GSMArena Team, 24 November 2014

Undercover flagship

HTC Desire Eye review: Undercover flagship

2. Unboxing, design and build quality, display

Unboxing

The AT&T version of HTC Desire Eye we tested comes in a carrier branded box, which contains just the basics. The handset comes bundled with a charger, a USB cable, and the usual array of booklets.

The retail package

There is no bundled headset with the AT&T Desire Eye. The accessory could well be region specific.

HTC Desire Eye also works with the company's rather brilliant Dot View case. The software behind the accessory has received several updates already, so the cover shows all notifications from the device. Its graphics can be customized too.

Design and build quality

HTC Desire Eye is unmistakably a member of the company's mid-range family. With a plastic body surrounded by a contrasting frame, the handset could be easily mistaken for the less capable HTC Desire 820 if it weren't for its 13MP front-facing camera.

HTC Desire Eye looks casually handsome

The abovementioned snapper rightfully gives the smartphone the Eye moniker in its name. The camera literally gives the impression of an eye that's constantly looking at you.

HTC Desire Eye is available in two color schemes - white with red frame like the model we tested and a dark blue one with light blue frame. Both color options look good in person, though a slightly more serious black version would have also been appreciated.

HTC Desire Eye in blue

Overall, the design of the HTC Desire Eye can be described as decidedly casual. The smartphone is handsome in the flesh, though it certainly looks less serious than its hardware suggests.

HTC has always enjoyed a reputation for making solid devices and the Desire Eye is no exception. The smartphone is solidly put together from high-quality plastic. The latter has the same finish as that of HTC One X - the company's 2012 flagship.

The IPX7 certification is another assurance about the device's build. The handset can be submerged under 1m of water for up to 30 minutes. Like in the case of HTC Butterfly 2, the feat has been achieved quite neatly, without sealing off the ports of the device.

Physical measures of HTC Desire Eye are 151.7 x 73.8 x 8.5mm, while its weight tips the scale at 154 grams. The device is slightly lighter and thinner than HTC One (M8), though far from being as elegant as the Moto X (2014) - the benchmark for compact measures in the segment.

HTC Desire Eye sized up against Moto X (2014)

HTC Desire Eye is surprisingly easy to handle. Its matte plastic body is grippy so you are unlikely to drop it accidentally. The side power/lock key on the other hand, makes the device legitimately comfortable to use single-handedly.

Handling HTC Desire Eye

Display

The HTC Desire Eye uses a 1080 x 1920px 5.2" IPS panel, which results in some excellent pixel density of 424ppi.

The 5.2" display of HTC Desire Eye

The pixel arrangement is standard RGB, just as one would expect.

HTC Desire Eye Review

The more detailed tests we performed on the HTC Desire Eye show the 5.2" panel as a solid performer. Contrast was impressive at 50% and 100% brightness, while the screen is amazingly bright. This lead to not so impressive black levels, but that was to be expected.

Display test	50% brightness			100% brightness
Display test	Black, cd/m²	White, cd/m²	Contrast ratio	Black, cd/m²	White, cd/m²	Contrast ratio
HTC Desire Eye	0.24	329	1345	0.62	806	1311
HTC Butterfly 2	0.19	216	1132	0.5	596	1185
HTC One (M8)	0.2	245	1219	0.46	577	1256
Samsung Galaxy S5	0	274	∞	0	529	∞
Sony Xperia Z3	-	-	-	0.65	866	1333
Oppo Find 7a	0.33	280	842	0.68	580	852
LG G3	0.14	109	763	0.72	570	789
Apple iPhone 6 Plus	0.17	208	1197	0.52	705	1361
Nokia Lumia 930	0	149	∞	0	347	∞

The brightness also helped the smartphone in the outdoor visibility test, where it posted a very respectable score. We have seen phones do better, but the Desire Eye is easily good enough to be usable outdoors and that's what matters the most.

Sunlight contrast ratio

Nokia 808 PureView
4.698
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
4.033
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
3.997
Apple iPhone 5
3.997
Apple iPhone 6
3.838
Samsung Galaxy Note Edge
3.799
Samsung Galaxy K zoom
3.675
Nokia Lumia 930
3.567
Apple iPhone 5s
3.565
Samsung Galaxy S5
3.549
Nokia Lumia 735
3.547
Alcatel Idol X+
3.527
Apple iPhone 5c
3.512
Samsung Galaxy Alpha
3.509
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
3.487
Motorola RAZR MAXX
3.42
Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
3.419
Nokia Lumia 925
3.402
Gionee Elife S5.5
3.386
Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4
3.352
Samsung Omnia W
3.301
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
3.174
Samsung I9000 Galaxy S
3.155
Samsung Ativ S
3.129
Samsung I9190 Galaxy S4 mini
3.127
Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom
3.118
Nokia N9
3.069
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
3.023
Samsung Galaxy Note
2.97
Samsung Galaxy Premier
2.958
Sony Xperia Z1
2.95
HTC One S
2.901
Samsung I8730 Galaxy Express
2.861
BlackBerry Q10
2.856
Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II
2.832
HTC Desire Eye
2.815
Samsung Galaxy S II Plus
2.801
BlackBerry Z30
2.79
Sony Xperia ZR
2.672
Huawei Ascend P1
2.655
Sony Xperia Z3
2.618
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
2.616
Sony Xperia T3
2.609
BlackBerry Passport
2.595
Nokia Lumia 900
2.562
Motorola Moto G 4G
2.546
HTC One Max
2.537
Nokia Lumia 720
2.512
HTC One
2.504
Motorola Moto G
2.477
Sony Xperia Z
2.462
Xiaomi Mi 4
2.424
Samsung Galaxy S III mini
2.422
Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro
2.416
LG G Flex
2.407
HTC One (M8)
2.371
Motorola RAZR i
2.366
Meizu MX4
2.366
Sony Xperia ZL
2.352
Samsung Galaxy Note II
2.307
HTC One (M8) for Windows
2.291
Oppo Find 7a
2.279
Alcatel One Touch Hero
2.272
Apple iPhone 4S
2.269
HTC Desire 600 dual sim
2.262
Nokia Asha 311
2.25
LG Nexus 5
2.228
Nokia Lumia 820
2.193
HTC One (E8)
2.185
Nokia Lumia 920
2.17
HTC One X
2.158
Nokia N8
2.144
Nokia Lumia 620
2.142
Nokia 515
2.134
HTC Desire 500
2.129
Sony Xperia acro S
2.119
Xiaomi Redmi Note
2.119
Nokia Lumia 1020
2.103
Oppo Find 5
2.088
Sony Xperia SL
2.078
Nokia Lumia 630
2.056
BlackBerry Z10
2.051
Huawei Ascend Mate7
2.024
Samsung I9295 Galaxy S4 Active
2.022
Apple iPhone 4
2.016
HTC One mini
2.003
Xiaomi Mi 3
2.001
Huawei Ascend P7
1.992
LG G2
1.976
OnePlus One
1.961
Oppo R819
1.957
Sony Ericsson Xperia ray
1.955
Sony Xperia Z2
1.944
Sony Xperia E3
1.943
Nokia Lumia 1320
1.941
HTC One mini 2
1.94
Samsung Galaxy Camera
1.938
Sony Xperia J
1.932
Acer CloudMobile S500
1.931
LG Nexus 4
1.926
LG G Pro 2
1.922
Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3
1.913
Nokia Asha 308
1.911
HTC Butterfly 2
1.905
Sony Xperia T
1.894
Nokia Lumia 830
1.887
HTC Desire X
1.878
HTC Butterfly
1.873
HTC Windows Phone 8X
1.873
HTC Butterfly S
1.867
Huawei Ascend P6
1.865
Huawei Ascend Mate
1.845
LG G2 mini
1.838
LG G3
1.82
Nokia Lumia 1520
1.813
HTC Desire 616 dual sim
1.797
Sony Xperia V
1.792
HTC Desire 816
1.783
Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
1.772
HTC Desire 700 dual sim
1.769
Sony Xperia U
1.758
Meizu MX3
1.754
LG Optimus G
1.753
Sony Xperia T2 Ultra
1.74
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
1.735
Sony Xperia SP
1.733
LG Optimus 4X HD
1.691
Oppo Find 7
1.691
HTC One V
1.685
BlackBerry Q5
1.682
LG Optimus Vu
1.68
Xiaomi Mi Pad 7.9
1.672
LG Optimus GJ
1.666
LG Optimus 3D Max
1.658
HTC Desire V
1.646
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2
1.632
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3
1.622
Jolla Jolla
1.605
Sony Xperia Z Ultra
1.578
Sony Xperia go
1.577
Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 I8160
1.566
Samsung Galaxy Core
1.563
LG Optimus G Pro
1.552
Motorola Moto E
1.545
LG Optimus 3D
1.542
Nokia Asha 302
1.537
BlackBerry Curve 9320
1.488
Sony Xperia M
1.473
Oppo N1
1.47
Meizu MX 4-core
1.462
Nokia Lumia 610
1.432
Samsung Galaxy S Duos
1.4
Sony Xperia M2
1.393
Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo
1.393
Samsung Galaxy Grand 2
1.38
Sony Xperia E1
1.372
Nokia Lumia 625
1.371
Gigabyte GSmart G1355
1.361
Sony Xperia L
1.351
Xiaomi Redmi 1S
1.35
Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8
1.35
HTC Desire 510
1.34
Sony Xperia M2 Aqua
1.331
Sony Xperia miro
1.324
Samsung I9082 Galaxy Grand
1.321
Samsung I8530 Galaxy Beam
1.315
HTC Desire C
1.3
Nokia X
1.291
Sony Xperia C
1.283
Nokia Asha 503
1.281
Nokia Asha 501
1.27
LG Optimus L7
1.269
Nokia Lumia 510
1.268
Samsung Galaxy Fame
1.245
LG Optimus L9
1.227
Meizu MX
1.221
Samsung Galaxy Young
1.22
Sony Xperia E
1.215
Nokia XL
1.204
Sony Xperia E dual
1.203
Asus Memo Pad 7 ME176C
1.198
Samsung Galaxy Pocket
1.18
Nokia Asha 305
1.178
Nokia Asha 306
1.175
Sony Xperia neo L
1.169
Sony Xperia tipo
1.166
Nokia Lumia 520
1.161
Samsung S6802 Galaxy Ace Duos
1.148
Samsung Galaxy mini 2
1.114

Next Page » 3. Controls, battery life, connectivity

2. Unboxing, design and build quality, display

Reviews HTC Desire Eye reviewPage 2