Review: HTC Arrive
Screen
The Arrive has a 3.6-inch display with 800 x 480 pixels. It looks as good as that of other WP7 handsets we've seen. Colors are rich and bright. Text is smooth and free of jagged, pixelated edges. Most importantly, the Arrive works great outdoors. I had no problem using the Arrive as a camera on a bright, sunny afternoon.
Signal
The Arrive was able to find Sprint's 3G network with ease. As for signal strength, it varied widely depending on location, though at my home it settled on the typical two bars. How does that translate to real-world performance? The Arrive didn't drop any calls while I tested it. I was able to connect most calls on the first dial. I missed one call, which went straight to voicemail rather than reach the handset. On the data side of the equation, things were pretty good via Sprint's EVDO 3G network (nope, no WiMax). I never noticed any freezes or other hang-ups when performing network-intensive tasks.
Sound
The Arrive performs well when it comes to voice quality. The volume and quality of sound coming from the earpiece were good, and I heard little or no digital noise, crackling or hissing. Mostly, voice calls were clear and of ample volume. The same goes for the speakerphone. I was able to crank it up to a nice, loud setting and still hear a conversation as I moved about my house. Calls sounded good through the speakerphone. Alert tones and ringers could also be set to levels suitable for most environments, though the vibrate alert was absolutely pathetic.
Battery
Battery life of the HTC Arrive was acceptable. It easily lasted an entire day with email syncing via Exchange, heavy web browsing, and a number of voice calls. I suppose heavy users will still charge it every night, but if you forget, you won't be up a creek without a paddle. Since the microUSB port can be used for charging, you can top off the battery during the day by plugging it into a computer if need be.
Windows Phone 7: Hands-On
FCC Reveals Sprint-Bound LG Windows Phone
U.S. Cellular Announces Its First Windows Phone
Windows Phone 7 'Arrives' at Sprint with HTC Phone
HTC Arrive / 7 Pro (CDMA)
