Conclusion Get the lowdown
Features How it compares
Performance Real world benchmarks
Differences Technical showdown
Reviews Word on the street
Competition Others to consider
Discussion Answers and opinions

Full specs

HTC Hero

Android 1.5 Cupcake
3.5G
3.2"
0.53 GHz

older Released July, 2009

You also get quite a tasteful wired stereo handsfree - a one-piece kit - but if you want to listen to music on third-party headphones, the standard 3.5mm audio jack of the Hero says you're welcome.

by GSM Arena (Aug, 2009)

Conclusion Check out the HTC Hero

HTC Hero

Apple iPhone 4

HTC Sensation 4G

62%

85%

90%

FeaturesView Details

16%

100%

37%

Popularity

50%

94%

95%

PerformanceView Details

73%

72%

76%

ReviewsView Details

SortableScore

First reviewed December, 2011

Features Key features of the HTC Hero

0.53 GHz

Android 1.5 Cupcake 3.5G

The brushed aluminum surface is an extra nice touch.

by GSM Arena (Aug, 2009)

screen size

HTC Hero3.2"

Sensation 4G4.3"

Optimus L54"

The display is quite nice, but we wish for more variety in size.

HTC Hero by GSM Arena (Aug, 2009)

The screen is incredibly small.

HTC Hero by Claire (Jun, 2012)

screen resolution

HTC Hero

480 x 320 resolution screen

HTC Hero 480 x 320 resolution screen

Apple iPhone 4

960 x 640 resolution screen

iPhone 4 960 x 640 resolution screen

HTC Sensation 4G

960 x 540 resolution screen

Sensation 4G 960 x 540 resolution screen

There you can set the metering mode, sharpness, saturation and contrast of the photos and you can add a viewfinder gridline to assist your framing.

HTC Hero by GSM Arena (Aug, 2009)

I did not expect that I would be as impressed as I am with this device but it's snappy, has great screen resolution and is just so intuitive that even though it's more complex than the iPhone-you'll be flying through it in no time.

HTC Hero by T.-Hudson--Carolina-Boy (Feb, 2010)

memory

0 GB

BlackBerry Bold 97900.75 GB

HTC Hero0.28 GB

Sensation 4G0.75 GB

0.8 GB

processor

HTC Hero

Single core

HTC Hero Single core

HTC Sensation 4G

Dual core

Sensation 4G Dual core

Sony Xperia Sola

Dual core

Xperia Sola Dual core

The CPU isn't very fast nor the amount of RAM much.

HTC Hero by Rodney-Beede (Dec, 2011)

if the phone had a faster processor it would be a winner.

HTC Hero by N.-Louis--Too-Slick

camera resolution

0 MP

HTC Hero5 MP

Optimus L33.15 MP

Sensation 4G8 MP

8 MP

HTC Hero is equipped with a 5 megapixel autofocus camera for a maximum image resolution of 2560 x 1920 pixels.

HTC Hero by GSM Arena (Aug, 2009)

The HTC Hero features a 5-megapixel camera on back.

HTC Hero by c|net (Sep, 2009)

Performance Real world tests of HTC Hero

cpu speed

HTC Hero0.53 GHz

Sensation 4G1.2 GHz

Xperia Sola1 GHz

One of the major factors for me was the screen and the other one was the build and processor speed.

HTC Hero by Igor-Molochevski

Changing over to the Handcent text app (per those same nice folks at Sprint) seemed to clear up the sleep issue with the processor, but now Sprint is telling me Handcent may be to blame for my phone locking up and not letting me answer phone calls.

HTC Hero by J.-Rose--JR-From-the-Ball-so-Blue (Feb, 2010)

browser benchmark

HTC Hero

4,362 ms

HTC Hero 4,362 ms

Apple iPhone 4

1,111 ms

iPhone 4 1,111 ms

HTC Sensation 4G

1,352 ms

Sensation 4G 1,352 ms

The Hero's browser is fast and the interface clean.

HTC Hero by GSM Arena (Aug, 2009)

It can be a bit slow and laggy if you don't clear out your application and browser cache often enough.

HTC Hero by Jess-Vesh (Dec, 2010)

download speed

HTC Hero0.36 Mb/s

iPhone 49.43 Mb/s

Sensation 4G8.12 Mb/s

There's HSDPA support for download speeds of up to 7.2Mbit/s on the 900 and 2100Mhz bands and you also get quad-band GSM support with GPRS and EDGE for when you're out of the range of a 3G signal.

HTC Hero by TrustedReviews (May, 2011)

talk time

0 min900 min

HTC Hero 469 min

iPhone 4 840 min

BlackBerry Bold 9790 312 min

Talk time I still get 2 hours even after having the phone for 2 years.

HTC Hero by Rodney-Beede (Dec, 2011)

The HTC Hero features a 1500mAh lithium ion battery with a rated talk time of 4 hours.

HTC Hero by c|net (Sep, 2009)

Our analysis How does it stack up against its top 10 competitors

pros

Has a headphone jack

3.5 mm
Has an app store

Android Market (Android)
Has a touchscreen

Capacitive
Really high resolution camera

5 MP

cons

Very sluggish web browser

4,362 ms
Doesn't support Flash

Many games and videos on the Internet require Adobe Flash
Quite high network latency

735 ms
Pretty slow processor

0.53 GHz
Slow maximum data rate

54 Mbit/s (802.11g)
Can't act as a Wi-Fi hotspot

Can't share your phone's data plan with other devices
Ancient operating system

Android 1.5 Cupcake
Quite less recently release date

Jul, 2009
Doesn't support FM radio

Can't listen to local radio stations
Records lower resolution videos

352 x 288 @ Unknown
Small screen

3.2"
Less sharp screen

179 ppi
Outputs video to TV

None
Low resolution screen

480 x 320
Limited storage capacity

0.5 GB
Fewer processing cores

Single core
Really thick

14 mm
Doesn't support NFC

Some newer payment by phone methods require NFC
Below average battery capacity

1,350 mA·h
Isn't 4G

Doesn't support the fastest, most reliable networks
Slow actual download speed

0.36 Mb/s
Screen doesn't use OLED technology
Doesn't have a gyroscope

Cannot detect when the tablet is rotated

full specs

Reviews Word on the street

	Rated 90% Read the review (May, 2011) Previous Android phones included a small number of widgets, but here HTC has added another 14 ranging from a weather widget to one that shows your email inbox, along with a number of switches for turning on and off things like Wi-Fi and GPS.

	Rated 77% Read the review (Sep, 2009) Read the review (Jul, 2009) It's also quite compact at 4.46 inches tall by 2.2 inches wide by 0.54 inch thick and weighs 4.5 ounces.

	Rated 53% by 95 users at amazon.com nearly every aspect of this phone is framed by lag, holding back what is otherwise a beautiful, wonderful android experience. Rated 40% by by jade-cole (Aug, 2010) after using the phone for a while i must say besides the worn out buttons the screen is in perfect condition and the phone is very fast. Rated 80% by by DINIp (Mar, 2012) But the quality of coating is beter on HTC hero, screen feels smooth and has good contrast. Rated 100% by by Igor-Molochevski

Screen

It is snappy, the screen is beautiful and it just feels right in my hand.

HTC Hero GSM | Rated 100% by by Ramon-Borroto--Ray (May, 2010)

I wasn't sure if I could handle a touch screen because I'm old school,lol.

HTC Hero GSM | Rated 100% by by jamie (Feb, 2013)

The newer Evo has a much larger screen which makes things easier to see but with a drawback of bulk.

HTC Hero GSM | Rated 100% by by Lou-Z--loupz (Aug, 2010)

Operating System

Android, like the Linux from which it was spawned, has always had a whiff of geekiness about it-you're free to bolt on everything but the kitchen sink, but it's not a perfectly polished jewel that's always a pleasure to use.

HTC Hero GSM | by c|net (Jul, 2009)

Additions like multitouch zoom, lovely Flickr and Facebook integration and a great keyboard make the Hero the best Android phone yet, especially since it's not as ugly as we feared.

HTC Hero GSM | by c|net (Jul, 2009)

I really recommend it to anyone who isn't an expert at Android but also wants a good enough phone.

HTC Hero GSM | Rated 100% by by Matthew-Kunka (Jun, 2010)

Apps

There are loads of great apps on there and most of them free, but they don't tend to be as slick as iPhone apps, and finding good ones is tougher.

HTC Hero GSM | by c|net (Jul, 2009)

This feature can be a nightmare if your Gmail address book is unorganized, since it will drag in everyone you've ever emailed, so definitely clean up before you sync.

HTC Hero GSM | by c|net (Jul, 2009)

It is fast, has a lot of apps, and is overall a great phone.

HTC Hero GSM | Rated 100% by by Genella (Feb, 2011)

Operating system

Much like it did for Windows Mobile with its TouchFlo 3D interface, HTC developed its own user interface, called HTC Sense, to replace the standard Android interface.

HTC Hero GSM | Rated 77% by by c|net (Sep, 2009)

Normally, there are some functions that are enabled in the phone's hardware but the software just can handle.

HTC Hero GSM | by GSM Arena (Aug, 2009)

I love the OS, but the phone itself is beyond horrible.

HTC Hero GSM | Rated 20% by by HGH (Feb, 2011)

Battery

I also have to say that during the forty or so hours I've been on the phone with them, the folks at Sprint (their advanced technical folks) and the folks at HTC have been quite nice.

HTC Hero GSM | Rated 40% by by J.-Rose--JR-From-the-Ball-so-Blue (Feb, 2010)

In our battery drain tests, we were able to get 5.75 hours of continuous talk time on a single charge.

HTC Hero GSM | Rated 77% by by c|net (Sep, 2009)

If you're constantly updating and using the web, expect about a 6-8hr charge, but if you're putting less demand on the phone options, you may be able to get 24hrs out of a single charge.

HTC Hero GSM | Rated 20% by by C.-Parker (Mar, 2011)