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HTC Desire C review

5.6/10 AVG.
RATING
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HTC Desire C
HTC Desire C
HTC Desire C
HTC Desire C
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5.6/10
Informr score
The HTC Desire C currently has an Informr score of 5.6 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 18 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

Mid-range handsets running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich are still quite a rarity. Most manufacturers settle on releasing devices that only have Android 2.3 Gingerbread pre-installed, or worse, some other version of the Android software that’s even older, like Froyo or Eclair. But not HTC. You won’t have to worry about using a severely outdated version of Android with the HTC Desire C, because it runs the penultimate version of Android right out of the box. So it has it good in terms of software, but what about the hardware?

As a mid-range model, the Desire C comes equipped with a fairly modest set of features. It has a 3.5-inch HVGA touchscreen display, 5MP main camera, 4GB of internal storage, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, GPS, and HSDPA data. The one thing that can put most prospective buyers off is the fact that it runs on a 600MHz processor and 512MB RAM. While it isn’t prohibitively slow, it’s certainly not as fast as other better-equipped smartphones, especially with the default software.

What about the battery you ask? Well, HTC promises 5 hours of talk time per charge. Of course, real life results will always vary depending on actual usage.

The consensus among reviewers is that the HTC Desire C offers acceptable levels of smartphone performance for normal use. The problem is that it may be priced a little too high, and for just a bit more extra cash you could place yourself into higher-end models, even HTC’s own selection of smartphones, for a much better overall experience.

Need to Know: HTC Desire C

1. Comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich pre-installed. (The Good)

2. Features excellent ergonomics and portability due to use of 3.5-inch screen. (The Good)

3. Battery life is not that good. (The Bad)

4. Seen by many as a bit too expensive for its overall feature-set. (The Bad)


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
600 MHz
Processor
Processor
600 MHz
3.5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
3.5"
5+ MP
Camera
Camera
5+ MP
1230 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews

At £150 from Three, the HTC Desire C is a reasonable buy if you want something a little more stylish than the raft of £100 Android cheapies; but only really if you're a big fan of HTC, and feel more comfortable with its spin on Android. However, you really should stretch to £200 an...

- Seth Barton, Expert Reviews
Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor

The HTC Desire C is a nicely designed budget Android 4.0 handset. It could make a good first smartphone but doesn't have any outstanding features. The price is attractive but if you're not bothered about NFC then it's worth paying an extra £20 for the HTC One V for its superior screen and bett...

- Chris Martin, Tech Advisor
GSMArena
GSMArena

HTC seems to be taking the entry-level market more seriously than usual. Just look at the multiple versions of the Desire C, including dual-SIM support. Of course, HTC's entry level is different than say, Samsung's. What we mean is, there're obviously cheaper ways to own an Android smartphone. But t...

- GSMArena team, GSMArena
Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews

At £150 from Three, the HTC Desire C is a reasonable buy if you want something a little more stylish than the raft of £100 Android cheapies; but only really if you're a big fan of HTC, and feel more comfortable with its spin on Android. However, you really should stretch to £200 and pick up the far-...

- Seth Barton, Expert Reviews
The Inquirer
The Inquirer

For those after a phone that will introduce them to the world of touchscreens and apps, the HTC Desire C is a suitable handset. However, we can't help but think even the most inexperienced of smartphone users will soon get fed up of the handset's stuttering and poor web browser - although this can b...

- Carly Page, The Inquirer


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the HTC Desire C user manual here.


HTC backs up the Desire C with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Desire C has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact HTC support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find HTC's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Screen Size
3.5"

The HTC Desire C's screen size is 3.5 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
600 MHz

There is a Qualcomm 600 MHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
5+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 5+ MP camera.

There's no secondary front camera.

Storage
4 GB

Internal memory is 4 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
1230mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 1230 mAh battery. HTC's performance ratings are 16.5 days standby time, 350 minutes.

Desire C Specs

Overview
Release Date June 1, 2012
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm 600 MHz
Internal Storage 4 GB
RAM 512 MB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation No
SAR Head: 0.747 W/kg
Body: 0.643 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA
Mobile / Cellular Data
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Yes
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
No
Additional Rear Camera Info
Effects, Geotagging, ISO
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density Unknown
Size 3.5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touchscreen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 1230 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 607 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 350 minutes
Standby Time Up to 16.5 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Stealth Black, Polar White, Flamenco Red
Dimensions [H x W x D] 10.7 x 6.1 x 1.2 cm (4.2 x 2.4 x 0.5 in)
Weight 98 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key No
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, MMS, Google Talk
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Themes: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: XT9
Voicemail Key: Yes
Voice Commands: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Contact Groups: Yes
Voice Activated Dialing: Yes
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
Audio Formats: MIDI, MP3, AAC, AMR, WMA, WAV, M4A, OGG
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, AVI
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: No
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Viewable document types: DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, XLS
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: -
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Stop Watch, Timer, Calculator, Weather, Maps, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): HTC Wildfire C, HTC Golf, HTC A320A
Related Links Manual (PDF)
HTC Desire C Reviews
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