HTC EVO Design 4G for Boost Mobile hands-on

Want an Ice Cream Sandwich powered device with 4G data speeds from a premium manufacturer like HTC – all on a competitively priced prepaid plan from Boost Mobile? While previously unheard of, now you can have your cake and eat it too with the HTC EVO Design 4G on Boost Mobile.

We got a chance to check out this device, which hits store shelves on May 31st, and it’s an impressive addition to Boost Mobile’s prepaid lineup. On the outside nothing really changes from its postpaid counterpart on Sprint except for the Boost Mobile branding on the rear. It’s a small, sleek device that, while it initially struck us as a tad on the heavy side, we immediately took notice of the solid feel of the device thanks to its aluminum unibody construction.

The HTC EVO Design 4G features a 4-inch qHD display, 1.2 GHz processor, 768 MB RAM, 5-megapixel rear-facing camera with 720p video, 1.3-megapixel front facing camera, 4 GB of internal storage, 2 GB microSD card that is expandable up to 32 GB, and 4G WiMAX connectivity. The biggest difference between the Boost Mobile variant and its Sprint predecessor is that this handset is powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Flipping through the interface we found the handset peppy and responsive. The Ice Cream Sandwich experience combined with HTC Sense provides the attractive and intuitive UI that we have come to expect from HTC.

In addition to this being the first device from Boost Mobile that offers 4G connectivity, this smartphone touts two other firsts for the carrier – it will feature Visual Voicemail for no additional charge and it is also the first Boost Mobile device to offer built-in mobile hotspot functionality. The mobile hotspot can share a 3G or 4G connection with up to 5 other devices for $10 a month.

This handset can be paired with Boost Mobile’s Monthly Unlimited Android plan that gives you unlimited talk, text, and web for $55. With this shrinking plan it is possible to lower your bill to just $40. After every 6 on-time payments your monthly cost will drop $5.

Overall, this is a great offering from Boost Mobile. It offers competitive monthly rates, no contract, the latest Android experience, and 4G connectivity. The HTC EVO Design 4G costs $299.99 outright and will be available from Boost Mobile’s website and stores on May 31, 2012. Other popular retails such as Best Buy, Target, and Walmart will offer the HTC EVO Design 4G in June.