Review: HTC HD2

I of the more than anticipated Windows phones of the past year has been the HTC HD2. Dissimilar it'southward predecessor, the Affect Hard disk, which never made it to the U.Southward. market, the HD2 is scheduled for release on an as-withal-unannounced U.S. carrier in early 2022, and T-Mobile appears to be the leading candidate.

We've done a hands-on video of the HD2, now here comes the full review of the non-U.S. version. While it's possible the U.S. version of the HD2 won't exist much dissimilar than the overseas model, we tin can't rule out that carriers or HTC won't tweak information technology a little. Keep in mind the version we're reviewing here won't work on U.S. 3G bands.

Design

The start thing that stood out about the HD2 when the outset product shots striking the Tnternet was "that's a big phone!" (And that's a sentiment echoed over again in our third annual Smartphone Round Robin.) When I beginning got my hands on the HD2, my get-go idea was, "what an odd looking camera" (more on this later). The larger footprint of the HD2 also fabricated an impression, but it wasn't as shocking every bit I imagined. I feared it would be dramatically larger than the Touch Pro 2, but the size was  manageable and comfy.

The tale of the record has the HD2 measuring 4.73 inches high, ii.64 inches wide and 0.43 inches in thickness. It weighs 5.54 ounces. Compared to other Windows phones, here'south how the HD2 measures upwardly.

The HD2 is larger than most phones, just it still has a long way to go until information technology reaches tablet PC status. It likewise has a way to go until it reaches the size of the old phones we used to lug effectually. The HD2 has a solid, comfortable feel to information technology.

On the left side of the HD2 you will discover the volume key. There'due south nothing on the right.

The push row at the bottom of the screen has the respond, home, offset, dorsum and end buttons.

While there is no dedicated power button, the end button doubles as a power push button, sleep push and end call button. This layout takes a lilliputian getting used to, especially if you are used to the end push sending you dorsum to the dwelling screen. After a week of using the HD2, I still found myself putting the phone to sleep thinking I was returning to the home screen.

The lesser of the HD2 is fitted with a 3.5mm headphone jack and microUSB sync/accuse port. A 5.0-megapixel photographic camera and flash are on the back of the telephone. Hither is where I think HTC goofed in the design of the HD2.

The camera lens is noticeably raised from the dorsum of the HD2. Initially, information technology stuck out like a sore thumb and while the impact would somewhen diminish, I would have preferred a flush behind to the HD2. It would give the phone a more contoured look and may offer a little more protection to the lens. As is, if dropped, the photographic camera lens could accept the brunt of a fall. That said, it does heighten the phone off the table when it's on its dorsum, then that you can hear the speakerphone.

The HD2 has 512MB of ROM, 448MB RAM and is powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor (more than on that in a minute). It as well has a microSD expansion slot. While "what's under the hood" may exist a metaphor, information technology's non far from the truth with the HD2.  I'm used to a sturdy plastic battery door. But on the HD2, the battery door is metallic and is a petty catchy to remove.

Beneath this "hood" the HD2 is powered by a 1230mAh battery, which at first seemed a little on the weak side. I was surprised that it easily lasted a full solar day with moderate utilize (push button e-mail, vocalism calls, calorie-free Internet surfing), and the Snapdragon processor probable has a lot to do with that. Below the bombardment cover you volition also discover the reset button and microSD card slot.

Screen

The large iv.three-inch capacitive touchscreen is impressive. Screen resolution, (480x800) colors and functioning were infrequent.  While I will agree that capacitive touchscreens are nice, I don't believe they are a necessity. The screen was very responsive, only not much different than the screen on my Tilt2.

I think where yous see the departure between capacitive and resistive screens is in the horizontal and vertical swipes. HTC's custom Sense UI was effortless, and I feel no swipes being confused as taps.  You still have the challenge of large fingers trying to tap pocket-sized targets (e.yard. keyboard keys) on the screen, but nosotros may see that change with Windows Mobile half dozen.5.x.

Capacitive or not, the larger screen brings new life to watching videos, reading e-mails, viewing Web sites and just nigh everything else. Paradigm quality with this screen was spot on.

Software

I don't want to spend besides much fourth dimension on the software this HD2 is running because what volition end up on the U.S. version of the HD2 may be different. The HD2 is fitted with a digital compass application, which likely is a requirement for Windows Mobile 7, making it likely to exist carried over to the U.Southward. model.

The HD2 comes loaded with Windows Mobile 6.v and HTC'due south Sense UI (Manila ii.5.19202525.0 to be exact).  The HD2 has Opera ix, Function Mobile, Google Maps, and the usual apps you'd expect.

The 1GHz Snapdragon processor moves things along nicely. Loading times slight, and multitasking was a breeze. The HD2 did not have HTC's drop down task manager, and then I often forgot I had applications running in the background. Just the HD2 never missed a beat with a half-dozen apps running in the groundwork.

I liked Sense on the HD2 ameliorate than TouchFLO 3D, which is on the Affect Pro 2. It has extra tabs for Twitter interface and Footprint (geotagging photos) tabs. Information technology as well includes animated weather and application launchers on the home tab. (Note that you tin can get this version of Sense in various cooked ROMs for HTC phones.)

While many tin can bask cooked ROMs with this version of Sense, let's hope the Touch Pro two and Touch Diamond 2 lines will see official updates.

GPS

A quick give-and-take on the GPS performance of the HD2: In using Google Maps, from a cold beginning, information technology took the HD2 nearly five minutes to acquire a satellite fix. In the process, the map bounced my location around virtually a 10-mile perimeter until it settled in placing me across the street from my actual location.

From a warm start, information technology took less than a minute to larn a signal and my location movement a piddling more than closer to being accurate. Map refresh rates were slower merely that is likely due to merely getting EDGE download speeds. I don't know if the odd beliefs is due to the non-U.S. branding or the clouded skies nowadays when I tested the GPS.

Photographic camera

No complaints here. The 5.0-megapixel, variable focus camera is among the best I've tested on a phone. Image quality was skilful, with only a footling softness detected (probable due to motion of the phone), and at times a color cast was present.  All of which can exist corrected or compensated for with a little editing.

The software driving the HD2 is the typical HTC camera software, assuasive you lot to shoot still photos, videos, panoramas, contact photos, and MMS videos. Yous also have the photograph/video browser that is customary with HTC phones.

The HD2 has a flash to help with depression light situations. The lamp tin can exist turned on, off or set to automatic. It besides serves as a focus assist lamp to light your subject when the shutter snaps. The flash is useful, merely the closer y'all go to your discipline, the light will over-expose areas of your subject. At farther distances, the light is more than productive.

The video capture is, again, amidst the best I've seen with a phone photographic camera.

It focused well, kept step with moving subjects, and playback was very overnice on the four.iii-inch screen.

Performance

The HD2 performed well, despite my not having admission to 3G. Call quality over Border was very good. I could hear callers, and they could hear me. The speakerphone performed well. I'd give the edge to the Touch on Pro 2 in this area, but the HD2's speaker wasn't likewise shabby.

The biggest challenge with the HD2'southward operation was the different button layout. It'southward not so much a negative, merely something new to learn. I tin can imagine a lot of excited utterances from users who haven't gotten used to the terminate button putting the phone to sleep.

Purchase now or wait?

The non-U.S. model of the HD2 is available now through various online merchants, for around $800.  If the HD2 is what y'all've set your sights on, should you go alee and accept the plunge or expect for the U.S. model to hitting the shelves?

I'd be reluctant to take the plunge because I accept gotten too accustomed to 3G data speeds. If you lot can live without 3G then it may be worth considering.

Overall Impression

I had concerns that the HD2 was just going to exist too big. The initial pictures gave me the impression that information technology couldn't be comfortable to carry, hold or use. I'k glad that first impression was way off target.

I found the HD2 very comfortable, and the big 4.3-inch screen a joy to use. The capacitive screen is prissy, but had HTC chosen a resistive screen, I believe the HD2 would still be a solid performer. Call quality is very good and the Snapdragon processor moves things along nicely.

My only nit with the HD2 is the camera design. I would have preferred a flush backing to the phone to make information technology more contoured and maybe more secure from adventitious drops. Performance wise, the camera is amongst the best I've used.

So, would I exit and buy a non-U.S. model? I'd be reluctant to take the plunge because I have gotten likewise accepted to 3G data speeds, and a U.Due south. version probable is on the style.  If you can live without 3G, so it may be worth considering.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/review-htc-hd2

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