HTC Thunderbolt Review: The First Verizon 4G LTE Smartphone
by Brian Klug on April 27, 2011 12:12 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- HTC
- Verizon
- LTE
- 4G
- Android
- HTC Thunderbolt
- Mobile
- MDM9600
- MSM8655
Display
The display on the Thunderbolt is 4.3 inches and of the relatively standard WVGA (800x480) sort we’re used to seeing from Android phones. It’s a rather normal LCD-TFT panel, no fancy IPS or SAMOLED+ or Pentile like other phones that are starting to headline. As a result, it doesn’t really impress in the numbers department, delivering relatively middling contrast that isn’t insufficient but doesn’t make it a standout performer by any means.
The other part of the picture is that qHD is rapidly becoming a feature that every next generation Android needs to have. In this regard as well as lack of dual core, the Thunderbolt feels a bit like it belongs to this current generation of smartphones rather than the upcoming one.
Absence of qHD isn’t a huge breaking point however since it still isn’t an officially sanctioned Android resolution. Though the official Android screen resolution guidelines have all manners of DPI-independent functionalities and four different display pixel densities, it’s ultimately up to each developer to implement proper pixel density agnosticism properly. In my time with the Arix for example, I’ve already seen a few applications that clearly have hard coded pixel values for UI elements and look weird.
Again by virtue of the Thunderbolt having a relatively ordinary LCD display, it also doesn’t have anything overwhelmingly awesome for viewing angles inside or out.
I grabbed a photo of the Thunderbolt outside right next to a Verizon 4G LTE eNodeB as well, and you can really see how outdoor viewing looks.
One of the only major gripes I have with the Thunderbolt is that there is noticeable light bleed from the capacitive button white LEDs that makes it onto the display surface. At the right angle, you can clearly see the reflection from the two LEDs that light up those buttons.
This is something which used to plague HTC’s designs way, way back, and I’m surprised to see it crop up again. It isn’t super noticeable, but it’s there if you look for it.
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kmmatney - Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - link
One important battery test is how long the phone lasts just sitting around doing nothing, or walking around in a pocket. I can get 3 days out of iPhone 3GS, if I just use it as a phone and not much else.hans007 - Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - link
this or the charge are both pretty similar.the bionic is delayred until at least Q3 . i'm figuring there is probably a reason there are no dual core LTE phones out and they keep getting delayed.
i think either of them is a good choice, if you want to mod your phone, the tbolt is already rooted with several custom roms, and CM7 is already in alpha/beta stage.
HangFire - Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - link
Brian,It's not the BB app but the background services behind it that are persistent, particularly PVWmdrmService. You can kill it but it will come back on next reboot.
The first hit on a Google of Thunderbolt Disable Blockbuster recommends starting and updating the app, and then turning off updates from within the app. While this seems to be good advice as far as data usage goes, it does nothing for preventing the background services from starting and taking up RAM.
Looking forward to what you find on the 8GB issue.
bplewis24 - Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - link
Brian, excellent job with the review. One of my favorite aspects of the review is how you appropriately compared it to different devices in different contexts (design, function, performance, display, etc), instead of always comparing it to the iPhone4 or always comparing it to the Evo, etc.Very objective, informative and practical review, which I realize is a delicate balance.
Kudos,
Brandon
HangFire - Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - link
Just a note, I work in a non-LTE area of MD, and 3G (HRPD I suppose) has been working great all day.pedant - Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - link
"That’s almost exactly double the size"...vision33r - Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - link
Soon, all these Android phones will be 4.5"+ and pushing towards 4.7" and 5.0"synaesthetic - Thursday, April 28, 2011 - link
The 4" screen size with the near-8:5 aspect ratio is absolutely my sweet spot. Software problems aside, I love love LOVED my Galaxy S's screen size. The slightly smaller one on my Glacier just feels a bit cramped.carte247 - Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - link
Good job Brian on the extremely thorough and interesting review. There's always a level of thought and analysis in Anandtech reviews that other sites lack. Or maybe I should be angry, as you're seriously making me consider moving away from my G2 (which up until now I was perfectly happy with...).mlangsottile - Thursday, April 28, 2011 - link
Absolutely fantastic review. Anand Tech is my favorite source for detailed technical analysis of consumer electronics like this. Keep up the good work.