HTC Flyer
Key specs
Critic consensus
“That’s that then. One of the most unique Android tablets out there - the HTC Flyer. It does well - even without the all-important dual-core processor and cream-of-the-crop Honeycomb OS. The thing that sets it apart from most tablets, is the HTC Sense topping and the HTC Scribe technology. This is as close to unique as it gets for the Flyer. In all other aspects a rival tablet can be found to top it - speed, display, imaging, body size and weight, and price. So this tablet is one that comes with a few compromises. You can do better – and it doesn’t even depend on the amount of cash you have at your disposal.”
“In reality, we’re not all that concerned that HTC decided to move forward with having Gingerbread on board with the Flyer as opposed to Honeycomb – mainly because they did a fantastic job with Sense running on top of it. Undeniably, we love how they carefully thought out the interface and its many core apps to make the experience ideal for tablet usage. Moreover, we don’t miss the fact that its sporting a single-core processor, rather than the usual dual-core one that's becoming more prevalent – albeit, it’s worth noting that it’s clocked in higher than most others. Even though it’s targeted for a specific niche, the Magic Pen stylus adds some functionality that provides some differentiation against the competition. Finally, it’s the best-looking and constructed 7-inch tablet we’ve seen thus far. It even rivals the iPad 2 in terms of premium feel.”
“There are a couple of particular reasons why you might want to pick up the HTC Flyer, including the pen, but it simply isn't that good a tablet. It's missing some media features we've come to expect, it's expensive, it has relatively poor battery life and it doesn't have software suited to a tablet. If this had come late last year, we'd probably be raving about it, but things have moved on, and we have to recommend an Android 3.0 tablet or the iPad 2 over it.”
“We truly enjoyed our time with the Flyer and will regret to see it depart our testing nest. It's a fine tablet pointing to a bright future for HTC's newly expanded mobile device range. We'd probably advise waiting until the next generation to see prices reduced to saner levels and refinements made on the software front, but that's true of any device ever built. The Flyer will find a market for itself, and there'll be a group of very satisfied users for whom it'll provide a unique blend of functionality. You'll just have to carefully consider your mobile computing needs and how well they mesh with what HTC has to offer.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
The Flyer represents mobile phone maker HTC’s initial foray into the ever-expanding tablet market. Released in May of 2011, the tablet departs from many of its competitors in some very important ways that some consumers may find worthwhile, but others may turn their nose at.
Considered a compact tablet, the Flyer features a 7-inch TFT LCD multi-touch screen that boasts a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, which is fairly standard for its size. The display is bright and responsive, providing smooth video playback and true-to-life color reproduction. The body of the device is constructed of lightweight aluminum, which provides a protective shell and looks really snazzy at the same time.
While the screen seems to be a standard multi-touch display, the Flyer also integrates pressure-sensitive input via a pen-like stylus, allowing users to take notes, draw, and mark up documents. The tablet features HTC’s proprietary Scribe technology that is fine-tuned enough to easily recognize handwriting or allow users to touch up photos.
Behind the snazzy exterior, the Flyer turns away from conventional tablet design again by running a 1.5 GHz single-core processor coupled with its 1 GB of RAM, rather than the 1 GHz dual-core processors at the heart of many of its competitors. The tradeoff may not have paid off, as the tablet feels somewhat underpowered at times. Tasks as seemingly simple as scrolling through menus in the user interface (UI) can be slow and choppy.
Another departure from the growing norm is its operating system. Rather than opting for Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) as many competitors have done, the Flyer instead runs a modified Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) operating system. The upside is that the system software is completely familiar to users of with HTC’s latest generation of smartphones, and it can use all of the most popular Android applications. The downside is that the Flyer does not feature any of the Honeycomb-specific software that is optimized for the tablet platform.
Despite these key differences, the Flyer does feature many conventions that are pretty much standard in the tablet market. It includes built-in WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, 32 GB of internal storage expandable through an external microSD slot, a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera. The internal battery provides up to 4 hours of video playback, and a combination jack provides USB access and HDMI output to televisions.
Need to Know: HTC Flyer
1. The integration of pressure-sensitive digital pen input is a key feature that has been sorely missing from the tablet market. (The Good)
2. The tablet seems underpowered, making simple tasks such as navigating the UI feel like a chore at times. (The Bad)
3. The Gingerbread OS makes the tablet a bit friendlier to users already familiar with Android phones and ensures complete compatibility with the most popular applications available in the market. (The Good)
4. If an upgrade to Honeycomb becomes available in the future (as planned), users may find that many of their current apps do not function properly (or at all) under the new OS. (The Bad)
What people actually want to know
When was the HTC Flyer released?
The HTC Flyer was released on May 13, 2011.
How long does the battery last on the HTC Flyer?
The HTC Flyer has a 4,000 mAh battery.
Does the HTC Flyer have a headphone jack?
Yes, the HTC Flyer has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Where can I get support for the HTC Flyer?
Visit HTC's official support page for warranty info, repairs, and troubleshooting.
Where can I download the HTC Flyer manual?
You can view and download the HTC Flyer manual on our dedicated manual page.
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