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HTC Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Released Jun 2012 Discontinued

HTC Desire C

7.1 / 10
Cellphones.ca Score
Based on 13 critic reviews
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Operating system
3.5" Screen size
5MP Main camera
— Processor
4 GB Storage
1,230 mAh Battery
By category

Key specs

What critics say

Critic consensus

Score
15 reviews
weighted by credibility
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 the HTC Desire C is among the few to give you ICS right out of the box. It looks good and is really comfortable to handle - clearly, it's an easy phone to like.Maybe it would be a lot harder for many people to forgive the slow, outdated processor. To be clear, most people won't call the Desire C slow, unless they're holding a dual-core in the other hand. That's the thing, though - the other hand.”

PhoneArena
PhoneArena

“The HTC Desire C is a fine low-end smartphone. It's compact and cute, and will certainly get the job done for most standard tasks.The price for this phone is just right. It's priced very closely to rivals such as the Sony Ericsson Xperia ray and Motorola Defy+ or Mini. You should be able to find the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 at a better price, and it will probably perform a bit better than the Desire C, but the HTC is superior in terms of design and comes with ICS, so you'll have to make a decision as to what's more important to you.One of the biggest drawbacks of the Desire C is its 600MHz processor, which causes some noticeable slow-downs at times, but if you aren't a power user, it should do just fine. Unfortunately, the camera is also mediocre, so if you're a shutterbug, you've come to the wrong place.”

Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor
7

“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 better performance.”

TrustedReviews
TrustedReviews
7

“It's always a difficult task to judge a budget phone as for some people the compromises made won't matter but for others they'll be fundamental – like the missing LED on the flash in this instance. Also, there's always the competition from second hand models to consider. But overall we think HTC has done enough to make this a sensible option if you're looking for a first mobile for a child or just for a stylish low cost handset for yourself.”

Video reviews

Watch before you decide

Reviews
HTC Desire C
HTC
How To Change The LCD Screen on a HTC Desire C
Oxford Street Tech
Tutorial: Root Your HTC Desire C
CODEPHENOM
HTC Desire C A320e repair, disassembly manual, guide
Rounded
HTC Desire C Review
MrHadlemDonalds
How to root HTC Desire C
OAKDevelopers
Htc Desire C hard reset
GSM-ABC
HTC Desire C phone in-depth review
Geekyranjit
HTC Desire C review – GSMDome.com
GSMDome
HTC Desire C Review
PhoneArena
Review HTC Desire C Game test by @happymanth @PDAMobiz
PDAMobiz Video Channel

In Depth

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)

Common questions

What people actually want to know

When was the HTC Desire C released?
How long does the battery last on the HTC Desire C?
Does the HTC Desire C have a headphone jack?
Where can I get support for the HTC Desire C?
Where can I download the HTC Desire C manual?
Community

Questions & answers

LA
langi mbewe · Answered

My HTC desire c which I have had for over a year has been freezing for more than 2 weeks.I deleted and cleared all unnecessary apps..I tried removing the battery etc but I still have this problem.what should I do?

GE
George_1139 · Answered

this is a problem to all HTC Desire C models. There is a option to backup automatically, disable it. Then Deactivate apps that you don't need. Here you can find a step by step tutorial: technozed.com/how-to-fix-htc-desire-c-is-freezing/

You
GR
Grindale · Answered

If you haven't completed the phone activation procedure, you could simple refresh your browser and start with the process again.

You
CA
Carl · Answered

Yeah, it should work. Just make sure that the phone is not network locked.

You
CA
Carl · Answered

In cases like that, I usually restore the phone to factory settings. Keep in mind that this will wipe out everything in your phone so don't forget to make backups of important files.

You
CA
Carl · Answered

Unfortunately, you need the receipt. Try contacting HTC if there's anything else you can do about this.

You
DA
David Gonzales · Answered

Hi Rose, the HTC Desire C's price is not listed among the phones on the carrier's web site, but info on its pricing should be easy to acquire by reaching out to PC Mobile through their contact page. Hope this helps!

You
GR
Grindale · Answered

Hi David. Dial 1 then press the call button. That should connect you to your voicemail.

You
GR
Grindale · Answered

Hi monique. Is it your phone or just the display that turn off? Did you do anything with your phone before this happened? Give me more details about your issue so we can figure out how to resolve it.

You
CA
Carl · Answered

Hi cindy. Yes, you can change your voicemail password. To change your voicemail password follow these steps: 1. Contact the customer service automated system for your cell phone carrier. Every cell phone carrier has a different customer service number that is coded in your cell phone. (For example, codes like *2 and #611 are customer service codes for Sprint and Verizon, respectively.) 2. Enter your cell phone account's standard information when prompted. In most cases, you will only be asked to enter your cell phone number and ZIP code into your cell phone's keypad. Type this information only when you are prompted to. 3. Choose the numeric option designated for changing a voice mail password. Listen to all of the automated options and press the numeric key that represents help with your voice mail. 4. When prompted, enter your current voice mail password into your phone's keypad. Press the # key on your phone's keypad once you have entered your voice mail password. 5. Create a new numeric password. Type your new numeric voice mail password into your phone's keypad. Follow the specific additional directions given by your automated system to lock in your new password. 6. Save your new settings. The automated system will prompt you to re-enter your new numeric password. Type the password into your keypad once again and press whichever key the system tells you will confirm your new password. NOTE: Every cell phone carrier's password-changing process may be different. If you cannot complete the process, you may need to inquire with your cell phone carrier for further assistance. Souce: Link

You
CA
Carl · Answered

Are you using a messaging app other than the default one? If so, there may be an issue with the messaging app you are using. Also you can try rebooting your phone, it sometimes resolves the issue.

You
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