HTC ThunderBolt Review
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Included in the retail box is the HTC ThunderBolt ADR6400 phone, 1400mAh battery, SanDisk 32GB Class 4 microSDHC memory card preinstalled, wall charger with detachable microUSB cable, and user guides.
Design:
The overall design of the HTC ThunderBolt is pleasing, but it isn’t ground-breaking by any means, as it looks to be an amalgamation of other HTC phones, such as the Inspire 4G and EVO 4G, though we like the black and graphite grey colors that are used on the exterior. The phone is constructed out of plastic, but feels quite sturdy, and has a noticeable weight to it, coming in at 6.23oz, making it even heavier than the 5.47oz metal DROID X. The ThunderBolt also has a generous size to it, and feels very “wide” when holding it, so people with smaller hands might not be as comfortable with it. When we placed the phone in our pants pocket, we could feel it there, and after walking some, the weight started to get annoying.
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The HTC ThunderBolt is constructed out of plastic, but feels quite sturdy | |||
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You can compare the HTC ThunderBolt with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.
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The Motorola DROID X (Left), the HTC ThunderBolt (Middle) and the Apple iPhone 4 (Right) | The Apple iPhone 4 (Top), the Motorola DROID X (Middle) and the HTC ThunderBolt (Bottom) |
We are glad to see that HTC stepped-up to a 4.3” WVGA capacitive display on the ThunderBolt, where the HTC Droid Incredible from last year was limited to a smaller 3.7”. Though in doing so you give up the AMOLED display for a standard TFT. One thing that we noticed (as we had 2 ThunderBolts to compare) was that one of them had better looking display, as colors were more saturated and life-like with good contrast, while the second ThunderBolt’s colors were a bit more “dull” and whites looked more gray. We looked at the same images, videos, and web pages on each, and could clearly see a difference. This doesn’t mean that the 2nd unit’s display is defective, as it could have been made at a different plant or not calibrated correctly, just that there are differences here that we noticed. Regardless, the one thing that we didn’t care for is that you can hardly read the display while being outside in sunlight, as it is dark and hard to see, even when the backlight is turned all the way up. In comparison, the Motorola DROID X is a bit easier to view in sunlight.
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HTC ThunderBolt in the middle, DROID X to the left, and iPhone 4 to the right | The Motorola DROID X (L) and the HTC ThunderBolt (R) | The HTC ThunderBolt (L) and the Apple iPhone 4 (R) |
The HTC ThunderBolt comes with the standard touch-sensitive buttons on the lower part, which will take you to the home screen, menu, back, and search. Up above is the earpiece speaker with a hidden LED status indicator that will flash green when you get a new message, as well as change between red and green while charging, and on the opposite side is a 1.3MP camera for taking self pictures, and (eventually) for video chatting via Skype. Along the sides are the microUSB port, volume rocker, power/lock key and 3.5mm headset jack. Even though the volume rocker is large and protrudes some from the surrounding plastic, the power/lock key (which is used more often) is small and flush with its surroundings, making it more difficult to find by touch alone. On the back is the 8MP autofocus camera with dual LED Flash, and a kickstand that comes in handy when watching videos, though we don’t like that it covers up the rear speaker when closed. Removing the battery cover can be quite difficult, but will reveal the hidden slot for the Verizon 4G SIM card, as well as the microSDHC memory card slot. One thing missing from the ThunderBolt is an HDMI output, but it does support Wi-Fi streaming to DLNA compatible products.
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The 1.3MP front-facing camera | On the back is the 8MP autofocus camera with dual LED flash |
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The left side | The right side | |
The sides of the HTC ThunderBolt | ||
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The back side and the battery cover | ||
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42 Comments
1. dirtydirty00 posted on 19 Mar 2011, 08:55 3 0
Mine also has a little static/buzz when the earpiece is turned all the way up... however i will say, that when turned all the way up, the volume is just way too loud. Its almost speakerphoneish. I have mine turned down to the half way mark. Not bc the quality, just bc the volume level.
as for my battery, i just got rid of my Incredible for this phone, and i think this battery is actually holding up better than my incredibles was.
2. dirtydirty00 posted on 19 Mar 2011, 09:01 1 0
ALSO I FOUND THIS ON SKYPE'S WEBSITE:
http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/get-skype/on-your-mobile/skype-mobile/
I WOULD ASSUME THIS WOULD BE TAKEN OFF BY NOW IF SKYPE WAS NOT MAKING THE APP ANYMORE. SEEMS THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE DEAD AFTERALL.
3. Griffin2003 (unregistered) posted on 19 Mar 2011, 10:57 0 5
the review states that the Thunderbolt is much faster than the Droid X loading web pages, yet you have a video on the site showing a real time comparison where the conclusion was that they were about the same speed. Can you explain this?
5. AstroStrat89 (unregistered) posted on 19 Mar 2011, 12:16 4 0
I think they stated that all the flash content was turned off on the X.
4. Tre-Nitty posted on 19 Mar 2011, 11:39 0 8
Exactly, the Droid x killed the thunderbolt. Stop trying to make this phone better than it is.
7. Rejeimha posted on 19 Mar 2011, 12:52 5 0
Go back and read the update on the comparison test. They admitted that the DX was rooted in order to remove the flash ads from the browser, and the Thunderbolt was keeping up with it out of the box even though it wasn't rooted.
18. tragichero posted on 21 Mar 2011, 13:39 1 0
i said on that comparison test and ill say it again. give it up tre-nitty.... your overwhelming bias is very apparent. its clear that anything you say regarding verizon should just be over looked. you have made up your mind already before the facts are out. thank you PA for letting the truth be known. i had previously said PA is the fox news of phones by how they tried to slam the thunderbolt and verizon with their faulty speed test comparioson and although i wont take back my comment i will commend you for letting us know the actual speed comparison in this review.
6. AstroStrat89 (unregistered) posted on 19 Mar 2011, 12:51 3 1
my cons so far... (upgraded from Eris)
It's just silly I can't charge and use the kick-stand
Screen is washed out in sunlight, Eris wasn't great either
Seem to be some very minor network "glitches" where the conx needs to reset or something. (update fix?)
cost, If I hadn't had a $100 NE2, i would have never gotten one.
Some pre-installed apps are annoying.
Would like a camera button.
Things I like
Screen otherwise is very nice to look at.
Eye popping 4g speeds
Very snappy even when running lots-o-apps
Sense upgrades are nice and useful.
LED under ear piece grid makes nice pattern on the ceiling in the dark :-)
Kickstand more useful then I thought
I think the camera is better then most give credit, the flash worked well for me.
I like the weight my self, feels nice in the hand
Free hotspot til May 15th! Sweet.
Things people need to relax about.
Battery life, give it time and I'll bet battery life will get better. The Eris was bas at 1st too. Also it seems to be the screen that's eating the battery. Not the 4g, but what do I know?
not dual core, I know two is better, but how much more battery will that take, and are you running a web server or something? Geeze.
No HDMI, really? Realllyyy? use the stream Luke.
8. taco50 posted on 19 Mar 2011, 13:12 6 0
I played around with it. The speeds are impressive.
10. taco50 posted on 19 Mar 2011, 15:02 6 1
I'm not the troll. You sniggly and the rest of the Apple bashers are the trolls. I have no problems with android phones. I'm happy with my iPhone and at the same time realize other companies make good phones. I don't need to bash everyone that doesn't want the same phone as me.
11. Lucas777 posted on 19 Mar 2011, 15:07 1 1
that was a nice comment
12. Kjayhawk posted on 19 Mar 2011, 18:54 1 0
I agree, I hate when people bash the iPhone just because its an iPhone. I get even more pissed off though when Apple fanboys get in an argument that makes no sense and act like they know what they are talking about, same goes for android fan boys. I don't pay attention to who is who, but overall I agree with your argument, things just get plain annoying
15. protozeloz posted on 20 Mar 2011, 13:21 0 0
I'll Give you thumbs for saying you aren't a troll, and I'll try not to strike you, but sometimes you do look like one.
bout calling me troll, I don't think I go brainlessly bashing against apple, But i can be proven wrong. I have to say they(Apple) produce pretty darn good stuff, I just hate when people brag calling other peoples tech trash or useless crap and start doing the 1 vs 100 comparison among other I say the apple VS android is a win loose comparison with anyone you win something and loose something.
13. Nunez20v posted on 20 Mar 2011, 00:48 2 2
I returned mine today. I was only getting about 3 hours of battery life and the phone was actually running hot in temperature. The google maps and any other "navigation" app were totally off and not accurate. Don't get me wrong; the phone has great DL speeds in the Dallas, TX area. I just can't deal with the battery life and having to charge it up to 3 times per day. Also, the phone said it came with 8GBs; after a couple of apps downloaded I was down to 2GB. Maybe the Bionic will hold it down.
19. tragichero posted on 21 Mar 2011, 13:45 1 0
it sounds like you had a deffective phone buddy..... maybe you should of just exchanged since you still had 11 days to try it.
24. Nunez20v posted on 21 Mar 2011, 22:27 1 1
Maybe I did have a defected phone; just as well as 4 other people that same day @ Verizon (including the rep himself). But I guess that's why they offered the 14 day worry free return policy right? =)
37. tragichero posted on 14 Apr 2011, 14:31 1 1
yeah or maybe your lying.... i have the thundrbolt my sister has the thunderbolt my mom has the thunderbolt.... thinking about getting grandma the thunderbolt..... none with problems you speak of. and it looks like those problems cant be as widespread as you say or there would have been a recall by now. battery is nothing special but clearly 3 hours is not what should happen. i get about 20 hours of battery a day using it very frequent. lucky for me im not awake 20 hours a day. you suck troll!
39. Nunez20v posted on 21 Apr 2011, 23:39 1 0
I suck troll? WTF is this, kindergarden? I chose not to keep a phone because of its performance and the issues it provided. I just went back to my simple and very effective BlackBerry Curve. Obviously you've read continuous posting on the battery life. If they haven't had a recall for the device they probably will in a couple of months. Look at everyone trying to figure out how to turn this off and turn that off yet not being able to enjoy the full functionalities of the phone. What's the purpose of pocketing out $250 if I can't even enjoy it?
25. theo14461 posted on 23 Mar 2011, 22:33 2 1
Returned mine also. Great display, good call quality, nice build and feel, horrific battery life. Would drain 20% in about an hour of "normal use"
