The HTC Explorer (previously known as Pico) is one of the last smartphones that the Taiwan company released this year in our market. It’s an entry-level Android phone that sits alongside the Samsung Galaxy Gio and the LG Optimus Net.
It packs a modest 600MHz processor with a 3.2-inch (320 x 480) HVGA screen and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread which puts it at an advantage over the other older phones in its class. The HVGA screen is also a plus as it will make sure that apps would run properly as compared to QVGA screens of other entry-level smartphones.
Even though HTC says that the Explorer is very different from the HTC Wildfire S, I couldn’t help notice the similarities in specs. It has the same screen, same processor, same batteries. The Explorer, however, has a lower 3-megapixel camera but runs on the latest HTC Sense 3.5 UI.
I’m going to say that the HTC Explorer looks like the Wildfire S with less flair and a plain-looking body. The HTC Sense 3.5 UI is there to help new HTC or Android users to make the most out of their phones without having to consult the manual with its intuitive and friendly homescreens. It even has a built-in Usage Monitor app that keeps track of your SMS, Phone Calls, and Mobile Data consumption in one screen.
The HTC Explorer comes in a variety of manly colors but HTC Philippines is only shipping in the Active Black color. It’s already available in your nearest HTC dealer with an SRP of Php11,900.
| HTC Explorer Specs: |
|---|
| 600MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 Scorpion |
| Adreno 200 GPU |
| Android 2.3 Gingerbread |
| 3.2-inch capacitive HVGA display (320 x 480) |
| HTC Sense 3.5 UI |
| 512MB ROM, 512MB RAM, microSD up to 32GB |
| HSDPA, 14.4 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps |
| Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP, EDR |
| Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot |
| 3.15 MP autofocus camera |
| Video recording at 480p |
| GPS + AGPS |
| 102.8 x 57.2 x 12.9 mm |
| 108 g |
| Li-Ion 1230 mAh battery |
| SRP: Php11,900 |
