iPhone 4 vs HTC EVO 4G
We had such great success with our article comparing the iPhone 4 vs DROID Incredible that we decided to continue the debate by adding another device into the mix. This time, we think its a little better match up with plenty to debate and discuss. The article that we published Monday regarding the iPhone 4 and the DROID Incredible started some pretty heated debates in our comments section so we are hoping to have similar results and see what everyone has to say about this match up. We hope you enjoy!
iPhone 4 vs HTC EVO 4G
There is no doubt with Android laying claim to more and more market share that Apple needed to take some drastic steps when introducing their next version of the iPhone, the iPhone 4. Monday when Steve Jobs announced the new device, it came as little surprise that exactly that happened. The device is simply stunning, however just because it possesses curb appeal and an Apple logo doesn’t necessarily instantly win over many users and there are several pitfalls associated with the device. The most notable, it’s restricted carrier. With more and more complaints with AT&T’s service the iPhone has seen a decline in market share to its emerging competition the Android based phones, who allow for unrestricted usage on multiple networks and also multiple different phones. The one this article will detail is the HTC EVO, probably the iPhone’s most notable adversary to date. While the DROID and DROID Incredible did an excellent job of getting the name out there through various advertising attacks on the iPhone their biggest success was getting Google’s Android OS more publicity and now with the OS being used on multiple phones its popularity is all the more ever increasing. The new HTC EVO is the most recent release which will definitely give the iPhone 4 a run for its money. Especially considering the new carrier that is hosting the device, Sprint, has the worlds only 4G network. Below we are going to outline these differences as well as many others and compare the two devices spec for spec to give you, the users, the full scoop on each of these precisely crafted smartphones.
Cosmetics
Apple is of course known for their sleek designs and the iPhone 4 isn’t going to be the exception. The new phone comes with a stainless steel band that couples as the iPhone 4 antenna and is engineered to be 4 times stronger than steel and allows for the extra thin and rigid design. In addition to the stainless steel band, both the front and back are made with engineered aluminosilcate glass (the same stuff used in high speed trains and helicopters). The glass is designed to be 20 times stiffer and 30 times stronger than plastic. Also it’s extremely durable.
In comparison, the HTC EVO, sports a sleek black plastic casing and because the device has such a large display, they even felt it necessary to give this monster a kickstand. From a strictly user driven perspective, this device clearly has curb appeal and has a gorgeous display (more details on this later). It was crafted beautifully and certainly won’t be an eyesore for any user.
Size and Weight (Dimensions)
The new iPhone 4G weighs in at 4.8 ounces (137 grams) and measures 4.5 inches (H) by 2.31 inches (W) by 0.37 inches (D). The HTC EVO comparably weighs in 6 ounces (170 grams) and measures 4.8 inches (H) by 2.6 inches (W) by 0.5 inches (D). As you can see the differences here are pretty noticeable. The reason for this is the HTC EVO’s monstrous display. The iPhone 4G dimensions differ nearly in every aspect, which may be a good thing for some users who aren’t looking to carry around a mini computer in their pocket. In this case the iPhone 4 has combined form with function and tried to strike a perfect blend of both size and functionality. However, in any case, there are always going to be users out there that want the big guy and that’s what the HTC EVO is. While it’s slightly heavier and larger, it still will fit in a pocket and provides the same form and function that the iPhone 4 provides with a slightly larger ego.
If size and weight are a deciding factor for you, this will obviously be a user preference.
Cellular Carriers and Wireless
As expected the iPhone 4 will continue it’s relationship with AT&T and will operate on their GSM/EDGE Network while the HTC EVO operates on the only 4G network (CMDA), the Sprint network. For most this is going to be the major purchasing point. There are countless issues that have arisen as a result of data hungry users on the AT&T network and they simply haven’t been able to keep up. In addition their 3G coverage is spotty at best and frequent dropped calls are almost a given. While this may seem like an obvious hitch, AT&T has promised to improve their networks and have been working diligently in association with Apple to do so and have even introduced caps on certain users who are abusing data usage, though I feel that if it is offered you should be able to use as much as you want. However, all the same, the Sprint network doesn’t seem to have these problems and probably won’t in the foreseeable future. In addition to this, they offer the worlds only 4G network, which claims speeds up to 10x faster than AT&T’s current 3G speeds. (Industry standards present 3G average speeds at 600Kbps – 1.7Mbps and 4G average speeds at 3 – 6 Mbps)
The network that carries these two phones will probably be the decisive factor over every other thing discussed between the two phones so I don’t want to dwell to heavily upon this characteristic. If you would like to get details on which carrier to go with and who will be the better fit for you, please visit their corresponding websites:
As for wireless capabilities both the iPhone 4 and HTC EVO offer 802.11 b/g, however the iPhone 4 also supports wireless 802.11 n. Additionally each also offer Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and I believe the new iPhone 4G is going to offer wireless tethering via the OS 4 release which will allow for automatic syncing much like the MacBook’s and other current Apple devices.
Location Services
The iPhone 3GS previously offered maps and directions via Google Maps through a proprietary app, but with the release of the iPhone 4G they will now have assisted GPS and also their all important standard “digital compass,” which, in my opinion is probably the most useless item on the entire phone. Also, as before the location services will be performed via wi-fi and cellular triangulation. As for the HTC EVO, they will be offering Google Maps with GPS Navigation. There is not a huge difference here between the two but it would appear that the Android compatible HTC EVO may have slightly better offerings as it is coupled directly with Google’s navigation services and their support will be a decisive advantage for not only the DROID Incredible but all phones taking advantage of the Android OS.
In addition to this, with the HTC EVO’s kickstand and huge display, turn by turn navigation should be a snap if you are comfortable with sitting your phone on your dash or purchasing one of the available holders to mount it. Either way, if you go with the iPhone 4 or the HTC EVO I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with their navigation services.
Power and Battery
The iPhone 4G will come equipped with a built in rechargeable lithium ion battery. The battery can be recharged via USB connection to a computer or the standard power adapter unit. The HTC EVO also comes equipped with a rechargeable lithium ion battery that can be charged in the same way. The big difference you’ll see here is that the HTC EVO battery is removable and therefore exchangeable in the event one battery goes out and you have a secondary. This shouldn’t really be a huge concern unless you plan on going on a camping trip or somewhere where you are likely to not have access to a power grid. In which case, I doubt you are going to need your cell phone anyway.
With regards to talk time, standby and usage times, the iPhone 4 offers a whopping 7 hours of talk time on 3G and 14 hours on 2G with standby time of up to 300 hours. In terms of internet usage, that means you can surf comfortably for around 6 hours on 3G and 10 hours via a Wi-Fi connection. For those video and audio hungry users, you can enjoy up to 10 hours of video playback and 40 hours of your favorite music.
In comparison, although the HTC EVO’s specs weren’t officially given, estimates calculate that the HTC EVO can only offer up to 6 hours of talk time and I’ve heard around 7 days of standby time but I can’t be 100% sure of this. Unfortunately without knowing for sure I can’t say exactly which battery is better, but I would assume that the iPhone 4 with its more advanced and larger battery would be the winner. For most users who plug in their device every night anyway, this doesn’t become a huge issue anyway though. For the power hungry and media intensive users however, the iPhone 4 may be the best option.
Capacity (Memory and Storage)
Although the new iPhone 4G was expected to provide up to 64GB of internal memory, the actual spec came out to be the same as the iPhone 3GS upscale model at 32GB of total internal memory. They also offer a 16GB version much like was previously offered when the 3GS entered the market. By comparison the HTC EVO offers a measly 1GB of internal memory. However, to counteract this obviously small internal memory they do allow for expansion capability of up to 32 GB via a mircoSD card for a total 33GB of storage. This may not seem like an overly large difference until you consider the fact that you cannot store apps on the 32GB of external memory. (See our iPhone DROID Hardware Comparison article for more details.)
With regards to memory, if you plan on downloading large numbers of apps, the iPhone 4 is the obvious better option, however if most of your memory usage will be for photos, video, and music the HTC EVO may offer a substantially better option because users would be able to swap microSD cards for each of the above mediums depending on what they needed at the time. For most users having to deal with purchasing an additional memory card and keep track of it may just be too much of a hassle. Especially considering the starting price tag for the EVO is higher than that of the iPhone 4 and requiring additional purchases just to increase memory seems a bit much to ask.
Display
Now is where we really start to notice some BIG differences. Up until this point, the two phones have been relatively evenly matched with minimal differences here and there, but Apple really went the extra mile with their new display. The 3.5 inch retina display that they offer has a huge 960 x 640 pixel resolution with 326 ppi. The HTC EVO by comparison offers a monstrous 4.3 inch screen but with pixel resolution of only 800 x 480. While the HTC EVO obviously wins the size differential the quality of the display is much better on the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 offers 614,400 total pixels in it’s 3.5 inch display while the HTC EVO only provides about half that much in its 4.3 inch display at 384,400. This is a huge advantage for the iPhone 4 in terms of pixel quality, but to most users the larger screen size may be an overbearing perk that negates the better quality of the smaller iPhone 4 screen. In addition to the better pixel ratio’s the iPhone 4G also offers a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on not only the front screen, but the back of the device as well. The contrast for the device is also significantly better at 800:1. All in all, this really will all come down to quantity over quality and which the user prefers.
Camera, Video, and Photos
The iPhone 4 made a huge improvement on its camera capabilities not only for photos but for video as well. The new iPhone 4 will be equipped with a 5-megapixel backside still camera capable of recording HD quality video’s at 720p with up to 30 frames per second with audio. Additionally the backside camera also offers an LED flash. The HTC EVO offers a slightly better 8-megapixel backside camera that also supports autofocus and 720p video recording with a dual LED flash instead of just a single, but only supports 25 frames per second in comparison to the iPhone 4′s 30. This isn’t a staggering difference but given the HTC EVO’s dual LED flash it’s likely going to take the better nigh time photos while the iPhone 4 will record better 720p video with its 30 fps.
Additionally, both devices have the exact same 1.3-megapixel VGA frontside camera for video conferencing capabilities though each require slightly different software packages to use this feature. The HTC EVO is compatible with video chat apps like Qik Live and Fring, while the iPhone 4 will make use of FaceTime. The main difference you’ll see with the video chat is due to Sprint’s 4G network capabilities the video conferencing can be done anytime anywhere that 4G coverage is available while the iPhone 4 requires that you be within range of a Wi-Fi connection due to their slower 3G network.
Both phones come with their own photo management software and really offer similar capabilities in this regard, so the big decision, if the camera is a major selling point for you, will be which phone better fits your lifestyle and media needs. It appears the iPhone 4 offers slight advantages for video coupled with their higher and better resolution screen may edge out the HTC EVO but then again the EVO offers a higher megapixel rating and again makes use of a larger screen to line up and shoot the photos. What you use the camera for most should really dictate this portion of the purchase.
Operating System
There is obviously a huge difference between the two operating systems each platform offers. Apple offers it’s home spun iPhone OS 4 and the HTC EVO makes use of the Android 2.1 OS currently and will later take advantage of the Android 2.2 OS when it is released later this year. Unfortunately, with respect to operating systems, there are just too many differences and features to outline in this article. However, the most notable difference that to this point has been a major advantage for Android based phones are their ability to support multitasking. With the new iPhone OS 4 now enabling this capability it levels the playing field for this facet and takes away this definitive advantage.
For full details on each of the two operating system offerings please visit their corresponding websites:
Sensors
Both phones offer accelerometers, nothing new there, however the iPhone 4 has introduced a new three-axis gyro which will allow for it to more precisely detect user movements and motion. Additionally both phones offer a proximity sensor (near the ear-piece, available in the iPhone 3GS as well) and an ambient light sensor (most likely for the LED Flash for the cameras). The HTC EVO does not offer the three-axis gyro however. This most likely will not be distinguishable for most unless you are a gaming intensive user that really wants to take advantage of the motion sensing technologies. In which case the iPhone 4 may be the better option anyway given its vastly larger app store and game offerings.
Processor
Apple again went the extra mile and designed their own new proprietary A4 chip which is not only supposedly faster than the 1GHz Snapdragon processor that the HTC EVO offers, but provides less strain on the battery which means it saves more power so that their larger battery lasts even longer. This can not yet be confirmed as the A4 chip has not been tested in the wild, but from preliminary reports it appears to have the advantage. We won’t know for sure on this until its release date June 28th.
Price
You’ll notice up until this point I really haven’t mentioned anything with regards to the price for the devices. The main reason for this is that, in my opinion, this won’t really be a factor. For most, if you want something badly enough you are going to pay whatever price the manufacturer is asking. But for those interested, the price for the HTC EVO is offered at $299.99 with a 2 year contract agreement with an option for a $100.00 mail in rebate. iPhone 4 will be offered at $299.99 for the 32GB device and $199.99 for the 16GB device with a 2 year contract agreement. The big difference here as mentioned previously in the article is that for he $300 price tag on the HTC EVO you are only getting a 1GB internal memory. Also included with the phone comes a 8GB microSD card bringing the total available memory up to 9GB for the device. However, users will be able to purchase an additional microSD card (up to 32GB) if you want further storage.
Flash Support and Other Advantages
Until recently this hasn’t been a huge issue, but with Apple making it apparent that there is no future for Flash in their devices and that they will be adhering to the HTML 5 standards, it has become a huge advantage for the Android powered smartphones. Apple has stated very blatantly that they feel HTML 5 will be the new standard for media rich web applications and that this “open” standard should be followed and that Flash has no place on the web. While this may or may not be the case, with many websites and applications taking advantage of Flash, the HTC EVO definitely has a major advantage with its support for Flash 4.0. Enabling its users to take advantage of existing web applications and sites that make use of Flash will certainly appeal to not only users but developers already using Flash on their sites and applications as well. In the future, if Flash does go away, this may not be as big of an advantage but for the time being, it certainly appears that it may be a decisive factor for many and gives the HTC EVO the edge.
Another advantage that the HTC EVO has is its coupling with many of Google’s features and their direct integration. Since Google isn’t going anywhere anytime soon and has been making huge strides with its mobile operating system Android any phones that are making use of this OS will have a huge advantage in their partnership with the mega giant. It allows for separation of focus and allows hardware developers to focus on the phone itself while Google focus’s on the OS that will run them. For Apple, they have taken on the burden of supporting both hardware and software and may slow them down as may be an indication by their relatively late release of the iPhone 4. This delay in release has allowed for Android powered phones to make strides in breaking off market share that Apple previously dominated.
In addition, the HTC EVO offers a HDMI out port so that users can directly stream their videos and pictures to devices that accept the video and picture formats. A distinct advantage over the iPhone 4 which has no comparable option.
As always, if you enjoyed this article and comparison please consider “liking” or sharing this article and also, if you have heard, or have something to say about either of the two models, please comment below because we’d love to hear from you.
