Sprint released their first Android device, the HTC Hero, on October 11, 2009. The phone's exterior was redesigned after HTC released a similar model (G2 Touch) in Europe. The HTC Droid Eris on the Verizon network is also a modification of the Hero. With rebates and a two-year service agreement the Hero launched at $179.99.
"That, with the solid showing of Sprint’s EVDO Rev.A networking and the UI improvements of HTC Sense, are enough to convince us that if you’re in the market for a US Android device right now, the Hero is the one to have."
"The princess might not kiss this Hero because it's kinda ugly, but at least it'll actually get the job done now. If you've been waiting for an Android phone not on T-Mobile, or one that's finally just about ready for primetime, this is it."
"It was written that a great Hero would rise from the East. He would be clothed in the sun and his unique user-interface would redefine the user experience for countless fans of social networking and his majesty would reign over all over Android phones forever. That Hero is here, and he’s on Sprint."
"While it could use a boost in the performance department, the HTC Hero is the most feature-packed Google Android device to date, bringing some notable improvements and a highly customizable interface."
"HTC's customized Android is a joy to use: it's fun, efficient, full-featured and highly customizable. The phone is responsive (though it needs a reboot every 3 days or so to keep things moving quickly) and it has one of the best web browsers on a smartphone. The capacitive 3.2" display is sharp and we love the multi-touch feature when zooming in on web pages."