HTC’s 2010 leak: Our analysis – buy a HD2

December 7, 2009 | By Surur

Now that we have seen HTC’s H1 2010 Windows Mobile line-up, what can we make of it? The first if of course that HTC is stepping back from Windows Mobile, at least until Windows Mobile 7, releasing more and more interesting devices on the Android platform.

The second is the death of the high-end, with all the smartphones sporting low-resolution screens, average cameras and the minimum of features. None of the Windows Mobile smartphones feature digital compasses for example. The only new feature of note is that 2 of the 3 devices have capacitive screens, again indicating this technology is likely to take over going forward.

The only novel form factor from HTC is the HTC Trophy, which appears to be HTC’s first Windows Mobile Professional device with a front-facing QWERTY keyboard (making it a rather tall device) and with a VGA screen quite well-specced for the form factor, which may make buyers interested in the HP Glisten hesitate.

However, the overall conclusion is however that if you want a high-end handset, there is nothing worth waiting for in the next 7 months – buy a HTC HD2 now.

What do our readers think? Are you disappointed by HTC’s new rumoured devices? Let us know in the comments below.

About Surur

Site Admin and Windows Phone enthusiast, he has been using Windows Mobile devices since before they were called PocketPC’s. He is currently sporting a HTC 7 Trophy.

Tagged htc photon, htc tera, htc trophy

derliebewolf

totally agrre with you. too bad. letz wait till the first WM7 announcements! http://twitter.com/derliebewolf/statuses/64294314…
Chris

I doubt thats it, but if it is its slightly disappointing even for HD2 owners. We rely on XDA-Devs to port new stuff over from other devices, if there is nothing better or new we cant have it!
Bkwmiata

Since this was a leaked brochure and windows mobile 7 has yet to be announced I highly doubt your seeing the full breath of the phones they have in-store for windows mobile. I think what you are seeing is the separation of windows mobile 6.5 and 7 starting to kick in, with 6.5 working on the low end and 7 on the higher end devices. After Microsoft announces WM7 you'll start seeing the really nice stuff.

Rohit

I really agree with your assessment. And I also bet that WM7 devices are being kept secret as MSFT has been holding the cards close to their chest where WM7 is concerned.

Dredd67

What about the Bravo ? Seems a very nice competitor to the HD2, no? OK it's an Android device, but as owner of a Blackstone, I'm more and more on the way to make the switch. You should at least mention it, or compare specs before advising everyone to buy a HD2.

http://intensedebate.com/people/RezxerT RezxerT

I don't agree.

I'm just guessing, but I think the majority of WMPowerusers are, well, Windows Mobile power users, and they're just catering to their audience. Personally, I do prefer WinMo myself, and as such the case, the best phone I could buy at this point in time is the HTC HD2.

Baz

Everybody think's they are a poweruser, just like everybody on the internet is a rocket scientist with a 7 figure salary and a huge donger.
If using your finger's like some Marcel Marceau impressionist, on child friendly interface that also cost's performance is a power user, I guess I'm not one…..the HD2 is also the slowest of the three Wm snapdragon device's, but hey, I guess it's the best because self appointed power user's like it.

http://intensedebate.com/people/RezxerT RezxerT

*Sigh*

It does not bother me whether someone fits the determined definition of a 'power user' or not. The main point I'm trying to get across is that most of the people on this website probably prefers Windows Mobile phones and, as such may be the case, that means that the HD as opposed to, say, the Motorola Droid is among their preferences.

Furthermore, I'm not sure why you think the HD2 is the slowest of the WinMo Snapdragon device. From the tests I've seen, it completely outclasses the Acer F1 and Toshiba TG01.

Dredd67

Well, if you absolutely wanna stick to winmo, it's fair I guess. Problem is, if you still want to be proud of your device, you should always be able to defend it against its competitors, what are the pro and con's etc…thus you need to know what's out, and why it's still a good choice to buy the HD2.

After all, the Bravo will offer the same features in terms of horsepower and HTC apps. Plus it has some interesting addons like 720p recording that the HD2 hasn't. Plus it has the whole Android community behind it. Plus it should have decent drivers. But it lacks the huge amount of softwares Winmo has, especially GPS-wise.

What I said is that any self-claimed winmo poweruser should be aware that alternatives exist apart from the iphone and the pre or the droid.

http://intensedebate.com/people/RezxerT RezxerT

I'm not sure I can understand the reasoning behind what you said.

If I wanted to be display pride in my device, what I would do is say, "I own ::Insert Phone: and I am proud of it." Why exactly would I want to defend it against competitors? If someone else wants to use Android/WebOS/iPhone, that is their choice. If others are slurring Windows Mobile as a platform, then Microsoft may defend its platform if it so wishes, but Internet slurs has no effect on whether or not I use WinMo.

Dredd67

OK let's just say you havent' the colleagues I have

Moreover, it's also related to something like beeing sure I have made the good choice for me. And you could add the WAF (Women Acceptance Factor) which is very low for such devices so you'd better have good reasons to buy it

Jos Dewey

What do you mean just buy an HD2?

Is HTC the only company making WM devices? Or are all your readers supposed to be HTC buyers? The HD2 has many flaws, I'll be keeping my hard earned cash until something happens with WM7.

http://intensedebate.com/people/wmpoweruser wmpoweruser

Fair enough, but that’s a good 9-12 month wait you are talking about. Unfortunately, for HTC or any other WM OEM at the moment, the HD2 is the high water mark for Windows Mobile at the moment.

Baz

Yeah, the HD2 is the high water mark, the fact it's outperformed by other's, that it has a crap camera,has limited itself to one screen input method is something every window's mobile "poweruser" should aspire to.

It make's me laugh on this blog, how every positive comment on the HD2 garner's a thumbs up from some like minded individual, I mean, what are some of you people, 13 year's old…..honestly, this place is as bad as any iphone blog

roger

The "Tera" is practically the same as the Touch Pro 2….. HTC be serious
manual_

That's funny. First you say WM is great because it brings a variety of devices to choose from. Now you suggest to skip these phones and go for HD2. Not everyone wants their phone as big as HD2 is;)
Tera is quite interesting with full qwerty and small size. And Trophy's form factor alone makes it a VERY interesting device. It's got relatively big 3" TOUCHscreen coupled with full qwerty keyboard. It might appeal to many people who want touchscreen, full qwerty and a possibility to use phone one handed.
And Bravo (running android) is a candidate for an "HD2 killer":) Those drooling over specs will be sold on it;) Those who want their phone big but not as big as HD2 will too. And those who are not that enthusiastic about current shape of WM will surely welcome it. You say buy HD2? I say skip it and buy Bravo;d
aleis

if the bravo gets android 2.1 its over for ALOT of competition…
given a push like the droid…no phone could compete!
Yannis

i thought the Tera is TP2's successor but i was dissapointed to see that is actually not as good as TP2… i want a physical keyboard and HD2's specs but i cant see anything like that… Go for the HD2 then?????
http://intensedebate.com/people/Foamy Foamy

As previously noted this looks like it could be just their 6.5 devices. i cannot believe HTC aren't putting out any high end phones until the end of the year. The TP2 needs a snapdragon successor within 7 or 8 months even if it is only running 6.5. even if this is only the 6.5 phones then the HD2 would be the obvious choice for people wanting a phone like that. if you want a physical keyboard then the choice is more difficult because we have no idea how long there is to wait for a new one.

http://intensedebate.com/people/l3v5y l3v5y

They may well be putting out highend WM7 devices sooner, but not announcing them yet.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Noonski Noonski

I'm interested in the form Factor these HVGA screens on WinMo will bring.
But hate the fact there's now even more screen resolutions to take into account, making Skins for Software
Dharms

So the HD2 will still be htc's flagship device for a while, here's hoping that means it gets a WM7 update too!
http://intensedebate.com/people/RezxerT RezxerT

I think WMPoweruser made the right assessment. Among the 2010 phones so far, the HD2 seems like the best device, and the others just pales in comparison.

Admittedly, I'm a bit happy about this. This means I can purchase the HD2 without worrying that a superior WinMo device will be announced shortly afterwards.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Foamy Foamy

if you consider the "time until obsolete" as a good way of judging how much you get for your money then the HD2 is one of the best value phones HTC have made in a long time. not only does it have a big boost in power over previous devices but it's going to be longer than usual until the successor.

I also think it's interesting to consider that the HD2 has reached the peak in at least one aspect. there will never be a phone with a screen considerably larger than the HD2. i can't really think of any other examples of this. you could also argue that it is unlikely we will see thinner devices too. i know that i wouldn't be comfortable with anything thinner.

http://intensedebate.com/people/RezxerT RezxerT

Personally, I consider specs as a way to determine whether I got my money's worth. If I pay $700 for a cell phone and the only notable upgrade it has over my previous phone is a larger screen, then I'll probably feel as if I paid more than I should. My comment about the time is more due to the annoying feeling of seeing something superior appear right after you paid a huge amount for a smartphone.

I have to really agree with almost everything about your post, though. I have been fairly vocal about the lack of good phones HTC made compared to Samsung during 2009 and I was very happy (and surprised) to see the HD2 announced. Furthermore, you are right about the rest too. I love large screens, but even I have a limit as to how large the screen can go. I also never understood people's obsession with thinness, but at this point in time, phones already fit perfectly in my palm and pocket.

KCMatt

How about the LG IQ/Monaco?

3.2" WVGA Slide-out QWERTY with 1GHz processor and 5MP camera…
Wesley

I am sure that Samsung will be introducing a new phone soon to counter the HD2, so just brcause HTC isn't bringing out any good Winmo phones for a while, we haven't seen Samsungs lineup yet.
eka

I like that Trophy.
Hoping other OEM copy that design too.
Who?

This is the first half of 2010 only. A new Diamond, Touch Pro, and HD would not be released less than a year after their predecessors. This is all much ado about nothing.
khals

I was actualy hoping for a HD2 PRO, meaning it would come with a slideout qwerty keyboard. I’ll wait until they officialy announce the new models in january/february before trying out the iPhone though
NuShrike

Still waiting for a ~3.7″ wvga+keyboard with nonMSM72xx-cpu device better than the current Acer M900 choice.

http://twitter.com/Wishmaster89 @Wishmaster89

msm7227 should already be better than that samsung CPU used in m900. It is already better than msm7201 but ads VFP unit openGL ES 2.0 graphics and WVGA video encode/decode.
Tests will show is it better IRL than msm7201 but CPU itself is on par with tegra apx2500.

DeepC

I need HTC to make a Touch Pro 3 mash-up phone with qwerty-slider, 4.3 cap. touchscreen running windows 6.5 or better yet win7. I also need a built-in cap. screen stylist with a slot in the phone to hold it and an amazing speaker and microphone and a 5 mp camera with auto zoom and flash and of course the new snap. drag. processor! "I guess I'm just dreaming!" sigh…..