Following the recent launch on Sprint, we managed to get some nice hands on with the HTC Shift 4G, and it’s proven itself to be a nice alternative to the Epic 4G, one of the largest phones you’ll find on Sprint. The reasonably priced device may appeal to those looking for a smaller sized EVO 4G with a physical keyboard, but is it just another Sense phone? Here’s our first impressions on this hot, new Android smartphone.
This bad boy comes with a 3.6 inch WVGA display, sports Android 2.2 Froyo with the Sense UI running on top, 5 megapixel camera with 
LED flash and can record in 720p HD video, has a great physical keyboard, WiFi (b/g/n), and supports Mobile Hotspot functionality. The spec sheet reads quite well, even if it’s not up to par with some of the competition, and we’d pick this guy over the MyTouch Slide for obvious reasons.
Physically, the Shift is actually one of the least attractive phones we’ve seen from HTC, but that doesn’t necessarily make it ugly. The front of the device is similar to the EVO, sporting capacitive buttons nestled within circles. Other than the HTC and Sprint logos found on top, the front of the Shift is very clean and simple, and we wouldn’t expect anything else from HTC.
So what takes away from the Shift 4G’s sexiness? The back of the device protrudes outwards with a less elegance than we’ve come to expect from HTC. This makes the phone rather thick, not even factoring in the physical keyboard. Speaking of which…
Upon first look, you probably won’t be all that impressed with the Shift’s keyboard since it looks pretty cheap and uncomfortable. But looks are deceiving, my friend, and the Shift’s keyboard rocks. The buttons are sensitive and have one of the most reassuring clicks I’ve felt on a phone. The chiclet-style keys are flat, but are wide enough to know what you’re typing on at all times. Because of this, we can overlook the minimal spacing between keys.
The keyboard lacks the symmetry you’d see on the G2 or MyTouch Slide, and this is likely because of the D-Pad. I’ve never been a fan of D-Pads myself, but it seems necessary since the device has no other navigation option, other than the touch screen, and we’re pretty used to seeing a D-Pad if there’s not a trackball/pad on the front of the device.
As for the slider mechanism on the keyboard. We’re not sure what to think. Instead of a reassuring click when the keyboard is pushed all the way up, the Shift’s keyboard gives you a bit of resistance while you’re pushing it up. It’s not too hard, but just the right amount to keep it in place. The result is a slider mechanism that feels incredibly solid and robust, but lacks the “snick-and-click” slider action on other smartphones with QWERTY keyboards.
The Shift is running on a 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7630 processor, which is the same CPU you’ll find on the T-Mobile G2. This new generation of processors can outperform some 1GHz phones out there, so speed will not be an issue with the Shift.
So if you’re in the need of a Sprint 4G phone with a physical keyboard, but are looking for something smaller than the Epic 4G, HTC’s newest entry into Sprint’s portfolio may be right up your alley.
Expect a full review of the Sprint HTC Shift 4G soon. For the time being, enjoy our hands-on photo gallery and HD video below!
