T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide Review

Introduction:

Rejoice! The T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide is upon us! Well, we can rejoice in possibly seeing an HTC branded Android smartphone excelling in the photo-taking department, where other high-caliber HTC devices have failed  in the past. Without question, we’re seemingly excited about this one because its camera is heavily touted as possibly being one of the best out there, which is interesting considering that photo capture isn’t one highlight you’d expect out of a QWERTY based handset. Nonetheless, the T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide isn’t a slouch in any way because it packs some beefy hardware under the hood to give its rivals a good run for their money. Sporting that all too sentimental golden price of $200 on-contract, the recently released HTC Sensation 4G on T-Mobile’s lineup might have something to be scared about.

The package contains:

• T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide
• microUSB cable
• Wall Charger
• Start Guide
• Terms & Conditions

Design:

On the surface, the handset retains that recognizable design footprint featured amongst the myTouch family line and essentially looks like an exact facsimile to the myTouch 4G, which we can tell with its ornate looking earpiece grill and placement of physical buttons beneath its display. Compared to its predecessor, we like the fact that it feels remarkably polished with its more solid construction, sturdier plastic exterior,  and less bulky appearance (0.54” thick). Still, it packs quite a bit of weight in the hand, but it only contributes to its refined outlook. Overall, it’s undoubtedly a better product than its predecessor, but doesn’t come off as something more appealing in design compared to some other QWERTY based smartphones – like the T-Mobile G2 or Motorola DROID 3.



You can compare the T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.

This time around, it receives a larger 3.7” WVGA (480 x 800) Super LCD display that manages to capture our attention with its sharp details and vibrant color tones – though, it’s not as rich as a Super AMOLED Plus panel. Nevertheless, it’s vibrant enough to retain its glistening color production at all viewing angles. However, its brightness level is rather reserved in output because we’re still finding ourselves needing to shield it from the sun in order to visibly see anything on screen.


Becoming more extinct nowadays, it’s refreshing to find an optical trackpad still in play with the handset, which allows for an easier time in placing the cursor. Also, this HSPA+ enabled handset features that ubiquitous front-facing camera for video chatting. However, we don’t like the fact that its dedicated power button and volume rocker are extremely flat looking – making it very difficult in feeling them out.


Already, we’ve seen devices like the T-Mobile G2 and Sidekick 4G kicking butt with their fantastic keyboards, but sad to say, the one on the myTouch 4G Slide is a step backwards. First and foremost, there isn’t much resistance with its manual sliding mechanism, which locks into place when it’s completely opened. Once that’s done, we’re greeted to its 4-row QWERTY keyboard that employs some rectangular flat buttons. Although we’re still able to feel them out with our fingers, we’re not thrilled with the stiff response we’re greeted with when pressing down on them. In fact, it actually inhibits our ability to speed type effectively seeing that it requires a firm press to get it to recognize anything.


Prominently featured in the rear, we find its elevated 8-megapixel auto-focus camera and dual-LED flash that’s arguably the center piece of the entire phone. With its backside illuminated sensor and F2.2 lens, it provides for a wider aperture to excel in low lighting conditions, which should hopefully translate to producing downright beautiful looking photos. Yanking the soft touch rear cover, we gain access to its 1,520 mAh battery, SIM card slot, and microSD card slot – the latter of which is occupied with an 8GB card.

Interface and Functionality:

Just like the HTC Sensation 4G before it, the T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide employs a speedy dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor that’s capable of effortlessly executing pretty much any task without sweating a bit. Combining the polished visual elements of the customized experience, it’s able to offer a decent responsive experience that will no doubt appease most users out there. Testing it even further with a graphically intensive live wallpaper, it shows a hint of stutter with its movement, but nothing overly detrimental to make it unusable.

Nothing that we haven’t seen before, the myTouch 4G Slide features the always favorable HTC Sense 3.0 customized experience, which is one of the more polished ones out there. Interestingly enough, we like that the homescreen isn’t as sensitive when compared to other previous Sense 3.0 devices because it doesn’t go into that 3D carousel view if you happen to lightly graze the display when navigating between its homescreens – and in fact, it needs a good amount of momentum to get it into that mode.


Even though it’s Sense 3.0 at heart, we find that subtle customization with its interface that’s only evident within the myTouch line – like the bubbles surrounding icons on the homescreen. From its useful set of unlock screens to its abundance of widgets, everything is undoubtedly complete with HTC Sense 3.0 running on top of Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread. If you want to dive closer into all the intricacies of Sense 3.0, you can read about it in our HTC Sensation 4G review.


Knowing that its keyboard is rather too stiff in feel when pumping out messages consistently, we’re always open to using its on-screen keyboards as an alternative. Bringing the Swype and Sense keyboards for the ride, we’re receptive to their tight responsiveness – albeit, things are cramped with its portrait option. Naturally, the landscape one offers a spacious layout that’s sure to accommodate fingers of the largest variety out there.

Camera and Multimedia:

Photo buffs, listen up! That’s because this photo-centric smartphone has a boatload of features in its arsenal to reel in anyone from afar. Peeking at its camera interface, it’s your standard fanfare with its column of settings icons on the left edge and on-screen shutter key on the right. Boasting a variety of shooting modes, we find things that include auto, sweepshot, clearshot HDR, burstshot, night, action, macro, portrait, and manual. With the latter, there are manual controls to adjust its ISO, exposure, contrast, saturation, and sharpness. All in all, you know that this is targeting individuals that want to surround themselves with a respectable point and shoot replacement.

Before getting right into the nitty gritty, we have to mention that it’s highly touted for its “zero shutter lag”, which means instant capture as soon as you hit that shutter key – and in fact, it works exactly like that! No worries about blurry looking shots with this one, that’s because it manages to maintain a steady appearance with even the fast moving objects. Moreover, we truly love how face detection is enabled by default to perfectly focus in on individuals even before our finger touches the shutter key – but luckily, touch focus is on board to specify what areas to hone in on.

So how’s the quality? Well, we can firmly say that it’s one of the best in HTC’s stable thus far with its overall glistening looks. Not surprising at all, it handsomely excels with outdoor shots thanks to its sharp looking visuals, spot on exposure, accurate color reproduction, and nice looking details. What’s more impressive is the always precise white balance it exhibits in all lighting conditions when it’s positioned to automatic. Likewise, shooting panoramic shots in sweepshot mode is effortlessly accomplished as it automatically compiles images perfectly together as you literally sweep an area with it. For even better results with contrasting highlights, clearshot HDR is most effective with brightly lit outdoor shots – albeit, it takes a longer amount of time to process the image. Finally, you get that hint of professionalism with macro shots as it nicely places that blurred effect with the background.

Utilizing an F2.2 lens, we’re undeniably in love with its results because we’re presented with some acceptable looking shots that are worth saving. Of course, fine details aren’t as pronounced in low lighting shots, but it manages to maintain its gracious looking color production without under-exposing the entire shot. Furthermore, its dual-LED flash works remarkably well in complete darkness while keeping things sharp looking of course – though, its potency limit is roughly 7 feet. Altogether, we’re unanimous in giving this the two thumbs up in our books, but more importantly, it’s the best camera to grace an HTC smartphone so far! Trust us, you won’t be disappointed in replacing that point & shoot.

Equally, the handset manages to handle shooting 1080p videos quite well – though, there are some things that dirty its overall quality. Needless to say, we adore its consistent and smooth 30 frames per second capture, but it can drop to as low as 23 fps in lower lighting conditions. Looking at the results, it produces an average amount of detail, but generally has an over-exposed appearance that tends to make colors look washed out – plus, there is an occasional hint of artifacting going on as well. However, its biggest distractor is its shrill sounding audio recording. Despite those shortcomings, we’re still more than content with its overall good looking quality.

T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide Sample Video:



Finding the usual Sense music player featured on other phones, its practical interface might not be filled with any noteworthy visual cues, but it’s nevertheless more than functional at heart. Enabling SRS Enhancement, it produces some prevalent bass tones that increase its overall capacity at the loudest setting – without sounding strained at all with its output.

Chugging ever so fluidly with high-definition video playback, the handset’s dual-core CPU operates at a high rate to offer a resounding experience. Playing a video encoded in MPEG-4 1920 x 1080 resolution, it maintains a smooth frame rate with its operation – while dishing up plenty of sharp looking details. And of course, its Super LCD display manages to cap off things with its rich color tones.

Unlike some of its competition, the handset doesn’t offer any physical connection for sharing multimedia content – but rather, its DLNA functionality  proves to be a worthy alternative. Running the Media Room app, it’s the centralized area for all of the handset’s multimedia functions – like music, videos, and FM radio. Additionally, we find secondary functions like T-Mobile TV and Slacker Radio on board.


Preloaded with an 8GB microSD card, it’s undoubtedly a bit under the average with most $200 priced smartphones, but it supplements its internal 1GB capacity. Luckily, you can always replace it with cards up to 32GB in size to increase its worth.

Internet, Connectivity and Software:

Thanks to its HSPA+ connection, there’s no arguing that we’re grateful with its fast data speeds that allow complex web pages like ours to load up in no time. In addition, its navigational operation is more than responsive in giving up complete control in what we’re looking at, but its Flash support indeed rounds out its overall engaging experience. Just like most other high caliber smartphones, the T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide is more than equipped in meeting the demands of even the heaviest users out there without stuttering in its performance.


Global travelers will like the handset very much since it can be used just about anywhere around the world for phone calls, but 3G and 4G data speeds can only be experience domestically through T-Mobile’s AWS band. However, you can still achieve 2G EDGE speeds with other network carriers. In terms of other connectivity items, the handset features the usual trifecta that include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and aGPS. Moreover, it features mobile hotspot  functionality that allows it to share it data connection with other Wi-Fi enabled devices close in proximity to it.

Packaged along with the customary set of Google applications out of the box, we’re treated with a handful of third party ones that will appease a broad range of people. Specifically, we find Bejeweled 2, doubleTwist Sync, KidZone, Netflix, Polaris Office, TeleNav GPS, Qik Video Chat, and Zinio Reader. As usual, we find most of T-Mobile’s presence as well with apps like Highlight, My Device, T-Mobile Mall, and T-Mobile TV.

Performance:

Overall, its calling quality is seemingly on the pleasant side with its result – with the exception of its speakerphone. With the earpiece, voices have a good amount of clarity, but its reserved tone means that we have to keep it closely shut to our ear. Conversely, our callers didn’t have any qualms on their side seeing that that they’re greeted with audible and distinctive voices. Unfortunately, voices are subdued through the speakerphone with its muffled tones. Showing off its value, the handset comes equipped with Wi-Fi calling in the event that network connection is lacking.

Despite experiencing just a single dropped call during our testing, the handset is still able to maintain a solid connection to the network as its generally sits at -81 dBm signal strength in high coverage areas within the greater Philadelphia region.

As a whole, battery life is pretty average with the myTouch 4G Slide, which should be sufficient enough to handle most people. Actually, we’re able to get close to the one day mark with normal usage that primarily consists of text, web surfing, and emailing. Of course, power users will constantly keep an eye out on battery – with constant charging a requisite for them. Not the best out there, we’re able to get 6 hours of continuous talk time with a fully charged battery.

Conclusion:

We’re absolutely over the fact that the original myTouch 3G Slide wasn’t all that much of a standout hit last year, but after looking meticulously at its successor, we’re amazed at how the device has transcended on so many levels. Obviously, some might still be attracted to the equally capable HTC Sensation 4G on Tmo’s lineup – though, you’ll be missing out with what the T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide has to offer. Actually, it boasts pretty much everything that the Sensation 4G has to offer, while priced similarly at $200 on-contract, but taking into account that it sports a considerably superior camera, there is no reason why this one should be a no-brainer decision! And yes, it undeniably flaunts the best camera on any HTC device we’ve seen so far – so you won’t be disappointed at all!

Software version of the reviewed unit:
Android version: 2.3.4
HTC Sense version: 3.0
Software number:  1.28.531.9

T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide Video Review: