Although this review may seem a little late in the game, since the AT&T HTC Inspire 4G originally hit store shelves in the middle of February, it is still a note worthy device. I recently was able to get a hold of a review unit to share our thoughts and views of this device. Especially since many people are not coming off a contract when a new device is launched.
In part 1 of this review I am just going to go over the basics with some photos of the device as it looks and compare it in size to my T-Mobile Vibrant. Next week, after I have had some time with it, I will give a more in depth look at the software, battery life and many other things. So keep your eyes open for that one too.
I feel we should probably take just a quick look at the actual specs of the Inspire as it pertains to the first part of this review.
Display
- 4.3 inch LCD screen
- 480 X 800 resolution
- 16 Million colors
Dimensions
- Size -Â 4.84″ x 2.68″ x 0.46″
- Weight -Â 5.78 ounces
Memory
- 4GB internal
- 1GB application
- 8GB External SD – expandable up to 32GB
Camera
- 8 Megapixles
- Full 720p video capture
- Auto focus
- Dual LED flash
When I opened the box for the first time my initial thoughts were, “WOW, this is sleek looking.” When I pulled the device from the box I was surprised by how good it felt in my hands. As a Galaxy S user, I was expecting it to feel heavy, bulky and just plain ‘too much’ phone. You can easily feel the weight difference between the two devices. The measurable difference is 1.58 ounces. I would have to say though, it is not as drastic of a weight difference in your hand or your pocket.
The first thing I noticed is the design of the device. Its unibody aluminum construction makes it feel solid and durable instantly. I feel like I could use it as a weapon if I had too. On the left side you will have quick access to your volume up and down key. On the top you will find your power button and on the bottom of the device you’ll find the charging port and the headphone jack. Not a bad lay out in my opinion. Many people may argue the placement of the charging port and the headphone jack being on the bottom instead of the top or side. It really comes down to preference.
The next thing I did was pair it up with my T-Mobile Vibrant. to give myself and you guys something to compare this device to visually.
Being that the screen size is much larger then the Vibrant, I expected the Inspire to make my phone look like a toy. As you can see from the photos above, it doesn’t. Even though the physical measurements show a decent difference, in actuality it’s not as much as one would think.
The camera lens protrubes from the top middle of the Inspire. It is comparable to the rear bottom lip on the back of the Vibrant. I only have two thoughts about this. 1. When setting the device down, I fear scratching the lens. 2. The only purpose for this I can figure out, is to give the device enough elevation to not muffle the speaker, which is located just to the right of the camera lens.
My final observation of the overall design of the Inspire are the locations of the battery, SD card and SIM.
The photo on the left shows you where the battery tucks into the device. It fits extremely snug and is not spring loaded, which is good, one less failure reason. There isn’t a release button or any other convenient way to extract the battery from the phone. A simple tap on the hand with the battery facing down helped it slide out.
The photo on the right shows you where the SIM and SD card are placed. The SD card is on the left and is your typical spring loaded release system. The SIM simply slides in and out.
As far as accessing either of these two ‘compartments’, they are near impossible. I felt as though I was going to break the phone or the covers every time I opened them. Needless to say, I only opened it a few times for this article and have no desire to try again.
I hope this gives anyone thinking about buying this device a few things to consider before hand. Don’t forget, I will have part 2 of this review with the operation of this device next week.
