You saw the hands-on and now you see the review! To start off, this loaner handset was provided by HTC for review, as well as all other handsets reviewed on LaptopMemo. Read the Disclosure Policy for more info.
The Sprint Hero itself:
You have Android 1.5, and even though it’s old, it gets the job done. Now to clarify the latter sentence. It gets the job done, it doesn’t blow it out the window. Explanation: Google Maps works great, Sprint 3G is great, the multitouch feature is perfect for those missing the iPhone’s pinch and zoom feature. Even Android 1.5 is great with the Sense UI installed, but the only problem is….
Overheating
Play a game that’s not too demanding and you’ll find that your hand is holding something that feels warm. Go check out the browser and it get a little warmer. Then go to YouTube and it feels like it’s going to burn in your hand.
Style
It’s not an ugly phone, and it’s not pretty either, although the trackball definitely helps. Would you rather buy the redesigned DROID ERIS or the Hero? Think about it. Carefully. Same OS, great 3G networks, but a big difference in price, but better looks on the ERIS.
Web Browsing
Browsing the web is easy with the multitouch, and the virtual keyboard doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. There’s even Flash on it, and browsing LM was in fact very easy, along with sites like CNN (not the mobile version, the desktop one).
Camera & Video
It has a 5 megapixel camera that can take shots if you give it time to “think” and autofocus, which depends on the light conditions. After that, you can pretty much take unstable and seasick videos as well as photos.
Battery Life
A stronger battery was a great improvement in the Sprint Hero. Under very heavy use expect about 4+ hours of usage, and at least 12+ hours in for voice.
Verdict:
Besides the Moto Droid and Eris, this is the next best thing. At the price of $180 it’s hard to beat. In fact, as of the writing of this review it’s out of stock on Sprint’s website. I would say you should buy it for the holidays, but then remember the HTC Eris is lighter, slimmer, better looking, and did I mention cheaper? $80 dollars cheaper. Think for yourself.
[Sprint]
