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?

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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.