Features: The ThunderBolt, an Android smartphone. is the first phone able to tap into Verizon’s 4G LTE high-speed network where available. It’s loaded with Android’s latest 2.2 operating system and HTC Sense 2.0 interface. Built with a 1GHz processor, the ThunderBolt has a 4.3-inch touch screen and
a kickstand to prop it up for watching video. The back-facing camera is 8 megapixels with flash and autofocus; the front-facing camera for video chatting is 1.3 megapixels. The phone can be a mobile hotspot, providing wireless Internet for up to eight nearby devices, and comes with a 32 GB memory card.
Price: $249.99 with two-year contract. Unlimited data plan ($29.99 a month) required.
Ups: The camera quality and features are first-rate, and the extra-large screen enhances the experience of crisp photos, quick auto focusing, easily accessible settings and multiple photo effects. HTC Sense makes it easy to keep up with friends by gathering e-mail, social media and text messages and feeding them to the contact’s page. And you can set up a widget to display only what your closest friends are doing so you aren’t bombarded with updates from every contact.
Verizon’s 4G areas are still limited, but it does download files and websites noticeably faster in some areas. Using the SpeedTest app outdoors in downtown Miami, I was able to download at between 7 and 13 megabits a second.
Downs: The ThunderBolt was released with a software fluke that’s been seen in other phones using HTC Sense: Every few minutes a pop-up error alert appears on the screen, forcing what’s in the background to close. It’s usually associated with syncing contacts with Facebook, and could be fixed with a little fussing and tech know-how — or by taking it to service reps back at the store. Another issue: the third-party video chatting app Qik was preloaded on the phone, but it didn’t work properly during tests.
Bottom line: I appreciate the details HTC puts into its interface design, easily showing messages and updates from groups of contacts. But I wish they took the time to resolve bugs before releasing it. It’s the same gripe I’ve had about various Android devices, including those made by Motorola.
That issue aside, the ThunderBolt is a powerful smartphone that’s ideal for users who plan to watch — and take — videos often. The camera is among the best out there, and for users who live in an area with Verizon’s 4G, it’ll take less time to send and download high-quality media.
A big plus is that Verizon is offering a $30 monthly unlimited data plan — something that’s worth getting for a phone like this that’s designed for gobbling data.
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