RRP: $0 on Telstra $79 Freedom Connect Plan

Specs:

- First 4G LTE smartphone in Australia

- 4.5-inch qHD touchscreen

- 16GB built-in storage

- 8-megapixel camera

The Verdict:

The HTC Velocity 4G doesn’t claim to be the thinnest or lightest and it doesn’t boast the biggest screen or fastest processor, but what it does promise is speed.

A landmark handset inAustralia, the Velocity 4G is like no other phone on the local market.

While 4G coverage is hardly widespread, if you live within 5km of the CBD or in a variety of other coverage areas, the speed of Telstra’s 4G network is brilliant. According to our speed tests the Velocity recorded download speeds on average of 26Mbps and upload speeds of about 16Mbps in the TT office, which is roughly 2km outside the Sydney CBD.

One huge advantage of this fast speed is you can actually use it as a home internet connection via wireless hotspot. Obviously this depends on how much data you consume, but in terms of raw performance, the 4G speeds could be suitable for a lot of users.

We tethered the device to our notebook and happily surfed the internet for extended periods without any major slowdown.

While 4G may not be possible for everyone, it is worth mentioning that this is actually the best performing 3G handset available too.

As for the handset, the Velocity is quite large, but has a solid feeling in the hand. The touchscreen is responsive, the qHD display is vibrant and processing power is quick.

The camera was also surprisingly good and performed strongly in low-light conditions.

Overall, the HTC Velocity 4G is a solid handset that is made exceptional thanks to its 4G connectivity. But make sure your customers check they live in a coverage area before purchase.Batterylife is a little disappointing however.

 8.5/10