UK tech site TechRadar have just posted up a comprehensive, 13-page review of the HTC Desire handset, now available on the T-Mobile network in the UK.
Running the Android 2.1 operating system and packing a ton of high-end features into its 119 x 60 x 11.9 mm body, the 133g handset packs a superb 3.7″ OLED capacitive screen, with four buttons and a motion-detecting optical trackpad underneath.
The Desire comes with the latest version of HTC’s super-slick Sense UI, serving up seven home screens ready to be customised with widgets, icons and apps and whatever else you want to slap on it.
The ‘contacts’ functionality leaps miles ahead of the iPhone’s offering, presenting Palm Synergy-like integration between email and social networking sites, with profiles being linked automatically.
Within each linked profile, you can see your contact’s call history, Facebook updates, Flickr and Facebook photos and email conversations.
Keyboard and multimedia
The all-important onscreen keyboard was found to be “without par” and “frighteningly intuitive,” while the web browser was “tip top” with Flash support was present and correct.
Steve Jobs may insist that users don’t want Flash on their precious iPhones, but we certainly appreciate being able to access Flash websites on our handsets, thanks.
The 5MP camera – with flash – was deemed pretty damn good, and the audio, photo and video players were all found to be spot on, and there’s an FM tuner in there too.
Connectivity
With the Desire packing Wi-Fi b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, aGPS, 7.2Mbps HSDPA, just about every connectivity base should be covered, and with the Android Market already bulging with over 30,000 apps, you shouldn’t be short of things to download.
Much love felt
Wrapping up their review, Techradar say that they, “liked nearly every single thing on the HTC Desire – it just works as you want it to as a phone and an internet tablet at the same time,” praising the device’s Sense UI, Leap View and social network integration.
In fact, their verdict is so enthusiastic, we’re beginning to make less than friendly eyes at our iPhones:
In short, this is a phenomenal phone – one of the best we’ve ever had on TechRadar. Usually when we like a phone on the first use, we end up horribly disappointed after a little time with it, but the HTC Desire kept on performing and achieving when we thought it wouldn’t.
The screen is lovely, the design is slick and processor makes everything happen in a flash – all you’d want from a smartphone.
Sure, some people will want slightly nicer design (we’d advise you check out the Legend) or a simpler home screen and richer app store at the moment (look at the iPhone 3GS) but as a piece of hardware it’s without par in the mobile world.
A stunning phone, and one that will show the world that Android isn’t just for the hackers and phone geeks any more.
Specs
Physical: 119 x 60 x 11.9 mm
Weight: 135 grams (4.76 ounces) with battery
CPU Processing Speed 1 GHz
Battery Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery Capacity: 1400 mAh
Talk time:
* WCDMA: Up to 390 mins
* GSM: Up to 400 mins
Standby time:
* WCDMA: Up to 360 hours
* GSM: Up to 340 hours
Camera
* 5 megapixel colour camera
* Face detection capability
* Auto focus and flash
* Widescreen photo capture
* Geotagging
Connectors
* 3.5 mm stereo audio jack
* Standard micro-USB
(5-pin micro-USB 2.0)
Sensors
* G-Sensor
* Digital compass
* Proximity sensor
* Ambient light sensor
HTC Widgets
* Bookmarks, Calendar, Clock, Footprints, Friend Stream, Mail, Messages, Music, News, People, Photo Album, Photo Frame, Search, Settings, Stocks, Twitter, Weather
Social Networking
* Facebook integration
* Friend Stream
* Photo sharing on Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter
* Video sharing on YouTube™
* HTC Peep for twittering
Special Features
* Automatically lowers the ringer volume as soon as the phone is picked up
* Mutes the ringer when the phone is flipped face down
* Backs up certain data and settings to the microSD card automatically, such as SMS/MMS messages, bookmarks, Wi-Fi passwords, and more
Display
Type: AMOLED capacitive touch screen with pinch-to-zoom capability
Size: 3.7 inches
Resolution: 480 X 800 WVGA
Platform
Android 2.1 (Éclair) with HTC Sense™
Storage
ROM: 512 MB
RAM: 576 MB
Expansion slot:
* microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
* Supports up to 32 GB
Network Bands
Europe:
* HSPA/WCDMA: 900/2100 MHz
* GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Asia Pacific:
* HSPA/WCDMA: 900/2100 MHz
* GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Internet
* 3G:
Up to 7.2 Mbps download speed
Up to 2 Mbps upload speed
* GPRS: Up to 114 kbps downloading
* EDGE: Up to 560 kbps downloading
* Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g
Tethering
* Internet sharing through USB
Bluetooth
* Bluetooth® 2.1 with Enhanced Data Rate
* A2DP for wireless stereo headsets
* FTP and OPP (object push) for file transfer
* Other supported profiles: AVRCP, GAP, GOEP, HFP, HSP, PBAP, SPP, Service Discovery Application Profile
Multimedia
* Photos application for viewing photos and videos
* Music
* FM Radio
* Audio supported formats:
Playback: .aac, .amr, .ogg, .m4a, .mid, .mp3, .wav, .wma
Recording: .amr
* Video supported formats:
Playback: .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .wmv
Recording: .3gp
Location
* Internal GPS antenna
* Google Maps
* HTC Footprints
This is a fantastic phone. I’ve just got mine and it’s so much better than my iPhone.
The screen is awesome and I’m loving the flash on the camera.
If you’re a bit bored with your iPhone this really is the phone to get. I’m Android al the way now!