There is bad news for those of you who were waiting for this thing. What was once hoped to be a great Android tablet for a holiday launch may now be a great Android tablet with a much later window than that.
Tech Radar is reporting that the HTC Quattro (see the initial rumor here) won’t be available until March 2012 at the earliest. Sure, that’s only a few months out but considering how fast things in the tech world move it seems like a lifetime.
The HTC Quattro is said to be coming to market with NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor inside alongside 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 10.1 inch 1280×768 display and Beats Audio technology. You can expect at least Honeycomb, though we’re keeping our fingers crossed for Ice Cream Sandwich.
Up against the Transformer Prime this may be a missed opportunity for HTC, though I suppose it all depends on who’s coming out with that by that time. In any case, sit tight as we may be in for a long wait.
Another day, another rumored tablet. Another new rumored HTC device, period. This time we’re being treated to an early look at the HTC Quattro, a 10.1 inch tablet rumored to have NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor inside.
Alongside all that juice there will be 1GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, 5GHz WiFi N, 16GB of internal storage, a 2 megapixel HD rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel 720p HD front camera.
Beats Audio technology is also said to be inside for better quality sound in music, movies and more. This would make it the first tablet to get Beats audio, though we’re sure only HTC tablets will get the opportunity. Early 2012 is said to be the drop date for the thing, though we certainly wouldn’t hold our breath too long with other options right around the corner. [PocketNow]
Another day, another rumored tablet. Another new rumored HTC device, period. This time we’re being treated to an early look at the HTC Quattro, a 10.1 inch tablet rumored to have NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor inside.
Alongside all that juice there will be 1GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, 5GHz WiFi N, 16GB of internal storage, a 2 megapixel HD rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel 720p HD front camera.
Beats Audio technology is also said to be inside for better quality sound in music, movies and more. This would make it the first tablet to get Beats audio, though we’re sure only HTC tablets will get the opportunity. Early 2012 is said to be the drop date for the thing, though we certainly wouldn’t hold our breath too long with other options right around the corner. [PocketNow]
Another day, another rumored tablet. Another new rumored HTC device, period. This time we’re being treated to an early look at the HTC Quattro, a 10.1 inch tablet rumored to have NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor inside.
Alongside all that juice there will be 1GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, 5GHz WiFi N, 16GB of internal storage, a 2 megapixel HD rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel 720p HD front camera.
Beats Audio technology is also said to be inside for better quality sound in music, movies and more. This would make it the first android tablet to get Beats audio, though we’re sure only HTC tablets will get the opportunity. Early 2012 is said to be the drop date for the thing, though we certainly wouldn’t hold our breath too long with other options right around the corner. [PocketNow]
Last week we learned of what could be HTC’s first quad-core Android smartphone, the HTC Edge , but it will not be the only device of its class headed to the Taiwanese manufacturer’s lineup. A newly leaked render gives us a look at what could be another device sporting four cores, the HTC Zeta While there is little to prove the Zeta is anything but a concept, its accompanying list of specs is impressive to say the least.
The Zeta is said to feature a 2.5GHz next-gen Snapdragon quad-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, and a 4.5-inch 720p HD display. It should come with a serving of Ice Cream Sandwich and HTC’s Sense UI (likely version 4.0). It will also carry 32GB of internal storage, a 1,830mAh battery, 8MP camera with dual LED flash, 1.3MP front-facing camera, and Beats Audio support. Measurements are given as 109.8 x 60.9 x 9.8mm and 5.15 ounces.
Most interestingly, the Zeta is one of the most drastic departures from HTC’s established design language. And hourglass shape and sharp corners are blended into the familiar unibody construction. With little else to go on, we’d say consider this phone wishful thinking for now, though chances are if we don’t see the Zeta we will see something very much like it.
The HTC Rezound is the first phone in the United States to offer Beats Audio technology after HTC paid a large sum to acquire the maker of high-end headphones. While the enhanced sound quality is definitely the phone’s major selling point, HTC didn’t skimp on other hardware elements. The phone features a dual-core processor, HD display, and 4G LTE connectivity through Verizon. It all adds up to a hit in the making, but does the Rezound keep time with other device’s of its class?
Hardware
The HTC Rezound is a meaty handset, both figuratively and literally. For every spec it offers it seems to gain a few millimeters around the waistline. The most prominent feature is the device’s beautiful 720p HD 4.3-inch Super LCD display. It gets the job done on all levels, with a great balance of color, clarity, and size. Within the belly of the beast lies a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8660 processor complimented by 1GB of DDR2 RAM. A hefty 16GB of internal storage is supplemented with a microSD card slot. A 16GB card is included.
The Rezound lacks many physical ports, with only a 3.5mm headset jack for the included Beats Audio headphones and a USB port which doubles as an HDMI output given the proper connector. The phone retains a rather nondescript appearance when looking head-on, sticking firmly to HTC’s recent design language. From the rear, the phone looks like a blown-up Droid Incredible (even more apparent in the Rezound’s red-tinted internal casing). A textured battery cover provides grip without sacrificing style.
The Rezound’s 8MP camera is capable of 1080p HD video recording and gets the luxury of a dual-LED flash. It is joined by a 2MP front-facing camera.
Call quality is above average, with good clarity and noise reduction in both standard and speakerphone modes. The Rezound features several auxiliary microphones that no doubt aid in this cause.
With hardware that pushes the limits of what is possible with an Android smartphone, HTC wasn’t able to slim down the Rezound’s design as much as, say, Motorola did with the Droid RAZR, a handset the Rezound will often be compared to. The rezoned measures in 129 x 65.5 x 13.65mm, making it a little over a half-inch thick. That’s nearly double the RAZR at its thinnest point, and still a quite bit thicker than Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus an LTE device also for Verizon.
But the size isn’t all bad. While the phone does feel a bit bulky (we’d imagine especially for someone with smaller hands), it also feels satisfyingly well built. It’s the sort of craftsmanship we have come to expect from HTC, and they lose no points with the Rezound.
Software
The Rezound’s hardware is a perfect compliment to its software, which features HTC Sense 3.5 built up around Android 2.3.4. Interestingly, the Sense build found on the Rezound, though the same as that of the recently released HTC Rhyme , features a slightly altered UI.
Where the Rhyme saw a new take on the standard HTC launcher, the Rezound sticks to the classic look. Still, several new features that debuted on the Rhyme are present, including the ability to arrange, delete, and add homescreens. HTC has included their full portfolio of Android widgets, so you can expect much of the same from the Rezound.
Bundled software includes offerings typical of Verizon such as Blockbuster, Slacker, and a suite of VZW apps. HTC includes their own HTC Watch for viewing streaming video, and Google’s suite of mobile apps is present.
Gaming is about as smooth as you’d expect with the powerful processor and plenty of RAM. Web surfing is equally as enjoyable thanks to the large display size and 4G LTE download speeds.
Combined with the power of the Rezound’s hardware, there was nary a snag or hangup to be found. The overall experience felt polished and well-executed.
Camera
The 8MP camera with dual LED flash and autofocus provided a great starting point for shooting both video and pictures. As with previous releases, HTC’s camera software comes loaded with plenty of effects and scene settings to help you find the perfect look for your photos.
As is typical, the best results come with a bit of custom tweaking. For whatever reason, HTC has limited the ability to tweak settings for anything but “Auto” mode. This means when using close-up mode for macro images, the white balance and other options remain static, often leading to less than desirable results.
High definition video continues to impress, but the frame rate still stutters a bit more than we’d like. Overall, the camera provides above average results in most situations, though low-light settings did create some problems.
Beats Audio
HTC’s biggest pull with the Rezound is the inclusion of Beats Audio, a first for a smartphone released in the US. To further the appeal, a pair of in-ear Beats by Dre headphones are included. They aren’t near the quality you would get for a set of Beats headphones priced upwards of $100, but you do get a nice carrying case and several differently-sized plugs for the perfect fit. We were pleasantly surprised with sound quality, a large part of which most likely had to do with the Beats Audio software filter.
Though Beats is featured prominently on the handset, the only place to get confirmation of its existence is through the default Music app. A Beat Audio toggle appears in the notifications pane allowing you to turn the filter on and off, and the difference in sound quality is noticeable. Beats Audio provides deeper bass, richer mids and highs, and much fuller sound overall. The toggle most likely exists to emphasize the difference, as most would never want to turn it off. While the toggle is found nowhere else, Beats Audio seems to carry over to other music and video apps.
The apparent quality of the included headphones is no doubt enhanced by the software filter, but they do get a nice touch in the form of an in-line controller for shuffling or pausing music and answering incoming calls. A microphone is built into the headset.
Conclusion
The HTC Rezound is a fine handset, and would be a real game changer if it was the only device of its class. For Verizon subscribers, however, two other options exist in the form of the Droid RAZR and Galaxy Nexus. All three match up on almost all the major areas, but the Rezound is the only to emphasize audio as a differentiating factor. If your Android device is your primary music player, the Rezound is a safe bet among the three, even if you will likely end up purchasing a better set of headphones than the included pair.
A new HTC Rezound video was uploaded to HTC’s YouTube account today. The Inception style commercial, featuring music by Machine Gun Kelly, prominently displays Beats Audio and not much else. Surprising, seeing how I would think Verizon/HTC or whoever would want potential customers to know that the HTC Rezound will be the first 1280×720 HD display equipped smartphone to hit the market. But then again, maybe that’s not mainstream enough. Let me know what you thought of the video but first… lace up!
On the eve of the release of the Motorola Droid RAZR many buyers in search of their next smartphone are faced with some serious decisions. Only a few days after Moto’s super-slim handset is released the similarly powerful HTC Rezound will hit shelves. Shortly after that comes the Samsung Galaxy Nexus All three handsets feature 4G LTE connectivity, beautiful displays, and dual-core processors, but which truly rules Verizon’s holiday lineup?
Click for full size.
As you can see from the above chart (click to get a bigger view), the handsets match each other nearly blow for blow in all the important categories. The Rezound holds an edge with a Qualcomm MSM8660 processor clocked at 1.5GHz per core, but it’s close. The Galaxy Nexus and Droid RAZR are clocked a bit slower, both utilizing a 1.2GHz OMAP 4 CPU. The Galaxy Nexus and Rezound are deadlocked with their 720p displays to the RAZR’s qHD offering, but the Nexus has the biggest screen at 4.65-inches. Size isn’t so much a plus, but it will sway some people’s decisions (though the Nexus manages to pack the large size in frame that still manages to not feel too big).
As has been harped on often enough, the true deciding factor is in the software. Android die-hards will want the Galaxy Nexus for its cutting edge Android 4.0 software and direct Google support. The every day user may not find this as big a selling point, especially considering Motorola and HTC’s use of custom software on top of Android 2.3. Other difference-makers include the RAZR’s 7.1mm chassis reinforced with steel and kevlar and the Rezound’s Beats Audio integration.
We can’t offer a definitive statement on the three until all have been thoroughly put through the paces, but at first glance none is the clear winner. Different aspects of each device will appeal to different users, but it’s hard to say going with any particular one would be the wrong choice.
Wait, isn’t the HTC Rezound not supposed to be available until November 14th? It really doesn’t matter, because if you call Verizon directly and get ahold of the right sales rep they will sell you one right over the phone. We received tracking confirmation from reader Jessica (compchick813 on Android Forums) and it looks like she should have a Rezound by Friday. More than that, some are already receiving the phone.
What you see above is the unboxing of a Rezound that just showed up today (November 9th) on one lucky buyer’s doorstep. That is five days earlier than the Rezound’s November 14th street date. Who would have guessed that some would receive the Rezound before the release of the Droid RAZR? Anyone else have luck ordering the Beats Audio handset?
If learning of the quad-core HTC Edge yesterday wasn’t enough to make you second-guess your next smartphone purchase, just wait. BGR has a follow-up to the story that broke yesterday with some additional details. The 4.7-inch 720p display is now said to an S-LCD 2 panel with optical lamination, resulting in the sort of clarity and pixel density comparable to Apple’s Retina display. Other design notes place the phone at 8.8mm thick (no RAZR, but with twice the cores the extra girth is excused) with a microSIM slot, 8MP backside-illuminate rear camera with 1080p video recording, and a 720p front-facing camera. Beats Audio, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and an 1,800mAh battery round out the rumored hardware. A microSD slot is absent but the Edge is said to have 32GB of on-board storage. Quite the cutting-edge device…HTC you make these puns too easy!
