HTC First
Key specs
Critic consensus
“There is hardly a smartphone, which matches the HTC First's talents completely. The so-called Facebook phone, despite some of its limitations, is a perfect fit for anyone who thinks that an Android smartphone with a screen larger than 4.5 is going too far. It is therefore, the sidekick, which perfectly complements the HTC One flagship.”
“Basically, if you're the type of person who thinks that Facebook is the most important part of the internet or, well, anything, the HTC First might be worth a look. For the rest of us, it's more difficult. The fact that the First runs stock Jelly Bean makes it very attractive to those of us who like our Android as pure as possible, but it's not exactly like you're getting a Nexus.”
“Aside from its low price tag, the First's other big selling point is its deep integration with Facebook Home. Facebook Home is available for download on a handful of other Android handsets, but HTC worked closely with Facebook to optimize the launcher for the First. Notifications from third-party apps show up on the home screen alongside Facebook notifications, and the app ran surprisingly well on the First's dual-core 1.4GHz Snapdragon processor.”
“The HTC First is a mid-range phone at best, and we’ve made that clear throughout the review. But that’s not to say the specs here aren’t plenty enough to handle what Facebook Home or stock Android has to throw at it. The HTC First is incredibly snappy, handling most tasks with ease. The cameras need improvement given the social nature of this phone, but they do get by.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
Releasing a dedicated “Facebook phone” isn’t entirely new to HTC but the HTC First is definitely the first smartphone to come with the Facebook Home Launcher. According to Steve Kovach of Business Insider, “You can argue about technicalities all you want, but the HTC First is the first real Facebook phone.”
For those unfamiliar with the “Home” feature, think of it as a visual slideshow of status updates and photos from your Facebook news feed. This Facebook “in your face” experience will appeal to some but as Armando Rodriguez of PC Advisor put it, “Doing anything that wasn’t related to Facebook, such as playing music or browsing for apps, took more effort than it did on other smartphones.”
Note: If you don’t want FB Home, you can turn it off and run the stock Android 4.1, also known as Jelly Bean.
Categorized as a mid-range handset, the First comes with modest hardware but most reviewers report that it still performs smoothly. Unfortunately there is not much storage space for photos or videos and the lack of expandable memory aggravates this. Experts also agreed that the camera was a weak point on the phone, with pictures coming out a bit soft and blurry.
The HTC First is not for everyone, but if want an affordable mid-range smartphone it’s probably a good choice, especially for Facebook addicts.
The Good: Affordable price tag and performs well despite modest specs.
The Bad: Minimal storage with no option to expand and the camera is a letdown.
What people actually want to know
When was the HTC First released?
The HTC First was released on April 12, 2013.
How long does the battery last on the HTC First?
The HTC First has a 2,000 mAh battery.
Does the HTC First support wireless charging?
No, the HTC First does not support wireless charging.
Does the HTC First have a headphone jack?
Yes, the HTC First has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the HTC First have NFC?
Yes, the HTC First has NFC. You can use Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pair with Bluetooth accessories.
Where can I get support for the HTC First?
Visit HTC's official support page for warranty info, repairs, and troubleshooting.
Where can I download the HTC First manual?
You can view and download the HTC First manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
Have a question about the HTC First? Ask it here and we'll email you as soon as someone answers. Readers have answered 5,000 questions across PhoneCompass.
Finish the security check above to post your question.
Your name shows with your question.
✓ Question submitted. We'll notify you when someone answers.
We sent a verification link to . Click it to publish your question.
Can't find it? Check your spam folder.
New phones, honest scores.
One email when something worth knowing changes. No deal spam, no filler.