HTC First

82 reviews

Apr, 2024

Positive
design (16)
performance (14)
portability (11)
screen (8)
usability (8)

Negative
camera (9)
battery (6)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 82 reviews of HTC First. The average rating for this product is 3.8/5, compared to an average rating of 4.1/5 for other Cell phones for all reviews. Reviews about the screen and usability are overall positive. The portability and design are also mentioned favorably, whereas many are negative about the battery and camera.

performance, design, portability, usability, screen

camera, battery

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Cell phones the HTC First is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 84/100 = Very good quality.

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Review analysis

(Based on 82 reviews)

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Showing 58 review(s)

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Showing 1 - 10 of 58 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (7)

Expert review by : GSMArena team (gsmarena.com)

HTC First review: The socialite

Announced alongside the Facebook Home launcher, the HTC First for AT&T is the first smartphone to feature the social network's Android add-on out of the box. Launching a dedicated "Facebook phone" isn't an unfamiliar affair for HTC - back in 2011, the...

Quad-band GSM and quad-band 3G support ; Tri-band LTE network support ; 4.3" 16M-color Super LCD capacitive touchscreen with HD resolution (720 x 1280 pixels); Gorilla glass ; Unmodified Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean with Facebook Home UI preinstalled ; 1.4...

Only 12GB of available storage and no option to expand ; Battery is not user-replaceable ; Only available on AT&T for the time being ; 5MP camera is not exactly cutting edge these days

There's a lot more to the HTC First than Facebook Home. With solid build quality, minimalist looks, pocket-friendly size, and capable hardware, the handset is arguably the most appealing mid-range Android smartphone at the moment.

Apr, 2013

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Expert review by : K. T. Bradford (digitaltrends.com)

HTC First Review

Even if you don't want Facebook to take over your phone, the HTC First is worth a look. Under Facebook Home is beautiful stock Android and the phone itself boasts a great screen and speedy performance.

The HTC First is a budget phone that doesn’t feel like one. In fact, it reminds us a lot of recent Lumia handsets in look, feel, power, and price. Putting aside Facebook Home, you get excellent performance, comfortable design, a good display, and stock...

Apr, 2013

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Expert review by : Dieter Bohn (theverge.com)

HTC First review: a Facebook phone that's pure Google at heart

The HTC First is going to be best-known as the pilot "Facebook Phone," shipping with the all-new Facebook Home software running in lieu of a traditional Android phone skin. That would be enough to...

You can use it one-handed ; Great display ; Stock Android

Camera is sub-par ; Facebook Home feels unfinished ; Not super fast

It's a shame that I can't unequivocally recommend the First

Apr, 2013

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Expert review by : Alex Colon (pcmag.com)

HTC First (AT&T)

The AT&T HTC First puts the most popular social network front and center with its preloaded Facebook Home app, but it isn't the best phone for the job.

The only phone to ship with Facebook Home preloaded. Sleek, high-quality build. Sharp display.

No microSD card slot. Stock build of Android lacks appealing HTC Sense features. Average camera.

(Next page: Facebook Home)

Apr, 2013

Partner Source

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Expert review by : Jessica Dolcourt (cnet.com)

HTC First review

Let's just get this out of the way: The most notable thing about the HTC First is that it's the debut handset to come with Facebook Home already installed, a start screen replacement that draws you directly into the center of your Facebook world.

As Facebook Home's debut handset, the HTC First delivers the social network's complete Android skin experience, along with Android 4.1 functionality at an affordable price. Android purists seeking a stock OS can get it by disabling Facebook Home.

Without Facebook Home, the First is a forgettable handset, from midrange camera hardware to its utilitarian design. It lacks a removable battery and microSD slot.

Facebook fanatics -- and, weirdly, Android purists -- looking for a functional Android phone will enjoy the HTC First. Everyone else can move along.

Apr, 2013

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Expert review by : Brian Klug (anandtech.com)

HTC Thunderbolt Review: The First Verizon 4G LTE Smartphone

We've spent a long time testing Verizon's first 4G LTE enabled smartphone, the HTC Thunderbolt. We're finally ready with the complete review. It's got the fastest cellular connectivity around, and simultaneous voice and data to boot.

Apr, 2011

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Expert review by : John V. (phonearena.com)

HTC First Review

Tagged as the first phone to offer the all-encompassing Facebook experience, the HTC First seems like the no-brainer device for hardcore Facebook users, but will it have enough uniqueness to call its own, so that it's a compelling choice over other...

Minimalist design ; Modest price point ; Dynamic presentation of Facebook Home ; Vanilla Android experience

Disappointing photo & video capture ; Not enough core functionality with Facebook Home ; Weak battery life

Knowing that other smartphones are going to be blessed with the new Facebook Home experience, we can’t tell you to go out and buy the HTC First strictly for that experience. Instead, we recommend it most for its affordable $99.99 on-contract cost with...

Apr, 2013

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Expert review by : Evan Selleck (phonedog.com)

HTC First Written Review

Earlier this year, Facebook announced the first real Facebook phone. There are apparently different levels of what this could possibly mean, though, considering this really isn't the first real Facebook phone.

Thin and light frame; 4.3-inch display size is perfect; stock Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Lackluster camera; bland hardware design; mediocre battery life

Unlike Samsung's Galaxy S 4, which relies on software features; or HTC's One, which banks so much onto its hardware; or even Apple's iPhone 5, which hopes you'll like a combination of the two, the HTC First is just about as mediocre a phone as you can...

Jul, 2013

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Expert review by : Andrew Martonik (androidcentral.com)

HTC First review

Is it just reference hardware for Facebook Home, or a true candidate for your next smartphone purchase?There are few things in the mobile industry that have been constant over the last few year...

Those looking for the absolute latest, greatest, biggest and fastest device (while it may be a fool's errand in today's smart phone market) will have to look elsewhere, but don't do so before picking up the First and using it for a few minutes. If...

Apr, 2013

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Expert review by : Taylor Martin (pocketnow.com)

HTC First Review

The HTC First, the first smartphone to come with Facebook Home pre-installed, gets our full review treatment. Check it out!

Great build quality and simple design ; Exceptional performance ; Affordable ; Gorgeous display ; It comes with stock Android 4.1.2 ; Above par call quality and network performance

Camera performance is mediocre ; Non-removable battery, no storage options ; Facebook Home is buggy, causes performance issues ; Non-traditional microUSB port placement ; Mild specifications with some performance hiccups

Is the HTC First the most impressive and amazing phone to ever pass through our hands? Not by a long shot. Is it the most memorable? Hardly. But neither of those two things make it a bad device. In fact, we’re keen on many aspects of the First. It’s...

Apr, 2013

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