HTC Wildfire Review

hyp4mhz
Welcome to the 2010 HTC Wildfire review page.  Released in mid 2010 the HTC Wildfire is one of the cheapest Android based mobile phones you can get.  The Wildfire is the first smartphone and Android based pre-paid package you can get.  (pay-as-you-go for our international readers).  It seems like a great deal so we decided to give it a go. The Wildfire uses the latest Android 2.1 operating system hence has all the functionality that you'd expect in a high end phone.  They have just cut back on the specification of the hardware to achieve the lower price. So you get a slower CPU and smaller screen for the most obvious cutbacks.  The Wildfire is presumably a replacement for the older HTC Tattoo. We where impressed at the relatively speedy interface and that everything worked as per the HTC models with the faster CPU and screen. It is certainly as good or better than other smart phones in the this price category like those made by Nokia or LG as examples. However it is not completely smooth and occasionally has lags.  It is no different to other competing models.  We where not impressed at the very low resolution screen. The phone has all the features that make the Android operating system a leading competitor, with online widgets that display everything from emails to the daily joke and so forth. Construction wise the Wildfire beats most of the rest, it looks and feels good to hold in the hand.  (It feels like real metal) Sure its not as nice as the more expensive models but then its cheaper. Like most smartphones these days it is difficult to determine how good a phone is without looking at what sort of apps it can run.  In that regard you just have to search carefully and install only the best - to get the most out of the HTC Wildfire. Overall the HTC Wildfire is a very good phone for those wanting all the communication options at a cheap price.  It is not perfect but acceptable.  The Wildfire is just as good as our bargain priced favorite the Nokia E63 but in a different way.  It also makes the E63 interface very old fashioned.  In comparison to the cheapest LG Optimus series is slightly better since the screen and operation is looks better and just as smooth - the only problem is the older Android OS and it does not physically look as good.  If you must know we prefer the Optimus - in the end due mainly to the screen and the Wildfire for access to the latest Apps and of course the design. Specifications
  • HTC Wildfire
  • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Dual-band 3G 850/900/1900/2100 (Dependent on country) HSDPA 7.2 Mbits data speed (download) 384kpbs data speed (upload)
  • Design Touch screen
  • L106.75 x W60.4 x D12.19 mm Weight 118 grams
  • Display/s External 3.2 Inch TFT 240 x 320
  • Camera 5MP LED Flash
  • Video Camera 800 x 480 video camera 15FPS
  • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V2.1
  • CPU 528Mhz
  • Memory Up to 384MB available to user MicroSD up to 32Gig
  • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
  • Features A-GPS Proximity Compass Accelerometer Light Sensor FM Radio Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email FM radio Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 1300mAh battery Up to 690 hours Standby Up to 490 minutes Talk Time
  • Price history Under $349 AUS 2010 (Pre-paid)