HTC Surround

amazon HTC Surround reviews

Design and Build Quality

a. Physical Design

The HTC Surround is immediately recognizable due to its distinctive design. It features a 3.8-inch LCD display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. The screen is surrounded by a prominent metal frame, giving it a premium feel. The front of the device also houses three capacitive touch buttons: Back, Home, and Search.

The most notable feature of the Surround is its sliding speaker mechanism. The device includes a unique speaker bar that can slide out from behind the screen, revealing a pair of stereo speakers. This mechanism was designed to enhance the audio experience, particularly for media playback and gaming.

b. Build Quality

The Surround boasts a solid build quality with a combination of metal and plastic materials. The metal frame around the display and the speaker bar adds durability and a touch of elegance. The device feels sturdy in hand, and the sliding mechanism, while innovative, is robust and designed to withstand regular use.

The rear of the device is made of plastic with a textured finish, which helps with grip. The back also houses a 5 MP camera with an LED flash, and the HTC branding is prominently displayed. The device’s build quality reflects HTC’s attention to detail and commitment to delivering a premium experience.

Display

a. Screen Quality

The HTC Surround features a 3.8-inch LCD display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. While this resolution was standard for smartphones at the time, it is relatively modest by today’s standards. The screen offers decent clarity and sharpness for everyday use, although modern devices have moved on to higher resolutions.

The display’s color reproduction is accurate, and it has good viewing angles, though it may not be as vibrant as AMOLED screens. The brightness levels are adequate for indoor use, but direct sunlight visibility may be limited compared to more recent displays.

b. Touch Sensitivity

The capacitive touch screen of the Surround is responsive and smooth, providing a good user experience. The touchscreen supports multitouch gestures, allowing users to perform pinch-to-zoom and other touch interactions with ease. The touch sensitivity is on par with other devices of its era, making it suitable for navigating the Windows Phone 7 interface.

Performance

a. Hardware Specifications

The HTC Surround is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 processor running at 1 GHz, paired with 448 MB of RAM. This hardware configuration was competitive for its time but has since been surpassed by more powerful processors and higher RAM capacities in modern smartphones.

b. System Performance

The combination of the Snapdragon processor and 448 MB of RAM provides adequate performance for running Windows Phone 7 and its applications. The device handles basic tasks such as browsing, social media, and multimedia playback with relative ease. However, it may struggle with more demanding applications or multitasking due to its limited RAM.

c. Storage

The HTC Surround comes with 16 GB of internal storage, which was a generous amount for its time. However, the device lacks expandable storage options, meaning users cannot increase the storage capacity beyond the built-in 16 GB. While this may have been sufficient for many users in 2010, modern smartphones with larger storage capacities and expandable options offer more flexibility.

Software

a. Windows Phone 7

The HTC Surround was one of the first devices to run Windows Phone 7, Microsoft’s attempt to re-enter the smartphone market with a new operating system. Windows Phone 7 introduced a fresh, tile-based user interface, focusing on simplicity and ease of use. The OS features a distinctive Start screen with live tiles that provide real-time updates and quick access to apps and information.

b. User Interface

The interface of Windows Phone 7 is designed to be intuitive and visually appealing. The tile-based layout is customizable, allowing users to pin their favorite apps and contacts to the Start screen. The integration of social media and messaging services into the operating system provides a seamless experience for users who prioritize connectivity and communication.

c. Pre-installed Apps

The HTC Surround comes with several pre-installed apps and services, including Microsoft Office Mobile, which provides basic document editing and viewing capabilities. Other apps include a web browser, email client, and media player. Additionally, the device supports access to the Windows Phone Marketplace, where users can download and install additional apps and games.

Multimedia Features

a. Speaker System

One of the key selling points of the HTC Surround is its dedicated speaker system. The sliding speaker bar, which reveals stereo speakers, enhances the audio experience for media playback and gaming. The speakers deliver clear and loud sound, making it ideal for watching videos, listening to music, and playing games with audio.

The speaker mechanism is well-designed, with good sound quality and volume output. The inclusion of Dolby Mobile and SRS Surround sound technologies further enhances the audio experience, providing richer and more immersive sound.

b. Camera

The HTC Surround is equipped with a 5 MP rear camera with an LED flash. The camera offers basic functionality, including features like auto-focus and macro mode. While the image quality is acceptable for casual photography, it falls short compared to modern smartphone cameras, which offer higher megapixel counts and advanced imaging technologies.

The camera’s performance in low-light conditions is limited due to the lack of advanced image processing capabilities. However, the camera is suitable for capturing snapshots and videos in well-lit environments.

Battery Life

a. Battery Specifications

The HTC Surround is powered by a 1,230 mAh lithium-ion battery. The battery life is adequate for moderate usage, providing around a day of use on a single charge. However, battery performance can vary depending on usage patterns, including screen brightness, media playback, and network connectivity.

b. Battery Performance

In practical terms, the battery life of the HTC Surround is typical for devices of its era. Users can expect a full day of use with standard activities such as browsing, calling, and media consumption. Heavy users may need to charge the device more frequently, particularly if engaging in continuous multimedia playback or gaming.

Pros and Cons

a. Pros

• Unique Speaker Mechanism: The sliding speaker bar provides an enhanced audio experience, making it ideal for media playback and gaming.
• Solid Build Quality: The combination of metal and plastic materials ensures durability and a premium feel.
• Windows Phone 7 Integration: The device benefits from the user-friendly and visually appealing Windows Phone 7 operating system.
• Decent Internal Storage: With 16 GB of internal storage, users have ample space for apps and media.

b. Cons

• Outdated Hardware: The 1 GHz processor and 448 MB of RAM are considered underpowered compared to modern devices.
• Limited Storage: The lack of expandable storage options restricts users from increasing the device’s capacity.
• Modest Display Resolution: The 480 x 800 resolution is relatively low by today’s standards, affecting screen clarity and detail.
• Basic Camera Performance: The 5 MP camera lacks advanced features and performs poorly in low-light conditions.

Conclusion

The HTC Surround was a distinctive and innovative smartphone in its time, notable for its unique speaker mechanism and its role in introducing Windows Phone 7 to the market. While its hardware specifications may seem modest by today’s standards, the Surround offered a solid user experience with its well-built design, decent performance, and multimedia capabilities.

Its contribution to the early Windows Phone ecosystem and its attempt to stand out with a unique feature make the HTC Surround a memorable device in the history of smartphones. It represents a period of experimentation and evolution in mobile technology, bridging the gap between early smartphone innovations and the more advanced devices that followed.

As technology continues to advance, the HTC Surround serves as a reminder of how far smartphones have come and the importance of innovation in shaping the future of mobile devices.

where can you get a HTC Surround online

HTC Surround T8788 Windows 7 phone (At&t) (4.7 x 2.4 x 0.5 inches ; 5.8 ounces): Buy it now