HTC Inspire 4G at AT

HTC Inspire 4G: Basic Specifications

• Dimensions: 122.9 x 68.1 x 11.7mm
• Display: 4.3 inch S-LCD capacitive touchscreen
• Weight: 163.9 grams
• Processor: 1GHz Scorpion processor, Adreno 205 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon
• Memory: 768MB RAM, 4GB internal storage with support for microSD up to 32GB
• Operating System:  Android 2.2
• Camera: 8MP, autofocus with dual LED flash
• Battery: Up to 6hrs talk time

The HTC Inspire 4G boasts a 4.3 inch 800x480 pixel screen that doesn’t just make for comfortable viewing but also smooth and easy on the finger. Buttons have been kept to a minimum. Volume settings, power, and lock are all operated off-screen, as are the haptic controls for Home, Menu, Back and Search.

The accelerometer allows users to turn on the speakerphone by simply turning the phone over, a clever little touch that will make car chats easier. There’s also room for a USB terminal and the usual audio jack.

The back of the phone has been carefully designed too. Removal rubber panels provide quick access to the SIM card, the battery, and the MicroSD card which can increase the phone’s storage from 4GB to a more useful 32GB.

On the inside, the Inspire 4G runs the latest version of HTCSense, the company’s own user interface, and Android 2.2 (Froyo). The overall user experience is delightfully smooth, fast and simple – a result which is contributed by the device’s second generation 1GHz Snapdragon processor. The Personalize icon in the launch menu also gives users the chance to customize their home screen to match their individual styles.

Of more use though is the Manage Applications hub that shows which apps are running in the background. Stopping some apps by force may well become routine as it should help with conserving of battery power. Although HTC claims that the battery can support six hours of talk time, the phone sucks up battery power fast once apps are running, and you can expect yourself to charge the phone at the end of the day or risk running out of power when you least want it to.

The camera too turns out to produce noise and poor white balance in low light.This is a pity as the 8MP camera sounds like a good deal but unfortunately, the actual performance left much to be desired.

However, for a smartphone that is available for as little as $70 depending on the contract, the HTC Inspire 4G should do just fine.