Introduction
Announced alongside the Facebook Home launcher, the HTC First for AT&T is the first smartphone to feature the social network's Android add-on out of the box. Launching a dedicated "Facebook phone" isn't an unfamiliar affair for HTC - back in 2011, the Taiwanese manufacturer released the Salsa and ChaCha duo of entry-level devices.
HTC First official photos
Facebook Home aside, the HTC First features a spec sheet, mostly taken from last year's top shelf Android smartphones. The highlights included a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset and a sharp 4.3" 720p Super LCD display for liking your Facebook friends' online rants. Here goes the full list of talents, which the HTC First has to offer.
Key features
- Quad-band GSM and quad-band 3G support
- Tri-band LTE network support
- 4.3" 16M-color Super LCD capacitive touchscreen with HD resolution (720 x 1280 pixels); Gorilla glass
- Unmodified Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean with Facebook Home UI preinstalled
- 1.4 GHz dual-core Krait CPU, Qualcomm MSM8930 Snapdragon 400 chipset
- 1 GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage
- 5 MP autofocus camera with LED flash; face detection and geotagging
- 1080p and 720p video recording @ 30fps
- 1.6MP front-facing camera
- Wi-Fi a/b/g/n
- GPS with A-GPS
- Accelerometer, proximity sensor and auto-brightness sensor
- Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
- microUSB port and stereo Bluetooth v4.0
- Smart dialing, voice dialing
- DivX/XviD video support
- Superb build quality and one-hand ergonomics
- Barely visible carrier branding
- 2000mAh Li-Po battery with impressive performance
Main disadvantages
- Only 12GB of available storage and no option to expand
- Battery is not user-replaceable
- Only available on AT&T for the time being
- 5MP camera is not exactly cutting edge these days
A quick look at the HTC First's list of talents shows that the smartphone has a lot more to offer than simply featuring Facebook Home out of the box. Hardware wise, the device is as capable as just about any 2012 Android top dog, but with the added benefit of an impressively pocket-friendly form factor.
The unmodified Android experience, which the device offers, is also a pleasant surprise. It will certainly help the HTC First attract Android purists to its bandwagon.
The non-expandable memory and lack of user-replaceable battery are on top of the smartphone's list of potential niggles. The former in particular, could be a deal-breaker for many, given the ever-increasing size of today's popular apps.
The 5MP camera is arguably also a bit of a letdown, as 8MP shooters find their way even in an increasing number of affordable handsets. Our guess is that, given the social networking aura of the First, its camera was likely not a priority. After all, most, if not all, of the images produced by it are likely going to end up viewed on another mobile device, with a square aspect ratio and an effect filter applied to them.
HTC First live photos
As always, we will kick off the HTC First's review with an unboxing, followed by a design and build quality inspection.
Editorial: You might notice that this review is shorter than usual and doesn't include some of our proprietary tests. The reason is it has been prepared and written far away from our home office and test lab. Still, we think we've captured the essence of the phone in the same precise, informative and detailed way that's become our trademark. Enjoy the good read!
Retail box covers the basics
The HTC First comes in a retail box, bearing an AT&T and Facebook logos. Inside it, you will find a charger, a USB cable, a couple of HTC stickers, and the usual set of leaflets.
The retail box
There are no headphones included in the retail box of the device. You will need to pick up a pair of those on your own dime.
Design and build quality
The HTC First sports one of the most understated designs we've encountered in quite some time, albeit with a noticeable resemblance to the first iPhone. No element on the phone's curved body pops out - it is sleek and clutter-free. The subtle branding on the back further enhances the minimalist looks.
There's something iPhone-esque about the HTC First
The handset is available in four color schemes -black, white, light blue, and red. The black colored version we've tested is easily one of the stealthiest phones available at the moment.
Build quality is phenomenal. The HTC First is made from soft-feeling polycarbonate, which feels pleasant, yet extremely sturdy. The display is covered by Corning's Gorilla Glass, so it should also manage the daily wear and tear with ease.
The HTC First size is extremely friendly to both your hand and pocket. The handsets measures 126 x 65 x 8.9 mm and its weight tips the scale at 123.9 grams. In an Android realm, where 5" screens are quickly becoming the norm in the high-end segment, the First feels like a breath of fresh air with its 4.3" unit.
HTC First next to the HTC One
The 4.3" Super LCD display of the HTC First is gorgeous. Its 720p resolution is a long way from the current crop of Android flagships, but, thanks to the phone's modest display size, it still makes for a Retina-beating pixel density of 342ppi.
The display is great
Viewing angles are good, and so is the contrast and sunlight legibility. Overall, the display makes for a great companion for gobbling up multimedia of any kind.
Above the display, you fill find the almost invisible earpiece, accompanied by the front-facing camera, the ambient light and the proximity sensor. Below the display there is a trio of capacitive buttons.
The view above and below the display
The volume rocker is on the left side. The microSIM slot and the microUSB port are on the right.
A look at the sides of the HTC First
The power/lock key and the 3.5mm audio jack are located on top of the handset. On the bottom you will find a great-looking loudspeaker grille.
The loudspeaker grille looks really cool
On the top left corner of the handset's back reside the 5MP camera and its single LED flash. An AT&T, Facebook, and HTC logos can be seen on the bottom.
A look at the back of the device
The 2000mAh non-removable battery of the HTC First propelled it to the impressive endurance rating of 57. This means that you phone will easily make it through more than two full days if used for an hour each of telephony, web browsing, and video playback daily. Most importantly however, the HTC First should be able to make it through a day of heavy use.
Handling the HTC First feels like a breeze. Thanks to its relatively modest screen size and rounded body, one-handed operation is a joy. The soft-feel polycarbonate feels grippy, so accidental drops are not likely.
Handling the HTC First feels great
Following next is a look at the user interface of the smartphone, headed by Facebook Home.
Retail box covers the basics
The HTC First comes in a retail box, bearing an AT&T and Facebook logos. Inside it, you will find a charger, a USB cable, a couple of HTC stickers, and the usual set of leaflets.
The retail box
There are no headphones included in the retail box of the device. You will need to pick up a pair of those on your own dime.
Design and build quality
The HTC First sports one of the most understated designs we've encountered in quite some time, albeit with a noticeable resemblance to the first iPhone. No element on the phone's curved body pops out - it is sleek and clutter-free. The subtle branding on the back further enhances the minimalist looks.
There's something iPhone-esque about the HTC First
The handset is available in four color schemes -black, white, light blue, and red. The black colored version we've tested is easily one of the stealthiest phones available at the moment.
Build quality is phenomenal. The HTC First is made from soft-feeling polycarbonate, which feels pleasant, yet extremely sturdy. The display is covered by Corning's Gorilla Glass, so it should also manage the daily wear and tear with ease.
The HTC First size is extremely friendly to both your hand and pocket. The handsets measures 126 x 65 x 8.9 mm and its weight tips the scale at 123.9 grams. In an Android realm, where 5" screens are quickly becoming the norm in the high-end segment, the First feels like a breath of fresh air with its 4.3" unit.
HTC First next to the HTC One
The 4.3" Super LCD display of the HTC First is gorgeous. Its 720p resolution is a long way from the current crop of Android flagships, but, thanks to the phone's modest display size, it still makes for a Retina-beating pixel density of 342ppi.
The display is great
Viewing angles are good, and so is the contrast and sunlight legibility. Overall, the display makes for a great companion for gobbling up multimedia of any kind.
Above the display, you fill find the almost invisible earpiece, accompanied by the front-facing camera, the ambient light and the proximity sensor. Below the display there is a trio of capacitive buttons.
The view above and below the display
The volume rocker is on the left side. The microSIM slot and the microUSB port are on the right.
A look at the sides of the HTC First
The power/lock key and the 3.5mm audio jack are located on top of the handset. On the bottom you will find a great-looking loudspeaker grille.
The loudspeaker grille looks really cool
On the top left corner of the handset's back reside the 5MP camera and its single LED flash. An AT&T, Facebook, and HTC logos can be seen on the bottom.
A look at the back of the device
The 2000mAh non-removable battery of the HTC First propelled it to the impressive endurance rating of 57. This means that you phone will easily make it through more than two full days if used for an hour each of telephony, web browsing, and video playback daily. Most importantly however, the HTC First should be able to make it through a day of heavy use.
Handling the HTC First feels like a breeze. Thanks to its relatively modest screen size and rounded body, one-handed operation is a joy. The soft-feel polycarbonate feels grippy, so accidental drops are not likely.
Handling the HTC First feels great
Following next is a look at the user interface of the smartphone, headed by Facebook Home
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