Android arrived on AT&T in earnest with the HTC Aria. The Motorola Backflip had technically come first, but anyone who spent time with it knew it was arguably the worst Android phone released in the US market. The Aria was something different: HTC’s smallest Android handset to launch stateside, and not a slouch despite its compact size.
Hardware
At first glance the Aria might look like a unique HTC design, but anyone familiar with HTC’s Windows Mobile lineup would immediately recognize the body as nearly identical to the HTC HD Mini. The only meaningful physical differences are the capacitive buttons and the addition of an optical joystick. The top houses the power button and 3.5mm headphone jack; the left side has the volume toggle; the bottom has the micro-USB port and microphone. The back reveals the speakerphone, 5-megapixel camera, HTC logo, and the same exposed corner screws found on the HD Mini.
Pop the unibody cover and you’ll find a bright yellow interior with a semi-transparent lower section that gives a peek at the internal circuitry. Inside: a 600MHz Qualcomm processor, 512MB ROM, 384MB RAM, AGPS, Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi, and a 1200mAh battery.
The 3.2-inch 320×480 HVGA capacitive display is the same size and resolution as the Dream, Magic, and Hero, but the smaller chassis makes it feel noticeably more compact. The phone measures 103.8 x 57.7 x 11.7mm and weighs 115 grams, nearly 10mm shorter than the HTC Magic.
Software
HTC Sense is present and accounted for, as it has been on every HTC Android device for over a year. Anyone who has used the Droid Incredible, Desire, EVO, or Hero will know what to expect: expanded widget options, a more integrated contacts app that consolidates SMS, email, Facebook, and call history in one place, weather in the calendar agenda view, and a clock app with a stopwatch and timer. It’s a more refined Android experience than stock 2.1.
AT&T loaded the Aria with their own apps: AT&T Family Map, AT&T Hot Spots, AT&T Navigator (rebranded TeleNav), AT&T Radio, Mobile Banking, Where, and YPMobile. Most of these can be found on the Android Market, and the rest mainly tie users into AT&T services. The more notable restriction: AT&T disabled sideloading, limiting installs to the official Android Market only. The same limitation was on the Backflip. AT&T called it a safety measure; the reality is it’s network protection. For most users it won’t matter, but power users and developers will notice.
Camera
The 5MP sensor does a decent job when you have no other option, but the slow shutter speed makes shots prone to blurriness. The Aria also ships without an LED flash. That’s not as dire as it sounds, as testing on most HTC handsets showed the LED flash doesn’t dramatically improve low-light image quality anyway. If you’re shooting for Facebook or Twitter, results will be fine. Don’t expect quality 4×6 prints.
Battery
The 1200mAh battery is one of the Aria’s most impressive traits. In testing, unplugging at 6:30am and plugging back in near 11pm was routine, with regular use spanning email, Twitter, Facebook, web browsing, games, and time in the Android Market. Light users may even get two days out of it.
Conclusion
The HTC Aria isn’t competing with the iPhone 4 on specs. It doesn’t try to. What it offers is a solid entry-level Android experience for AT&T customers who want a smartphone upgrade without committing to an iPhone. It’s a few steps ahead of the HTC Hero on Sprint or the aging Droid Eris on Verizon. AT&T customers who had been waiting for a decent Android option will find the Aria worth their consideration.
