All eyes are on HTC as we prepare for their big autumn launch event tomorrow in New York City, Verizon has made the HTC Desire 612 official on their website. The phone won’t be available until Thursday, but at least the ribbon has been formally cut and the device is now known to the public.
Verizon labels the HTC Desire 612 as an entry level smartphone with bells and whistles of a flagship HTC phone including unique features like front facing BoomSound speakers and an HD 4.7″ screen (720p).
Specs for the HTC Desire 612 include:
- OS: Android 4.4.4 (with HTC Sense 6
- Processor: 1.2 Ghz quad-core Qualcomm processor
- Display: 4.7″ HD screen
- Cameras: 8 MP rear camera, 1.3 MP front camera
- Battery: 2040 mAh
- Storage: 8 GB internal memory w/microSD slot for a 128 GB memory card or lower
This phone carries the HTC Desire title, but has been given a slight face lift, probably to meet some request by Verizon. The phone sports a black body with a red rubber strip the rides along the sides of the phone. There’s minor gaps in the rubber strip; for the volume rocker and for the piece to peel back to insert the SIM and SD card since the back panel is not removable. The power button is also found underneath the red strip right around the same place as the power button on the HTC One M8. The phone’s height is equal to the HTC One M8, but the screen is smaller than on the M8, leaving ample room above and below the screen for branding. The audio port is located on top of the phone and the USB port is in the lower right corner. The 8 MP rear camera has a flash positioned right above it and camera modes are limited to camera, video, and selfie.
Android 4.4.4 on the HTC Desire 612 runs pretty well with HTC Sense 6 running in the foreground. Everything you should expect from the HTC user experience is present with HTC BlinkFeed on the first home screen, customizable app drawer, Extreme Power Saving mode, and for those on a MORE Everything plan through Verizon an offer for 25 GB of storage in Google Drive is available. With a new 2 year contract the HTC Desire 612 be picked up for free and with the MORE Everything plan users will get an extra 1 GB of data as long as you sign for a minimum of a 1 GB plan.
Source: Verizon Wireless
Looks like better than iBanana and much cheaper.
The 612 is slightly shorter than the M8, probably no more than a quarter inch by my measurements, but it definitely “felt” smaller. The screen was discernibly smaller and the resolution was not as good as the M8’s, but it was certainly readable outside. I found I actually liked the rubber strips which made the phone easier to hold than the M8, which, without a case, I’m always afraid will slip out of my hand.