HTC EVO 3D vs. Motorola Photon 4G: Choosing the Best Sprint Phone
by Anand Lal Shimpi on August 17, 2011 11:11 PM ESTSoftware
Both the Photon 4G and EVO 3D run Gingerbread, although the Photon sports a slightly newer version (2.3.4 vs 2.3.3). The newer point release on Photon simply implements bug fixes, but don't take that to mean that the Photon should be a more stable phone. In my experience with the two, the Photon was more likely to crash although neither phone appeared to be particularly unstable.
The EVO 3D ships with HTC's Sense 3.0 UI and associated apps. We've covered Sense 3.0 extensively in previous articles, but our general feeling is that it's mostly a useful addition to Android. While I wish all phones would deliver a stock Android experience and let you simply add functionality on your own, Sense 3.0 isn't a pain to use.
Motorola's skin on the Photon isn't nearly as polished looking or functional as Sense 3.0 but it's not obnoxious either. Both UIs have good keyboards. Motorola's browser executes javascript faster than HTC's, while HTC's allows for smoother scrolling. Again with the tradeoffs.
Overall my preference here is the EVO 3D but I could live with either.
The Photon does have one feature the EVO 3D can't match: Motorola's Webtop App. Motorola first introduced us to its Webtop app on the Atrix, but its implementation on the Photon remains mostly unchanged. With the Photon 4G docked or connected to an external display via HDMI you have the option of firing up the Webtop app - a self contained Linux environment with a full version of Firefox 4.0.1. You can either use the Photon itself as a keyboard/mouse or you can tether input devices via Bluetooth. If you've got the multimedia dock there are three USB ports you can use instead. The idea is that can leave your netbook at home and use your phone, dock and portable keyboard as your PC on the go.
Motorola's Webtop App via HDMI on a TV
The Webtop experience is neat but only for light usage. We're still far from being able to duplicate a PC browsing experience on a smartphone but it's good to see manufacturers toying with the idea. In a couple of years it may just be reality.
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anactoraaron - Thursday, August 18, 2011 - link
With all of the new dual core phones hitting the shelves, there are a few 'budget' phones using 'yesterday's' high end tech. I would love to see a few reviews- or maybe just a 'android budget phone roundup' or something. I recently purchased a Samsung Exhibit 4G and love it! There's plenty of single core snapdragons and a hummingbird in the wild on the cheap and it would be great to put them against each other. Obviously you are limited to what you have (or are sent to review) but jus sayin.Reikon - Thursday, August 18, 2011 - link
I don't really get the point of getting a budget smartphone on a postpaid carrier. You might as well go prepaid, which has much cheaper monthly plans with phones comparable to budget postpaid phones.Impulses - Thursday, August 18, 2011 - link
Yeah, saving $100 or even $200 on a phone over the course of two years when you're paying $80+ a month for service just seems silly... Unless you pay for your phone but not service (families, companies, etc.), then I could see it. Or if you switch carriers a often, but I don't see how anyone manages that with the current ETFs.Impulses - Thursday, August 18, 2011 - link
Darn Anand, had I known you kept delaying the EVO 3D review to compare it directly with the Photon I would've stopped badgering you about the review... And possibly waited before buying the EVO 3D! Reading now...Impulses - Thursday, August 18, 2011 - link
I wasn't being sarcastic btw, I'm glad you combined the articles. Although, after all is said and done, I'm not sure I would've had an easier time deciding had i read your article before buying.Just looking at the battery results I can see why you would have trouble picking between the two... 3G browsing time is most important to me as we're unlikely to see 4G here in Puerto Rico anytime soon (they're testing but only in very limited areas), and I don't talk a lot on the phone... Still, the Photon has a large lead in the Wifi battery test.
It surprises me that there can be such drastic differences back and forth between the two, and even between the EVO and Sensation. Can the software stack play such a large role or is it network issues? The Photon's drop from Wifi to 3G is more than 2x but the GSM Sensation does so much better on 3G than the EVO, could that be a matter of HSPA+ speeds allowing it to finish loading and sleep sooner?
Personally I haven't been able to get more than 3.5-4.5 hours of screen-on time out of my EVO 3D, while doing nothing but web browsing, be it 3G or Wifi... Even when sitting one rom over from a router and an Airave. I'd love to be able to squeeze 6+ as your test suggests. Maybe it's a screen brightness issue, at home I read a lot in dimly lit rooms...
Impulses - Thursday, August 18, 2011 - link
I've noticed you're wearing glasses in some of your pictures btw, myopia? I have like -3.5 and I often take off my glasses to read on my phone when I'm sitting down (or to read in general)... Anyway, it seems that even tho I don't need glasses to read at a certain distance (i shouldn't, I'm not near sighted at all) I do need them to be able to appreciate the 3D screen at all.Was just wondering if you noticed that and/or may have an explanation... The 3D effect is barely noticeable without my glasses, soon as I put them on things just pop out, but I'm looking at the screen at a distance where I normally don't need glasses to read, seemed weird to me.
Also did you notice any jumpyness with the text input cursor? That and the build of Swype included on the phone both seem very buggy to me, but the text cursor thing happens even with the stock keyboard. I'll probably root it soon and try the latest Swype beta. It's kinda ridiculous that Swype can't update built-in installs themselves and have to squeeze their updates into full manufacturer OTAs.
Impulses - Thursday, August 18, 2011 - link
Err, the part about not being nearsighted there should've said farsighted.ilkhan - Thursday, August 18, 2011 - link
Page 1"Both are awkwardly large thanks to their 4.2" screen size"
Both are speced at 4.3" :)
Nor would I call my 4.3" EVO 4G awkwardly large.
Anand Lal Shimpi - Thursday, August 18, 2011 - link
Fixed :)For sure it's a personal preference thing. I do believe on Android the sweet spot is somewhere in the 4 - 4.3" range, but for someone coming from a Nexus One for example both of these could feel awkwardly large by comparison :)
Take care,
Anand
Mumrik - Thursday, August 18, 2011 - link
"they just haven't been all that interesting.Until now of course.
"
Anand, did you pull a Jeremy Clarkson on purpose?
:-D