Since Sprint, Best Buy, Radio Shack, and Walmart all want you to buy the HTC EVO 4G with a new two-year contract, they're doing their best to not advertise other purchasing options. Radio Shack has "$499.99 unactivated" printed in small black type beneath a huge $199.99 in bold blue letters on one of its ads, but the other three suggest that "on contract" is really the only way for you to size up the EVO in person.
Thankfully, HTC is being upfront about all your choices (what do they care about whether you pay for service, anyway?) at its official US online store: $199.99 after an instant rebate with a new service plan, $299.99 with an existing contract extension, and $549.99 with nothing but the phone (so you can use the EVO as a WiFi-only MID, of course!). All three come with free standard shipping via FedEx or UPS.
The downside is that you won't be getting your EVO on launch day with any of these options, as HTC specifically indicates that preordered handsets will be shipped on June 4th, but at least you won't have to leave the house or stand in line. And having unboxed my own HTC EVO 4G four days ago, I can tell you for a fact that it will be well worth the wait!
First question please: why HTC direct and not radioshack if it has 50$ diff?
Second and more interesting question: will that phone only be “unlocked”? Can I use it with lets say Rogers/Fido in Canada if I am adding my own local SIM with Data plan (can I)?
Thanks!
Also Jenn – if I may ask please – why did u pick the EVO over the Streak? Maybe you have not and we will get another site for the Streak …. ? pretty please
But back to the question – can you compare? from my readings it looks like the only diff is the 5″ vs. 4.2″. And maybe the EVO hotspot feature. not sure.
There might not be sales tax when ordered through HTC, so that could possibly negate the difference in price.
As for then second question, the EVO is CDMA for Sprint, which means no SIM slot or unlocked usage. The HD2 would be the closest thing to use on your network, as long as it’s the unlocked European version.
I actually registered a domain for a dedicated Streak site and have the general design done but haven’t decided whether I really want to pursue it yet. I will definitely be getting the Streak, though, and will write about it somewhere (most likely on Pocketables if I don’t start the Streak site).
Main differences between Streak and EVO in the US:
1. 5″ vs 4.3″ screen
2. Android 1.6 vs Android 2.1
3. GSM (AT&T) vs CDMA (Sprint)
4. No 4G vs 4G
5. 5MP camera vs 8MP camera
6. 512MB ROM/256MB RAM vs 1GB ROM/512MB RAM
Oh, I’m not saying buying from HTC is better than Radio Shack. RS comes with $20 free accessories, so buying there will probably be cheaper regardless of whether HTC charges tax.
HTC just seems to be the only one making it easy to find out all the different purchase options. I see so many people still asking whether the EVO can be purchased without a contract, which wouldn’t happen if everyone selling it would give all the prices equal attention.
Thanks! I appreciate the answers.
#6 seems disappointing for the Streak! thx for pointing it out. I wonder what affect it will have on perf.
Regarding #2 – I think both will have froyo within a few weeks.
The Streak also has a 2GB microSD inaccessible to the user for system files and I think applications.
I think it may be a while before the EVO gets Froyo because of HTC’s Sense UI, which seems to be the biggest sticking point and will likely cause the delay.
In your last paragraph you say “but at least you won’t have to leave the house or stand in line. And having unboxed my own HTC EVO 4G four days ago, I can tell you for a fact that it will be well worth the wait!
I don’t understand what you’re saying. You seem to contradict yourself. Saying the evo is well worth the wait of getting in the mail?? I don’t understand that? Work on you grammar and proofreading please.
What’s so hard to understand? You have to wait longer to get it in the mail but it doesn’t matter how you get it because it is worth the wait. And you can avoid the crowds and lines and wait in the comfort of your home. That sounds like a nice choice for people who don’t have to get the phone the minute it is available.
And “work on you grammar”? LOL. That speaks for itself!
Regarding pricing on upgrade to existing Sprint customers. I’m one of them. Just extended my current contract a week ago to get the $70 sign-up bonus.
When I get my EVO, I’ll change my plan to one that is compatible with the EVO, one of them All Mobile plans.
But the Best Buy Mobile Phone Mgr (local) told me I would qualify for the $199 price since I still had an unused $150 upgrade credit on my line. (I’ve only been with Sprint a short while, since 06/1997.) The Radio Shack manager told me the same thing, as did the Sprint Tech Support lady on the phone.
Guess I’ll find out what is real facts, or not, when I buy mine on this Friday at Radio Shack. I’m chosing RS because I forgot to preorder, and Best Buy cut off pre-order for June 4th on May 27th or so. Their next delivery date for pre-order is June 9th. BB said no extra phones available for walk-in customers on the 4th, but RS said they would have a few.
Lee in San Antonio, TX