HTC Desire 820: Pros and Cons
HTC announced the launch of the Desire 820 smartphone in 2014. The manufacturer is offering this smartphone with 5.5 inch LCD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939 SoC, and 2 GB of RAM. The Desire 820 comes with Android OS v4.4.2 (KitKat) pre-installed. This phone has only one rear-camera (13 MP, 4160 x 3120 px, autofocus) on its back for photos and videos. Let's see what makes this device stand out.
Table of Contents
- HTC Desire 820 specifications
- Weight, dimensions, colors
- System, chipset, performance
- Display type, size, resolution
- Memory, storage
- Cameras, flash
- Connectivity, network, wireless
- Battery type, capacity, charger
- Features, sensors, specials
- Verdict, pros and cons
This article shares our personal experiences and thoughts about using the HTC Desire 820 smartphone. We hope to offer helpful insights to others interested in this device. The specifications below are from the official manufacturer data, but we also consider user reviews. If you've seen any mistakes or things missing in these specifications, please let us know.
HTC Desire 820 specifications
| Brand | HTC |
|---|---|
| Name | Desire 820 |
| Model | D820 |
| Release date | 2014 |
Weight, dimensions, colors
| Weight | 5.47 oz |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 6.21 x 3.1 x 0.3 inch |
| Colors | blue misty, flamingo grey, marble white, milky-way grey, monarch orange, saffron grey, santorini white, tangerine white, tuxedo grey |
| SIM type | Nano SIM |
The weight of the HTC Desire 820 is still considered to be lightweight and portable. Smartphones use a Nano SIM as a subscriber identity module (SIM), which is a chip card.
System, chipset, performance
| OS version | Android OS v4.4.2 (KitKat) |
|---|---|
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939 |
| CPU | Octa-core, Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53, Quad-core 1 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| GPU | Adreno 405 |
The HTC Desire 820 comes with Android OS v4.4.2 (KitKat) out of the box. Android is an open-source operating system. This means the source code is free to the public. This octa-core CPU consists: Octa-core, Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53, Quad-core 1 GHz Cortex-A53. Smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices use Adreno GPUs.
Display type, size, resolution
| Display type | LCD |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 5.5 inch |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 px |
| Multitouch support | yes |
The 5.5 inch display make this smartphone pocket-friendly. The display size is the diagonal distance from one corner of the screen to the opposite corner.
Memory, storage
| RAM | 2 GB |
|---|---|
| Internal storage | 16 GB |
| Memory card slot | microSD |
The smartphone has 2 GB of RAM. It can run many apps at once without much lag or slowness. Having more RAM alone does not guarantee better performance. If you use your smartphone for basic tasks like calling, texting, and browsing the web, 32GB may be sufficient for your needs. You can expand the internal storage of the Desire 820 (16 GB) by using a compatible microSD card.
Cameras, flash
| Main camera | 13 MP, 4160 x 3120 px, autofocus |
|---|---|
| Flash | LED |
| Selfie camera | 8 MP |
You may have budget limits. Or, you may prioritize other features over a multi-camera system. If so, this single camera setup can be a good choice. The Desire 820 does not have optical image stabilization (OIS).
Connectivity, network, wireless
| GSM 2G bands | 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
|---|---|
| Network coverage | 2G / 3G / 4G |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n |
| Bluetooth | v4.0, A2DP |
| GPS | A-GPS, GLONASS |
| NFC | yes |
| FM radio | yes, with RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, USB host |
| Headphone | 3.5 mm jack |
The HTC Desire 820 supports 4G/LTE networks. The Desire 820 supports the latest Wi-Fi standards. You can use Bluetooth to connect your Desire 820 smartphone to many Bluetooth devices. The Desire 820 has a GPS receiver. Many fitness and activity tracking apps rely on GPS. It is used to accurately measure and record outdoor activities. This phone is NFC (Near Field Communication) capable. The 3.5 mm headphone jack allows you to connect wired headphones or earphones to the device.
Battery type, capacity, charger
| Type | Li-Po 2600 mAh, non-removable |
|---|
The Li-Po 2600 mAh, non-removable battery gives the smartphone a good battery backup. The lithium polymer (Li-Po) battery is a light-weight, rechargeable battery. The Desire 820 does not have a removable battery, it integrates the battery into the phone's design.
Features, sensors, specials
| Sensors | accelerometer, compass, proximity |
|---|---|
| Specials | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
Today, smartphones come with many sensors. They help make the user experience better. The accelerometer provides information about the smartphone's movement in three axes. These are X (horizontal), Y (vertical), and Z (depth). Gorilla Glass is very scratch resistant. It reduces the likelihood of everyday scratches and abrasions.
Verdict, pros and cons
Every phone has its strengths and weaknesses, and this HTC phone is no exception. As with any device, there are aspects that shine and others that fall short. By examining both sides, we can paint a complete picture of what this phone has to offer. Let's explore its standout features and areas for improvement. Remember, this is just my opinion, and yours might be different.
Pros
- microSD slot
- Corning Gorilla Glass shield
Cons
- limited-size screen
- insufficient internal storage
- single camera setup
- no OIS function
- no 5G support
- no Type-C USB port
- low-capacity battery
- no fingerprint reader
Please let us know if you find incorrect information or something isn't working. Also, tell us if you have a suggestion for improvement.
I'm Lucas Bradley, the founder of the Phone42.com site. I love technology, especially smartphones, and I've been working with tech stuff for more than 20 years. This means I've seen a lot of changes and have learned a bunch about what makes a good phone. On Phone42.com, I look at all kinds of phones. They can be from big, well-known companies or new ones trying to make their mark. I want to help people understand what's new and cool in the world of smartphones, in a way that's easy to get.