Droid Life breaks pictures of the HTC Thunderbolt Updated with New rumor

[Bateluer]

http://www.droid-life.com/2010/12/28/exclusive-12-photos-of-the-htc-thunderbolt-on-verizon/

Take a look at that beauty. Say hello to the HTC Thunderbolt, which will be the first 4G LTE device to land on Verizon after its unveiling next week at CES. As you can see, it really just looks exactly like the Desire HD, but has Verizon branding and will be 4G capable which means it’ll be amazing. We’re assuming it won’t have a dual-core processor which most of you decided was critically important, but after seeing it, have you changed your mind?

Looks cool out the outside. Pretty sure its using a Qualcomm SoC, but we won't know all the specs until CES, I imagine.

I definitely would love a kick stand on my next phone.


Update 31 Dec 2010

http://www.droid-life.com/2010/12/3...core-snapdragon-gingerbread-5mp-front-camera/
Giant Rumor, its a dual core 1.2Ghz MSM8960.

It feels wrong to even report on this, but even rumors this ridiculous sounding need a little attention at times. The HTC Thunderbolt (our 12-pic gallery) has apparently started to pop up in German retail systems with a set of specs that make almost any device on the planet sound like an unfed infant baby. You ready for this? According to the screenshot above, the Thunderbolt will have a 4.3″ screen, a dual-core MSM8960 Snapdragon processor clocked at 1.2GHz, Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), an 8MP back camera, 5MP front camera, 16GB of internal storage, an SD card slot expandable to 128GB and an 1800 mAh battery. Wow.

Sounds like BS to me. The dual core and Gingerbread are believable, and we know the screen size is 4-4.3in, but a 5MP front cam?

 

[dennilfloss]

Looks big. :hmm:

 

[sivart]

Screen size is the big question. I think that the 3.7" is the sweet spot for me, but all of the new ones have been smaller / bigger. I'll stick with my Incredible for now and the foreseeable future.

 

[Bateluer]

Screen size is the big question. I think that the 3.7" is the sweet spot for me, but all of the new ones have been smaller / bigger. I'll stick with my Incredible for now and the foreseeable future.

I think the Thunderbolt is sporting a 4.3in screen, if you believe the various leaks and rumors. We'll find out for certain about 9 or 10 days.

 

[MrX8503]

Looks big. :hmm:

Why do people keep saying this about 4.3" screen phones? The screen is big, but if the bezel is small (ie Thunderbolt) the physical size of the phone isn't that much bigger than a 4" phone.

I think the big screen creates an optical illusion of a big phone. Honestly I think all smartphones should be at least 4" and this is coming from an iPhone4 user.

 

[kaerflog]

Thats definately a 4.3" screen.
I'm just not a fan of the 4.3" anymore.
Not for a phone anyway.
My first real smartphone was the HD2 and I swore back then that I would never go lower.
Then I had a Captivate and the 4" screen suited me just fine.
My main phone now is an IP4 and the 3.5" is just as great because of the higher resolution.
I'm waiting for the next phone with a 4" screen that has higher resolution than the normal 800x480.

 

[Bateluer]

I'm waiting for the next phone with a 4" screen that has higher resolution than the normal 800x480.

Pretty sure we'll see full 720p screens before 2Q11 ends.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Why do people keep saying this about 4.3" screen phones? The screen is big, but if the bezel is small (ie Thunderbolt) the physical size of the phone isn't that much bigger than a 4" phone.

I think the big screen creates an optical illusion of a big phone. Honestly I think all smartphones should be at least 4" and this is coming from an iPhone4 user.

Well a 4" screen isn't that much bigger than a 3.5" screen if you manage the bezel. If you then manage the bezel again, a 4.3" screen isn't too much bigger than a 4" screen. You can keep going. The fact is when you place a iP4 side by side, the footprint is much smaller.

To some people the iP4 is the right size. I don't think it's TOO small give the favorable aspect ratio. 3.7" is not good enough for me for the Android phones because Moto's 854x480 makes the screen narrower than an iPhone4. As a result, to me the 4" screen is best for me. However, I can see how a 4.3" screen might be too big. It's not too big to use, but at the same time I'd like some pocket space. To each their own I suppose.

 

[you2]

It's basically an evo for verizon with a new case. Question is has anything been improved (or handicapped) in this version ?

 

[sivart]

Why do people keep saying this about 4.3" screen phones? The screen is big, but if the bezel is small (ie Thunderbolt) the physical size of the phone isn't that much bigger than a 4" phone.

I think the big screen creates an optical illusion of a big phone. Honestly I think all smartphones should be at least 4" and this is coming from an iPhone4 user.

Probably because some of us hate holsters and prefer to slip the phone in our front pocket. If the phone is too big you have to keep readjusting it in your pocket when you sit down, drive, etc. Looks like you're always playing with your junk

 

[Deeko]

It's basically an evo for verizon with a new case. Question is has anything been improved (or handicapped) in this version ?

The DesireHD had some improvements over the Evo, which I imagine will be ported over to this phone. Notably, the newer generation of Snapdragon, which is a bit faster and better with battery. Also, Thunderbolt has LTE, which should end up superior to WiMax.

However, you're right - nothing drastically different about the innards. HTC has been milking this same basic hardware since the HD2, which was released over 15 months ago.

 

[Deeko]

Why do people keep saying this about 4.3" screen phones? The screen is big, but if the bezel is small (ie Thunderbolt) the physical size of the phone isn't that much bigger than a 4" phone.

I think the big screen creates an optical illusion of a big phone. Honestly I think all smartphones should be at least 4" and this is coming from an iPhone4 user.

I've had a 4.3" HTC HD2/HD7 and a 4" Samsung Focus. I can assure you, the Focus is noticably smaller. It makes a difference.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Are you guys dwarfs or something?

The EVO is about 5-6 mm wider and longer than an iPhone 3G, a 1/4 inch makes that much difference?

 

[sygyzy]

Why do people keep saying this about 4.3" screen phones? The screen is big, but if the bezel is small (ie Thunderbolt) the physical size of the phone isn't that much bigger than a 4" phone.

I think the big screen creates an optical illusion of a big phone. Honestly I think all smartphones should be at least 4" and this is coming from an iPhone4 user.

Because it IS a big phone. My friend has the Evo 4G and that thing is a beast. It's way too big.

 

[Deeko]

Are you guys dwarfs or something?

Calm down, sport. No reason to be a dick about it.

The EVO is about 5-6 mm wider and longer than an iPhone 3G, a 1/4 inch makes that much difference?

Have you ever held a phone with one hand? With an HD2, I can't really reach top left corner of the screen with my thumb when holding it one handed (which I do frequently). Its close, though - so yes, the difference of a 1/4 inch DOES make a difference.

No, I'm not a dwarf as you so callously suggest, but I don't have huge hands, so yes - its potentially a problem for a lot of people.

*cue the 'lolz deeko you're holding it the wrong way!!!' crowd*

 

[OBLAMA2009]

single core=pass

 

[kaerflog]

Are you guys dwarfs or something?

The EVO is about 5-6 mm wider and longer than an iPhone 3G, a 1/4 inch makes that much difference?

Coming from someone who actually have had a 4.3" phone for 6 months, I'd can honestly its too big for me. (and the HD2 is the smallest of all 4.3" phone).
Although the Galaxy S foot print is around the same szie, its noticeably lighter and thinner.
I have no problem having a 4.3" as my main phone, I just PREFERED a smaller one as I've experienced all sizes.
I'd take a 4" phone with higher resolution anyday.
If Apple were to make the Iphone 5 with a 4" screen, that would be my perfect phone.

 

[Bibble]

I hope to own this phone in the near future, but if we find out next week that it will not be available for purchase anytime soon I will just pick up a D2G. All of these pictures seem to point to it being released sooner than later, but who knows.

I too would prefer a 4" screen, not because my hands are too small (on the contrary, my hands are rather large), but because I fear how the phone will fit in my pocket. I usually put it in my back pocket and I don't want it poking/falling out.

Overall I would really like to own this phone. I cannot wait to do this to my Storm 1.

 

[destrekor]

My contract is ending in March or so, and I want a 4G phone, though if I got 4G I'd rarely get to use it, seeing as I doubt NW Ohio will get it soon. The 3 bigger cities of Ohio get it first, no word on the Detroit Jr. corner. But at least I travel to the Cinci-metro area once a month now for drill, so I could use it in the hotel room.

But, while I said I won't upgrade until there are Android LTE phones, I now have a new stipulation: it has to not be locked down with stupid shit (think Motorola's hardware block against unofficial firmware/ROM deployment), and it most definitely has to have *current* top-end SoC, like dual-core Cortex A9 and a good GPU.

Still haven't decided if I'll demand a hardware keyboard or not. I like having it on my Moto Droid, but for the right phone I could make do. If it means the difference between super thin and massive bulk, I might say no to the keyboard. The Droid feels "right", but if the screen is larger I wouldn't want it that thick.

 

[olds]

Probably because some of us hate holsters and prefer to slip the phone in our front pocket. If the phone is too big you have to keep readjusting it in your pocket when you sit down, drive, etc. Looks like you're always playing with your junk

I keep my Evo in my front pocket with no issues. But my case "clips" on the pocket.

 

[gar3555]

I have been using an X for about 5 months now, and I don't know that I could go back to a smaller screened phone. My hands are big enough to hold it comfortably, and I have used a belt clip holster on every phone I've owned, so I am used to it.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Coming from someone who actually have had a 4.3" phone for 6 months, I'd can honestly its too big for me. (and the HD2 is the smallest of all 4.3" phone).
Although the Galaxy S foot print is around the same szie, its noticeably lighter and thinner.
I have no problem having a 4.3" as my main phone, I just PREFERED a smaller one as I've experienced all sizes.
I'd take a 4" phone with higher resolution anyday.
If Apple were to make the Iphone 5 with a 4" screen, that would be my perfect phone.

I've had an HD2 for some time myself and love the form factor, got tired of TMobile's signal penetration at work place and switched to Sprint and got the EVO. I went with the EVO because of the 4.3" form factor, and it has such a large following of developers.

I have average/small hands (7.5 glove size) and find the size to be nearly perfect, I have a range of phones from the Pantech C300 to the 4.3" phones. Because of the reception issue at my workplace, the bulk of my co-workers use Sprint & Verizon phones and I know a ton of tiny women that have the EVO, and a handful are showing up with the Droid X. I carry in front pants pocket and shirt pocket, and have had no issues...

There's an old axiom among audiophiles about buying the best speaker you can afford because the speaker produces the sound that you experience, I've found that to be the same with displays as well, I could tolerate a 4" display, but honestly could use a 5" phone I suspect and enjoy it/tolerate the size issues as well. I wish Dell had it's stuff together and I could trust them to support the Streak better than I suspect they will.

 

[Bateluer]

Bump for the update.

 

[anxi80]

Mobile Tech World is refuting the rumor but I hope they're wrong. I was pretty certain this would be my next phone but was hoping a nice 4" screen variant would emerge but if those rumored spec's hold true then forget anything else announced.

 

[shabby]

Mobile Tech World is refuting the rumor but I hope they're wrong. I was pretty certain this would be my next phone but was hoping a nice 4" screen variant would emerge but if those rumored spec's hold true then forget anything else announced.

Think they're right, anand did an article on the msm8960 and said it'll start sampling early 2011 http://www.anandtech.com/show/4024/...8960-28nm-dualcore-5x-performance-improvement