast and reliable data speeds for browsing, streaming, and downloading. Wi-Fi connectivity is also available, with support for 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac standards and dual-band frequencies for maximum coverage.
Bluetooth 4.1 is included for wireless audio streaming and data transfer, while NFC technology enables mobile payments and quick pairing with compatible devices. GPS and GLONASS are both supported for accurate location tracking and navigation, and the phone's IP57 rating ensures dust and water resistance up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.
One notable omission is the lack of a headphone jack, which may be a dealbreaker for some users. However, the USB Type-C port offers audio output and charging functionality, and the phone comes with a pair of HTC's USonic earbuds that connect via the USB port and offer active noise cancellation.
Overall, the HTC 10 Evo provides a solid set of connectivity and networking features that should meet the needs of most users. However, the lack of a headphone jack may be a drawback for some, and the absence of a radio may disappoint those who rely on over-the-air broadcasts for news and entertainment.
IX. Additional Features
The HTC 10 Evo boasts a number of additional features that make it stand out among its competitors. One of the most notable is the phone's water and dust resistance, with an IP57 rating that allows it to withstand immersion in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. This makes it a great choice for anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors or in wet environments.
Another standout feature of the HTC 10 Evo is its expandable storage options, with a dedicated microSDXC slot that can accommodate up to 256GB of additional storage. This is a great feature for anyone who needs to store a lot of photos, videos, or other media files on their phone.
Audio quality is also a strong suit of the HTC 10 Evo, with support for 24-bit/192kHz audio that delivers crisp, clear sound. Additionally, the phone features a front-mounted fingerprint scanner for added security and convenience, as well as NFC support for wireless payments.
While the HTC 10 Evo doesn't have a traditional headphone jack, it does come with a USB Type-C to 3.5mm adapter that allows you to use your existing wired headphones. The phone's loudspeaker also delivers solid performance, with clear and balanced sound that's perfect for watching videos or listening to music without headphones.
Overall, the HTC 10 Evo's additional features make it a versatile and capable device that's well-suited to a wide range of users. Whether you're looking for a phone that can withstand the elements, expandable storage, or top-notch audio quality, the HTC 10 Evo has you covered.
When comparing the HTC 10 Evo to other related phones in the market, it's worth looking at devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S7, the LG G5, and the Google Pixel XL. In terms of performance, the Galaxy S7 and Pixel XL both edge out the 10 Evo with their newer processors and larger RAM capacities. The LG G5 also has a similar processor to the 10 Evo, but its modular design and removable battery give it a unique advantage.
In terms of camera capabilities, the Pixel XL stands out with its highly rated camera and advanced software features, while the Galaxy S7 and LG G5 offer similar specs to the 10 Evo with their rear camera setups. However, the 10 Evo's front-facing camera is slightly better than the Pixel XL's, with a higher megapixel count.
When it comes to battery life, the 10 Evo's 3200mAh battery falls short compared to the 3600mAh battery in the LG G5 and the 3450mAh battery in the Galaxy S7. The Pixel XL, however, boasts a 3450mAh battery that can easily last all day.
In terms of price, the 10 Evo is a mid-range phone, priced similarly to the LG G5, while the Galaxy S7 and Pixel XL are both high-end devices with higher price points. Overall, while the 10 Evo is a solid phone, it may struggle to compete with the newer and more advanced devices on the market.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Water and dust resistance for added durability | Uses the Snapdragon 810 processor which is known for overheating and poor energy efficiency |
Sharp and vibrant Super LCD3 display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection | No 3.5mm jack for headphones, which may be inconvenient for some users |
Impressive rear camera with OIS and dual-LED flash | Mediocre front-facing camera with limited features |
Fast charging technology with 18W wired QC2 charging | Battery life is not impressive compared to other devices in its class |
Good connectivity options with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band and NFC support | Uses a USB Type-C 2.0 port which may not be compatible with some older devices and accessories |
IP57 dust/water resistant rating for added protection | Performance is not as good as other devices in its class |
In conclusion, the HTC 10 Evo is a phone that offers mixed results. While it boasts of a beautiful design and a large, high-resolution display, it falls short in other areas. The outdated processor and limited storage options make multitasking and app performance a challenge, and the absence of a headphone jack is a frustrating omission. The camera is decent but not exceptional, and the battery life is average at best.
That being said, the HTC 10 Evo does have some redeeming features. Its water and dust resistance make it a durable option, and its expandable storage option is a plus. The phone's audio quality is excellent, thanks to the 24-bit/192kHz audio support.
Overall, the HTC 10 Evo is a decent phone that may appeal to those looking for a stylish device with some unique features. However, it falls short in key areas and may not be the best option for power users or those seeking the latest specs. There are other phones in the market that offer better value for money, such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 or the OnePlus 9. Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference and individual needs.
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