• Facebook integration: Straight out the box, the Status automatically throws you into the social media universe—taking your Facebook (and Google) account information and merging all contacts before bringing you to the homescreen. A handful of shortcuts are available, with the “F” button at the bottom of the phone serving as the fastest option to post or upload images onto someone’s Facebook wall. Holding it down opens Facebook Places and lets you check in and share recently visited locations. HTC also introduces a new Facebook Chat widget that allows you to chop it up with online friends and displays conversations in an open thread. The popular FriendStream widget is still present, as well as the regular Facebook widget and app.
• The network's best keyboard phone: History's proven that the greatest messaging phones have always donned great keyboards. Add the HTC Status to the list. Not since the Sidekick 4G have we experienced such a comfortable, solid, and well-spaced QWERTY keyboard. Tactile feedback is on the money and the large oval buttons provide better typing efficiency. The addition of D-pad navigational keys, along with shortcut keys for camera mode and voice activation are a plus.
• Gingerbread and customized Sense UI: Google proves you don’t have to own the most powerful smartphone to bask in the sweetness of Gingerbread. Users can enjoy new features like enhanced animations, one-touch text selection, voice commands, and a power management app. In addition, HTC has modified its Sense 3.0 interface to accommodate FB users, as we mentioned with the Chat widget. Other than that, the UI flaunts the same customizable shortcut unlock screen found on other heavyweight phones like the Sensation 4G.
• Speedy performance: As spoiled dual-core enthusiasts, we were shocked by how speedy the Status’ 800MHz chip performed. The phone does a great job with multitasking and showed no signs of lag, even after we had up to 10 programs running in the background. One-touch commands were accurate and apps launched immediately as well. But what impressed us most was how quick the phone powered on and off, which was no more than 10 seconds and no less than five. Other HTC phones with stronger processors (the EVO 3D) took twice as long to do either.
• Affordable price tag: A Gingerbread-ready phone with awesome social networking features for only $50? Duh, winning!