I’ve been playing with the HTC HD2 for the past couple of weeks and one of the most striking aspects of the Windows Phone is just how much it reminds me of the iPhone. From the capacitive touchscreen to the Sense UI, it just seems more iPhone than any other non-Apple handset I’ve played with, including HTC’s excellent Android phones.
So operating system aside, here’s the spec by spec comparison of the two touchscreen handsets.
As you can see, in a simple spec by spec comparison, the HD2 actually offers more to the end user. A bigger screen, a faster processor, removable battery and storage, superior audio and video file support, FM radio and a better camera. The iPhone wins out on inbuilt storage (for the 32GB model, although a MicroSD slot counters that win), audio and video playback times, and support for the UMTS 1900GHz spectrum.
Specs aren’t everything though. Unmentioned above are the apps – the iPhone App Store is a thriving community, while the Windows Phone Marketplace is still finding its feet. Also neglected is the simple aspect of usability. The iPhone wins on that score, especially when you drill down to some of the more complex controls of the Windows Mobile operating system. HTC Sense is an extremely good UI though, and the HD2 is easily the best touchscreen Windows Phone on the market today.
Whether or not that’s enough to knock the iPhone (and it’s passionate userbase) from its pedestal is something we’ll be watching closely…
Flame
February 15, 2010 at 10:11 AM
My mate has the HD2. It’s great hardware and the screen is gorgeous. Can’t stand using it though; feels like I’m constantly fighting the system.
Report PermalinkJoel Haire
February 15, 2010 at 4:12 PM
Great hardware but with windows/HTC/Telstra all a having a go at the operating system and a multitude of different hardware configurations running windows mobile causing problems in app development-What a mess-Hopeless give me back my iphone!
Report Permalinkanderrs
February 15, 2010 at 8:26 PM
100% agreed i feel like im battling constantly against the UI wen im using the HD2, its nice dont get me wrong, but its still windows mobile = epic fail imo
Report PermalinkJoe
February 15, 2010 at 10:22 AM
Having the answer/unlock slide on the top of the HTC will not work well.
Report Permalinkklaw
February 15, 2010 at 10:41 AM
@Nick – “the Windows Phone Marketplace is still finding its feet…” this is true, but largely irrelevant.
There are plenty of other applications sites out there with a massive database of free and paid apps – it’s just that they don’t have a shortcut in the WM menu system by default.
This arrangement has its disadvantages (QA, inconvenience) but it also has the advantage of being completely open with no approval processes etc.
Report Permalinkopm881
February 15, 2010 at 2:29 PM
That can also be seen as a disadvantage. No approval means that you have to trust what the person who made the app says about it. While yes there will be crazy amounts of software that arnt virus, there will be some that will that an approval process would remove.
Report Permalinkmoggyx
February 15, 2010 at 11:35 AM
I played with a HD2 the other day in a Telstra shop. I was surprised that the screen did not feel too large and just how responsive this thing was.
Report PermalinkI have sense on my tattoo and i love it to bits, it is a bit of a step away from the iPhone UI in my opinion.
I do have to agree with flame about the unlock at the top. It took about 5 swipes to unlock… aside from that though, it was a pretty awesome experience
Nick, One thing i have been dying to find out is how the battery life is on the HD2?
ThePengwin
February 15, 2010 at 12:07 PM
UMTS 1900GHz. lol I wouldnt put that in my pants. Thats reaching Microwave territory isnt it?
Report PermalinkFJC
February 15, 2010 at 1:16 PM
Complex controls such as what? My gf’s got a 3GS and i find that harder to get to the settings where as the HD2′s UI (i flashed it onto my HD) is just one swipe backwards and there you go, the settings tab, with all the customisations needed for the average user.
Report PermalinkIf you’re referring to viewing the file system, then I can understand, except the Iphone doesnt let you view its file system and use it as a usb disk drive.
For most users, everything they need is in senseUI. It offers a sexy UI with functionality, iphone OS is just buttons with no sort of background or eye-candy whatsoever, unless you like looking at buttons.
Matt
February 15, 2010 at 1:24 PM
The phone itself looks absolutely gorgeous – here’s hoping that the rumours are true and that the HTC Supersonic will essentially be a HD2 with Android rather than Windows Mobile.
Report PermalinkWok
February 15, 2010 at 1:35 PM
Meh how about listing some of the iPhones usability shortcomings too?
Report PermalinkGTRoberts
February 15, 2010 at 2:28 PM
@Nick – Your table is incorrect; the HD2′s WiFi actually does b/g/n and it has 768MB of RAM (not 448MB).
@Joe – because this is WM, if you don’t want the standby slider at the top, then you just move it to the bottom. I’ve tried it in the default top and in the optional bottom; I’ve had no usability or functional problems with it being at the top at all.
Plus remember, the slider is not ‘just a slide to unlock’ method – there is a lot more function to it than the iPhone’s ‘slide to unlock’
@Klaw – You’re exactly right regarding apps. I’ve never used the Marketplace and yet I’ve got over 30 apps on my HD2.
Report PermalinkSandra K
February 15, 2010 at 2:38 PM
Specs mean nothing.
For example, the HD2 uses Microsoft’s ailing Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. It hasn’t had a kernel update in 6 years (since WinMo5 in 2004), so the operating system has not been optimised for any modern processor. That means it needs a faster processor just to get the same results, and running the battery down at the same time.
The other problem with the HD2 is that most of the applications on Windows Mobile are designed to be used with a stylus pen, not a touch screen. Some are impossible to use.
On the iPhone, all its applications are written from the beginning for its multi-touch screen.
Report PermalinkThePengwin
February 16, 2010 at 5:23 PM
The same reasoning can be made to disprove what you said.
Windows CE kernel has been around for 6 years yes, but it was developed for lower Spec-ed ARM processors. giving an old OS a blazingly fast processor could essentially have the same effect as a fully optimized new kernel can.
Of course windows mobile is Stylus driven, but HTC have extensively modified the UI of WinMo to counter that, because you are allowed to do that. Some may be impossible to use yes, but alternatives to nearly everything exist in windows mobile.
Sadly i cant speak of experience first hand. Telstra never have a demo model you are allowed to play around with. Heck i even had to ask if they sold it in my local Telstra shop.
Report PermalinkSteve
February 15, 2010 at 3:07 PM
I had the HD1, now the HD2. I quite prefer it to the iPhone. The Sense UI is a little clumsy in higher function places, you still need to drill down to active sync to configure some exchanges completely. There are clearly some of the normal Windows OS functions not replicated that leave you trying to find the back door that lets you get into them again. Thats about the worst of it though, not as many pet hates as I have with iPhone OS.
@Joe – Oddly enough the unlock slide is at the top, but the Answer/Ignore slide is on the bottom when you have an incoming call. The bottom of the Lock screen is used for calendar items, showing your next appointment date/time/location. Works quite well really, better than the HD1 which had no Lock screen at all.
Report PermalinkBrent
February 15, 2010 at 4:12 PM
If you look at the iPhone picture up the top. Its on Optus and has full 3G coverage. Thats impossible on Optus. There 3G network is rubbish
Report Permalinkc1ockwork
February 15, 2010 at 8:19 PM
Serious contenders almost have to have better specs than the iPhone – it’s one of the trump cards they’re expected to have (seeing as so many of the iPhones strengths seem untouchable). If they didn’t, why even show up to the party?
Is it just me or is there more than just a little similarity in the clocks on those 2 devices? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but is it really that important for the clock on the HTC to look exactly like the one on iPhone? I haven’t seen the HTC’s UI but I can’t help wonder how much of it looks just a little too similar to the iPhones….
“Whether or not that’s enough to knock the iPhone (and it’s passionate userbase) from its pedestal..” Ummm, passionate or otherwise – no, no it isn’t. At best it’s an alternative.
Report Permalinkbrandon
February 26, 2010 at 7:31 PM
you can’t be serious can you? touchflo user interface has been around for much longer then the iphones user interface… learn your facts before you go around saying the hd2 has copied the iphones user interface…. and anyway, if you have ever used the hd2 you would know that the ui is NOTHING like the iphones at all.
Report PermalinkEgon Spengler
February 15, 2010 at 9:36 PM
well it did come out after. you would expect the HD2 to be better spec-wise
Report PermalinkCraig
February 17, 2010 at 8:09 PM
I got my 3GS just before Christmas, but i done so wishing that the HD2 had been available. I don’t think i would have been happy with anything less than the 32GB i have though, i’m led to believe max external storage on the HD2 is 16gb? The idea of having an additional fully charged battery on hand is great though.
Report PermalinkI loved the WM OS, an with the communities out there offering variations of the OS and a limitless amount of Apps i was not starved for options on my Kaiser. I’m very happy with the 3GS, but if it was not jailbroken i would have sold it and bought the HD2. Hopefully in 18 months time when i recontract again HTC will have their timing right to suit me, an also not be exclusive to Telstra ;)
MM
March 17, 2010 at 2:09 PM
Regarding, ripping of the IPhone design, I believe HTC is being sued by Apple
Report PermalinkCathy
March 26, 2010 at 7:55 PM
Purchased a HTC yesterday and am having trouble pairing with Holden SV6 – does anyone know why
Report PermalinkTaris
April 18, 2010 at 1:10 PM
regarding Cathy, you need to make sure that your bluetooth is discoverable. firstly go to settings then click on the menu tab at the bottom, and select all settings then click bluetooth, then the settings at the top left, then make it visible always. i hope this works for you :)
Report PermalinkDavid Ashton
May 10, 2010 at 9:51 PM
I’ve been using a WM pda for years. This is my third one – Current version is an imate ultimate 9502.
Every single one has been brilliant and had all the features that the i-phone now finally has. I am talking 5 years ago and more.
Not sure why anyone is bashing WM. Maybe they don’t understand computers? because thats exactly what a pda running WM is – a small computer.
I am definitely going to get the HTC HD2. There are heaps of software available for WM and the best thing is it can link to a computer running windows.
Report Permalinkfred sacroug
May 24, 2010 at 6:03 PM
The phone is great. But i find it vvery difficult to add a contact to the favorite section as the screen is very sensitive and as soon i touch it to scroll up to find a contact the touch is taken as a tap on the screen and therefore highlits the tapped contact.
Report PermalinkI am confused as to where the contacts are stored is it in the sim or phone or WM outlook.
Telstra has locked the top 3 quick links so that they cannot be relocated. Bigpond, Foxtel and Sensis. it is a restriction of liberty,as i own the phone and i should b e deciding my priority links as mentioned at the back of the box.
Franky
June 20, 2010 at 3:02 AM
You get what you pay for these days .. The htc yea it is bigger, maybe cuter, lots of free apps & fancy xtras but when it comes to useing everything your phone offers with just your finger then it’s the iPhone all day. Nothing campares I recomend the iPhone
Report PermalinkPhil
June 28, 2010 at 5:05 PM
One thing you forgot to mention is the advantage of flash on HTC and lack of it on Apple. Given that most of the websites use flash, it is a big trade off and with the fighting between adobe and apple atm, I doubt we will see it any time soon.
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