HTC Touch Diamond2: Director’s cut
Gsmarena have posted their review of the HTC Touch Diamond2. Here are the key features, main disadvantages and final impression.
Key features:
3.2" 65K-color WVGA display
Latest TouchFLO 3D
Qualcomm MSM7200A 528 Mhz CPU and 288 MB RAM
Dedicated graphics chip (64MB RAM reserved for graphics)
Quad-band GSM support
3G with HSDPA 7.2Mbps and HSUPA 2Mbps
Wi-Fi and built-in GPS receiver
Stereo FM radio with RDS
5 MP auto focus camera with excellent image quality
microSD card slot
Touch-sensitive zoom bar
MS Office Mobile document editor
Opera 9.5 web browser
Standard miniUSB slot and Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
Teeter game
Great audio quality
YouTube client
Excellent video playback
Main disadvantages:
Fingerprint nightmare
Average sunlight legibility
Questionable build quality
No TV out port
No standard 3.5mm audio jack
No magnetic stylus
Final words
With each new phone released running the TouchFLO, HTC manage to sweep some more of Windows Mobile under the rug and replace it with their silky smooth interface. Touch-optimization is at a level where you can almost forget about the stylus.
We guess quite some of the Diamond2 worth is in the more recent and upgraded TouchFLO 3D. Of course it will most likely be retrofitted on the original Diamond by third-party developers, so we're talking competitive edge here, not upgrader's value. Anyway, it's just not Diamond vs. Diamond time yet.
The way we see it, the Diamond2 is comfortably poised between Diamond and Touch HD, and this blending of bloodlines is its real edge.
We were very impressed with the HTC Touch HD but its size was a bit of a limiting factor. The Diamond2 packs most of the hardware of the HD into a smaller, more manageable package (using the HD with one hand can be troublesome). That coveted 3.5 mm audio jack alas didn't cross over to the Diamond2.
As to the first Diamond, we believe it's got an upgrade it can be proud of. Other than the lack of a D-pad and the faceted rear, the Number 2 is superior in both hardware and software. Of course we can see the point of those who will miss the original Diamond's D-pad. But we guess the interface, processing power, imaging and storage capacity you get in return are a fair deal. Even the more mainstream styling of the Diamond2 is not a downside. Feels like HTC took something home from working on the XPERIA.
Away from HTC home turf there are a couple of Windows Mobile phones that will arrive soon to compete against the HTC Touch Diamond2.
The Gigabyte g-Smart S1200 is closely matched screen-wise but comes up short in the camera department and has less than half the RAM at 128MB. It will use the GSmart Flash UI, which we have a short demo of from the MWC this year.
The LG GM730 is low on screen resolution but with the 5MP Schneider-Kreuznach optics, it may just make up for it. And it's no secret we like LG's S-Class interface.
In conclusion, the HTC Touch Diamond2 is an excellent Windows Mobile phone that will handle whatever you throw at it with ease. But that's no news for an HTC-made PocketPC . The news is HTC have themselves a solid upgrade of an excellent device and a strong contender in the increasingly competitive smartphone market.
Key features:
3.2" 65K-color WVGA display
Latest TouchFLO 3D
Qualcomm MSM7200A 528 Mhz CPU and 288 MB RAM
Dedicated graphics chip (64MB RAM reserved for graphics)
Quad-band GSM support
3G with HSDPA 7.2Mbps and HSUPA 2Mbps
Wi-Fi and built-in GPS receiver
Stereo FM radio with RDS
5 MP auto focus camera with excellent image quality
microSD card slot
Touch-sensitive zoom bar
MS Office Mobile document editor
Opera 9.5 web browser
Standard miniUSB slot and Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
Teeter game
Great audio quality
YouTube client
Excellent video playback
Main disadvantages:
Fingerprint nightmare
Average sunlight legibility
Questionable build quality
No TV out port
No standard 3.5mm audio jack
No magnetic stylus
Final words
With each new phone released running the TouchFLO, HTC manage to sweep some more of Windows Mobile under the rug and replace it with their silky smooth interface. Touch-optimization is at a level where you can almost forget about the stylus.
We guess quite some of the Diamond2 worth is in the more recent and upgraded TouchFLO 3D. Of course it will most likely be retrofitted on the original Diamond by third-party developers, so we're talking competitive edge here, not upgrader's value. Anyway, it's just not Diamond vs. Diamond time yet.
The way we see it, the Diamond2 is comfortably poised between Diamond and Touch HD, and this blending of bloodlines is its real edge.
We were very impressed with the HTC Touch HD but its size was a bit of a limiting factor. The Diamond2 packs most of the hardware of the HD into a smaller, more manageable package (using the HD with one hand can be troublesome). That coveted 3.5 mm audio jack alas didn't cross over to the Diamond2.
As to the first Diamond, we believe it's got an upgrade it can be proud of. Other than the lack of a D-pad and the faceted rear, the Number 2 is superior in both hardware and software. Of course we can see the point of those who will miss the original Diamond's D-pad. But we guess the interface, processing power, imaging and storage capacity you get in return are a fair deal. Even the more mainstream styling of the Diamond2 is not a downside. Feels like HTC took something home from working on the XPERIA.
Away from HTC home turf there are a couple of Windows Mobile phones that will arrive soon to compete against the HTC Touch Diamond2.
The Gigabyte g-Smart S1200 is closely matched screen-wise but comes up short in the camera department and has less than half the RAM at 128MB. It will use the GSmart Flash UI, which we have a short demo of from the MWC this year.
The LG GM730 is low on screen resolution but with the 5MP Schneider-Kreuznach optics, it may just make up for it. And it's no secret we like LG's S-Class interface.
In conclusion, the HTC Touch Diamond2 is an excellent Windows Mobile phone that will handle whatever you throw at it with ease. But that's no news for an HTC-made PocketPC . The news is HTC have themselves a solid upgrade of an excellent device and a strong contender in the increasingly competitive smartphone market.
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