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With its 4.3-inch screen against a black exterior, many know the HTC Evo 4G smartphone from Sprint as a large, dark cell phone. That’s going to change soon.
For folks who like a lighter colored phone, Best Buy will begin selling the popular Android 2.1-based smartphone in white July 11, according to gadget blog Engadget, which got the scoop.
Best Buy confirmed the news in a press release June 18, noting that it will sell the Evo 4G in white on an exclusive basis through its Best Buy Mobile unit in Best Buy retail stores.
That means Sprint, Radio Shack and Wal-Mart, which all began selling the device June 4 for $199 ($100 mail-in rebate) with a two-year contract, won’t get to offer the white Evo 4G right away.
Engadget said Sprint will eventually be able to sell the white unit Aug. 8, with other retailers snapping it up in September.
Best Buy is taking preorders for the white version of the device now before launching in all Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores and BestBuy.com/Mobile on July 11.
Like the black model, the white unit costs $199.99 for a new or eligible upgrade with a new two-year agreement on select plan with Premium Data add-on.
Powered by a 1 GHz processor and running HTC’s Sense user interface, the Evo 4G has been one of the best-selling smartphones ever for Sprint.
Just how well the device did is unclear. The carrier originally said the device outsold the Palm Pre and Samsung Instinct, but recanted that statement, saying it was in-line with the sales of those phones.
Features such as the 8-megapixel camera, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera for video chat and the WiFi hotspot, which lets users enjoy 4G or 3G connectivity to up to eight other devices, are drawing users.