Htc Wildfire E3 Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The HTC Wildfire E3 is a mid-range smartphone that was released in April 2021. It boasts a 6.52-inch IPS LCD display, a quad rear camera setup, 4GB of RAM, and a 4000mAh battery. The device runs on Android 10 and is powered by the Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 chipset. With a price tag of about 130 EUR, the HTC Wildfire E3 offers a decent set of features for budget-conscious consumers.

Design and Build Quality

The HTC Wildfire E3 comes with a sleek and modern appearance that effortlessly blends style and functionality. The device is built with a glass front, plastic back, and plastic frame, which feels sturdy and durable when held. It measures 165.7 x 76.6 x 9 mm (6.52 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) and weighs 186 g (6.56 oz), making it comfortable to hold and operate with one hand.

The phone's physical design is ergonomic, with smooth curves on the edges that provide a secure grip and easy handling. The power button and volume rocker are located on the right side, and the USB Type-C port and 3.5mm headphone jack are positioned at the bottom.

One downside of the design is that the phone lacks water and dust resistance, which would have been a valuable addition to its durability features. However, the device's overall construction feels solid, and it can withstand minor falls and bumps.

In terms of aesthetics, the HTC Wildfire E3 is available in two color options: Blue and Black. Both colors are vibrant and eye-catching, offering users a choice between a more subtle or bold appearance. Overall, the HTC Wildfire E3's design and build quality are impressive, making it a reliable and attractive device.

Display

The HTC Wildfire E3 boasts a 6.52-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1560 pixels and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. While the resolution may not be as high as some of its competitors, the pixel density of 264 ppi is still decent enough for a budget phone.

The display technology used on the HTC Wildfire E3 is IPS LCD, which is known for its accurate color reproduction and wide viewing angles. The colors on the phone's display are vibrant and the black levels are deep, making for a pleasant viewing experience.

The brightness of the display is good enough for indoor use, but it may struggle a bit in direct sunlight. The phone also features a blue light filter to reduce eye strain during prolonged usage.

The touch sensitivity of the screen is responsive and accurate, making for a smooth and seamless user experience. Furthermore, the phone has a 82.2% screen-to-body ratio, which means that the bezels are quite slim, providing more screen real estate.

Overall, the HTC Wildfire E3's display is decent for a budget phone. While it may not have the highest resolution or the brightest display, it is still a good option for those who prioritize accurate color reproduction and wide viewing angles.

Performance

The HTC Wildfire E3 boasts an octa-core Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 processor, which is a decent chipset for a mid-range phone. Coupled with 4GB RAM, this device is capable of handling most tasks with ease. However, it may struggle with heavy multitasking and demanding apps.

In terms of gaming, the PowerVR GE8320 GPU provides sufficient graphics processing power for most games, but high-end games with advanced graphics may not perform optimally on this phone.

Benchmark scores for the HTC Wildfire E3 are respectable, but not exceptional. In real-world usage, the phone performs well for everyday tasks such as browsing the web, streaming videos, and social media.

One downside to the device is its eMMC 5.1 storage, which is slower than the newer UFS standard used in many modern smartphones. This may result in slower app load times and file transfers.

Overall, the performance of the HTC Wildfire E3 is suitable for everyday use, but may not meet the needs of power users or gamers.

Software and User Interface

The HTC Wildfire E3 runs on Android 10 with HTC's custom interface, which offers a unique look and feel compared to stock Android. The UI is smooth and user-friendly, with customization options that allow users to personalize their experience.

Pre-installed apps and bloatware are minimal, with only a few HTC-specific apps included that can be uninstalled if desired. The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible for users of all experience levels.

One downside is that the phone does not have the latest Android version, which could impact its longevity and ability to run the latest apps. However, HTC has been known to provide software updates in the past, so it's possible that the Wildfire E3 may receive Android updates in the future.

Overall, the software and user interface of the HTC Wildfire E3 offer a good user experience with a unique look and feel. While it may not have the latest version of Android, its user-friendly interface and minimal bloatware make it a solid choice for those seeking simplicity and customization options.

Camera

The HTC Wildfire E3 boasts of a quad-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 13 MP primary sensor, an 8 MP ultra-wide lens, a 2 MP macro lens, and a 2 MP depth sensor. The front-facing camera is a single 13 MP sensor.

In daylight, the camera captures images with good detail and color accuracy. The ultra-wide lens comes in handy for capturing stunning landscapes and group shots. However, in low light, the camera struggles to produce sharp and clear images, and noise is visible. The night mode feature helps to improve the low-light performance, but images still lack detail.

The macro lens does a decent job of capturing close-up shots, but the 2 MP resolution is limiting. The depth sensor provides good bokeh effect for portrait shots, but it struggles with edge detection.

Video recording is limited to 1080p at 30fps, and the lack of 4K recording is disappointing. However, video quality is good, with decent stabilization and audio capture.

The front-facing camera captures decent selfies, but again, low-light performance is lacking. The beauty mode feature helps to smoothen skin and improve overall appearance, but it can sometimes produce an artificial look.

Overall, the camera performance of the HTC Wildfire E3 is decent for its price point, but it falls short in low-light conditions and lacks 4K video recording. However, for casual photography and social media use, it should suffice.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

When it comes to connectivity and networking, the HTC Wildfire E3 offers a solid range of options. It supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE cellular networks, making it compatible with most carriers worldwide. Additionally, it is equipped with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and dual-band capabilities, providing reliable and fast wireless internet connectivity.

Bluetooth 4.2 and A2DP are also available, allowing users to pair their devices with compatible accessories and enjoy wireless music streaming. However, it is worth noting that the absence of NFC support means that mobile payments and other NFC-enabled features are not available on this device.

For navigation and location services, the HTC Wildfire E3 features GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDS, ensuring accurate and reliable location tracking. It also comes with FM radio and USB Type-C 2.0, OTG support, enabling users to listen to their favorite radio stations and transfer files quickly and efficiently.

There is a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, proximity, and compass sensors available on this phone, making it a convenient and secure device for users.

Overall, the HTC Wildfire E3 offers a decent range of connectivity and networking options that should satisfy most users' needs, although the lack of NFC support may be a drawback for some.

Additional Features

The HTC Wildfire E3 is packed with several additional features that are worth mentioning. One of the most notable features is the expandable storage options. With a microSDXC slot, users can easily expand their storage up to 1TB, providing ample space for storing photos, videos, and other media files.

Another feature that stands out on the HTC Wildfire E3 is its audio quality. The phone comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a rarity in modern smartphones. The sound quality is excellent, and the phone can produce loud and clear audio, making it ideal for music lovers and movie enthusiasts.

The phone also comes with a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, which adds an extra layer of security to the device. The scanner is fast, accurate, and responsive, making it easy to unlock the device quickly and securely.

In terms of connectivity, the HTC Wildfire E3 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, and Bluetooth 4.2. Unfortunately, the phone does not support NFC, which may be a deal-breaker for some users.

Finally, the phone features a USB Type-C 2.0 port, which supports OTG functionality. This means that users can connect external storage devices such as USB drives and external hard drives to the phone, making it easy to transfer files and data.

Overall, the HTC Wildfire E3 comes with a range of additional features that enhance its overall user experience. From expandable storage to audio quality and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, the phone is packed with features that make it a great choice for anyone looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with impressive specs.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the HTC Wildfire E3 to other related phones in its price range, several options come to mind. One such phone is the Samsung Galaxy A12. Like the Wildfire E3, the Galaxy A12 has a 6.5-inch display, although it has a higher resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. It also has a slightly larger battery than the Wildfire E3, coming in at 5000 mAh. However, the Wildfire E3 has a better processor with its Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 chipset compared to the Galaxy A12's Mediatek Helio P35.

Another comparable phone is the Xiaomi Redmi 9. It has a similar screen size and resolution to the Wildfire E3, but with a slightly larger battery at 5020 mAh. It also has a better camera setup with a 13 MP main shooter compared to the Wildfire E3's 8 MP ultrawide lens. However, the Wildfire E3's processor outperforms the Redmi 9's MediaTek Helio G80 chipset.

A third option is the Motorola Moto G9 Play. It has a similar display size and resolution as the Wildfire E3, but with a larger battery at 5000 mAh. However, the Wildfire E3's processor is more powerful with its Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 chipset compared to the Moto G9 Play's Snapdragon 662.

Overall, the HTC Wildfire E3 holds its own against these other phones in its price range with its competitive specs and features.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the HTC Wildfire E3 is a great budget phone that offers solid features for its price point. Its physical appearance is sleek and minimalist, while its build quality is durable and reliable. The phone's display is clear and bright, making it easy to use in different lighting conditions. Performance-wise, the Wildfire E3 is powered by a competent processor and chipset, allowing for smooth multitasking and gaming. The camera setup is impressive, capturing high-quality images and videos in various settings.

Connectivity-wise, the phone is compatible with different networks and offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS capabilities. Additionally, the battery life is decent, lasting throughout the day with moderate usage. Overall, the HTC Wildfire E3 is a great choice for those looking for a budget-friendly smartphone that offers a decent package of features.

However, it's important to note that the phone does have its limitations, such as its lack of water and dust resistance, and its slow charging speed. Additionally, the competition in the budget smartphone market is tough, with many other phones offering similar features at a similar price point.

In summary, the HTC Wildfire E3 is a great choice for those looking for a budget-friendly smartphone that offers a decent package of features. Its strengths include its physical appearance, build quality, display, performance, and camera setup. However, its weaknesses include its lack of water and dust resistance and slow charging speed. Ultimately, whether or not the Wildfire E3 is the right choice for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.