HTC has made a subtle entrance back into the smartphone market with the release of the Wildfire E5 Plus, an affordable Android device. Despite the launch, HTC’s presence in the industry has drastically diminished over the years, as the company now typically produces only one or two phones annually. This new model is one of the few offered by HTC and reflects their shift towards more budget-friendly options. After transferring its mobile division to Google, HTC has increasingly relied on Chinese Original Device Manufacturers (ODMs), making the Wildfire E5 Plus not an entirely original creation.
While it has a respectable design for a budget phone, it’s essential to note that similar devices are available globally at even lower prices, posing a challenge for HTC to distinguish the Wildfire E5 Plus from its competitors. The phone was first launched in Vietnam at an attractive price point of approximately $95. While this makes it an appealing choice for bargain-seeking consumers, many potential buyers may prioritize cost over features, such as camera quality. The Wildfire E5 Plus includes a dual-camera setup with a 50-megapixel main lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, alongside a 16-megapixel front-facing camera.
It runs on a 1.6 GHz Unisoc T606 chipset, which is sufficient for basic tasks. In terms of specifications, the device boasts 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD. It features a large 6.75-inch display with HD+ resolution and a 90 Hz refresh rate, providing decent multimedia experiences. The 5,000 mAh battery ensures prolonged usage, although it ships with the older Android 14 operating system.
Potential software updates remain uncertain, but given its low cost, software support may not be high on consumers’ priorities. Lastly, the Wildfire E5 Plus doesn’t support 5G, but it does offer fingerprint sensor and face recognition capabilities, available in blue and gray colors.