Currently, an increasing number of smartphone consumers is seen worldwide, with many brands catering to this market. According to an industry report, the best-selling model in the second quarter of 2010 was the HTC Desire. While its features certainly support this finding, not a lot of users can afford this particular device.

As a result, HTC has released the Wildfire which performs equally well as the Desire. On hand for almost 50% less, this gadget has not only perked the interest of many people, but has already given phones from other top companies a run for their money.

With a huge disparity in display prices, many are comparing these two models in terms of features that were compromised for the Wildfire to be less expensive. Surprisingly, what made the HTC Desire a huge hit among consumers is still present in its successor.

In terms of aesthetics, the Wildfire looks chic and durable. Its structure feels sturdy as well. Even if the screen measures at only 3.2 inches, it is still levels higher when it comes to quality compared to its competitors within the price range. It also comes in a variety of colors, including white, red, graphite and black.

Bigger than the Palm Pre and about similar in size as the Nokia 5800, it is however not on par when it comes to screen resolution. It then compensates by providing touchscreen functions that are quick to respond to finger movements.

The internal processing speed is at 529MHz, which is also the processor adopted in the HTC Hero. It isn’t as quick as that of Desire’s but performs well nonetheless. The latest version of Android 2.1 (Eclair) with HTC Sense is installed as the operating system. This allows for access to a wide range of applications and games on the Android Market, which is growing in number and will soon be comparable to that of Apple’s App Store.

The HTC Sense allows for a smooth-looking user interface for the programs that a user can download, which surely will be plenty. One can choose seven of the most important or used apps for the home screen which will be shown in thumbnails. A simple pinch on the screen will activate Leap View, which presents these seven options at once, in case the number of applications gets to confusing to remember.

Stay up-to-date with the worldwide breaking news with a dedicated News App. The Friends Stream program combines the latest photos on Flickr, tweets and Facebook status updates from your friends all in one window. A new and revolutionary caller ID system provides the user with the phonebook contact’s photo and status update when he or she calls. A birthday is never forgotten as this is displayed as well. These enhancements in the Android sector are making HTC a top industry leader.

The company has also equipped the Wildfire with a GPS receiver. Other value-added features embedded in this include HTC Footprints, Google Maps, geo-tagging of data and a digital compass.

Connectivity is also a winner, with web browsing possible through 3G HSPA. As such, the download speed reaches 7.2mbps, comparable to that from a broadband provider. Faster browsing capability is also available, with its internal Wi-Fi support.

The web browser has flash capabilities, which is not found on the iPhone. The window can also be changed from a landscape to portrait orientation with a move of the phone.

In addition, this model scores high on multimedia options. For taking quick snapshots when a digital camera is not within reach, an integrated 5-megapixel camera will do the trick. It has flash for low-light situations and autofocus to minimize shakes and blurs. Besides a phone, this device can also function as a portable music player that can support most of the usual formats. When tired of listening to the same songs over and over again, access to FM radio stations is possible.

A full memory will be a thing of the past with its 384MB RAM, perfect for those who save a lot of media on the phone. This capability can be expanded up to 32GB with a microSD card. If still this occurs, transfer of data is easier with Bluetooth and integrated USB sockets.

It utilizes a 1300mAh Lithium-ion battery which allows for longer usage time which allows for smooth operations.

With these features and advantages, it will not come as much as a surprise when this becomes a huge hit among the mass market.

If you are looking to upgrade your HTC to the latest handset or just want to get rid of your handset then check out the mobile phone recycling options that are available to you, allowing you to get cash for mobiles at the click of a button.