HTC Rezound 4G Tech Review: $99 Well Spent?

Okay, so you already know that Verizon and HTC have promised Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) 4.0 to the Rezound by the end of July. You also know that the handset was the first to deliver the full range Beats Audio to a US smartphone. But did you know that the Rezound 4G delivers the most out-of-the-box storage of any smartphone? And that it comes with a pair of iBeats ear buds specifically designed to work with the Beats Audio onboard? Or that the Rezound’s central processor is still clocked as one of the fastest and most powerful on any mobile handset? Just checking.

Buy the HTC Rezound starting at $99.

HTC and Verizon have been promising ICS for the Rezound for some time now. The thing to remember is not to get too hung up on the “when.” We know it is coming eventually, so don’t get lost in the waiting. The bottom line is, the Rezound 4G running on Verizon’s 4G LTE network is a feature packed phone with speed and power that only a few smartphones can match. The dual core 1.5 GHz Scorpion processor is as quick as any, and the Qualcomm MSM8660 Snapdragon microchip package includes a separate Adreno 220 graphics processor handles all graphics duties.

The Rezound has 1.0 GB of RAM memory, and delivers 16 GB of data storage space built in, and ships with a removable 16 GB microSD card, for 32 GB of total storage, tied for the best of all 4G handsets. The display is 4.3 inches in size, and offers one of the highest pixel densities of any smartphone, at 342 pixels per inch. That gives the Super LCD capacitive touchscreen display an overall resolution of 720 x 1,280 pixels, ranking it as one of the leaders in the mobile marketplace. Talk time runs 6.73 hours from a single charge, with standby time running 11 days.

There is a rear facing camcorder on the Rezound 4G that has an LED Flash, instant image capture, geo tagging ability, a special effects package, preloaded scenes, white balance, ISO control and auto focus features. That 8.0 MP camcorder provides video capture at 1,920 x 1,080 pixels (1080p HD) and at 30 fps, while the 2.0 MP chat cam around front records video at 1,280 x 720 pixels (720p HD) and at 60 fps. The chat cam supports video calls as well.

The Beats Audio and ear buds are joined in the multimedia package by a YouTube video player and built-in music player. SRS WOW HD sound enhancement is integrated as well. And Google is found inside, with Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Talk and Picasa integration preloaded. The Rezound also supports Voice Memo recording, Voice dialing and other Voice Commands. The handset currently retails for $99 on contract at select retailers.  Buy the HTC Rezound starting at $99.