HTC Evo Design 4G review

For under $100, HTC and Sprint try to throw in everything but the kitchen sink – instead delivering a handset that tries too hard and delivers too little.

HTC Evo Design 4G
Is this sub $100 phone worth your cash?

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

HTC Evo Design 4G

The EVO Design 4G fares a little better with video, defaulting to qHD 960x540, although it can be easily switched up to 720p HD in the Camera app settings. Stereo audio recording is also enabled by default, which adds a little extra dimension to video recordings when playing them back to your HDTV. Users can also opt to shoot video without any audio at all.

HTC Evo Design 4G

Six real-time video filters are available while shooting video: Grayscale, Sepia, Negative, Solarize, Posterize and Aqua. They work as expected but these are mostly throwaway novelty features; users are better served by processing video after it's recorded.

HTC Evo Design 4G

HTC performs decent automatic white balance adjustments, also providing four manual settings for Incandescent, Fluorescent, Daylight and Cloudy scenes. Custom image adjustments can also be made for Exposure, Contrast, Saturation and Sharpness, although the overly color saturated and contrast rich display largely negates its usefulness.

HTC Evo Design 4G

Recorded videos had noticeable blockiness and artifacting, even when shot outdoors on a sunny day at the highest resolution. Things kind of go downhill once you move indoors, although the single LED flash can be manually turned on or off as needed. Sadly, the software lacks an auto setting while recording video, although it's enabled by default when taking photos.

Latest in HTC Phones
HTC Desire 22 Pro
HTC is back with an intriguing phone wrapped in NFT and metaverse buzzwords
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
A foldable HTC phone might be in the works, based on a new patent
HTC U20 5G
HTC U20 5G is official, and it's the company's first 5G phone
HTC is still making phones, as it launches the triple camera-toting Wildfire R70
HTC U12 Plus
HTC is launching its first 5G phone sometime this year
HTC One M8
Why the HTC One M8 is the best phone of the decade – and beats these four other phones
Latest in Reviews
The player holding a Shard Card in Fragpunk.
Competitive shooter Fragpunk wowed me with its game-changing Shard Cards, but I can't stand the aggressive monetization
Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank leaning on plinth on desk with pink background
I wouldn't take the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank on extreme adventures, but it's great for my basic traveling needs
VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank leaning on plinth on desk with pink background
The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is one of the most stylish batteries I’ve seen, but it’s too slow for the price
Atomfall
I survived Atomfall’s testing countryside and became an ethically murky mercenary
The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro on a bronze table
I tested the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro and it's the closest Android fans can get to an iPad Pro alternative
TinEye website
I like this reverse image search service the most