Let us make it clear right away: Gratia is not a top-of-the-line mobile. Instead, it is a cheap alternative to other Android smartphones which currently can be relatively expensive, while still keeping a decent performance. Find out the Best 5 Apps for HTC Gratia.
Gratia has Qualcomm 600 Mhz CPU which has same performance as the iPhone 3G, which is certainly respectable. The same can be said for the amount of 384 MB of RAM which is impressive for a phone in the price range and suited very well for multitasking. The phone is equipped with the Android 2.2 and loaded with HTC’s Sense-user interface, responding as it should, and it is rare that it works slow.
Specs
- 600 Mhz CPU, 384 MB RAM
- 3.2 “TFT display at 480 x 320 resolution
- Max resolution images are 2592 x 1944 pixels. No flash.
- 512 MB internal memory plus up to 32 GB on a MicroSD card
- 1200 mAh Li-ion battery with 6-7 hours of talk and up to 360 hours standby
- Supports all modern network standards, incl. 3G, Wi-Fi, GPRS, Bluetooth 2.1, and that the phone has a GPS receiver and FM radio
- Plays MP3, AAC, WAV, MP4 and H.264 video
- Accelerometer og nærheds-sensor
- 103.8 x 57.7 x 11.7 mm in size and weighing 115 grams
Recording quality is therefore far from the top of the market, but it is functional and entertaining enough for amateur videos.
Design
Designed to Gratia is definitely a smartphone worthy. The phone is small and compact, and has almost the same size as an iPhone 3G, but one cm shorter and half a centimeter narrower, with roughly the same thickness. We love the design as all in all works very streamlined and professional.
The phone has a flat back with semi-rounded edges which make it comfortable to hold, and although the screen feels a bit small so it is still a good size unless you have exceptionally large hands. The phone feels good in your hand and feels relatively compact.
During the phone screen is located four touch-sensitive buttons: Home, Menu, Back, Search. This design has to a certain extent, its advantages, but we’ve never really been fans of what we have with the iPhone’s simple design that only includes a home button and the rest of the navigation is done via touch screen, which makes things a part simpler to find out. It is by no means bad design, but it takes a little getting used to if you have not been accustomed to such few buttons before, because the buttons may have different functionality depending on where on the phone you are navigated to. Instead of those buttons you could possibly have wished for a slightly larger screen (3.5 “).
The phone comes in three colors: black, white and forest green, however, all colors are not necessarily available at all retailers.
HTC Sense UI
Many producers in the market using Android gradually, but common to them is that they each have their unique user interface designed to differentiate them from competitors.
HTC’s user interface “Sense UI” is in our opinion still the best designed of the bunch! Besides the interface colors provide a good contrast and a great feeling, then Sense UI not as many annoying minor errors that you may sometimes find at other Android phones. The big HTC clock in the center as such also shows the weather forecast is by now familiar, and it seems still just good with time. The phone comes with a variety of applications, including a functional media player that can play the formats we mentioned in the section for specifications, and a YouTube application.
We are impressed that HTC has chosen to throw Froyo on this phone. The phone comes with access to the usual Android Services Inc. Android Market when the native applications do not satisfy your needs.
Video: HTC Sense UI on the HTC Aria
Overall Assessment of the HTC Gratia
Gratia a solid choice for those who want a relatively inexpensive smartphone in a respectable size. Good battery life, good functionality and an updated operating system is tuck, but as always it’s HTC’s design, both inside and out, who steals the show, and we like it.
The only thing we really miss is HD video recording, and possibly a Blits on camera. Since it is a while since Aria came out, and the two phones are virtually identical (apart from Android 2.2 on Gratia) could possibly have hoped that HTC would have upgraded a little on the phone, possibly with a faster processor for a little extra speed .
HTC stands as always for quality phones, and we really missed a mid-range phone from their side in Europe compared to HTC Legend which unfortunately was more expensive than it should have been. For those who have missed such a phone, so it seems that Christmas has come a little earlier this year.
Your opinion counts: What do you think of the notification by HTC Gratia? Is it good, boring, superficial, or something else? Please post a comment below …
