HTC AMAZE 4G REVIEW

The HTC Amaze 4G can be quickly
described as a shutterbug's phone,
since it packs in an 8 megapixel
camera (with advanced features)
and 1080p video capture, plus a
dual LED flash. It also has all of the
features you'd expect to find in a
modern Android smarphone,
including a 1.5 GHz processor, Wi-Fi
and 4G wireless, Bluetooth, and
even NFC compatibility for wireless
payment and social media check-in
functionality when available.
It's currently available from T-
Mobile for $260 with a new two-
year service contract and a $50
mail-in rebate.
BUILD & DESIGN
The Amaze is a little more stylish than some of
the other phones I've reviewed recently, being
white with brushed silver accents. The front of
the phone is dominated by the display of
course, but there's a band of silver on the
back, embossed with the HTC logo, that also
wraps around the sides of the phone. If white's
not your thing, it's also available in black.
It fits nicely in the hand, being a bit narrower
than some of its recent competitors, but it is
somewhat thicker and heavier. If you're
concerned most about having the thinnest or
lightest phone, the Amaze isn't the one for
you, and you should look elsewhere. It's also a
bit slippery too, since the back is so smooth
there's really nothing for your fingers to catch
on when holding the phone.
I happen to like the form factor, since I don't
mind a little extra thickness and prefer a
slightly smaller display to decrease the overall
width of the device. It seems odd to say that a
screen this size is "slightly smaller", but that's
the truth in high-end models these days. And I
would definitely want a case or a silicone skin
to make it a little easier to hold on to.
Display
The display is a 4.3-inch touchscreen with a
resolution of 960 x 540. It's extremely clear
and sharp, and bright enough to see clearly
even if you're outside on a sunny day. The
display is capable of blinding brightness, in
fact, so you might want to turn down the
brightness a bit to make it more comfortable
to use when you're indoors.
Keyboard
There's no physical keyboard, so you'll be
typing on screen. It works just fine, though
you likely won't want to tap out that novel
you've been working on for the last decade.
Other Buttons & Controls
The power button and headphone jack are on
the top edge of the Amaze, while the volume
up/down button is on the right side, along
with two small buttons that start a video
recording or capture a photo when pressed.
That's a really nice feature, and much faster
than starting the camera app as usual.
On the left side you'll find the charge/sync
port, which is not the standard micro-USB
connector that you may be used to. I found it
frustrating to deal with a non-standard port; I
had to carry along the proprietary charging
cable instead of using any of my third party
solutions.