HTC Explorer

Overview

User Friendly Smartphone for Newbies!

Camera

Design

Misc

Overview of HTC Explorer

Announced in September 2011, the HTC Explorer is a successor to the HTC Desire series. While it’s the top end of the market that receives most of the media coverage, this phone is aimed at the needs of the average smartphone user – but what does it have to offer? HTC Explorer is designed for those exploring the world of smart phones for the first time. It is very easy to use and also one of the cheapest in the range of HTC cell phones. Design-wise it is small with a rubberized texture on the back. It is available in very decent colors like Metallic Navy, Metallic Blue, Active Navy and Active Black. It has a display screen which is 3.2 inches WVGA with 320 x 480 pixel resolution. It runs Android's latest version v2.3 (Gingerbread) Operating System. Connectivity features include Wi-Fi, GPRS, 3G, Bluetooth.The camera is only 3.2 MP without LED flash. Other features in this smart phone include voice recording, a very good music player, Audio 3.5 jack, FM radio and Games. HTC Explorer is definitely a must have for those stepping their foot in the world of smart phones.

Design and Build Quality of HTC Explorer

In appearance the HTC Explorer is similar to the HTC Wildfire S. The handset is available in a range of colors. The phone’s compact body, measuring 103mm by 57mm, only allows for a small screen, 3.2 inches in size. The display is of a lower resolution (320x480) than similar competitor models like the Sony Xperia Sola, but the brightness and colors are good. This does mean, however, that it’s a lot more subtle and pocket-friendly than bulky smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Note – and it weighs an airy 108g. While the phone is light and slim, it doesn’t feel or look cheap – the body looks neat and sleek, and can resist knocks and general wear-and-tear. The rubber casing at the back of the handset provides extra grip, something that many phones could benefit from. Its rubber buttons are built into the phone case

User Interface and Comfort to Use

The HTC Explorer runs on a 600MHz, which is significantly less powerful than the quadcore processors within the newer phones, but appropriate given the phone’s more affordable price tag. Its operating system is the Android 2.3 Gingerbread, refined by HTC's developers to make it comprehensible and user-friendly – an interface named ‘Sense’. The home screen is dominated by generously sized buttons that give fast access to essential and most-used processes. For Android users, the UI will be intuitive – multiple home screens, apps and widgets, with a separate tab for most-used items. Usefully, you can access mail, phone calls, messages and camera from the lock screen. On the whole, the phone is quick and responsive, and slows down only when heavy demands are put on it.

Telephony and Phonebook of HTC Explorer

The phone boasts HTC’s typically simple and well laid out contacts system, accessible using the app icon on the central menu. No social network integration is a downside, but IM nicknames can be stored. Contacts can be sorted into groups. Making calls is largely straightforward but call quality is average, even in areas of good signal. The phone suffers from occasional hang-ups, particularly during incoming calls. There are few options beyond the standard dialing functions.

Messaging and Emails

The phone offers a decent range of messaging options, including MMS, SMS and email. SMS/MMS options have a separate inbox to the email. Users who choose to coordinate their Android account with their primary email will find that the Gmail app is set up and ready to use. Otherwise, setup with a different account (e.g. Hotmail) is quick and straightforward, and the phone offers good support for multimedia messaging with video, audio and images. However, the on-screen QWERTY keyboard is painful to use, thanks to the cramped display.

Gallery, Photo Viewer and Video Player of HTC Explorer

If you want a media-friendly phone capable of storing and playing plenty of HD videos, the HTC Explorer isn’t for you. This modest device offers just 512MB of storage, of which only 90MB is available to the user. You’ll almost certainly find yourself using the microSD slot if you want to store any photos or video clips – and you are required to install an SD card to view the phone’s gallery, an irritating quirk. The phone can play HD video clips, but the down-scaling required makes the effect underwhelming.

Music Player and FM Radio (Audio Quality)

The phone has the standard HTC media player, incorporating Android’s audio player. The music app widget gives quick access to these functions, and also offers album art and smart touchscreen controls. File support is good, and the built-in FM radio, using the stereo headset as its antenna, does a reasonable job of detecting stations. Audio quality is comparably poor; the in-built speaker is too tinny to be of use.

Still Camera and Image Quality of HTC Explorer

On the back of the phone is its 3MP camera – passable, but nothing to shout about. The snaps are reasonable: most expose well to give a good range of color; but often they look washed out and blurry. Without flash, the camera copes poorly in low light.

Video Camera and Video Quality

The video function is surprisingly good for a phone of this kind: it manages to capture relatively crisp and colorful video without too much blurring or jerking. However, the phone’s low resolution means that quality leaves something to be desired, and it lacks auto-focus or scene modes.

Connectivity Options of HTC Explorer

Despite being at the lower end of the price range, the Explorer boasts the same connectivity options as top-line HTCs like the Sensation: 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0 give users access to the full range of features. 3G is occasionally slow but Wi-Fi is impressively quick. The phone connects to a PC via micro-USB, and file transfers are fast.

Organiser and other utility tools

The basic tools are present, including Calendar and Alarm/Clock, in addition to the pre-loaded apps that come as standard. One major omission is that the phone lacks any pre-installed document viewer. A useful feature is its data monitor function, which enables users to better control data usage and get a better sense of how much is consumed by different tasks.

Web Browser and Applications of HTC Explorer

The lower resolution screen is not ideal for web browsing – the phone suffers in comparison with models of a similar price from competitor manufacturers. Very little of a webpage can be displayed, and users have to do a lot of swiping. The Explorer app copes well with most pages and media – notably, it supports Adobe Flash - and is suitable for watching short YouTube clips; but anything more demanding will cause some lag. Like all Android phones, the Explorer gives you access to Android Market, home to hundreds of thousands of apps for business, entertainment, organisation, social media and photos.

Google Maps and GPS

Google Maps comes pre-installed, and works well. True to its name, the phone is an excellent way-finder: GPS location is quick and accurate, and navigation instructions are simple, overlaid with useful interfaces like public transport.

Value for money

Considerably less expensive than the big name smartphones, the price tag is justified by sacrifices to hardware and software. However, the phone nevertheless boasts some excellent features and performs a range of basic functions well, making it good value.

Verdict of HTC Explorer

If you are in the market for a fast, powerful, top-range smartphone capable of running heavy-duty apps, the HTC Explorer isn’t for you. However, if you are looking for a mid-range phone at an affordable price that offers a simple user interface and hardware that will run essential apps and processes, the HTC Explorer is worth a second look.