HTC Sensation Phone Review

The HTC Sensation appears to live up to its name with a new dual-core processor, media sharing, video editing and a new-look HTC Sense user experience.


We admit it: after seeing HTC’s smartphone line-up at Mobile World Congress we felt like we were missing something. Though the Desire S and Incredible S are lovely handsets, HTC seemed to be missing a trick, with its competitors spruiking handsets using the latest dual-core processors. It turns out that they were just waiting for the right moment.

Or should that be waiting for the right dual-core processor? HTC has indeed delivered a phone with double the power, but it isn’t using the same Nvidia Tegra 2 processor that most other makers have turned to. Instead, HTC sticks with Qualcomm, packing a dual-1.2GHz Snapdragon chip with a new Adreno 220 graphics processor in the mix. What does this mean for phones? The video below comes from Qualcomm itself and shows what this baby is capable of.

Physically, the Sensation will look and feel like most other phones in the HTC stable. It shares the same size and shape as the Desire HD (minus a few millimetres here and there) and is about 20 grams lighter. Unlike the Desire HD, however, the Sensation’s 4.3-inch display with be a qHD resolution Super LCD display (960 x 540). This should make HTC’s Sense UI look even better.

Speaking of the Sense UI, the Sensation (get it?) will be the first handset to use the new Sense 3.0. This new version appears to have a 3D rotating effect when scrolling between homescreens, similar to the HTC Flyer tablet, and there is improved functionality on the lock-screen, letting you launch specific tasks before unlocking the handset.

Some of you who have already scoured the web for specs may have noticed the lack of an HDMI port. HTC is claiming the Sensation is a “multimedia superphone” but surely you can’t give that title to a phone that you can’t plug into a TV? Sure enough, HTC has thought of this too, including a Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) port. This means that the Sensation is compatible with HDMI, provided HTC includes the microUSB-to-HDMI adapter in the box.

Outlook
HTC fans, you can breathe easy; your favourite company’s roadmap is back on track. The Sensation appears to live up to its awkward moniker: a potent combination of power, function and form. This handset will certainly give iPhone 3GS users something to think about when their contracts expire in July.

At a glance

• Size:126.1mm x 65.4mm x 11.3mm
  4.96" x 2.57" x 0.44"
• Weight:148 grams (5.22 ounces) with battery
• Display:4.3-inch touch screen
• Screen:109 mm (4.3")
  with qHD (540 X 960) resolution

It's all in the details

•  Immerse yourself in richer movie watching and music listening experience with virtual surround sound.
•  Capture life in vivid detail on the full HD camcorder with stereo sound recording.
•  Easily trim your videos down to the best frames and share them on your favorite social network.
•  Share videos and photos to your big screen TV wirelessly via DLNA.
•  Connect to a Wi-Fi printer to easily print your photos, documents and web pages.

Posted in: HTC,News