HTC Sensation Announced at London Event: The Phone You Knew as Pyramid

The HTC Sensation is now official. The 4.3 inch qHD display is just one of many high-end features on HTC’s newest smartphone that we have been following under its codename, the HTC Pyramid.

We knew this was going to be a powerhouse, and it should live up to the expectations. This is a dual core 1.2 GHz smartphone, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon MSM8260. This is Qualcomm’s first dual c0re Snapdragon System on a Chip (SoC), but we have previously seen this chip in the recently announced HTC EVO 3D. The phone will be available on T-Mobile in the US and on Vodafone in Europe, as well as in Asia on carriers to be determined. T-Mobile will market it as the HTC Sensation 4G (I would have expected the T-Mobile Sensation 4G, actually) using their HSPA+ network.

HTC Sensation, The Specs!

Here are the specs we now can confirm:

Android OS 2.3.3 (Gingerbread, latest release)
Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8260 dual core processor, 1.2 GHz
768 MB RAM
1 GB ROM
microSD card slot
960 x 540 qHD display, 4.3 inches, with contoured glass
8-megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus, includes dual-LED flash
1080p Full HD video capture, complete with stereo sound
VGA front-facing camera
HSPA/WCDMA
Quadband GSM
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 3.0
3.5 mm headphone socket
microUSB port, HDMI output with MHL support (optional dongle required)
GPS/AGPS
Gyroscope and G-sensor
Digital compass
Proximity sensor
Ambient light sensor
Aluminum chassis
126.1 x 65.4 x 11.3 mm
148 g weight
1,520 mAh battery

But Wait, There’s More!

The phone will have the latest iteration of HTC’s Sense UI, improved camera software, and HTC Watch, a new mobile movie-viewing service. Its lockscreen will have four customizable shortcut slots where you can specify which app to jump to when you unlock the phone, and real-time social media widgets on the lockscreen will allow you to follow status updates, photos, weather or stock market quotes. There is both an Instant Capture feature on the camera and a Video Trimmer app that allows you to edit video clips you take with the HTC Sensation.

Expect to see the HTC Sensation for sale in May or June.

Full press release follows:

HTC UNVEILS MULTIMEDIA SUPERPHONE, THE HTC SENSATIONâ„¢

HTC continues to introduce advanced entertainment capabilities with the introduction of HTC Watch on the HTC Sensation LONDON – April 12, 2011 – HTC Corporation, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today introduced the HTC Sensation, a smartphone that shines a spotlight on entertainment with HTC’s new HTC Watchâ„¢ video service. Crafted with premium design elements, the HTC Sensation features the company’s latest HTC Senseâ„¢ experience that puts people at the center by making their smartphones work in a more simple and natural way. “Smartphones have evolved into pocket-sized entertainment centers that enable people to take their favorite content with them wherever they go,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “The HTC Sensation takes this even further by combining the great new HTC Watch entertainment experience with the latest HTC Sense experience to deliver a powerful, evolved multimedia smartphone to our customers.” “The HTC Sensation integrates multimedia content with relevant, thoughtful features, bringing an exciting new dimension to Vodafone’s smartphone range. The HTC Sensation will be available first in key Vodafone markets from Q2,” said Patrick Chomet, Vodafone’s Group Terminals Director. “The strength of Vodafone and HTC’s partnership is a marker of our commitment to offer our customers truly compelling and market-leading mobile experiences.”

Premium Design and Materials

Tapping into HTC’s trademark design language, the HTC Sensation’s premium look and feel is enhanced by its rounded edges, aluminum unibody construction and the touch screen surface is protected by a contoured screen that feels more natural as a finger is glided across it. The 4.3-inch qHD display delivers high-resolution widescreen viewing and gives the HTC Sensation slender proportions that feel natural in a person’s hand. At the heart of the HTC Sensation beats a powerful, 1.2-gigahertz dual-core Qualcomm® Snapdragonâ„¢ processor, which enables gorgeous graphics and all-around fast performance.

HTC Sense

Complementing the HTC Sensation’s premium design is the latest HTC Sense experience that boasts a host of new features and enhancements, helping people to have more fun and get more done. For instance, HTC Sense introduces a customizable active lockscreen experience that transforms the lockscreen into a real-time window to the most important information and content, such as social updates, photos, weather or stock updates that are viewed by simply turning on the display. In addition, the new active lockscreen becomes a customizable gateway that lets people quickly jump to the most used features, like making a phone call, sending an email, taking a picture or anything else with the same quick gesture usually used to unlock the phone. For instance, the camera can be launched right from the lock screen with a single motion, saving precious seconds when you’re trying to capture the action. Sharper graphics, vibrant animations and new widgets make HTC Sense look better than ever and, by continuing to focus on all of the aspects, both large and small, that make HTC Sense special, HTC introduces a more cinematic and immersive weather experience with stunning imagery and audible weather effects. HTC Sense also makes it easy to have fun by enabling people to capture and share special moments. The HTC Sensation’s 8-megapixel camera doesn’t just shoot gorgeous photos but, with the new instant capture feature, lets people capture the moments they want without worrying about missing or keeping up with the action. The HTC Sensation also shoots full HD video in 1080p resolution, with full stereo sound, at up to 30 frames a second, giving you smooth video that is better than many other phones. With the new Video Trimmer tool, people can crop their clips to the perfect size for easy sharing with friends and family.

HTC Watch

The HTC Sensation is a smartphone that is built from the ground up for a sophisticated, evolved multimedia experience. The 4.3″ widescreen display means that users can watch movies like they were meant to be seen – in their full cinematic glory, with no cropping or letterboxing. The HTC Sensation is also the first smartphone to feature HTC Watch – an application and service that puts an entire library of the latest, premium movies and TV shows right at your fingertips, letting people discover the latest video content in an easy and visually engaging way. HTC Watch uses progressive download technology that makes it possible to watch videos without waiting for a huge file to finish downloading. HTC Watch offers the choice of renting or buying videos, and if purchased, lets you watch them on up to five different HTC devices.

Availability

The HTC Sensation will be broadly available through Vodafone across major European markets. It will also be available in Asian markets in Q2 2011.