Htc First Reviews Roundup Built Not Only For Facebook Home

Facebook has partnered with HTC to release the Facebook Home for the first time on HTC First (marketing pun?) which we saw how it looks like thanks to some early leaks. The device is not a top of the line smartphone and maybe the preinstallation of the Facebook Home application is just another selling point. We take a look at the first reviews to have a better understanding of both the device and the software novelty from Facebook.

HTC First with Facebook Home Reviews

Facebook and HTC seem to work together pretty well – if you recall, HTC ChaCha & HTC Salsa (which aren’t being produced anymore) were also dubbed Facebook phones. Of course, back then, a simple button that would allow for quick Facebook access was enough to call it like that. HTC First is aimed at those that spend a lot of time on Facebook and use it as their main online communication service. But is this all that it can do? Let’s dig deeper.

Hardware & Design

If you’ll have a closer look at the pictures in the gallery, you’ll see that HTC First’s design doesn’t surprise you at all. It doesn’t have too many things to make it stand out, thus making it a perfect mid-range smartphone. But that’s the conclusion only if you look at it. If you get the chance to hold it, as reviewers have done, you realize that it’s actually pretty nice to hold in one hand. Dieter Bohn with The Verge: Dieter goes on to observe that HTC First is somewhat similar to the iPhone 3G/3GS, which is like a delayed compliment. The rounded edges and matte plastic usually makes one say a certain device feels cheap, but not this time. Another thing that you notice (or don’t?) is the light weight – only 124 grams (4.37 ounces). Brad Molen with Engadget says that HTC First’s design and build makes it seem like a playful device, even somewhat similar to the Nokia Lumia 620: Here are the full specs of the HTC First:

Dimensions: 125.99 x 65.04 x 8.89mm (4.96 x 2.56 x 0.35 inches) Weight: 4.37 oz. (124g) Screen: 4.3 inches, 1,280 x 720 (341 ppi), S-LCD2, non-PenTile Battery: 2,000mAh Li-Polymer (non-removable) Storage: 16GB internal, no external Camera: 5MP, BSI, f/2, 28mm lens rear; 1.6MP, BSI ultrawide angle front Video: 1080p / 30 fps (rear); 720p (front) NFC, LTE, Bluetooth v4.0, WiFi SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, CPU 1.4GHz dual-core, GPU Adreno 305 RAM 1GB LPDDR2 Android 4.1.2 (stock) + Facebook Home Micro-USB, Micro-SIM

The HTC First comes with the traditional touch-sensitive keys: back, home, and menu. As for the physical buttons, we have a volume rocker on the left side, power button on the top where we also find the 3.5mm jack. The speaker is on the bottom and the microSIM tray and microUSB port are to be found on the right edge. Josh Constine with TechCrunch :

Display & Camera

What’s really good about this phone is the display: at 4.3 inches, it has a 1,280 x 720 resolution which means it has a 341 ppi density, even bigger than the iPhone 5. Dieter observes that the HTC First comes with the right color balance, having no complaints about it. However, under bright sunlight, the screen might become difficult to see. Viewing angles are also quite good, even at almost 90 degrees. Therefore, you shouldn’t have too many complaints with regards to the 720p resolution Super LCD display.

Don’t expect any UltraPixels in the HTC First’s cameras. And when it comes to rating the experience with the 5 MP camera, the opinions of reviewers are shared. While Florence Ion with ArsTechnica is satisfied with it, saying the following: Brad is definitely expecting for more: All in all, if you really intend to take picture and to share it instantly on Facebook, then the quality of images this camera offers is just about right. And considering that you’re paying $100 to get it on a 2-years contract from AT&T, it’s not such a bad deal, after all. But for those looking for their next smartphone to be uber-fast and to take super awesome pictures this just might not do it. For those that don’t mind too much about crisp quality in their images, it will prove to be alright.

Performance & Battery Life

On the performance chapter, the HTC First comes with pretty decent specs, being powered by a 1.4 Ghz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor. Also, because it has LTE capabilities, it makes the most of AT&T’s 4G LTE network. Jessica Doulcourt with Cnet had no problems at all with the browsing and processing power of the device: Florence has a valid point when she observes that albeit the device is definitely not slow, we might feel the difference a year from now, when the processor might become too “old” for some. Brad also praises the processor beind HTC First and notices that it’s the first time such a combination has been used: A very important part of a new smartphone is the battery. With a 2,000mAh one, HTC First wants to make sure that it will be enough for your daily needs, promising up to 14.3 hours of talk time and up to 18.2 days of standby time. Vincent Nguyen with SlashGear is also impressed with the battery life but he notices a problem with Facebook Home that could be fixed in a future app update: Even if the battery might prove to be enough for your needs, Dieter warns to be careful on how you use the phone:

Facebook Home

For many out there, Facebook Home is an intriguing concept and it definitely comes with a few drawbacks. For others, a feature like Chat Heads might be enough to win their hearts away. But now matter how much we will talk about Facebook Home, the best way to say your opinion about it will be to test on your own. Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to test the beta build of Facebook Home on your Android phone or tablet. Facebook Home will also soon come to the following devices: HTC One, One X, One X+, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S4. Wired reviewer Alexandra Chang was also impressed by the Chat Heads feature, saying the following: Also, what’s interesting about HTC First’s software, as Vincent rightly observes, is that the devices comes with a pure, stock Android. Was it done to “welcome” Facebook Home? What’s that Cover Feed they’ve been talking so much, you might wonder? Brad puts is as simple as simple: and he also explains the app launcher and the menu: The biggest concerns that folks might have with Facebook Home on their devices revolve around two important things: data usage and battery life. Facebook has promised to update the Home application monthly, so they are expecting possible serious battery drainage. But, unless you have an application to monitor your data usage, then it might become a real problem.