HTC DESIRE C

Ok so I want the cheapest android phone that is capable of at least 14.4Mbps (maximum data rate speeds) because I will need it for the wireless hotspot function only. When I look around on the internet, some sites say it is a 7.2Mbps maximum phone and others say it's maximum capability is 14.4Mbps

GSM Arena says: "HSDPA, 14.4 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps"
Phone Arena says: "HSDPA 7.2 Mbit/s, UMTS, EDGE, GPRS"
Wikipedia says: "HSDPA: 14.4 Mbps"

Does anyone own this phone or can anyone help me out?

Thank you all

Not sure off the top of my head, but I would assume, since it's been recently released should be rocking HSDPA 14.4. But then it's a budget phone so could have opted for the slower standard.

Ah well, looking on the HTC site the specs only mention HSDPA doesn't specify speed. But looking at the overall spec it's very slow only a 600 mhz cpu and 512mb ram. It won't do a lot with more and more intensive apps it will struggle. may be the case it's got the slower connectivity speeds.

What is your max budget by the way?

Hi thank you for the reply. My maximum budget would be £150.00.

To be fair even if its 7.2mbps it would be fine as a hotspot, as you'd be doing well if you received 7mbps in your house on 3G/HSDPA

Its very doutful you'd be getting your full 14.4(if it does indeed support that speed)

I take it your with Three? seeing as thats the only provider to offer unlimited internet and free tethering? if your using anyone else you'll be paying to tether AND paying through your nose on monthly data costs

Tbh ive never seen more than 5mbps on a 7.2 device despite getting about 15mbps on another phone.

EDITED the above since typing that...........

I get around 8-10 mbps on my 14.4 phone(iphone 4s)

No worries. I mean tbh it also depends on his signal as well as speeds can vary heavily during the day. Tbh the best phone to get would be a dc-hspa+ device as you're virtually guaranteed fast speeds all the time

True, but you'd have to find that handset within the OPs £150 max budget.

The best i've ever seen on a 7.2 device is 6.1mbps and that was on O2, the best I have seen on a 14.4 device was 11mbps on Orange (T-Mobile mast). It's most likely a 14.4mb device, most are these days if they are not HSPA+ also gsmarena are usually very accurate

Ah totally missed that. Can get a few hspa+21mbps phones if willing to buy used for that price.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Xperia-...9902747&sr=8-1

There ya go! Sony Xperia U £149 gets you a 1ghz dual core, 720p HD video recording, nice display 14.4 mbps connectivity. It looks a great mid range phone and very good price brand new. Good reviews too.

Full specs

http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_u-4437.php

Video Review

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1DW7EcA7HM

Good phone but storage is limited. May as well get the ace 2 for that money. Pretty sure it can support up to 14.4mbps. Plus takes a memory card for expansion.

Ace 2 is that little bit more. I think the Sony Xperia U sounds like a good idea.

The higher the "maximum" data rate speeds the phone supports then the better chance/throughput you will get when connect to a good cell site. This will help when I am in London with my 3 One Plan with tethering

Ace 2 is the same price- http://www.phones4u.co.uk/shop/shop_...ItemKey=627258

(these come unlocked)

Reason i said avoid the Xperia U is because if you plan to put music/video or a lot of apps you will run out of space as you only have 4GB available.

The storage is fine if you don't plan on loading big chunks of data. As for the the hardware it's very capable and quick. I think a 4.0 update should be ready to go as well. Given the budget a very good phone for the money.

Oh ok thats a good price for the ace 2. Noticed it's got a slower cpu though, 800mhz. But the plus side it does have the SD card slot. 4GB usable space on the Sony is not much at all!!

Good man, provided your in a good signal area(London should be) then you will get great speeds

It's the same processor (i think???) but the Xperia U is dual core clocked at 1.0GHz. The Ace 2 is clocked at 0.8Ghz dual core. The Ace 2 does have more RAM as well as a micro sd card slot as advantages. Also a slightly bigger screen which can be considered a plus.

Better screen res with the sony, slightly faster CPU (not sure how that translates to performance, I would imagine better?) I think Out of the two, if the Sony had the SD support I'd have gone for it if i were looking for a cheap phone. Even if it were 16gb internal wouldn't be so bad but to be left with 4gb of usable space with no SD is a killer! Incredible.

I had a Desire HD which only had 1.5gb of space and about a gig usable, but it had the SD slot. But 4GB, once you've added your apps, very little space for much else, pics, music, videos.

Screen res is the same but ppi is better on the sony due to the smaller screen. Yeh a friend of mine got the U for his girlfriend and she ran out of space in under a week. Had to delete half the stuff she wanted on the phone.

Another thing to note is that the U has ICS but the Ace 2 only has Gingerbread at the moment. However, it's supposed to get Jellybean according to Samsung by the June i think.


You can always buy a cheap used phone for £150 with better specs. Otherwise the Ace 2 or U (if you don't use it for storage) will do.

Not sure where abouts in London you are but I am always in London and can confirm signal as well as speeds are great everywhere I have been in the city, you see some slowdown in the evenings but that's about it!

yeah at work (central London) I have reached 8mb download speeds down and 2mb up, with three, That was with my Desire HD, which is 14.4. But I am yet to try a speed test with my Nexus 4., which is DC HSPA +42. So that on three's high speed network, should be reaching some good speeds.

I don't mind going the pre owned route. I almost bought a HTC Sensation XE, which has a dual core 1.5 ghz and an SD slot. Still a great phone. But then I decided to add a bit more and go for Nexus 4 which is a pretty stunning phone for the price.

Some top spec phones out there in the used phone market. If you can get hold of one in good condition, then it's always worth a punt. Or else some decent mid range stuff out there in the £150-£200 price range.

Yeah DC-HSPA+ is brilliant, I tend to see between 8mbps and 14mbps on my HSPA+21 (Galaxy Note 2 on Orange) around London but my mate who is on Orange with an iPhone 5 which is DC-HSPA+ get 19mbps to 24mbps - absolutely ridiculous for mobile speed!

Exactly and for something which isn't considered 4g which you do not have to pay a premium for, it's bloody fantastic! But even when I'm only getting 3 or 4mb, it's still quick, guess the latency times have really come down over the years. That was more an issue than outright speed. So webpages are loading and rendering very fast now. Of course having the total package helps, top end phone, with a fast CPU and enough ram, combined with the high speed 3g signals, it all comes together quite nicely.

The 4G Galaxy S3s were getting 30mbps so maybe that recent update also has the iPhone even faster now.

Though not such a good thing when you can use up your download allowance in 5 minutes.