What's good
- Sturdy and trendy phone design
- Relatively smooth performance during everyday use
- Good display viewing angles
What's bad
- Poor resolution and pixel density
- Difficult to find and press volume rocker and power key
- Occasional stutter when downloading apps in the background
The Desire 500 is part of HTC's mid-range smartphone lineup and is in direct competition with other budget phones like the Sony Xperia M and Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini. As a budget device, it doesn't offer top-of-the-line hardware, but what it lacks in substance it makes up for in style. PC Advisor says, "The HTC Desire is one of the best looking smartphones available…"
The phone measures 5.19 x 2.63 x 0.39 inches and weighs a mere 123 grams. There are three different color options to choose from: all black, white with red trim and white with turquoise trim. While the chassis is made entirely of plastic, reviewers were overall impressed with the build quality and seamless construction despite having a removable back cover. The only issue critics had with the design is the power key button and volume rocker. According to Phone Arena, the buttons lack tactile feedback as it is too flush with the side. Despite this one issue, most found the device comfortable to hold and easy to use.
As with most smartphones, the main focal point of the Desire 500 is its 4.3 inch display. Sadly, it falls flat only offering 800x480 resolution, resulting in 217ppi density. Although good enough for basic use, critics noticed slight blurring around icon edges and fine print. Experts also mention that while the screen offers clean whites and decent viewing angles, text often appears gray and colors lack vividness.
The 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of onboard RAM offered reviewers a relatively smooth experience when browsing the home screen and using basic apps. TechRadar did notice the occasional stutter when downloading apps in the background, but goes on to say that "It's a barely perceptible difference…which only results in the occasional bit of jerky scrolling." When put through various benchmark tests, the phone scored lower than the Moto G – a device that offers a better screen at a lower cost than the Desire 500.
Other features include 4GB of internal storage, an expandable microSD slot and an 8MP rear-facing camera. Most critics were pleased with the camera's performance, only having issues with overexposure and low light performance.
Despite a couple qualms, most reviewers were pleased with this handset. V3 says "The HTC Desire 500 is a solid affordable phone...but [its] long-term appeal is questionable." Expert Reviews chimes in, "It's a great-looking phone that shows you don't need to buy a tedious black slab…However, it struggles to compete with the Moto G…"
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Jonathan Bray, PC ProThe Desire 500 has a similar front-end to the HTC One (M8) and a good camera, but battery life and performance are both poor.
- Chris Finnamore, Expert ReviewsIt's a great-looking phone that shows you don’t need to buy a tedious black slab if you have less than £250 to spend on an Android smartphone. It also has a reasonable screen and good camera, and acceptable performance. However, it struggles to compete with the Motorola Moto G, which has...
- Thomas Newton, RecombuIt's actually a bit more expensive the Motorola Moto G, the benchmark by which all budget Android phones should be judged right now. Is it as good as the Moto G? For the most part, no. The screen resolution is way lower, which makes a real difference when it comes to browsing the web, playing video...
- Alastair Stevenson, The InquirerThe HTC Desire 500 is a solid, affordable phone. It offers buyers a £199 quad-core Android experience and boasts a reasonably decent rear camera. But since it was released just weeks before the cheaper and higher specified Motorola Moto G that has a more recent version of Android, a better scr...
- David Court, PCWorldThe HTC Desire 500 is a great-looking device, with tons of unique software and solid mid-range smartphone specs on board. It's hard to find any real weaknesses with the phone, including its reasonable price tag. To sum up, it's simply a very good mid-range Android smartphone.
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the HTC Desire 500 user manual here.
HTC backs up the Desire 500 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Desire 500 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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