The Desire 820 is HTC’s new 64-bit mid-range flagship phone

The Desire 816, introduced at MWC in February of this year, has been one of HTC’s unheralded successes. Featuring bold bright colors, the company’s signature BoomSound speakers, and a generously proportioned 5.5-inch screen, it appealed to the more budget-conscious buyers eager to have a big entertainment device while on the move. HTC is sticking close to that winning formula today with the introduction of the new Desire 820. It still measures 5.5 inches across, it still has a 720p resolution, and its rear camera still uses a 13-megapixel sensor. And yes, the bold colors are back and bolder than ever. What makes the Desire 820 different, however, is that it’s among the first Android devices to ship with a 64-bit-capable processor — Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 615 — which will be supported by the upcoming release of Android L. That may or may not make a difference in performance during the phone’s lifetime, but it’s a nice step en route to making even smarter and more capable chips.