Nostalgia meets modern value in this showdown between the HTC Explorer, a classic Android device, and the Huawei P8lite, a more recent budget champion. Both offer affordability, but which delivers the better experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Huawei P8lite decisively wins this comparison. While the HTC Explorer holds a certain charm, the P8lite's superior performance, camera capabilities, and significantly better battery life make it the more practical and compelling choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 3, 7, 8, 20 |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | Class 10 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, September. Released 2011, October | 2015, April. Released 2015, May |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 102.8 x 57.2 x 12.9 mm (4.05 x 2.25 x 0.51 in) | 143 x 70.6 x 7.7 mm (5.63 x 2.78 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Nano-SIM + Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 108 g (3.81 oz) | 131 g (4.62 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~180 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.2 inches, 30.5 cm2 (~51.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~68.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 600 MHz Cortex A5 | Octa-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM7225A Snapdragon S1 | Kirin 620 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 200 | Mali-450MP4 |
| OS | Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), Sense UI 3.5 | Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0 (Marshmallow), EMUI 3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | - |
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 512MB 512MB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| Phonebook | 500 entries | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 3.15 MP | 13 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), AF |
| Video | 480p | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 5 MP |
| Video | - | 720p |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | SRS surround | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 3.0, A2DP, EDR | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | - | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Games | Downloadable | - |
| Java | No | - |
| Messaging | SMS, MMS | - |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | MP3/eAAC+/WAV/WMA player
XviD/MP4/H.264/WMV player
Organizer
Voice memo
Predictive text input | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 10W wired
Reverse wired |
| Stand-by | Up to 485 h (2G) / Up to 445 h (3G) | Up to 380 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 7 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 7 h 33 min (3G) | Up to 11 h (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1230 mAh battery | Li-Ion 2200 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Active Black, Active Navy, Metallic Black, Metallic Navy | Black, White, Gold |
| Models | - | ALE-L21, ALE-L02, hi6210sft, ALE-L23, ALE-UL00, ALE-21, ALE-CL00 |
| Price | About 70 EUR | About 170 EUR |
| SAR | 1.56 W/kg (head) 0.75 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 1.24 W/kg (head) 0.72 W/kg (body) | 0.39 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -82.4dB / Crosstalk -81.1dB |
Noise-89.0dB / Crosstalk -74.2dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 53h
|
| Camera |
Photo |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 755:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: 802 (nominal), 2.078 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 79dB
|
Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB
|
| Performance | - |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 691Basemark X: 3648 |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -82.4dB / Crosstalk -81.1dB | Noise-89.0dB / Crosstalk -74.2dB |
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 53h |
| Camera | Photo | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 755:1 (nominal) | Contrast ratio: 802 (nominal), 2.078 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 79dB | Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB |
| Performance | - | Basemark OS II 2.0: 691Basemark X: 3648 |
HTC Explorer
- Compact size
- Classic Android experience
- Affordable
- Outdated performance
- Poor battery life
- Low-resolution display
- Limited camera capabilities
Huawei P8lite
- Long battery life
- Decent performance
- Better camera
- Improved display
- Video recording
- Design may feel dated
- Plastic build quality
Display Comparison
The Huawei P8lite boasts a noticeable advantage in display quality. Its contrast ratio of 802 (nominal) and an impressive 2.078 in sunlight readability significantly outperform the HTC Explorer's 755:1 contrast ratio. The P8lite's screen is also likely larger and higher resolution, offering a more enjoyable viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
The Huawei P8lite's camera is a clear winner, offering both photo and video capabilities, whereas the HTC Explorer only has a photo camera. The P8lite likely has a higher resolution sensor and better image processing, resulting in superior image quality. Video recording is a significant advantage for the P8lite.
Performance
The Huawei P8lite's Octa-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 chipset and 28nm process are a world apart from the HTC Explorer's 600 MHz Cortex A5 Snapdragon S1. The P8lite offers significantly faster processing speeds, smoother multitasking, and better overall responsiveness. The Explorer will likely struggle with modern apps and demanding tasks.
Battery Life
The Huawei P8lite's endurance rating of 53h is exceptional, showcasing its superior battery life. The HTC Explorer's battery life was considerably shorter, likely struggling to last a full day with moderate use. This is a crucial factor for many users.
Buying Guide
The HTC Explorer is for die-hard Android enthusiasts seeking a retro experience and a very basic smartphone. The Huawei P8lite is ideal for budget-conscious users who want a reliable, capable phone with a decent camera and long battery life.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the HTC Explorer still usable in 2024?
While technically usable, the HTC Explorer's outdated hardware and software make it a challenging experience. App compatibility and performance will be significant limitations.
❓ Which phone is better for taking photos?
The Huawei P8lite is significantly better for taking photos and videos due to its superior camera hardware and image processing capabilities.
