IFA 2014: HTC Launches First Snapdragon 615 Android Smartphone – Desire 820

HTC today announced the first Android smartphone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 64-bit 615 Octa-Core chipset – HTC Desire 820. The device is actually HTC’s second 64-bit smartphone after the Desire 510 entry-level 4G smartphone with Snapdragon 410 chipset.

The Desire 820 is an upper mid-range device and is packing some very impressive specifications. The main highlight is of course the chipset. It runs on an Octa-core chip (Quad-core 1.5GHz + Quad-Core 1.0GHz) based on Cortex-A53 architecture. The GPU is an Adreno 405 which is a major step-up from the Adreno 305 GPU found in current mid-range devices. There is also 2GB of RAM on board and 16GB internal storage (expandable by microSD card). It supports Cat.4 LTE for up to 150Mbps download speeds and the 2600mAh battery with new battery saving features will ensure you can use the smartphone the way it’s meant to without having to charge it as often as other mid-range devices.

The 5.5 inch screen comes with a resolution of 1280 x 720 which gives it a pixel density of 267PPI. You also get HTC BoomSound stereo speakers like on the One M8 flagship with built-in amplifier. The cameras on the device are also very impressive. Let’s talk about the rear camera first. It is a 13MP BSI sensor with f2.2 aperture and a 28mm wide-angle lens so you can capture more in every frame. There is also 1080p Full HD video recording at 30fps. Moving to the front camera, things get quite interesting here. The Desire 820 comes with a whopping 8MP front facing camera which can also do 1080p video recording. This one is definitely one of the best selfie phones out there. The HTC Zoe Highlights feature from HTC’s flagship line of products is available too, which lets you create short photo and video sequences.

HTC has made sure the Desire 820 looks and feels premium on the outside as well. The phone features HTC’s double shot color technology for a two-tone color unibody reflecting personality and style. The body is made polycarbonate and comes in an array of colors like Marble White, Tuxedo Grey, Santorini White and Milky-way.

The device runs the latest Android KitKat 4.4.4 version with HTC’s Sense 6 overlay. HTC hasn’t been very clear with regards to the availability but do mention that it should be available this fall, but it might vary depending on the market.