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HTC EVO 4G hardware overview and first impressions

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Now that I've got my new HTC EVO out of its box, let's take a closer look at the hardware before firing it up for the first time.

First Impressions of the Hardware

The 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen is one of the primary things that stands out about the EVO; it's really all you see when you look at the phone. I wasn't as awestruck by its size as others may be because I've had an HTC HD2, which has the same screen, for several months and also spend a lot of time with MIDs and UMPCs on Pocketables, but it's still eye-catching.

No, what actually grabbed my attention was the EVO's build quality. Even though the device is heavier than the HD2 (6 oz vs 5.54 oz), it feels lighter and even a tad less sturdy to me. The glass front is incredibly strong and gives the handset a substantial heft, but the soft plastic back plate is thin and flexible enough to almost feel flimsy. I don't know if this is true, but it almost feels like I could try to fold it in half and break it in the process. When attached to the EVO, there's even a bit of flex when you press on it, which only adds to that slightly flimsy feel. The HD2's brushed metal back is much stronger and looks more elegant to me.

Without comparing it to the HD2, though, the EVO looks and feels impressive. The all-glass front is very sleek and keeps the phone looking clean because there aren't any crevices for dust and debris to fall into. I don't know if I would've even noticed the quality of the back plate if not for my previous HD2 experience. All I probably would've thought was that the EVO was stunning.

And it is. When it was first announced, I remember not liking the look of the capacitive buttons on the front or the red accents on the back, but now those are some of my favorite design elements. The EVO already looks incredible when you look at pictures of it online, but it's even better in person.

Hardware Tour

Now let me give you a tour of the EVO hardware.

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Above the screen is the wide silver earpiece and front-facing camera. Located on the left side of the earpiece in an LED indicator that blinks to notify of you missed calls, new email, and other activity.

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Below the screen are four very responsive capacitive touch buttons: Home, Menu, Back, and Search. The microphone, micro USB port, and HDMI (type D) port are at the bottom of the EVO.

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There's a glossy volume rocker with good tactile feedback on the right side, and nothing on the left.

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On the top of the EVO, you'll find a standard 3.5mm headphone jack that creates a small mound on the back and a glossy rectangular power/lock button. Above the power button (or behind it, depending on how you're looking at the phone) is a notch for the battery cover/back plate.

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There's a lot going on on the back of the HTC EVO.

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At the top of the back are a dual LED flash, 8-megapixel camera, and speaker grill.

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On the bottom is a metal kickstand that flips out and back into place with ease. It sets the EVO at a 45-degree angle.

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The back plate comes off easily and reveals the EVO's red insides.

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The microSD card slot (8GB card included) is beneath the battery, so don't expect to be able to swap cards without interruption while you're using the phone.

And that's the HTC EVO 4G hardware!

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Jenn K. Lee

Jenn K. Lee is the founder of Pocketables. She loves gadgets the way most women love shoes and purses. The pieces in her tech wardrobe that go with everything are currently the Samsung Galaxy Note II, Sony Tablet P, and Nexus 7, but there are still a couple of vintage UMPCs/MIDs in the back of her closet.

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