HTC Desire Review, Specs and Problems
The HTC Desire smartphone has been available for quite a while now, and is the HTC version of the Google Nexus One superphone, but adds a little bit of extra HTC goodness with HTC Sense to play along nice with the Android OS.
Although according to recent data the HTC Desire does still train behind the Nexus One when it comes to Android market share as you can see by viewing (here).
In the way of specs, the HTC Desire offers much the same as the Nexus One, a 3.7 inch capacitive AMOLED touch screen, 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and LED flash, WiFi, Bluetooth, Android 2.1 OS, HTC Sense UI, 3.5mm jack and microSD expansion, so not a great deal between the two devices.
Now, no doubt some of our readers own a HTC Desire, so we’d like those readers to send us their personal reviews of the device along with any noticeable problems they have found. We’d like to hear if you love the HTC Desire or hate it, so feel free to drop us a line or two in our comments area…many thanks.
Comments
33 thoughts on “HTC Desire Review, Specs and Problems”
Best phone I have ever had.. does everything I want it to do at lightning quick speeds.. internet is a joy to use also
can anyone help the camera on my htc desire does not show up just a blank screen when you press on it no flash or nothing?
I have had the HTC Desire for a month or so now and it is by far the best phone i have ever owned. This is the third Android handsets (previous G1, G2). The 2.1 version is a great improvement, the handset is quick stable and great to use. The touch screen is very responsive and i think it is as good if not better than the IPhone. Camera is probably the weakest point but introduction of flash is an improvement. Would definitely recommend and I am not sure how they can improve the package…but look forward to seeing the next generation Android!
Great 'phone. Simply works. I use the camera, web, email, text, music player, radio.
Good battery life – over 2 hours of watching video on less than a full charge.
Only complaint is a very minor one, and that is the lag between taking the 'phone away from your ear during a call and the screen switching back on.
Already have indespensible apps used at work & home.
Tethering works well too.
All I'm trying to find now is a decent in car holder.
I'm now a HTC & Android convert.
Love it Love it Love it…. Yes HTC Desire. Just waiting for the Android 2.2 update. Android 2.2 covers any gripe I would have about the phone so PLEASE HTC & Google hurry up with the update. Best phone I've had to date.
Biggest piece of crap I ever used.Battery life sucks,UI terrible and illogical way of doing things.Had nothing but HTC phones now for about 8 years from original XDA,XDAII,XDAIIS,XDA EXEC.ADVANTAGE and Orbit and couldn’t fault any of them but this thing really sucks.All show and no go.
From HK.
I ever see a rubblish phone like this.
Problem
1. Handset put on desktop, the screen automiatc float two sides
2. No display while you want to key in the numberic and no repsonse when press any key (but still hear speaker with sound)
3. No response when unluck the phone (Finger pull down from screen)
4. The back side (lower part) is warm even no charing or making any call
5. Stay a 5 hours (idel mode) cannot power on, need remove battery
6. Repair two times still found the problem
I don't install any problem on this rubblish.
I’ve had the HTC Desire for one week now. This is my first touch screen phone. All my previous phones where Sony Ericsson. What can I say? While I really like the design and the fact that is almost like having a mobile computer in you pocket, I think it looses out in terms of key functionality.
1) The camera really, really sucks, where my Sony phones would take great pictures over a wide range of conditions (even without autofocus), the Desire just can’t handle anything but perfect lighting. And the weight of the phone and the touch screen makes the whole photo experience really, really uncomfortable and awkward.
2) The dial volume is settable via the side rocker but default, can’t seem to disable that function, not a good thing, as you accidentally lower the ring volume, or mute altogether
3) The rear of the phone does get very warm to the touch, to the point of making it uncomfortable to hold and use. Great for those cold winter days and you want to keep you hands warm though.
In general, perhaps not HTC Desire specific, perhaps the case for all touch screen smart phones?
1) The phone is quite heavy, making it uncomfortable to use or hold for all but short periods
2) The size makes it feel awkward to hold and use
3) The touch screen is a pain, I am hoping this is just a case or retraining and learning how to use a touch screen. But part of me believes that leaving a physical keyboard behind does compromise on functionality.
I've had a Desire since about May and from about June/July I've had problems with it. It first started switching off when it was charging but I could at least get it to power up again. Then yesterday whilst charging the phone powered off. I managed to enter my pin and got to my phone provider's logo but then it powered off again. I switched it on and now I can't get it past the red circle.
Any advice please?
My Desire lasted 23 days before it simply gave up and switched off forever. Will not restart and will not take a charge. Not much use in any sense of the word.
Supplier would not replace as more than 14 days old (maybe that's the normal definitive lifespan?) so I now have to wait for up to 8 weeks for it to be repaired. Crazy!!!
when switching from wi-fi to internet, phone appears to connect at first, then flicks back to "connecting" message, and stays there. I have to physically turn off phone, then wait and restart it for it to connect to internet correctly. Phone will not pick up picture messages on wi-fi so if I receive one whilst at home on wi-fi I have to go through this performance every time to view it. The restart means that things I have deleted previously are now back! I use my phone just for fun, as opposed to business, so these things are annoying but not vital, were I dependant upon it for work I would be very disapointed. Aside from those problems I love my android.
My HTC Desire bought 1 Sept was fine until the past week. Even though the battery is at least half charged, the screen has been going white with just HTC across it and will not respond to anything. today it has also begun to vibrate when this happens. I have plugged it in to charge it and for a minute it came up with the usual screen – then back to the unresponsive white one. I ahve tried taking the battery and cards out and putting them back but it doesn;'t seem to have helped. The back of the phone is warmer than usual as well.
Any suggestions welcome
Hi, I'm having a really similar problem with my htc desire, can I ask if you have managed to sort yours out? Thanks
i,v had FOUR of these fone they all over heat and shut down then i have to wait 30min or more to restart
how to manage the applications ????
going through the managing application and force stoping each and evry 1 takes a long time
so is dere a setting to move da apps to sd card?
Try the app "Apps to SD" it can't move all apps, but it helps.
I've had the phone for a couple of months now.
Pros –
very intuitive
latest update (Dec 10) really speeds up use
Cons –
The battery life is terrible
When you're making a call and receive a message, the message ringtone blasts out at full volume, nearly deafening you, and meaning you can't hear the person speaking – – is there anyway of changing this?
My camera screen keeps going blue and going into a split screen. When people call I cant hear them and they cant hear me sometimes, it seems to be loosing signal alot recently. Is anybody else having similar problems,
Got the hd and well when recieving calls i can not hear it i know they are call by the vibrating! it freezes and yet i keep getting told there is nothing wrong with it! only had it 2 weeks and so wish i hadnt of had it!
phone stops ringing and it sends calls straight to voicemail also keeps losing connection for internent and nothing i do seems to work i have had to take to office and has been reset but is now doing the samething phone is less than a month old
Seeing everyones problems on here and seems to be an increasingly common one…..
**Vibrates and goes off to the White screen with HTC on it…..and thats it.
**Turns itself off constantly
**Gets so hot you cant actually touch it any more.
**Battery is simply WOEFUL
Such a big big shame as the HTC desire was mean to be "THE IPHONE KILLER"….Sorry but it just is NOT, I really really looked forward to getting this phone but since Nov/Dec the phone has really played up, Any one had theirs repaired and had it back?
Has the problem gone away or does it come back again?
Thinking of writing a Letter to HTC as T-Mobile have apparently Not heard of this problem
i have the exact same problem!! is it covered on warranty or anyway to fix it?
I had the same problem. The phone turned off and wouldn’t turn on until a couple days later. Then it did it again through a system update but never came back on and I plugged into charge to see if it would help and it just got really hot. I took it back under warranty but they told me it had water damage and corrosion. The thing is It has has never been out in wet weather, it is always cased and in its own pouch in my bag and I don’t carry it in my pocket so it can’t be sweat.
After this I don’t think I will ever use Vodafone again, Its like the person up above who they refused to repair it for because it had been ‘forced’ its not like we can prove they aren’t taking responsibility.
I’ve had the same problem, the phone went off completely, I tried to get the cover off it. THE COVER HAD MELTED ONTO IT!!. The charger was red hot… I hope this is under warranty….Â
My htc desire and my wifes htc wildfire are both having problems. I think it could be a software problem as we both updated to android 2.2 lately. before that I would say the phone is the best thing I have ever had the pleasure of useing. It was so smooth and apps were so good and useful but now I get reboots and slow response. Music playing is patchy and lots of apps start themselves up without being asked
I've had mine in twice for warranty repair in the last two monthes but now its playing up again. This time I can't hear callers tho they can hear me (after only having it back for 3 days). I WOULD NOT recommend it!!
Normally when i recieve a text on my htc desire i slide down the little bar at the top, but for some reason the notification bar no longer slides down, any ideas?
I had the same issue. I had the phone for approx. three months with Rogers wireless when this problem occurred. I sent it back for repair but was told that there was corrosion on a circuit board and this was not covered under the warranty. It was implied that I might have taken the phone into the shower with me or maybe I left it out in the rain.
Returning to the store the Rogers rep was of no help and treated me with very little respect, I was however able to convince him to contact HTC support in an effort to address my issue.
I first spoke to their help desk, this poved fruitless, I then asked to speak to a supervisor or someone in authority who could make a decision. After much discussion, and many times being put on hold, it was agreed that the phone would be replaced with a new one. It was suggested that I not speak of the issue to others.
I do like this phone and it’s many features, but in future I’ll be reluctant to purchase HTC products due to the poor customer support.
My partners HTC desire has just stopped charging, he's had it for 8 months. When he sent it off for repair Vodafone said it had been forced and they wouldn't fix it under warranty. Has anyone had similar issues with charging? I have HTC wildfire. I love it but the battery life is woeful. I charge it every night and even just being in my bag while i'm at work it goes flat.
Hi,
I have an HTC Desire, got it mid 2010 about.
Since beginning of year the phone frequently "tilts" when on internet or running a few apps simultaneously or even when the ambient temperature seems a bit high.
The phone just restarts itself and sometimes get stuck on HTC startup page.
Most of the times this happens continuously until I remove battery.
At these times the processor seems to get very hot (back, near bottom of phone)
This is causing me enormous frustration.
Any ideas?
I have changed my sim card and now i cant sign in to htc hub or htc likes, is any body out able to help with this
Help I have had this mobile since July 2011 on contract, no extra Insurance. It turned off suddenly. I thought I had missed the warning about charging it, I started to charge it, the phone had a red light on it as though charging. But after a couple of minutes I became concerned that the screen hadn’t come back on. I touched the charger it was RED HOT. Looked at my phone and OMG! the phone case was stuck to it!!!!! I have managed to peel it off but it’s made a right mess of the phone.  When I go back to the Dealership they need to get this sorted out asap. Watch this space….
I am replying to myself because I feel so stupid. The phone does get very hot and it isn’t working at all now BUT it didn’t melt the case! I made a mistake about that and I apologise profusely about that. I still have to go and see if they can help me in the shop re the getting hot and now not working,Â