Nintendo 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro review: just like the original, but bigger

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Nintendo 3DS Circle Pad Pro review: just like the original, but bigger" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc00480.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Nintendo seems to have a knack for repeat performances. Nintendo DS? Quickly supplanted by the DS Lite -- and the DSi didn't last too long either before it was succeeded by the DSi XL. Even the 3DS saw a revision, when it was supersized last summer. These redesigns typically don't change more than the device's size, but when the 3DS XL was announced, some gamers were left wanting. Didn't the original 3DS get an accessory <em>specifically</em> to address the lack of a second analog pad? Why didn't Nintendo take the opportunity to add dual-analog controls? Well, if <em>that</em> happened, Nintendo couldn't release an encore Circle Pad Pro accessory, could it? Let's take a look at the 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro and see what's changed.</div><div class="post-gallery" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><h3 class="title">3DS XL Circle Pad Pro</h3><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc00424---copy_95x95.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc00426---copy_95x95.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc00427---copy_95x95.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc00433---copy_95x95.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc00436---copy_95x95.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc00438---copy_95x95.jpg" /> <br /> </div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title0" style="text-align: left;">Hardware</h3><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc00464.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The 3DS XL isn't a small device to begin with, but docking it in the Circle Pad Pro will destroy any illusions you had about being able to stuff it in your pocket. Seated in the second-stick cradle, the rig measures 7.5 inches wide and 4.5 inches deep. It's almost two inches thick, and suitably huge. Fortunately, it bears the extra bulk better than its predecessor: the original Circle Pad Pro turned a fairly portable device into an unwieldy mess. The XL variant only makes the device <em>slightly </em>larger by comparison. It's still notably hefty, but the effect is simply less of a nuisance thanks to the more sizable host device. The 3DS XL is already too big for the average pair of jeans -- what's an extra inch?</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">It looks better than the old model, too, with a wedge-like shape that tapers down towards the front of the cradle. The backside features an engraved Nintendo logo and two lightly bulging grips. Besides the obvious starboard analog stick, there isn't much to the accessory's front: a recessed area for the console, a few rubber nubs to hold it in place and an IR emitter to communicate with the 3DS. There's also a screw-secured AAA battery compartment, mimicking the original model's unfortunate requirement for its own power source. All in all, it's lightweight and comfortable to use, despite its size.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title1" style="text-align: left;">Installation and use</h3><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc00440.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Installation instructions are conveniently printed in the cradle's recessed area, illustrating a simple two-step procedure: drop the 3DS in from front to back. Following the diagram produces a satisfying click, with the 3DS XL locking into place. Pretty simple. Using it in-game sometimes requires a little more effort -- <em>Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance</em>, for instance, needed us to dive into the game's pause menu to activate the accessory. Other games, such as <em>Resident Evil: Revelations,</em> automatically detected the Circle Pad Pro and reacted accordingly. The device can also be calibrated using the in-game menus, and some titles even include a vague battery life tool: "The Circle Pad Pro still has plenty of battery remaining," <em>Kingdom Hearts</em> told us. Okay, then.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">If you're familiar with how the original accessory affects gameplay, you won't find anything new here -- games don't play any differently on the new Circle Pad Pro than they did on the old one. Even so, we're still impressed by how much of a difference a second analog stick can make. Playing <em>Kingdom Hearts</em> with the peripheral echoes the feel (and superior camera control) of its home console origins, and <i>Kid Icarus: Uprising</i> uses the accessory to unlock a special left-handed control scheme. Some games even feel broken without the accessory -- in <em>Resident Evil: Revelations,</em> the player can only move and shoot simultaneously if they are using the Circle Pad Pro. It changes how the player approaches the game.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">We were surprised to find how comfortable the Circle Pad Pro was, enough so that it's worth using even for games that don't utilize its second analog pad. The accessory's thick body provides a sturdy grip for gamers with larger hands, leaving us less prone to cramping during long play sessions. Despite the new analog stick's jutting right-hand shelf, we were still able to reach all of the handheld's native buttons with ease. The unit's extra weight <em>could</em> get tiring if held in the wrong position, but overall we found the Circle Pad Pro-equipped 3DS XL to be more ergonomic than the stock offering. The analog pad itself feels great too, mirroring the 3DS' own slide pad perfectly.</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc00486.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Unfortunately, the 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro fails to make the most out of being a second-generation accessory. That is, it didn't fix <em>any</em> of its predecessor's mistakes. The Circle Pad's cradle blocks the 3DS' game card slot, SD card, stylus and wireless toggle switch. These are items that 3DS owners use on a regular basis: changing games, using the touch screen and disabling WiFi to save battery life. Undocking the handheld to perform any of these functions is cumbersome and frustrating, and we can't imagine why Nintendo didn't use the accessory's second iteration to fix the faults of the original. It's a crippling oversight, transforming an otherwise novel and useful accessory into an occasional nuisance.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title2" style="text-align: left;">Wrap-up</h3><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP Nintendo 3DS Circle Pad Pro review just like the original, but bigger" data-src-height="347" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/newclos24.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">In the end, the 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro is little more than a larger, slightly more comfortable version of its predecessor. It's a niche device designed only to work with a handful of games. It doesn't improve on the old design in any significant fashion, but it does offer some fringe benefits thanks to the 3DS XL's larger size. In the end, it works as advertised, providing a solid second analog input for games that support it. So, is it worth the $20 asking price? Well, that depends -- do you play <em>Monster Hunter</em>?</div></div>

Nintendo 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro review: just like the original, but bigger

Nintendo seems to have a knack for repeat performances. Nintendo DS? Quickly supplanted by the DS Lite -- and the DSi didn't last too lo...

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HP ElitePad 900 review: HP's first Windows 8 tablet for the business world

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="HP ElitePad 900 review: HP's first Windows 8 tablet for the business world " data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06164-1368042871.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">HP's business PCs have always been surprisingly pretty. Not that good looks are high on our list of criteria, mind you, but at the very least they make a strong impression. Now that companies have gotten more comfortable with tablets (and Windows 8 in particular) HP is selling the ElitePad 900, its first Win 8 tablet built for the enterprise. Like all those EliteBook laptops that came before it, it has a metal chassis that's not only sleek, but meets the military's MIL-Spec standards too. Otherwise, it has everything you'd expect from a business tablet: support for pen input, mobile broadband and security features like TPM. It's also being sold alongside various accessories, including some cases that add further functionality besides just protection from scratches. With a starting price of $699 for the 32GB model, though, it's a little more expensive than its competitors. Does that mean it's a little bit better too?</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title0" style="text-align: left;">Hardware</h3><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HP ElitePad 900 review" data-src-height="412" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06185-1368043867.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">We say this unequivocally: the ElitePad is the sexiest tablet HP has ever made. And it's for the enterprise, of all things. Stealing the show is that machined-aluminum rear, with its flush volume rocker and smooth, hard finish. It looks so good, in fact, that it was featured in a splashy ad campaign aired during last year's Summer Olympics (not the place for ugly people -- or gadgets, for that matter). In contrast, there's a black, soft-touch panel on the top of the back cover, around where the antennas and NFC chip are. Normally, that might make for a mismatched design but in this case, the contrast between the cold metal and rubbery accent works quite well.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The nice thing about aluminum, too, is that it's lightweight: at 1.38 pounds, the ElitePad is very easy to hold, particularly since the chamfered edges create a natural resting place for the thumbs. (For reference, the tablet weighs 0.6 pound less than the iPad 4, which is already pretty portable.) Like all of HP's previous EliteBook laptops, it was built to withstand drops, water spills and any other accidents that might happen in the workplace. (The IT guys only expect to refresh your stuff every few years, ya know?) In particular, the tablet meets the military's MIL-SPEC-810G standards, covering drops, vibration, sand, heat, cold, rain, humidity, salt fog and even fungus. We can't guarantee the aluminum finish will stay spotless -- we picked up a small scratch ourselves -- but at least the thing will remain usable.</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HP ElitePad 900 review" data-src-height="412" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06169-1368044322.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Our tour of the ports will be fairly brief, and that's not necessarily a good thing: a lack of ports on the device itself means you'll perhaps be more reliant on those optional SmartJackets, which add a good deal of bulk. <span>Up top, you'll find the power / lock button over on one side, with the headphone jack and screen-orientation lock switch on the other. To the left is the volume rocker, which isn't actually on that chamfered edge but rather, on the back side. Same deal with the SIM slot and microSD reader, which sit behind a pin-accessible door on the right. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span>The NFC chip, as we said, is located on the rear cover, toward the top where that black rubber strip is; that's clearly marked by an NFC logo. The bottom edge is home to dual speakers, along with the docking connectors you'll need to make use of all those optional accessories (more on those in just a moment). Rounding things out, there's an 8-megapixel camera in the back, paired with an LED flash, along with a 1080p webcam up front.</span></div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title1" style="text-align: left;">Display and sound</h3><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HP ElitePad 900 review" data-src-height="412" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06189-1368044032.jpg" /></div><blockquote class="quote left" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">HP chose to match the nice design with an equally nice display.</blockquote><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Happily, HP chose to match the nice design with an equally nice display. What we have here is a 10.1-inch IPS panel made of Gorilla Glass 2. The brightness rating tops out at 400 nits, which is about as good as you'll get on a tablet these days (ASUS' products seem to be the exception). The only thing keeping this from being a truly top-notch screen is that the resolution is capped at 1,280 x 800, and that's not even totally HP's fault: after all, Atom processors don't even support resolutions beyond 1,366 x 768. Besides, the company says that its corporate customers aren't demanding higher resolution anyway. And who are we to argue with HP's marketing department?</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">All told, it's a lovely display. As you'd expect, colors lose some of their punch when viewed from the side or with the tablet lying face-up. Regardless of the angle, though, the screen is always easy to read, especially once you pump up the brightness. We'd also add that the glossy panel reflects surprisingly little light -- or, at least, the screen glare that <em>is</em> there doesn't get in the way.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Oh, and in case you're wondering, the ElitePad supports pen input, just like other Windows 8 tablets aimed at the corporate world. Because the digitizer is made by Atmel, though, and not Wacom, you can't just sub in any old pen if you lose the one you bought from HP. That pen is sold separately for $49 and indeed, we didn't get a chance to test the ElitePad with it.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">You may have noticed by now that most of HP's consumer PCs have Beats Audio on board, but since the ElitePad is a business product, it makes do with SRS tech instead. Indeed, without Beats' EQ settings to emphasize the low notes, the sound here is fairly constrained. It's at its worst at top volume settings, but fortunately the speaker setup is loud enough that you can easily keep the volume around 40 / 100 if it's just you listening by yourself. And if you're on a conference call and need to make the sound louder, well, no one cares if your coworkers sound a bit tinny.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title2" style="text-align: left;">Accessories</h3><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HP ElitePad 900 review" data-src-height="412" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06205-1368044304.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Even more than its beautiful hardware, what makes the ElitePad unique are all the accessories designed to go with it. Most of these take the form of so-called SmartJackets -- essentially, protective cases that also bring additional functionality. First up is the Expansion jacket ($79), which adds two full-sized USB ports, an HDMI socket and a full-size SD / MMC slot. There's also room for an optional second battery ($99), which is said to extend the runtime by up to eight hours.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Moving on, the Productivity jacket ($199) is sort of what it sounds like: a case with a keyboard built in. When the case is closed, as you probably imagine, the tablet lies face down against the keyboard. When it's open, though, it sits propped up in one of three notches cut into the area above the keyboard. The keys themselves are small and fairly flat -- not much better than a netbook, really -- but the underlying panel is at least sturdy. The problem is, there's no pointing stick or trackpad, so you'll need to BYOM (bring your own mouse) if you want to click small objects on the desktop. Anyway, y<span>ou can probably forgive the ergonomics somewhat, since the jacket also includes two USB ports and a full-size SD slot -- features you won't find on all keyboard docks. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Finally, moving away from SmartJackets, HP is also selling a $119 docking station, meant to stay in the office, parked on employees' desks. In addition to four USB ports, you'll get an Ethernet jack, VGA and HDMI sockets, a Kensington lock slot and a single audio port. It's heavy, like a paperweight, with a soft-touch finish that keeps it from sliding around on your desk. You might be disappointed to find the screen angle isn't adjustable as it is on the Productivity jacket, but that's where those wide viewing angles come in handy.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title3" style="text-align: left;">Performance and battery life</h3><center dir="ltr"><table class="table table-striped"> <thead><tr> <th><br /></th> <th>PCMark7</th> <th>3DMark06</th> <th>ATTO (top disk speeds)</th> </tr></thead> <tbody><tr> <td>HP ElitePad 900 (1.8GHz Intel Atom Z2760, Intel HD)</td> <td>1,297</td> <td>454</td> <td>82 MB/s (reads); 28 MB/s (writes)</td> </tr><tr> <td>Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> (1.8GHz Intel Atom Z2760, Intel HD)</a></td> <td>1,444</td> <td>457</td> <td>81 MB/s (reads); 35 MB/s (writes)</td> </tr><tr> <td>Dell Latitude 10<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> (1.8GHz Intel Atom Z2760, Intel HD)</a></td> <td>1,437</td> <td>458</td> <td>82 MB/s (reads); 35 MB/s (writes)</td> </tr><tr> <td>ASUS VivoTab Smart<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> (1.8GHz Intel Atom Z2760, Intel HD)</a></td> <td>1,400</td> <td>372</td> <td>83 MB/s (reads); 35 MB/s (writes)</td> </tr><tr> <td>Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> (1.8GHz Intel Atom Z2760, Intel HD)</a></td> <td>1,423</td> <td>460</td> <td>83 MB/s (reads); 35 MB/s (writes)</td> </tr><tr> <td>HP Envy x2<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> (1.8GHz Intel Atom Z2760, Intel HD)</a></td> <td>1,425</td> <td>N/A</td> <td>83 MB/s (reads); 34 MB/s (writes)</td> </tr><tr> <td>Samsung ATIV Smart PC<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> (1.8GHz Intel Atom Z2760, Intel HD)</a></td> <td>N/A</td> <td>374</td> <td>82 MB/s (reads); 36 MB/s (writes)</td> </tr><tr> <td>Acer Iconia W510<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> (1.8GHz Intel Atom Z2760, Intel HD)</a></td> <td>1,297</td> <td>N/A</td> <td>81 MB/s (reads); 28 MB/s (writes)</td> </tr></tbody></table></center><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Though the ElitePad packs the same specs as every other Atom tablet (a 1.8GHz Z2760 processor with 2GB of RAM and a 32 or 64GB SSD), its benchmark scores trail what you'll get from competing devices. Which is strange because Atom tablets otherwise tend to yield very similar performance numbers. It falls about 100 points behind in PCMark 7, for instance, with a score of 1,297 (most Atom devices notch somewhere in the 1,400s). Its write speeds, as measured by ATTO, are slightly slower too, though its read performance is right on target (e.g., you're looking at rates of about 82 MB/s).</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Perhaps the biggest gap, though, is in real-world performance. Just booting up the device takes about 30 seconds, whereas the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 takes 15. Sometimes, too, the accelerometer can be slow to recognize a change in screen orientation. In the Kindle app, we also had to wait not just for the screen flip, but also for the pages to resize themselves after we switched from landscape to portrait. In general, though, the tablet is quick to launch apps and respond to taps and swipes. We also had an easy time in apps like IE10 -- pages scale quickly and we didn't encounter any delays when we moved to scroll or zoom in. If the ElitePad is at its best in the web browser, though, we wonder how it'll support the sorts of x86 apps businesses use.</div><center dir="ltr"><table class="table table-striped-vertical"> <thead><tr> <th>Windows 8 systems</th> <th>Battery life</th> </tr></thead> <tbody><tr> <td><strong>HP ElitePad 900</strong></td> <td><strong>7:15</strong></td> </tr><tr> <td>ThinkPad Tablet 2</td> <td>10:27</td> </tr><tr> <td>Dell Latitude 10</td> <td>9:03 / 16:01 (with the dock)</td> </tr><tr> <td>Acer Iconia W510</td> <td>8:19 (tablet only) / 14:17 (with the dock)</td> </tr><tr> <td>HP Envy x2</td> <td>7:53 (tablet only) / 12:30 (with the dock)</td> </tr><tr> <td>ASUS VivoTab Smart</td> <td>7:30</td> </tr><tr> <td>Acer Iconia W700</td> <td>7:13</td> </tr><tr> <td>Samsung ATIV Smart PC (AT&T)</td> <td>7:04 (WiFi only) / 6:43 (LTE)</td> </tr><tr> <td>Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx</td> <td>6:10/ 9:24 (with the dock)</td> </tr></tbody></table></center><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Without the aid of that secondary battery, the ElitePad offers middling runtime. In our usual rundown test (video looping, WiFi on, fixed screen brightness), it managed seven hours and 15 minutes, on average, before crapping out. Now it's true, seven hours for a product like this isn't unheard of, but when you compare the ElitePad to the ThinkPad Tablet 2, which lasts 10 and a half hours, that showing seems a little piddly. Also, it's worth noting that Acer's business-focused Iconia W700 tablet lasts about seven hours, and that's with a heavier-duty Core i5 processor inside. If seven hours is enough, then, why not consider Acer's product, which is more powerful and rocks a 1080p screen?</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title4" style="text-align: left;">Software, security features and warranty</h3><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HP ElitePad 900 review" data-src-height="412" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06223-1368044376.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">It'd be incorrect to say the ElitePad is a bloatware-free system, but it's close. The only non-standard apps included here are: Kindle, Box.com, Skitch, Netflix, YouCam (camera software) and HP Pagelift (for cleaning up scanned images). Barring that, most of the on-board software features (HP Client Security, HP BIOS Protection, Credential Manager, drive encryption, SpareKey password recovery) are meant for the IT guys, not the end user. On a hardware level, the tablet also has a hard drive accelerometer and TPM -- a standard feature for business tablets (the Dell Latitude 10 has this too).</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The ElitePad comes with a one-year warranty for both the tablet and primary battery, though you can upgrade to a three-year plan if you want. That matches what's offered with most consumer tablets, but business products often command a longer coverage period -- say, two or three years instead of one. HP also has a history of offering longer warranties on its high-end EliteBook laptops as well as its premium consumer notebooks, so we were a little surprised to learn that wasn't the case here.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title5" style="text-align: left;">Configuration options and the competition</h3><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HP ElitePad 900 review" data-src-height="412" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06186-1368044515.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The ElitePad starts at $699 with 32GB of internal storage and two free years of T-Mobile service (200MB per month, that is, with bigger data packages sold separately). There's also a 64GB version that retails for $749; that, too, comes with two years of free broadband. Similarly, you can buy the tablet with a cellular radio, but there you have to go out of your way to set up service on your own. If that sounds like less of a good deal, consider this: these tablets are compatible with both T-Mobile and AT&T in the US, as opposed to just T-Mo.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">In any case, as you'll see, $699 for a 32GB tablet isn't such a hot deal once you take a look at what other companies are offering. Take Dell, for instance. The<span> Latitude 10 is an Atom-powered slate that starts at $499 with 32GB of storage (the 64GB model</span><span> costs $579). For a real apples-to-apples comparison with the ElitePad, though, you'd need to step up to the souped-up version of the</span><span> Latitude 10 ($649), which adds pen input, a swappable battery, TPM and HDMI output. Finally, for an extra 10</span><span>0 bucks ($749), you can get all that and an AT&T mobile broadband module, too. </span></div><blockquote class="quote right" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The ElitePad is only at its best when you splurge on the extras.</blockquote><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span>Basically, then, for the price of the entry-level ElitePad, you're getting more storage, and some of the same key features (namely, TPM and pen support). </span><span>Having reviewed it, we can also assure you it yields better battery life (about two more hours on a charge, we'd say). The IPS display is nice there, too</span><span>. As a tradeoff, though, the hardware isn't nearly as polished, and at 1.44 pounds, it's the heaviest of the three tablets we'll be mentioning here in this cross-shopping section.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">And what kind of reviewer would I be if I left out Engadget's reigning favorite, the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2? Like the others, the TP Tablet 2 is a 10-inch device, with an IPS display and an Atom processor on the inside. TPM comes standard; pen input is an option. You can also buy it with an HSPA+ / LTE radio. It also weighs less than the ElitePad, at 1.25 pounds. (Footnote time: the pen-enabled configurations can weigh up to 1.3 pounds, depending on whether it has a 3G radio).</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Now for the things you won't find on a spec sheet: the battery life is best in class. As we said, it lasts about 10.5 hours unplugged -- around three hours longer than other Atom devices we've tested. Also, the optional Bluetooth keyboard is easily the best typing experience you can expect to get on a Windows tablet. Indeed, we'd recommend the TP Tablet 2 just for that alone. The biggest drawback? Price: it costs $749 for a 64GB model with pen input. That's the same as what HP is charging, but it's $100 more than what Dell is offering.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title6" style="text-align: left;">Wrap-up</h3><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DNP HP ElitePad 900 review" data-src-height="412" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06183-1368043786.jpg" /></div><div class="more-info" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><h3>More Info</h3><ul><li>HP announces the ElitePad 900</li><li>Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 review</li><li>Dell Latitude 10 review</li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">On paper, the ElitePad 900 has almost everything we'd expect from a business tablet: pen support, security features like TPM and a dock with Ethernet and extra ports. It's offered with a wider-than-usual range of accessories, including useful goodies like a second battery and keyboard case. <span>Not to mention, it's one of the best-looking tablets we've ever seen, and that's </span><em>definitely</em><span> not something we demand from enterprise tech. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span>In fact, our review was going swimmingly -- that is, until it came time to test the performance. Even compared to other Atom tablets, which aren't exactly powerhouses either, the ElitePad feels sluggish. Its runtime is lacking too; you could spring for that $99 spare battery, of course, but it's going to make the tablet much, much heavier than 1.38 pounds. Ditto for ports: unless you snap on one of those SmartJackets or plug the tablet into the docking station, you'll have to make do with very few I/O options. Meanwhile, there are other business tablets that either cost less (the Dell Latitude 10 comes to mind) or that deliver longer battery life (that'd be the ThinkPad Tablet 2). All that said, the ElitePad is still a solid tablet in many ways, but it's only at its best when you splurge on the extras. </span></div></div>

HP ElitePad 900 review: HP's first Windows 8 tablet for the business world

HP's business PCs have always been surprisingly pretty. Not that good looks are high on our list of criteria, mind you, but at the very...

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LG Optimus G Pro for AT&T: what's different?

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><img alt="LG Optimus G Pro for AT&T what's different" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/optimusg-pro.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Two Galaxy Notes and two Optimus Vus later, LG's ready to tackle the giant-sized smartphone niche, this time <em>without</em> the category's defining accessory: a stylus. The Optimus G Pro, part of the company's <em>performance</em> line, was a surprise when we first laid eyes and hands on it: it's a 5.5-inch embodiment of lessons learned, not just from LG's past endeavors, but also from Samsung's. That the device would ever make it out of South Korea and into the US was an uncertainty. And by entering the market now, the G Pro risks coming off as a stopgap between the Note II and III, as well as LG's own flagship G line.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Yet, LG found a way. It paired with AT&T to bring the G Pro, with its Snapdragon 600 processor and 1080p display, to the States as an exclusive. For $199 on a two-year plan, subscribers get an attractive package: LTE, NFC, 32GB of storage (expandable by up to 64GB via microSDXC), a gargantuan 3,140mAh battery and dual 2.1MP / 13MP cameras with the option for dual-recording. So, aided by some competitive pricing and top-shelf specifications, the G Pro reads on paper like a boss. But the window for that dominance is short. So while we wait for Samsung to attempt a three-peat in the category it created (a Note III could debut by summer's end), let's examine the G Pro and its 15 minutes of fame. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="Gallery Image" height="424" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc04789.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="424" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc04791.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="424" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc04815.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="424" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc04810.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06656.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06662.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06664.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06666.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06668.jpg" width="640" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The hardware is essentially the same, both inside and out. At <span>150.2 x 76.1 x 9.4mm (5.91 x 3.0 x 0.37 in.) and </span>6.14 oz. (174g), the G Pro's dimensions <span>have remained unchanged</span>. It's almost as if carriers are waking to the growing chorus of consumers who crave smartphones <em>designed by manufacturers</em>, not the wireless providers themselves. Of course, AT&T has made some minor customizations, like the globe on back (the only instance of carrier branding on the shell), along with compatible radios for HSPA+ and LTE. Also, AT&T is only issuing the G Pro in black. We'd whinge about the foolishness of that last decision, but you need only look back at our original review to see how the G Pro sparkles in a white shell (literally).</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><img alt="LG Optimus G Pro for AT&T what's different" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06686-1367944535.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Users who pick up a G Pro will immediately notice how comfortable it is in-hand relative to its size. This is due to the reduction in bezel size, as well as the blunter edges. What's more, the G Pro may be all plastic, but it manages to almost entirely avoid the slippery feel of the Note II. The backplate, covered in an unattractive patterning, is also removable, giving way to slots for micro-SIM and microSDXC (to complement the 32GB of inbuilt storage), as well as the 3,140mAh battery.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">As a conversation piece, this variant of the G Pro won't ever win props for its looks, but that 5.5-inch 1080p screen (400 ppi) is a different matter entirely. The full HD IPS display is simply gorgeous. Colors are balanced, the whites are bright and, thanks to the panel used, the screen is viewable from most angles. If you're using it outdoors, however, you'll still want to bump up the brightness.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Right-handed users will feel especially at home using the G Pro since its button layout works best when used that way. Along the left edge you'll find a hot function key and volume rocker with the power button on the opposite edge. Up top is the 3.5mm headphone jack and IR blaster, below which is the 2.1-megapixel camera. The standard micro-USB port resides at the base and an LED-ringed home button, surrounded by capacitive keys, flanks the lower half of the screen.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Smartphone junkies will be pleased to know that the G Pro still packs a Snapdragon 600, clocked at 1.7GHz, and paired with 2GB of RAM. That combination makes every moment with the G Pro an absolute delight -- there are no hangups, no awkward moments of stuttering or force closing. It performs as a phone of its caliber should: effortlessly. The only obstacle on the G Pro's path to pure ease-of-use is LG's hot mess of a UX. The company claims this version of its Android skin is cleaner, but it's not. Admittedly, the icons come off as less cartoony and users do have the option to super-size them for easier viewing, but the overall implementation is just too clunky.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Take, for example, the drop-down notification tray. It's so cluttered with toggles that even after a few days of use, we still had to search for the cogwheel that denotes the settings icon. Which brings us to yet another point of frustration: the settings menu. For some reason, LG decided to abandon the single-pane view and opted instead to divide key submenus across panes much the way Samsung did on the Galaxy S 4, all accessible with a swipe gesture or via tabs. It may sound convenient, but it's not. It branches off from the Android experience as we know it and introduces one more unnecessary learning curve.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><img alt="LG Optimus G Pro for AT&T what's different" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06709-1367944576.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">On the app front, you're looking at a dozen pre-installed AT&T-branded applications (i.e., Navigator, Smart WiFi, MyAT&T, Locker, Messages, etc.). The good news is that <em>some</em> of this unnecessary bloat is uninstallable, but it's pretty random. There's a good chunk that you can only disable, effectively hiding those applications from view, which is better than nothing, but far from ideal. By contrast, LG's additions seem downright tame -- the bulk of its add-ons mostly involve baked-in Optimus UI features like QSlide 2.0 (for split-screen multi-tasking), QuickMemo (for on-the-fly note-taking) and VuTalk, a screensharing function currently exclusive to the G Pro.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Without question, the G Pro's 1080p display is a leg up on the Note II's relatively paltry 720p HD Super AMOLED. But there is a downside to this that not even the generous 3,140mAh battery can mitigate, and that's its staying power. Those extra pixels create more of a strain on the battery. It can yield more than a full day's use, but not the phenomenal two day's worth we've enjoyed on the Note II. And it's not like we sat around watching YouTube videos all day -- this was with regular light browsing, moderately obsessive Twitter monitoring, emailing and texting. It's worth noting, however, that LG has included a power-saving option in addition to a battery-saving toggle to specifically ramp down the demands of the quad-core CPU.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><img alt="LG Optimus G Pro for AT&T what's different" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06681-1367944626.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The G Pro didn't fare so well under the stress of our formal battery rundown test. With an HD video running on a constant loop, brightness set to 50 percent, one push email account active, WiFi / LTE enabled and Twitter set to sync at 15-minute intervals, the handset managed to last six hours. That's hardly a promising figure, but it's definitely an indication of how closely you'll need to manage the G Pro's battery life.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">As you might've guessed, LG's decision to keep the G Pro's specs in line with its Korean counterpart means parallel performance. Benchmark testing delivered results more or less on par with the Korea-only G Pro, though its scores in the graphics tests GLBenchmark and CF-Bench fell short of what we saw on the HTC One.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><img alt="LG Optimus G Pro for AT&T what's different" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/dsc06666-1367944716.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">There are two unavoidable truths about the AT&T G Pro: it's $100 cheaper on-contract and better specced than AT&T's Note II (hello, Snapdragon 600!). For what LG's crammed into its oblong shell, the G Pro really is a bargain for power users. But it has one ugly mole (no, not that AT&T globe) that not even its stunning 1080p display can overshadow, and that's its less-than-stellar battery life. True, it's an improvement from what you'd get from the GS4 or HTC One. Even so, in South Korea the Optimus G Pro comes with an extra battery in the box, and that's sadly missing on the US variant. CPU power and high-res beauty come at a cost -- whether that's to save you money or keep you on a constant hunt for power outlets is your choice to make.</div></div>

LG Optimus G Pro for AT&T: what's different?

Two Galaxy Notes and two Optimus Vus later, LG's ready to tackle the giant-sized smartphone niche, this time without the category's...

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Nokia Lumia 720 review

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Nokia Lumia 720 review" data-src-height="460" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/wraplead-1366407637.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">With the shared unveiling of Nokia's Lumia 720 and Lumia 520, the company's running flush of Windows Phone 8 models was complete. All WP8 handsets we've reviewed essentially fit into two distinct tiers based on shared core specs. That begs the question: why come out with two new models now when both share the same SoC, amount of RAM and screen resolution as the established Lumia 620 and HTC 8S? Obviously, there are differences in design, cameras, display tech and all the other bobs and bits that create the 720, but is it worth the significant markup over the 620, and more than double the price of a 520 or Huawei Ascend W1? Enough with all the rhetorical questions -- join us after the break as we find out exactly what the Lumia 720 has to offer.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc01089-copy.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc01102-copy.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc01068-copy.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc01085-copy.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc01074-copy.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="413" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc01078-copy-1366370604.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc01084.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc01087-copy.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc01098.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="400" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc01125-copy.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc01122.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="416" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc01103-copy.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc01105.jpg" width="640" /></div></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="349" id="viddler-1ba23ba4" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="//www.viddler.com/embed/1ba23ba4/?f=1&offset=0&autoplay=0&secret=77156031&disablebranding=0&view_secret=77156031" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="545"></iframe></div>

Nokia Lumia 720 review

With the shared unveiling of Nokia's Lumia 720 and Lumia 520, the company's running flush of Windows Phone 8 models was complete. A...

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Sony Xperia ZL review: a giant phone in a surprisingly compact frame

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Sony Xperia ZL review: a giant phone in a surprisingly compact frame" data-src-height="340" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/sony-xperia-zl-review-1365529409.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Sony took a rather unusual path with its flagship smartphone for 2013: it designed the hardware twice. The Xperia Z is ostensibly the star of the show with its glass body and waterproofing, but it's launching alongside the Xperia ZL, an equally brawny, yet plainer sibling. On a spec sheet, there's no apparent reason for the ZL to exist when its features almost perfectly match those of the slimmer and more stylish Z.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Still, it's precisely that emphasis on function over form that might just win the day. Sony bills the ZL as the most compact 5-inch smartphone on the market, which could win over folks who see large-screened phones as unwieldy. But is it enough to challenge conventional thinking on big phones, especially in light of fiercer competition? And is there anything special lurking underneath the ZL's reworked hood? Read on and we'll let you know whether the second device in Sony's dual-phone strategy is strong enough to outshine the Z -- and, more importantly, its rivals. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XMLgd7-cg_E?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe></div>

Sony Xperia ZL review: a giant phone in a surprisingly compact frame

Sony took a rather unusual path with its flagship smartphone for 2013: it designed the hardware twice. The Xperia Z is ostensibly the star o...

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HTC First with Facebook Home review

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="DNP HTC First with Facebook Home review" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc05424-1365523689.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> With a billion users, it'd be an understatement to say Facebook has done a good job conquering the desktop world. Mobile, however, is the social network's next frontier: although it has a significant presence on every major smartphone and tablet platform, the company has a reputation for bringing its key features to the PC environment long before they arrive on mobile -- if at all.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> But the April 4th reveal of Facebook Home, a solidly built Android launcher, reflects a change in attitude for Mark Zuckerberg and Co. Instead of simply maintaining a smartphone presence, Facebook is ready to go to battle and is putting mobile on the top of its list of priorities. It's even adding a proper piece of hardware to its arsenal in the form of the HTC First, a 4.3-inch device on AT&T with LTE, reasonable mid-range specs and a gorgeous display. Is it worth $99 with a two-year commitment to purchase a handset dedicated to the social cause? Should you just wait until Home is available as a free download in the Google Play Store? Or is it best to ignore it altogether? Continue reading to find out.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <span>It would be an understatement to say the HTC First took a backseat to Facebook Home at the company's recent press conference; it was locked in the trunk and wasn't let out until a few hours after Mark Zuckerberg and a series of HTC / AT&T execs said their piece. That doesn't mean the First's hardware is chopped liver, but even so, the omission of specs is rarely a good sign. Aside from a nod to the LTE radio and a few pictures detailing the four available colors -- black, white, pale blue and red, if you're curious -- Facebook almost seemed to forget that new hardware was being introduced.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <span>Now that we've had a chance to actually use the First for a few days, we can happily put an end to any confusion about the hardware. In today's market, an Android handset with a 4.3-inch display is considered petite, and the First definitely feels that way: at 125.99 x 65.04 x 8.89mm (4.96 x 2.56 x 0.35 inches), it nearly gets swallowed up in the hand, especially compared to all the 5-plus-inch devices we've been testing recently. It's also incredibly lightweight, barely registering on the scale at 4.37 ounces (124g).</span></div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="DNP HTC First with Facebook Home review" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc05371-1365523526.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Since the First was built to impress the Facebook-savvy, we shouldn't be surprised that this is one of the most playful-looking handsets HTC has ever made. It's not that there's anything extreme about the design; there's just something about the soft curves, multiple hues and soft-touch plastic shell that wraps around the entire device, similar to the Lumia 620. (Don't take that comparison too far, though -- the shell here isn't user-removable.) All told, it doesn't take itself too seriously; it's a phone that's focused on Facebook, and indeed, it looks the part.<br /> <br /> In fact, one of the biggest surprises is that the First's design doesn't really scream HTC -- it's almost as if the company is going back to its ODM roots, creating whatever handset other businesses (Facebook, in this case) demand. Whether or not this is the beginning of a new strategy for the Taiwanese manufacturer remains to be seen, but we can't help but wonder if "First" connotes more than just the inaugural Facebook Home device.</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="DNP HTC First with Facebook Home review" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc05427.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> On the front of the First, you'll find a 4.3-inch, 720p S-LCD2 display, which packs in an above-average pixel density of 341 ppi. Obviously, it doesn't hold a candle to all those 1080p behemoths we've been seeing, but these specs were top-of-the-line in 2012, and they still hold up well today. Viewing angles are better than average, colors are decently saturated (but not overly so) and text is pretty smooth, though it's expectedly not as good as what we've seen on the HTC One's 1080p screen. The only disappointment was the phone's subpar performance in direct sunlight -- even at full brightness, we found it difficult to make out images and text.<br /> <br /> A 1.6MP front-facing camera resides above the screen, though it hangs out underneath the same panel of Gorilla Glass, along with the usual assortment of sensors and LED notification light. The speakers are squeezed inside a tiny, narrow grille, which sits in between the glass and the top edge of the phone. On the opposite end you'll find three capacitive keys: back, home and menu. (Recent apps pop up when you double-tap home, while a long-press of home pulls up Google Now.)</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="DNP HTC First with Facebook Home review" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/dsc05348-1365523735.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Turn the phone over and you'll discover a perfectly flat back featuring the 5MP rear camera and LED flash. If you only glance quickly, you may think that there isn't anything else happening on this side of the device, but look more closely and you'll see it: stenciled in incredibly light ink are logos for HTC, Facebook and AT&T, along with the obligatory FCC information underneath. The print is so small, so inoffensive, that it's actually hard to read in dimmer lighting conditions. This is something we want to see other companies mimic on their devices (Sprint has already taken a big step by removing logos from its branded phones). We're also happy to say the Beats Audio branding is nowhere to be seen, a rarity for a post-2011 HTC device.<br /> <br /> Up top sits a 3.5mm headphone jack and mic, while the power button is located on the right. Since it sticks out from the frame by at least a millimeter or so, that button is very easy to press. Meanwhile, the right side houses the micro-SIM slot and micro-USB charging port. It's an unfortunate location for the latter, but the bottom of the device -- our preferred location for charging ports -- is taken up by a machine-drilled speaker grille. The volume rocker is found on the left side of the First. Finally, if you're looking for a microSD slot or dedicated camera shutter button, you'll be disappointed.<br /> <br /> The First is an AT&T exclusive in the US, and it actively uses LTE bands 4 and 17, HSPA+ 850 / 1900 / 2100 and quad-band GSM / EDGE (its FCC docs also indicate the presence of LTE bands 2 and 5, as most AT&T smartphones do). The global model, on the other hand, promises LTE capacity on 850 / 1900 as well as HSPA+ 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 and quad-band GSM / EDGE. Both devices also provide dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, FM radio, a non-removable 2,000mAh Lithium-polymer battery and 16GB of internal storage (11.9GB of which is user-accessible).</div></div>

HTC First with Facebook Home review

With a billion users, it'd be an understatement to say Facebook has done a good job conquering the desktop world. Mobile, however, is...

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