Hands-on with the HTC EVO 4G LTE

When we're in New York, we know we're in for a treat, and tonight was no exception: HTC and Sprint held a little gathering tonight in Midtown to unveil their latest collaboration, the EVO 4G LTE. The next big thing to hit Sprint, the latest EVO lives up to the title of "next generation," with future-proof (ha!) specs that will at least keep us satisfied through the summer. This device is very much Sprint's version of the One X, and the specs prove it. Up front you've got a stunning 4.7-inch HD super LCD display with 720p resolution that will blow your socks off. Seriously, everyone, it's really nice. 'Round back you've got an 8 MP camera that HTC swears can replace your DSLR, and if shutter times and handling mean anything, they might be on to something. Underneath the hood we've got a 1.5 Ghz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor pushing along HTC's latest Sense 4.0 (check out our guide here) atop Ice Cream Sandwich, which we expect to translate to pretty impressive everyday performance.  Hit the break for our impressions.

The EVO 4G LTE is one of the first devices to hit Sprint's LTE network, which we're just itching to pit up against Verizon's and AT&T's blazing services. And speaking of Sprint's LTE network, it's one of the main ingredients in the EVO 4G LTE's "HD Voice" technology, which we got to listen to tonight. It's crystal clear, sharp as a pin (see what I did there?), and combined with the phone's dual mics and other goodies under the hood, it's a really impressive experience. Heck, it might even get me to start making phone calls again.

But enough of about what the EVO 4G LTE's packing, and more about what you'll think of it. It's a beautiful device and, like the rest of the One line, is poised to pull HTC out of its recent doldrums. It's thin, it's light, and it's powerful-- it may not be perfect (see our review of the One X for some small gripes), but it's certainly a step in the right direction. The device just feels like the next evolutionary step, with its focus on aesthetics and the "overall experience"-- it's got the chops to be your daily music driver with its Beats audio, and the camera can definitely allow you to leave all others at home, if you're so inclined. I'm really enjoying this new focus on more than texting and Tweeting, but rather one device across your entire life. We'll see if the EVO 4G LTE lives up to its promise.

The "second-quarter" release date is still a bit down the road, but the May 7 preorder date will sneak up on us in no time. The latest EVO will set you back $199.99 on contract, and when it finally hits, we'll have more to talk about. Until then, enjoy our hands-on photos below, and be sure to check out our review of the EVO 4G LTE's twin, the One X.