HTC’s Desire 610 is a midrange phone that is a but pricey but understandably so once you start using the phone. Despite its shortcomings, however, the 610 manages to give it an edge over other midrange phones.
Design & Screen
The 610 is quite large for a 4.7″ screen – with the thick bezel and dual front speakers, it stands quite tall at 5.63″; however, it does not feel uncomfortable in the hand. The rounded sides makes it comfortable to hold and the rubbery rim gives it a firm grip. The back is glossy and contrasts with the matte front and rubbery side; it is a design quirk that works, but some people may have reservations. At 143g it isn’t that heavy for its size, either.
The screen itself has a midrange resolution of 540×960 pixels, setting it at roughly 230ppi. Up close it is a bit fuzzy and the colours are slightly on the cool side, but held at normal distance this is hardly an issue. As mentioned, the colours are slightly on the cool side (compared to the Nexus 5) but the Nexus 5’s white balance is also on the warmer side. Ultimately this becomes a non-issue as the eye will adapt quickly to not notice, unlike the issue I faced with the Desire 310.
Software & Performance
Sporting the latest Sense UI 5.5, the Desire 610 is elegant and fast. The Snapdragon 400 is surprisingly snappy and working with the phone is a non-issue. The processor performance does matter in actual processing of course, but for browsing, social media, and regular use, there are no hiccups.
Camera
The 8MP camera is quite decent, and the HDR mode does come in handy. Photos in general of good quality but typically fuzzy up close as with midrange phones. It does a very good job however, and the front camera does an OK job as well.
Problems can arise though when taking some macro shots of multi-coloured object as this will throw the sensor into an over-saturation frenzy. With some finicking and fine-tuning and patience you can still take the shot but requires effort on your part.
Overall
The Desire 610 is a very good mid-range phone that does not feel midrange had it not been for the low resolution screen. It works very well and the Sense UI 5.5 does make it stand out from the rest of the midrange phones by giving you quality software. In the UAE it is priced at AED 1199.
