T-Mobile Touch Pro2 review
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Aug 12th 2009 12:20AM
posted Aug 12th 2009 12:20AM
That's why droves of subscribers on virtually every carrier are on the edge of their seats awaiting the Touch Pro2's release. Whether you love, hate, or feel nothing but pure, unadulterated ambivalence toward Windows Mobile, it's hard to argue that the Pro2 isn't a gorgeous smartphone at a distance, and T-Mobile USA's gently-tweaked version is no exception. Unless you're desperate for SLR-quality photography (which you're frankly not going to get regardless of what phone you buy), the spec sheet reads like a dream -- an expansive 3.6-inch WVGA display, full QWERTY, tilt-up display, all the 3G and WiFi you could ever want, and HTC's latest and greatest build of TouchFLO 3D constantly working to make sure that WinMo cleans up nice -- but is it true love or just lipstick on a pig? Let's have a look.
Hardware
That said, the Touch Pro2 is a substantial phone -- you won't quickly forget that you're carrying it. Though it does pack a 1500mAh battery from the factory, we were surprised to find that taking it out didn't make the phone much lighter; frequently, removing the battery from a phone (or even a laptop) will make the remaining husk of electronics feel like a featherweight, but with the Pro2, that's just not the case. We're not sure where that weight's going, exactly, but we're going to chalk it up to quality construction, because the thing feels like it's built to last. The slide mechanism -- while not the smoothest we've ever used -- has no play in it whatsoever, even after plenty of use and fiddling; likewise, the tilt hinge felt like it was wrought from surplus tank parts. The action on both mechanisms is a little on the heavy side, but we'd definitely rather they be too heavy than too light -- as with everything else, it contributes to the perception (and hopefully the reality) of quality construction.
Anyone concerned about the T-Mobile version's "mocha" coloration, simply shouldn't be. The brown tinge is subtle and subdued -- T-Mobile and HTC were clearly aware that this phone had boardroom aspirations from the minute it was born, and they weren't about to screw it up with some poorly-made industrial design decisions.
Software
We don't want to jinx it, but we've got to say: unlike some phones in HTC's recent history, it looks like they're coming out of the gate with a great ROM here. It's not crashy, and maybe even more importantly, it's speedy. TouchFLO 3D isn't the lightest piece of coding in the world, but this particular Pro2 works it like a prizefighter. In fact, we can't even recall a single time when we noticed lagginess with TouchFLO proper -- there was some redraw lag while browsing from time to time, but we can't really fault the phone for that (Snapdragon would've helped there, possibly, but there's no use crying over spilled milk).
As with other TouchFLO phones, HTC has done what it can to make the Pro2 finger-friendly. Inevitably, it's not possible to take that to its rightful conclusion with Windows Mobile 6.1, which is why you've still got that stylus in there -- but they've done a pretty incredible job. If you can stay within the TouchFLO ecosystem without wandering into stock WinMo -- which is easier to do than every before, we'd argue -- you might actually be able to pull it off. Sadly, the phone's still held back by a resistive display that has a little too much "give" to the touch; this is especially a problem with scrolling in lists and browsers, where the fingertip occasionally has a tendency to "bounce" across the display and inadvertently trigger a selection action. It happened frequently enough to us to be annoying, but we imagine you'd be able to spike the habit with practice.
T-Mobile has taken a hands-off approach with the Touch Pro2's lauded "people-centric" add-ons, too. From a contact, you can see a unified view of emails, messages, and phone calls exchanged with that individual -- we dare you to try that with a stock WinMo device -- and it works exactly as advertised. Heavy business users will also appreciate the magnificent speakerphone, which HTC rightfully made a huge deal of back at its February announcement -- you just flip the phone over to engage it, and you've even got a dedicated mute button around back (see the video to see this in action -- it's seriously cool). It works and sounds great, and this is one of the few phones on the market that we could seriously endorse as a conference speakerphone fit for daily duty.
Wrap-up
For T-Mobile customers in the WinMo ecosystem, the Touch Pro2 is a dream come true if for no other reason than the fact that it replaces the ancient Wing, a phone that heroically served the retail lineup well past its prime. Beyond that, though, the Touch Pro2 could very well represent the greatest Windows Mobile device available on an American carrier today -- even original Touch Pro and Fuze owners have good reason to cast an envious eye in the direction of this thing as it hits shelves today. Don't fret, though; carriers love this phone like they love a high ARPU, and regardless of whom you pledge your allegiance and your monthly payment to, odds are very high it's coming to a lineup near you within a few weeks' time.
So when does it come out?
Tomorrow. 10:00AM PST
I am calling in at 9:45...
that's what she said.
NICE:D
The T-mobile version looks worse than the Original htc device
Wait, winmo 6.1 and no 3.5mm headphone jack? say it aint so.
It doesn't look incredible, but TMobile's picture that they've circulated looks 1000 times worse than every wild shot I've seen of their phone.
The brown does come off as subtle here and in pocketnow's vid as the review says, but in the official image it looks 7 different kinds of bleh.
Every time I hear the "lipstick on a pig" line, I think of Sarah Palin and a little part of me dies.
Also, Who else feels a very happy Engadget recession antidote coming on?
there goes that 3.5mm HJ reference to some other *phone* we all like on Engadget. ;)
Dude if you can afford a 350$ w/contract, then you can easly afford a $100 studio quality bluetooth headset and put 3.5mm HJs to pasture.
recharged95: studio-quality bluetooth? Excuse me while I hold my sides in. Especially since WinMo has no support for streaming MP3 natives over A2DP, so you're stuck with everything being transcoded to SBC and consequently sounding like ass.
I agree, it is "NICE:D." I'm not a big WinMo 6.1 fan, but this phone dfinitely looks much better than a lot of WinMo phones. They did a gret job making the UI very responsive. It's still not wowing me enough to run out and get one though. I'm a lot more curious to see what high end phones they come up with when 6.5 and especially 7 finally come out.
Definitely better looking than I expected though.
I will have one for my T-MO and my Sprint Account. Only thing I will get to working on is mapping a FN key to do tab key and ctrl key. I see this as the only weakness to the Touch Pro 2. Why HTC why, or is it the OEM's who removed the tab and ctrl key?
Um, HTC is the OEM...?
@ Miguel, the OEM's I am referring to is ATT, TMO, Sprint, Verizon. They can change, the case, style, of the phone.
Maybe you haven't been using WM very long. There are apps for every single thing you could possibly need, including apps for mapping ctrl and tab keys. As simple as copying the app to your phone, running it, and choosing your key mapping. A quick search on google should get you pointed to the right threads on XDA.
@Churma
The cell phone carriers aren't OEM's. HTC is the OEM for this phone.
OEM:
Original Equipment Manufacturer
Good work HTC!
Yeah, give it up to HTC to make a better interface than MS themselves.
Nice review. Too bad I'm on Cellar South so we'll prolly get this in a couple years!!!
Give it up for The South! Test Scores, Civil Rights, and now Tech! Always bringing up the rear :P
They really fixed the lag with TouchFlo. The lag on my friend's Diamond was unbearable. Although some of the good design cues are gone, this is certainly prettier than Sprint's version, no doubt.
No doubt. On Sprint and torn between this and the Pre when I upgrade from my Mogul. The Sprint TP2 design is hideous enough it's actually impacting the decision.
Who cares what Sprint's ROM is like? 20 minutes and your phone is unlocked and loaded with the latest and greatest from XDA. If you are using your carrier ROM on a WinMo device then you are most certainly missing out.
Boring. It's on T-Mobile = no 3G
Windows Mobile? Please.
Android is friggin slow.
That leaves the Pre with its crap hardware and SDK, Blackberry with its ancient OS, the iPhone with its only issue being its AT&T only.
No wonder HTC's sales are in the toilet.
Must be a slow news day.
Actually, If you had bothered to look at the device photos you would notice it says 3G T-Mobile as the carrier name. T-Mobile has 3G in many markets now and is adding more markets all the time. I know most major cities in New York State such as NYC, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse have 3G with T-Mobile.
But then that is typical of fanbois... NO FACTS.
Idiot...
It's still doesn't take away the fact that the odds are against you in having 3G coverage in the US.
Let's just hope this comes out on all US carriers. It's funny, though, because T Mobile never carried the Touch Pro but every other carrier did.
Some defending a mobile company, on 3g coverage no less? I never thought id see the day.
I tend to agree with Terry's comments. HTC try so hard but they dont have the complete package. Whats the point of great hardware if you have crap software...and i mean REALLY crap software.
You could call be biased because i now own an iPhone but i had used a HTC Wizard, HP and my last phone was a HTC Polaris and the difference between WinMo and iPhone OS is night and day. You can hate all you want but the iPhone is a great device and its only problem IS that its stuck with AT&T.
Uh, how is Android slow? The normal builds (not the custom versions by htc) run as quickly as any of the alternatives. The only laggy version was the HTC's Sense and that's mostly because of the hardware and when running multiple widgets (though from other reviews from people who bought it, it doesn't seem so bad).
If you mean slow release of great hardware, I would agree since so far it's basically exactly the same hardware as the G1.
Which 3G does T-mobile use? The CDMA/EVDO 2mbit one used by Sprint that can't do voice and data at once? Or the GSM styled version which while amazing for the rest of the world, is hobbled by AT&T so as to taunt the Americans with?
ive been waiting for this moment all my life.. but its not quite right
Love the SSP reference.
lame.
@Terry
If T-Mobile's 3G sucks, and you don't like how the iPhone is on AT&T, then where do you suggest the GSM iPhone should get its service?
I just lost my Touch Pro and was thinking about upgrading to the Pro 2 , but without a CPU or RAM change other phones are looking more tempting. It looks really nice and I liked the Pro 2 ROMs that I ran on my Pro 1, but I think I'm going to have to wait. Of course it looks gorgeous, but I think I'll wait to see what's happening with the TG01.
I don't know about you, but I do not want a faster CPU unless there is some remarkable battery life in a 1ghz processor. I do not see that anytime soon.. The battery life on the Touch Pro's is brutal enough as is.
I saw some massive aftermarket battery solutions for the TP1, some requiring a new massive back plate to hold them. I wonder how long until the TP2 gets a 3000 mah battery?
Churma, Snapdragon and Tegra have some of the lowest wattage usage ever seen on a mobile in history. Check it out bro, I'm waiting for tegra or snapdragon winmo phones.
i heard it was going to be priced at $349 on contract after rebate
I read that price point at tmonews as well, but there two guys over at xda devs whose claiming a 2 year price of $279.99 from customer service and a tmobile store. We'll see soon enough.
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/Cell-Phone-Detail.aspx?cell-phone=HTC-Touch-Pro-2
Despite tmo's store pricing, everyone calling in to tmobile today is being quoted the 279.99 price for a 2 year contract. I thought it might be a fluke yesterday, but I'm reading tons of comments right now from all over repeating the same experience.
thank god my contract is up in december because between this phone and the mytouch 3g and the blackberry 9700 for t-mobile im going to have a lot of 3g phone to choose from.
I can't wait to get mine on Sprint. I want this phone so bad I'm tearing my hair out.
Am I the only one caught him saying YVGA instead of WVGA at the end of the video?
Hah, did I really? I'm not going to lie, I was *not* a born narrator.
Actually, I thought you did a great job. Very detailed, honest and fair. That is quite a rarity these days. :D Good Job.
I give engagdet crap all the time chris, though only when they deserve it. This whole piece is high quality, props to you.