HTC EVO 3D vs. HTC Sensation 4G: Head to head

HTC EVO 3D

We will begin by introducing the HTC EVO 3D. The first 3D capable phone to come from the Taiwanese giant is yet to be launched globally in a GSM flavor. We have our hands on the U.S. only version, which is sold exclusively from Sprint Wireless. It is a CDMA device with added WiMax support – quite a promising combination.

HTC EVO 3D

The EVO 3D is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, Adreno 220 GPU, and a Qualcomm MSM8660 chipset. There is a gig of RAM on board, which is as good as it gets on a mobile phone these days.

With measures of 127 x 66 x 11.9 mm, and 170 grams of weight, the HTC EVO 3D is not the most pocket friendly device you will find around. The thickness is probably mostly due to the 3D camera on the back of the device and the bigger battery.

In terms of build quality, the HTC EVO 3D is up to the usual high standards set by the company. The device is made from pleasant, soft feel plastic, which has a very nice texture, helping you avoid accidental drops. Design wise, there is barely anything to rave about in this device. Given its proportions, it can hardly look better than it already does.

HTC Sensation 4G

The HTC Sensation 4G is exclusively offered by T-Mobile in the United States. It doesn’t differ from its European cousin, which we know quite well, save for the different bands and the extra T-Mobile logo at the front of the device. It is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, Adreno 220 GPU, and Qualcomm MSM 8260 Snapdragon chipset. There is 768MB of RAM available in the HTC Sensation. We will find out a little later if it will make a difference in the device’s performance.

HTC Sensation 4G

The Sensation 4G is definitely more elegant than its Sprint Wireless sibling, and has the measures to prove it. At 126.1 x 65.4 x 11.3 mm, and 148 grams of weight, the GSM handset is visibly slimmer than the EVO 3D.

The build quality of the Sensation 4G is superb as well. The metal back of the phone feels very pleasant to hold in hand. You must however be careful when handling the device because its slim waistline combined with the slippery metal finish tends to form an accident-prone recipe of disaster. In terms of design, we dare to say that it is the best looking phone to come from the company to date.

Head to head

With the phones side by side, especially at the front of them, if it wasn’t for the different colors and the circled touch sensitive buttons of the EVO 3D, we would not be able to make a difference.

Both devices have touch sensitive Android menu buttons • the signature HTC earpiece

If size and looks is what you are looking for, then HTC Sensation 4G is probably the one you would want given the choice of both.

The HTC Sensation 4G is visibly slimmer and more elegant than the EVO 3D

It is at the back of the phones where the main difference between the devices can be found. The 3D unit of the EVO 3D is encircled by a red colored ring, which adds extra attention to it. The camera unit of the Sensation 4G looks way more modest, but don't be deceived by its appearance.

The camera units of both HTC flagships

The EVO 3D scores one with a 3D display

Both devices have the same size and resolution displays. The HTC EVO 3D scores more points than the Sensation 4G for its screen, which supports glasses-free 3D, as well as its higher brightness. It is a shame in a way, that the 3D effects are limited to only multimedia viewing. A 3D menu would have added to the overall device appeal. This doesn’t mean that you are about to be disappointed with the Sensation 4G’s screen unit.

Both devices’ screens suffer from relatively poor visibility in direct sunlight.

Battery life is not the best

All the points which the HTC EVO 3D gained over the Sensation 4G for its superior display are lost in the battery department. Despite the 1730 mAh battery on board, you must be really diligent to last through a full day of use with the EVO 3D. We would definitely recommend that you have a charger on you just in case. This is particularly important if you want to benefit from the zippy WiMax network which Sprint Wireless offers. With 4G on and all accounts in full sync, you are looking at well below a full day of standby time.

The HTC Sensation 4G did much better in this department. Its battery is rated at 1520 mAh, but the phone easily made it through a full day of heavy usage with 3 fully synched email accounts, a good amount of web browsing, about an hour of phone calls, and some video game play.

We attribute this serious difference in the performance of the phones’ batteries to their different display units, as well as the network coverage. In the New York City area T-Mobile has flawless reception. Same cannot be said about Sprint’s WiMax though.