HTC's HD2 gets sized up to the competition

We've already seen (and written) plenty on the HD2, and we've enjoyed our initial experiences with the device -- but now someone has finally sized up the massive, Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone with its touchscreen contemporaries... and the differences are downright shocking. Just take a look at this beast next to Apple's iPod touch (above) or the company's own Hero -- the displays on the older devices seem dwarfed by the HD2's 4.3-inch, 800 x 480 WVGA screen. There are lots of other revealing pictures in the writeup, but it's the side-by-side shots that seem most telling to us -- this is certainly the direction we're headed in for mobile devices. Hit the read link and take a full look for yourself.

[Via SlashGear]

[Gungel Posted Oct 11th 2009 9:10AM]

@WindowsFTW, Don't forget the 5 megapixel autofocus camera with dual LED flash and standard 3.5mm audio jack.

[Gungel Posted Oct 11th 2009 9:14AM]

Looks like a lot of posters are angry that they are locked in a 2 year contract with the iPhone or an Android phone. So they try desperately to defend there purchasing decision by posting comments against this "überphone".

[tylersmyler Posted Oct 11th 2009 9:26AM]

Anyone notice the caption:

"I wonder what in the HD2 is sound?"

I love direct translation sometimes..

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 9:34AM]

Really... there comes a time when big is TOO big.
I think that thing is just huge, and ugly.
Seriously... they should calm down with all that "le's make a huge display" thing

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 9:34AM]

Thanks

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 9:36AM]

Does it come with wheels???

[MegaJapan Posted Oct 11th 2009 9:38AM]

And the removable battery, multi-tasking capabilities, and... yeah, you get the picture.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 10:07AM]

I haven't read the mobile-review take on this beaut yet, but I've seen a LOT of information so far... and no one has even mentioned battery life. It's supposedly a tad bigger than the 3GS and smaller than an N900. That screen has GOT to eat up some serious juice. It's very, very pretty, but if it only lasts a half day...?

[richb93 Posted Oct 11th 2009 10:34AM]

Why do you post so many stories on mobiles to engadget? I thought thats what engadget mobile was for.

[z0phi3l Posted Oct 11th 2009 10:37AM]

I'd love for HTC to do an Android version of that phone, I'd pay for that, and switch providers if necessary

[Crazysamz Posted Oct 11th 2009 10:42AM]

DROOOOL!!! WANT WANT WANT (fapfapfap) jklol
I can't wait to get this. HTC, release this ASAP! I know you said Q1 2010, hopefully that means sometime around January, I could then justify upgrading to a new phone for my birthday. And I'm getting sick o this iPhone 3gs now...

[rob47 Posted Oct 11th 2009 10:54AM]

Now theres a good combination iphone/android OS with HD2 hardware.

[Barrysouroldpartneryaknow Posted Oct 11th 2009 11:18AM]

Faster processor = better than Iphone
More ram = better than Iphone
An actual UI instead of just a grid of Icon = better than Iphone
Bigger screen = better than Iphone
Higher resolution = better than Iphone
More codecs = better than Iphone

You don't have to like the phone, but you're an idiot if you continue to insist the Iphone is better when it just isn't.

[Canucker Posted Oct 11th 2009 12:27PM]

It's not a question of more is better in phone devices. Every phone/consumer device is a series of compromises. Processor speed vs battery life. Size vs utility. Specs vs cost. Different companies make different value calls on these and that's what gives us choice. Over time, we get more as charge densities, die size and chip costs improve. But if you take the view that bigger, faster, wider, etc is the future, do yourself a favour, save a few years and buy yourself a netbook. That is not where phones are going though.

[mynando Posted Oct 11th 2009 11:19AM]

Want badly.

[XChrisX Posted Oct 11th 2009 11:33AM]

I haven't used an htc device running windows/touch flo before but the hardware of this device is perfect. Who can honestly complain about such an awesome looking beast?! I've still got till next summer when my iPhone contract is up but glad to see there are some viable options out there unlike a year or so ago when it was really just the iPhone.

[deciBels Posted Oct 11th 2009 11:41AM]

Oh GOD! I think Im weak in the knees...I need a smoke.

[0to60 Posted Oct 11th 2009 1:25PM]

if you want android, just flash onto your HD2 when you get one, if you can put android on an iphone, you certainly can do it on this

[DaHarder Posted Oct 11th 2009 1:51PM]

"this is certainly the direction we're headed in for mobile devices" - Really?

I seriously doubt that we'll see a flood of new smartphones of this enormity, and (in fact) we'll see more smaller ones in the future.

It appears that many consumers prefer convenience over mass when it comes to their phones, and something of this size is simply not that convenient to carry around or use.

Very Nice Smartphone, but most certainly a niche device...

[n1hmrd Posted Oct 11th 2009 1:57PM]

why i use a e71 (before it e61) i love big ass phones,they are so handy for not hurting your eyes its unreal,i have to say i like looks of this thing,big ass phone!....this or the n900 i think will be my next phone

[DaHarder Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:00PM]

I've had an iPhone since the day it was introduced, purchased the 3G the day that it was released, and was never happy with either.

The call quality was horrendous (AT&T), the audio/iPod sound quality was subpar, the screen resolution/quality was barely suitable for watching videos, and the camera is mediocre at best (including the 3GS).

So one could reason that simply because you 'love it' doesn't mean that others will follow suit.

I just switched to Verizon/HTC Imagio last week, and finally feel a degree of satisfaction with both my cellular service as well as the device itself, and if the Imagio is any indication of the quality of the LEO, the iPhone (regardless of the app store) doesn't stand a chance for the serious user.

[Bookmark Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:19PM]

next thing we know, we are trying to put a netbook into our pocket

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:22PM]

I have to admit, although I'm not the biggest Winmo fan, this is the sexiest phone I have ever seen. Hopefully other mobile companies see this and model their new phones off of it as well. All screen and no wasted space is the future.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:31PM]

waaay too big and bulky. nah ~ it's not gonna be a competition for apple.

[weedalin Posted Nov 20th 2009 10:49PM]

Yes, because Apple has clearly created the golden standard for how big a cellular device should be.
You realize that judging devices such as these purely based on size alone is absolutely ridiculous?

[DaveHintz Posted Oct 11th 2009 3:23PM]

@NG Sony already did that, haha http://a.images.blip.tv/Soumyadip-SonyVaioP313.jpg

[Pingles Posted Oct 11th 2009 3:34PM]

Is there an option on the comments to just read reasonable people's comments?

I own an iPhone but I like the look of that big screen and am eager to here how responsive it is to both touch and program speeds.

I can't believe that so many folks have to defend their product and trash anything else. Sheesh.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 3:45PM]

If you take a look at the videos you will see it is extremely responsive and apps launch very quickly. Which is no surprise considering its got a 1 Gigahertz snapdragon processor in it. Compare that to the iPhone's 600 Megahertz processor. I have an iPhone 3G but it's going to the wayside when this bad boy comes out. It's time for Apple to step it up big time!

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 3:41PM]

I love this phone and will most definitely be looking to get one when it comes out. But one thing I have noticed about the OS is why don't they keep the time displayed in the status bar like the iPhone does? I would hate to have to switch back to my home screen just to figure out what time it is? (please don't reply - "that's what your watch is for")

[staticx57 Posted Oct 11th 2009 6:22PM]

It can if you want it to.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2009 1:31AM]

Its just a few clicks away under settings. Unlike the iphone you can add and remove alot of essential settings according to your liking.

[Hydra Posted Oct 11th 2009 5:23PM]

Wish it had android =(

[raaaaaa Posted Oct 11th 2009 5:43PM]

PLEASE COME TO VERIZON!!!!!!!!PLEASE

FORGET ATT&T

[N900 Posted Oct 11th 2009 6:09PM]

"expensive geek hardware."

and I don't even WANT to tell him how much the 3GS is unlocked...

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 7:08PM]

http://img101.imageshack.us/i/28878389.jpg/

Everyone should look at this picture.

For all intents and purposes, the HD2 is the same size as an iPhone

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 7:16PM]

For all the Android Sheep..

Search xda-developers.com for HTC Dragon.. A member has a leaked ROM from a device with internal name Dragon.. It has the same guts and screen as the HD2 but the OS is listed as Google.. So you will have a choice..

[samialtas Posted Oct 11th 2009 7:20PM]

The biggest problem which Windows Mobile is facing is only supporting capacitive screens. So even Microsoft make a greater UI than its rivals, I will never buy a "Windows Phone".

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2009 1:19AM]

Windows Mobile has historically only had support for resistive touch screens (ones that typically require a stylus or finger nail). The HD2 is a capacitive touch screen (same as the iPhone).

With the right drivers, Windows Mobile supports whatever the hardware designers want.

[Simon Seize Posted Oct 11th 2009 7:40PM]

I, for one, welcome our new WVGA overlords.

[Plothole Posted Oct 11th 2009 8:54PM]

The screen size makes it rather attractive to me as an ereader. The only thing that would make it better is if it had the Pixel Qi technology. (Maybe that's something they'll do with the HD3?)

[Skillz Posted Oct 12th 2009 2:18AM]

Ok one more time for those who didn't notice after a couple of post about it:

THAT'S AN iPOD TOUCH, NOT AN IPHONE. THE iPHONE IS 5.5MM BIGGER COMPARED TO THE TOUCH, WHICH MAKES IT ALMOST THE SAME SIZE AS THE HD2.

Engadget, better put up a nice pic comparing the HD2 with a iPhone, because this is some of the biggest BS I've ever seen...

[smover Posted Oct 12th 2009 6:06AM]

I had a test sample of the HD2 in hands last week, and I WANT IT BAD !!! When you have it in your hand it doesn't look big, it's even thiner than the iPhone. What really matters when you have it in hand is that you see this screen, it is just an incredible one making all other devices looks like 2 years old (the 3GS include).

Worse than that : winMo 6.5 + HTC Sense + Snapdragon = winner... We all know WinMo flaws, so does HTC and they worked great to fixed all those you may meet in an all day use of this device. After playing with it a couple of minutes :
1. I wanted the phone for it's - capacitive & multitouche - screen / design / feels !
2. I wanted the phone because the interface rocks and runs REALLY fast !
3. I wanted this phone because browse the internet with it is the best experience i ever had on a phone !

The HD2 is THAT good. If HTC sells the HD 2 in november in Europe as some MS guys told me, it should be a clear winner !! Of course most people will never hear of it so they'll still buy an iPhone 3G, but this HTC is one big step beyond competition and i can't wait to order mine !

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 13th 2009 3:24PM]

This has the same screen resolution as the blackstone and touch pro 2?
Son, I am dissappoint..

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 4th 2009 11:32AM]

I would think the Iphone is big enough just needs to get rid of that button and maybe put it on the side and have a bigger screen ...then IMO it will be just right...oh and ofcourse on verizon's 4gs...oh and yeah..maybe reduce the weight just a bit...oh and yeah maybe