HTC's Raphael and Diamond: coming to Sprint and looking good

No one really knows whether HTC's May 6 gathering will usher in the age of Android (our guess is still "no"), but let's look a little beyond that, shall we? We've just laid eyes on a handful of documents detailing HTC's efforts to ready the Diamond and Raphael models -- already known to be valid HTC codenames -- for Sprint later this year, and things are definitely looking up in the post-Touch world. The Diamond turns out to be the successor to that very device, lacking a physical keyboard and relying almost exclusively on a large, glossy touchscreen for user input; the Raphael meanwhile (pictured) features a full QWERTY deal and is destined to replace the Mogul. The paperwork's pretty blurry, but it appears that both Windows Mobile devices will feature WiFi, 3 megapixel cameras, and -- get this -- VGA displays. Goodness! The Raphael is currently lined up to be the first out of the gate, hitting the streets in September if everything goes well, with the Diamond following on in November. Surprised that these devices are CDMA-based and Sprint bound? Us too, we admit -- but we'd be shocked if there weren't GSM twins of both of these hotties getting cooked in the lab at the same time.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

Gallery: HTC's Raphael and Diamond: coming to Sprint and looking good

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[Jim @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:29AM]

That thing's got more square corners than a geometry book. It looks like crap.

[webon @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:35AM]

Actually I like the simple lines, looks sophisticated me thinks

[Abuzar @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:47AM]

Kinda looks like a Zune. I like it.

[ByronGman @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:51AM]

Ever faithful, Abuzar trudges through life.

[boe @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:06AM]

Although the picture isn't clear so I can't comment about it looking like crap, I can say I would really prefer it if they had rounded corners as I tend to carry my HTC touch in my pocket. Sharp corners would make it hard to remove while sitting.

And worse, I might puncture my scrotum!

[Surur @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:41AM]

This phone will have twice the screen resolution than even the 3G iPhone, and that will look brilliant using Opera Mobile 9.5.

In addition by then Windows Mobile phones will come with Flash Lite 3 built-in, which means you will be able to use that screen to watch not just YouTube but all other flash video websites.

If you need a smartphone with training wheels, get an iPhone, but if you want to be free to do what you want, this device wont be beat.

(and you wont be waiting for IM to be announced - does Apple live in 1999 or something?)

[Fernando @ Apr 23rd 2008 8:31AM]

To Surur;

Stop smoking whatever you're smoking because.

1. This is made by HTC so it's a POC.
2. It runs windows mobile so it's an even bigger POC.
3. Oh yeah it has 3g and gps yeah that should suffice for the fact that it will run slow as hell and have no battery life, please give me one.

[Abuzar @ Apr 23rd 2008 8:49AM]

"Ever faithful, Abuzar trudges through life."

I don't live a bad life, so I don't "trudge" through it. I just like the damn design.

[Kent Pribbernow @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:09AM]

@Surur "This phone will have twice the screen resolution than even the 3G iPhone"

And half the screen real estate. This HTC will have a 2.8" screen compared to iPhone's 3.5". Someone desperately needs to send a memo to HTC and other WinMo handset makers that 2.8" screens are too small.

[ShantanMaverick @ Apr 28th 2008 4:44PM]

if you look at the 5th picture in the set you can see the corners are rounded, there's some weird shadow effect making it look square

[A.C.E.R. @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:34AM]

Looking good? How can you tell?

[roflercopterer @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:35AM]

And my sprint contract is up for renewal in august, hellz yesh.

[Johnny @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:48AM]

Mine is up in August as well. So I'll get this little jewel with SERO.

[kev @ Apr 23rd 2008 9:16AM]

Unfortunately the free text is over by then :(

Let's hope it gets replaced with some Phone as Modem plans :)

[Howard @ Apr 23rd 2008 9:38AM]

And I just signed a two-year contract to get a Touch last month... Hello ebay!

[JAmerican @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:37AM]

If video.drivers = true then
praise(htc)
else
fail(htc)
end if

[roflercopterer @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:44AM]

psh, lets face it, even without the drivers it's better than anything else out there.

[Jkswiss @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:38AM]

Hey, you didn't sign your name at the end.

Jkswiss

[Edward @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:25PM]

dude, visual basic sucks!

[Dave @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:37AM]

maybe the 3MP cameras on these wont suck dick like on the TyTn II

[Adam @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:38AM]

i want now.

[MacVicta @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:43AM]

September and November? The 3G iPhone will be out by then.

[webon @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:51AM]

Yeah maybe, then again...

sorry lost my train o thought that girl in your profile is HOT

[MacVicta @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:27AM]

Her name is Marisa Miller.

http://digitalfreak.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/marisascanhighres.jpg

[Reader @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:38AM]

Interesting choice of underwear.

[Sam Zebian @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:46AM]

When do we get to know about the Tytn III??? I've only had my tilt since November, but if HTC does make something like the Sony experia X1 mixed with a tilt, I would definitely buy it. (I know HTC already makes the Experia X1, so this is quite possible and I'm not pulling this out of my ass)

[boe @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:03AM]

This is great news!! I'm stunned HTC is finally making a reasonably sized high res PDA phone. I'd love to know more details -

Phone dimensions -thickness?
Battery capacity
Flash
memory/storage
processor

I see it is aGPS - hopefully that will be enabled on release

[Neil @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:07AM]

It looks really good to me, but CDMA is a real downer....I'll hold out hope for a GSM version.

[John @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:13AM]

Sprint has the best 3G coverage in the country. At this point, I would rather be running a CDMA phone vs a GSM phone. Perhaps when at&t has coverage comperable to sprint for $15 extra a month, I will go with them.

These phones looks really slick though! Looking forward to replacing my mogul with the Raphael.

[Jkswiss @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:58AM]

??? You forget about a little company called Verizon?

[JLTate @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:32AM]

Given their loose definition of "unlimited", no, Verizon doesn't count.

[Neil @ Apr 23rd 2008 6:58PM]

I don't know why everyone went off on me about Sprint and whatever else like I said anything about Sprint. I said CDMA is a downer for me, which it is since I travel a lot....hence GSM is the way to go for ME.

[Brad @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:10PM]

@JKswiss: Verizon doesn't even have EVDO Rev0 rolled out in most of the country, let alone the RevA that Sprint has coast-to-coast.

For a data network, right now Sprint can't be beat.

[Andrew @ Apr 24th 2008 9:27AM]

@Neil, then you should be interested to know that this phone's chipset includes quad band GSM as well.

Not that I expect Sprint to actually utilize that and design the phone to allow for a SIM card when you go overseas, but still, the chip supports it so it's possible.

[Josh @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:17AM]

Finally some (early) sweet lovin' from Sprint and HTC. I'm glad that us CDMA folks (ie. read-headed stepchildren of the global cellular markets) have gotten such a potentially great device ahead of the pack.*

You made my evening Engadget. Thanks!


*No dispersions intended towards my great GSM bretheren :)

[Billy @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:26AM]

Well boo for you, mang. I'm gonna love buying me a raphael on launch and instantly using it with EVDO goodness on Sprint! I'm still carrying around a 6700 (running 6.1 of course) and I was waiting to see if I could just skip the mogul. Looks like only 5 more months until I retire the Apache!

[Hardcore @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:36AM]

All you Sprint haters can now officially eat my nuts...in a bowl...with milk.

[Josh @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:48AM]

Hehe. A bit childish, but it made me laugh.

[Darkest Daze @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:52AM]

Does anyone own a decent camera?

[bigrobstunner @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:59AM]

not to sound dumb but where does the VGA screen rate on the quality scale? better or worse than whats out now???

[Howard @ Apr 23rd 2008 9:37AM]

Most smartphones out now are QVGA, which is 320x240. This is 640x480, so you get 4 times the resolution.

[Jeff @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:04AM]

if the WinMo OS is anywhere near as awful as the turd they put on the Touch... then this far too little too late.

i'm still waiting to see a decent UI damnit.

I'm jumping ship form Sprint to the awful AT&T for the device-that-we-do-not-name in June if Sprint can't get something compelling out the door.

[Jeff @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:06AM]

(i would, however, be extremely interested in an Android-flavored Diamond... providing that android proves to be worth-a-sh*t.)

[Abuzar @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:20PM]

You want a decent UI? FreeStyl for Windows Mobile.

You want Functionality? Windows Mobile Professional.

You want a Stylish Phone? This phone running Windows Mobile.

No what do you have to lose?

[DP @ Apr 24th 2008 12:36AM]

My plans EXACTLY, Jeff.

[BChau @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:40AM]

Quite stylish, I have to say. My Hermes contract ends this Nov. Time to switch to this new baby...

[audioboxer @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:08AM]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/20/htc-spy-shot-reveals-handful-of-new-phones/

Looks like you already had a remarkably better photo of it here (bottom right)

[HalfJoey @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:17AM]

I would like this + Android + Verizon + Wifi.

Me = Smoking crack. Thanks Verizon! Maybe by then they'll have their head's out of their asses and give the people what they want?

[horizontaleight @ Apr 23rd 2008 8:53AM]

Are you forgetting that verizon's intentions have changed to "any app, any device" as long as it functions with their network? Since this is CDMA, it will work.

[CaptainMercaptan @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:47AM]

These run Manila, a 3d-ish newer version of TouchFLO which was seen to run at max 2 fps on conventional devices, i.e. HTC Advantage, Kaiser. Meaning Raphael and Diamond more than likely have video acceleration. More compelling evidence, however, would be that the specs show the chipset to be a Qualcomm 7500A, which is shown here: http://www.cdg.org/news/events/CDMASeminar/07_LatinAm/presentations/May15/5_qualcomm.pdf (page 4 under "convergence platform" category) to have 3d acceleration at 4 million triangles vs the 225 thousand on the Mogul/Touch. Of course, drivers for said acceleration never did come to the latter, but let's go ahead and get our hopes up for these new phones anyway.