This is the 1st time I gave something 6 stars. I got an AT&T box (from jetsetmarket). The frame of the phone is dark. Only the back cover is white. The frame is actually metal!!! No reviews have that metal frame and no picture did the phone justice. It's prettier (at least curvier) than the flag ship HTC One last year. I think they experimented on curvy metal shells on this VX first, and went on to make the fully curved back cover for the M8.
After trouble shooting with T-Mobile and HTC customer service, I can say that this phone is T-Mobile 4G compatible, or the AT&T and T-Mobile 4G networks are highly compatible. Their LTE band is the same. I also get 4G HSPA connection when LTE is not covered.
Here are the mobile network settings for APN:
Name: Beam me up
APN: fast.t-mobile.com
MMSC: a full url that amazon does not allow - [...]
MMS protocol: WAP 2.0
MCC: 310
MNC: 260
APN type: do not set!
The other entries are "Not set". There's no need to set APN type. It is just as fast as when you set everything said on the web "default,mms,internet,supl,hipri". The T-mobile customer service actually gave me the wrong setting. When it works, the mobile network should indicate "connected".
If this doesn't work, you may have to bring up the phone dialer and key in the secret code
*#*#INFO#*#*
The phone information screen should be up without pressing the dial button. Tap the three square menu button on top. Try select US band. On the phone information screen, check preferred network type "GSM/WCDMA/LTE auto". The ping test should work if data connection is successful. By allowing different network types, you can also check what type of 4G coverage is on the spot, if there is WCDMA or just EDGE.
If it still doesn't work, do a factory reset first and repeat the above. Backup everything first because it's a clean wipe. Hold volume down button and then power button. Hold hold for many seconds, ignore blinking lights until you see 3 surfing guys. Use the volume button to select factory reset and then press the power button once to reset.
If it still doesn't work, somebody might have rooted the phone or installed some other roms. But it's highly unlikely if the phone is not bricked.
We all know that quad core phones are under $200 now. Why a dual core? It's 4G. Moto G don't support 4G. T-Mobile may still have the $30 plan with 5Gb of 4G data and otherwise unlimited. With 4G data you can also setup a VOIP line and talk for 2c a minute. This phone is suitable for no contract on a budget plan. It doesn't make sense for contracts when the payment is spread over 2 years - in this case the M8 make more sense.
The other important thing is HD Voice. All the HTC One series of phones support HD Voice, including the V and the X. But I can't find information on the VX. It would be strange if the VX is the exception. HD Voice compared to mobile phone voice is like DVD versus 1080p HD.
The screen resolution is so so at qHD - 540 pix. You have HD 720 or FHD 1080 nowadays. I'm quite happy with my older qHD phone for apps so I can live with it. It plays movie alright and I don't watch that much on it.
The cam isn't that high resolution at 5 MP. But that would be more than sufficient on any display unless you want to print hard copies. I haven't done that for ages except when my kids have to do homework. You can make 1080p video and take pictures at the same time. To make up for the lower resolution I suppose. The phone is definitely not for selfies at 0.3 MP. I don't like mirrors as much as I don't like selfies.
If you or your kids have tight pockets, this is it. I also think it's hard to make a dent anywhere and hard to slip from your grip.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2014
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2014
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2014
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2014
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2014
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2014
