Word has gotten out that what’s causing one delay after another on the launch of the HTC Thunderbolt is poor battery life and HTCs frustrations with finding a way to fix it. Benchmarks at HTC are rumored to indicate that the best they’ve been able to do is three to four hours of battery life running the LTE/4G connectivity. Being that LTE is the hallmark of the Thunderbolt’s performance, that simply will not do, so the Thunderbolt is delayed. AGAIN.

Running a 4.3″ screen and 4G/LTE speeds, the phone is bound to have a battery challenge. But in today’s mobile culture, users want a phone that can last the day. That’s a must. Talk is that HTC is already planning a firmware update to correct any battery deficiency. But if they’re having trouble working around the battery life issue, who knows when that update will be coming out. And about the only light at the end of this tunnel is the news that HTC may be dropping the price from $749, to $699 when it does actually come out.

[via Droid Life]

45 COMMENTS

  1. I agree with fact. Every report on the device is that it has been delayed. I have yet to hear anything official from Verizon or HTC. Has anyone every thought that maybe “reliable sources” aren’t so reliable?

  2. I agree with fact. Every report on the device is that it has been delayed. I have yet to hear anything official from Verizon or HTC. Has anyone every thought that maybe “reliable sources” aren’t so reliable?

  3. Rumor is that they have fixed the battery issue and given the phone the green light to be sold. Chances are it won’t be here by this thursday though, so i expect it will come on the 10th, because that is the next thursday.

  4. Rumor is that they have fixed the battery issue and given the phone the green light to be sold. Chances are it won’t be here by this thursday though, so i expect it will come on the 10th, because that is the next thursday.

  5. Rumor is that they have fixed the battery issue and given the phone the green light to be sold. Chances are it won’t be here by this thursday though, so i expect it will come on the 10th, because that is the next thursday.

  6. Rumor is that they have fixed the battery issue and given the phone the green light to be sold. Chances are it won’t be here by this thursday though, so i expect it will come on the 10th, because that is the next thursday.

  7. Rumor is that they have fixed the battery issue and given the phone the green light to be sold. Chances are it won’t be here by this thursday though, so i expect it will come on the 10th, because that is the next thursday.

  8. Rumor is that they have fixed the battery issue and given the phone the green light to be sold. Chances are it won’t be here by this thursday though, so i expect it will come on the 10th, because that is the next thursday.

  9. Yeah, it sucks more for those of us who don’t live in an area with LTE coverage. Some of us just want a good, new phone, rather than something that’s already been out for a year.

  10. Whoever wrote this article needs to catch up. Reports came in early this morning that the firmware update was finished and the phone is ready to ship. Slacker ass website.

    • i want to know where this report you speak of came out. A friend of mine, employee of a local verizon, said to expect the phone in stores March 10th. whether or not that is accurate or not, its more than likely a March 10th release or later, than March 10th or sooner.

  11. To be taken with a grain of salt…

    I went today to my local Best Buy (Secaucus NJ) and got back the money I paid for pre-ordering the Thunderbolt. I’m tired of this BS and whenever it comes out, I’ll get it, and god knows when that’s gonna be. The rep at the store claims that a regional Verizon bigwig had been in the store earlier, and said the phone will be released this Thursday the 3rd. I really hope that’s the case, but I’m not holding my breathe. Like I said, when it’s released, I’ll go get it. I just can’t believe that neither Verizon or HTC can give their customers a straight answer…

  12. From Verizon Wireless facebook site today:

    Verizon Wireless
    Hey fans, we appreciate all the excitement about the anticipated launch of the ThunderBolt by HTC. We’re excited too! Verizon 4G LTE is America’s fastest, most advanced 4G network & we want to ensure the advanced technology behind our first 4G LTE phone is flawless. We will announce its release date as soon as it is confirmed. Thanks for your support & patience while we work to bring you the ThunderBolt by HTC.7 hours ago

  13. From Verizon Wireless facebook site today:

    Verizon Wireless
    Hey fans, we appreciate all the excitement about the anticipated launch of the ThunderBolt by HTC. We’re excited too! Verizon 4G LTE is America’s fastest, most advanced 4G network & we want to ensure the advanced technology behind our first 4G LTE phone is flawless. We will announce its release date as soon as it is confirmed. Thanks for your support & patience while we work to bring you the ThunderBolt by HTC.7 hours ago

  14. I went to the local verizon store to ask about the iphone 4. They said they won’t get shipments of more iphones till this wednesday, the 2nd, or thursday the 3rd. So, I asked about the thunderbolt and they wouldn’t give me the launch date but said “we get orders for every phone in the same shipment, and the shipments only come every 2-3 weeks.”

  15. I went to the local verizon store to ask about the iphone 4. They said they won’t get shipments of more iphones till this wednesday, the 2nd, or thursday the 3rd. So, I asked about the thunderbolt and they wouldn’t give me the launch date but said “we get orders for every phone in the same shipment, and the shipments only come every 2-3 weeks.”

  16. I don’t know much about the mobile industry, but I do work in marketing. My question, is how on earth did HTC get this far along in the “launch process” and then come to the realization that the battery sucked? Isn’t that something that should have been tested, tweaked and fixed a long time ago in order to meet a specific launch date?

    • I have never seen the launch date by Verizon or HTC in writing. I think it says either coming soon or nothing at all about the launch date. I think I would rather have the phone working than in my hands sooner and have the battery dead by lunch.

  17. The obvious fix would be a higher capacity battery – 1450mah is just not enough for this device. Of course, that would require a redesign which HTC is unlikely to do. It reminds me of Apple and their issues with the antennae and the proximity sensor. (BTW, iOS and firmware updates didn’t fix those problems either!) Too bad because it otherwise looks like a great phone.

  18. It shouldn’t be a BIG surprised to anyone Thunderbolt will have a shorter battery life than most superphones out there. Best solution for Verizon/HTC is to include a second battery and battery charger. I don’t mind swapping out the battery.

  19. I’ve been waiting for this Piece of crap— but because it IS apparently a piece of crap.. I’m outa here now.

    See for the Thunderbolt II.. when they’ve worked out the kinks.

    BYE!

  20. Everyone please remain patient, the phone is coming no later than this month. Local verizon stores have stated to expect the HTC Thunderbolt to arrive in stores by Thursday March 10th. This gives both Verizon and HTC enough time to fix, via firmware, the battery life, as well as get it ready for shipment. You heard it here first, your source for all the hottest Gadgets!

  21. Everyone please remain patient, the phone is coming no later than this month. Local verizon stores have stated to expect the HTC Thunderbolt to arrive in stores by Thursday March 10th. This gives both Verizon and HTC enough time to fix, via firmware, the battery life, as well as get it ready for shipment. You heard it here first, your source for all the hottest Gadgets!

  22. I can tell you when I went into my local Verizon store outside of Charlotte, NC to inquire about buying my first smart phone on Friday, Feb. 25th, the rep there told me all about the Thunderbolt and convinced me to put down a deposit saying it would be in on Tuesday March 1st…no ifs, ands or buts about it. I went by today after reading online about the delays and suggested firing that rep for promising something that obviously was not true…very unhappy with Verizon at the moment!

  23. My HTC Droid Incredible has a shattered screen and I need a phone, to wait for the thunderbolt release and now acknowledging the problem with its battery sucks pretty bad.

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