The HTC Hero was a mid-range Android smartphone released in 2009. It was a significant device for HTC, as it was the company’s first Android phone with HTC Sense, a custom user interface that would later become a hallmark of the company’s Android devices. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the design, features, and specifications of the HTC Hero.
Design
The HTC Hero had a unique design for its time, with a curved bottom that made it comfortable to hold. The phone’s body was made of plastic, with a metallic finish that gave it a premium feel. The device was relatively thick at 14.4mm, but it was still relatively compact with a 3.2-inch display. The display had a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, which was standard for mid-range smartphones of the time.
Features
The HTC Hero ran Android 1.5 Cupcake out of the box, but it was later updated to Android 2.1 Eclair. It was powered by a Qualcomm MSM7200A 528 MHz processor and 288MB of RAM. It had 512MB of internal storage, which could be expanded via microSD.
One of the most notable features of the HTC Hero was HTC Sense, which was a custom user interface that ran on top of Android. HTC Sense included features such as personalized home screens, widgets, and a unified messaging inbox. It also had a “scenes” feature that allowed users to customize their home screens based on their location or mood.
The HTC Hero had a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash, which was relatively high-end for a mid-range smartphone at the time. The camera was capable of recording VGA video at 15 frames per second.
Other features included Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The phone also had a 1350mAh battery, which provided up to 8 hours of talk time and 440 hours of standby time.
Specifications:
Display: 3.2-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels
Processor: Qualcomm MSM7200A 528 MHz processor
RAM: 288MB
Internal Storage: 512MB (expandable via microSD)
Camera: 5-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and LED flash
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and 3G
Battery: 1350mAh battery providing up to 8 hours of talk time and 440 hours of standby time
Features: HTC Sense, accelerometer, proximity sensor, compass
Conclusion
The HTC Hero was an important device for HTC, as it was the company’s first Android phone with HTC Sense. While it was a mid-range smartphone at the time, it had several features that were considered high-end, such as its 5-megapixel camera and HTC Sense. The design was unique and comfortable to hold, and the device was capable of running multiple apps and tasks at the same time. While the HTC Hero is no longer a viable device for modern smartphone users, it was an important milestone in HTC’s history and the evolution of Android devices.
