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HTC Desire 510 review

5/10 AVG.
RATING
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HTC Desire 510
HTC Desire 510
HTC Desire 510
HTC Desire 510
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5/10
Informr score
The HTC Desire 510 currently has an Informr score of 5 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 10 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • 4G LTE connectivity at low cost
  • Decent performance speed during basic tasks
  • Good build quality

What's bad

  • Low res display leads to fuzzy texts and images
  • Poor bright light legibility
  • Poor camera quality

The Desire 510 is another smartphone in HTC's range of budget and mid-range smartphone lineup. As expected of a budget device, the 510 sports a completely plastic build with large bezels at the top and bottom of the screen. At 5.5 x 2.8 x 0.4 inches, it isn't the slimmest smartphone on the market and reviewers describe it as "chunky" but they add that it is still relatively ergonomic due to the smooth edges and additional thickness. Despite its all plastic build, critics were impressed with the overall build quality with CNET stating, "It definitely feels like it can take a few knocks and bumps."

Perhaps the most underwhelming feature of the 510 is the display. At 4.7 inches it only has a resolution of 480 pixels, which means a low pixel density of 208ppi. Experts immediately noticed some fuzziness when reading text and pixilation on images though they found it sharp enough for basic tasks like reading email and browsing the web. Unfortunately, they also noticed that viewing angles were very narrow with PC Mag noting, "…even from dead on, everything looks washed out and grainy."

The Desire 510 is the first Android phone to ship with a 64-bit processor. It comes equipped with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM. The new chipset, however, does little to actually increase the speed of the phone. In real-life testing, experts barely noticed any different in performance when compared to devices in a similar price range. While they didn't experience too much slowdown during basic tasks and navigating the UI, they did notice slowdown when they had multiple apps open at a time. Of course, consumers might not be able to download many apps as it only comes with 8GB of internal storage. Perhaps the biggest draw of the phone is its 4G LTE connectivity. Experts were happy with the download speeds and could quickly and easily connect without any issues. Battery life varies depending on usage, but experts were able to get a full day out of it with light usage.

As for the camera, reviewers were less than impressed with the 5MP shooter calling it a letdown and pointing out that it is only good for very basic photos meant to be shared only with friends and family.

While its low cost might seem enticing, experts are hesitant to recommend it. Phone Arena says, "As a whole, the 510 is a decent entry-level smartphone to have, but we cannot recommend it…The display is borderline unusable under direct light...[the] 5MP camera is unimpressive." TechRadar adds, "…if you want your smartphone to be more than just a portal to the internet, then you'll want to look elsewhere."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.2 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.2 GHz
4.7"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.7"
5+ MP
Camera
Camera
5+ MP
2100 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


PC Magazine
PC Magazine

Choices are far more limited on Boost Mobile than Sprint, but that doesn't do much to help the HTC Desire 510's cause. It's disappointing by nearly every measure, even if it only commands $100 off contract. Stepping down to $79 gets you a much nicer display on the Moto G$74.97 at Amazon, but you los...

- Eugene Kim, PC Magazine
GSMArena
GSMArena

The HTC Desire 510 is the kind of phone that's likely to be in high demand for a good while. Perhaps not the device itself, which will soon start dealing with growing competition, but the very concept of an affordable phone with the fastest network data will make more and more sense as 4G networks e...

- GSMArena team, GSMArena
PC Magazine
PC Magazine

Simply put, the HTC Desire 510 is a feeble flag bearer for 64-bit on Android. Its display quality is marginal even for a low-end device, and it's hobbled out of the box thanks to nearly non-existent internal storage. The Desire 510 receives no clear benefit from its 64-bit processor. Skip this phone...

- Eugene Kim, PC Magazine
TechRadar
TechRadar

If you just want a phone for taking advantage of the new, super fast 4G network at a low price, then you'll be quite happy with the HTC Desire 510.However, if you want your smartphone to be more than just a portal to the internet, and to watch high definition media and take superb photos, then you'l...

- Matthew Hanson, TechRadar
Notebookcheck
Notebookcheck

The HTC Desire 510 is a good 4.7-inch smartphone which isn't really missing any features despite the low MSRP of 200 Euro. Equipped with a Quadcore SoC and Android 4.4.3, the Desire 510 offers good overall performance and a decent gaming experience as well. We appreciate the high build quality and t...

- Manuel Masiero, Notebookcheck


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


The Desire 510 price will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. You can compare HTC Desire 510 prices from around the web here on The Informr.


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the HTC Desire 510 user manual here.


HTC backs up the Desire 510 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Desire 510 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact HTC support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find HTC's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Screen Size
4.7"

The HTC Desire 510's screen size is 4.7 inches with 854 x 480 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.2 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 Quad core 1.2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system (OS).

Camera
5+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 5+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with VGA (640 x 480) resolution.

Storage
8 GB

Internal memory is 8 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2100mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 2100 mAh battery. HTC's performance ratings are 1030 minutes, 633 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Desire 510 Specs

Overview
Release Date September 23, 2014
Regions Available USA, Canada
Operating System Android 4.4 KitKat

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 Quad core 1.2 GHz
Internal Storage 8 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.86 W/kg
Body: 0.48 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Micro-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
No
Additional Rear Camera Info
Effects, Geotagging, ISO, Multi-shot, Night mode, Panorama, Exposure value, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, MPEG-4, WMV, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
VGA (640 x 480)+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 854 x 480 pixels
Pixel Density 208 pixels
Size 4.7 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 2100 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 594 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 633 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1030 minutes
Standby Time Up to 26.9 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Terra White, Meridian Gray
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14 x 7 x 1 cm (5.5 x 2.8 x 0.4 in)
Weight 158 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Quick Start Guide (PDF)
Manual (PDF)
HTC Desire 510 Reviews
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