HTC Desire Review
This smartphone from HTC has alot going for it with a customised UI in the form of the HTC Sense makes it a great competitor against the Google Nexus One, as well as the Xperia X10 from Sony Ericsson, which also features a customized UI.
The HTC Desire comes loaded with Google Android 2.1, which many apps from the Android Marketplace require. Android 2.2 has just been released and should be available on the HTC Desire soon. Because of this, it has an edge against other Android phones on the market, which don’t have Android 2.1, or won’t be getting 2.2 for a while. Having an up to date OS really showcases the hardware features of the phone and gives you the best possible user experience.
Design wise, the HTC Desire is very similar to the Google Nexus one, in both styling and shape. However the handset has physical buttons under the screen instead of the touch sensitive lights found on the Nexus One. While touch is the way forward, it’s reassuring to have real, physical keys for certain tasks. Unfortunately however, none of the buttons on the front will activate the phone from sleep mode.
The screen is made of a high res OLED display measuring 3.7 inches. It also features multi touch, which also gives you the pinch and zoom feature, made popular on the Apple iPhone. You can use the screen to swipe through the menus, or use the touch sensitive button found on the front.
With regards to software, as we’ve already said, it comes with Android 2.1, which gives the handset access to the full range of apps from the marketplace. It’s also customized with the Sense UI, which gives you seven screens to choose from for homescreens. You can also use an animated wallpaper on the homescreens, although battery life will decrease. A Friend Stream is also integrated, giving you quick access to your Facebook, Twitter and Flickr updates. The HTC Desire is also great for reading your emails on the go. You’re able to sort your email by favourite sender, unread messages and more, instead of the standard by date ordering.
With regards to the camera, the Desire features an impressive 5 megapixel camera, which is typical of most smartphones. However, like other handsets on the market, the shutter lag lets it down.
Overall, the name really is suited for the handset as it’s highly desirable and really showcases the Android OS. The Sense UI also gives it an edge above other Android powered handsets on the market. The best features of the handset include the advanced email options, as well as the AMOLED screen. The handset also feels great to hold. What lets it down however, is it has average battery life and there’s no voice to text input.
The full specs of the HTC Desire can be viewed here, as well as information on where you can buy the handset in your country.
