HTC Hero / Eris mega faceoff on video
Now that we've got the DROID Eris in the mix, we're up to our ears in HTC Hero-derivative devices. We decided to sit the whole crew (GSM, Sprint and Verizon editions) down for a little modeling session, and we're finding ourselves reticent to pick a favorite. There are really plusses and minuses to each of them, but any way you lean it's a pretty good handset with some perhaps overly bulky software, a wonderful pricepoint (on Verizon, anyway) and probably a limited time in the sun with upcoming Android 2.0 devices, faster processors and wild new screens rolling on in. Check the video out after the break and you can make up your own mind.






















I don't get why a head to head among these three devices was necessary... THEY'RE ALL EXACTLY THE SAME!!!! You could have tossed in the Magic 32a in the equation too since it's the same board as those three, same processor, same storage, same memory, same UI (now with the sense update). It's like comparing a macintosh to a red delicious to a granny smith... They're all apples!!!!
They're different form factors, so it's fun to compare.
... and a blast to contrast
exactly, a granny smith computer is the same as a mac!
[typed on a Red Delicious laptop]
if you don't get it, there's no point explaining it to you. i appreciate the illustration of the physical differences of each version, form factor is a huge point i consider when about to buy a new device. that said i too am still partial to the original hero, chin and all, it is hands down one of my favorite mobile designs ever.
Paul: you say "uhh" and "umm" a lot. Please clean it up for the next video :)
Have you eaten a Red Delicious recently? Call me an apple fanboy if you want, but I like macs and I like granny smith, honeycrisps are my favorite, hell I even like golden delicious, but I can barely stomach taking a single bite of a red delicious, they are vile disgusting excuses for apples and people only buy them because they look like what they expect apples to look like from children's books and such.
See I am even overly opinionated about fruit.
Totally agree with @RandomGuy about the Red Delicious, major waste of a fruit. I'm actually big on Fujis.
McIntosh are good. Golden Delicious are great for making apple tea - good for bedtime to have a nice calm sleep. Nothing like Newtown Pippin - just ask George Washington.
I love apples. An apple a day keeps the doctor away !
Carpediem: you angry brah? Is constructive criticism not allowed when something is free? He says it a LOT. It's just a suggestion, so try to calm your high blood pressure.
How dare you call my Hero chrome cheap! HERO FTW!
About the "dots", I have them on My Verizon LG Dare - they seem to be responsible for touch , detect touch or something.
I have the dots on my Tytn II, just figured it was the individual capacitive 'touch spots' of the touchscreen layer, almost impossible to see unless you are looking for them...
The Choice is Clear.
Verizon's Premium Unlimited plan offers unlimited text & data as well as unlimited minutes. That's great, but it's a CEO like $139.99 a month.
Sprint's EPRP gives you the same unlimted text & data with 450 land-line minutes which nobody uses anymore and unlimited calls to any cell phone on any carrier, essentially giving you unlimited minutes. And they do it for the good Christian price of $59.99
139.99
- 59.99
-------------
80.00 In Savings
And if you one of the few neanderthal's that still call land-lines all the time then bump it up $20 and go for the 1000 minutes, still saving you $60 a month.
If your worried about Sprints coverage don't fret. In Moderate to heavy populated area's Sprint will roam on Verizon's towers. And their 3G is on par with Verizon's Coverage and Performance. Don't believe me? Just check out this handy dandy Comparison that PC world cooked up for us. http://www.pcworld.com/zoom?id=167391&page=1&zoomIdx=1
This is not a slam Verizon add, as I do think they are the best carrier out there. I'm just trying to educate people in a way that will save them $1840 over the life of a contract (difference in phone price included)
But these are essentially the same phones, so why not go for value?
@ Banksta3
Wow dude. Do your homework. You wouldn't need the 139.99 plan on Big Red, you would need the Select plan, which consequently you can get with 450 minutes or for your so called "Neanderthal" friends, the 900 plan comes with a pick 5 which can be changed every 24 hours if you choose to. So let's compare:
Sprint 900 Minute "Everything Data" - 90/month x 24 months = 2160 + $180 = $2340
Verizon 900 minute Select + Email & Web add on - 110/month x 24 months =2640+100 =$2740
$2740
- $2340
= $400
$400 for THE best network available. Consider me sold.
YoMeister, Does the Verizon plan you cite also include Mobile TV and Navigation? Or are those add-ons as well on Verizon? The Sprint plan includes both of those.
I've never had VZW as a carrier, but I've also never dropped a call on Sprint unless I'm about 30 miles from the nearest sizeable town.
Not picking on Verizon, just asking.
Dude like's the Jay Leno chin design which totally sucks. He must have a thing for Jay Leno. There's gonna be about a gazillion Android clone smartphones and customers will be scared to go in and try to pick one. Talk about market confusion. Two Droids already. In a year, there'll be twenty Droids. Good luck on choosing your Droid. Can't wait till the first 'Roid goes on sale by some Chinese company called Hemo.
Too bad the Motorola Droid will fail along with the rest of any of Motorola smartphones coming down the pike. Clearly, Motorola needs to get out of the cellphone business. They have been the laughingstock of the cellphone industry for the last eight years. Their only innovation has been to find different ways to fail. They've been the the cellphone business for umpteen years and they still can't design a decent smartphone. WTF is wrong with their R&D team.
Only one smartphone will stand out from the rest. The one made by the well-known fruit company which needs no introduction.
umm, you can compare those apples because they each taste different.
they are all the same except for form factor why even do this
why complain? you get better choice, get the one which matches you...
Haha, because this is a comparison of... wait for it... the differences in form factor.
You seem to be saying 'We Don't Need Another Hero'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHXA4_O-MXM
@why Epic win dude ! Awesome ! Let music say it all !
Mmmm clear as purified water :)
These videos don't work for me embedded, if I got to viddler I can watch them, any idea why? using firefox
@(Unverified) same here..
try turning off adblock plus if you have it, worked for me..
I would have included the my touch since it doesnt run sense so it might not have the lag.
they are all exactly the same except for form factor why even do this
stupid engadget comment system
YES, the form factor is DIFFERENT, that IS the ENTIRE point of the video. some people do not have access to the phones to compare, or otheres like myself simply enjoy seeing the differences. you act like engadget just wasted days of your life that you'll never get back. go eat some milk and cookies and take a nap cry baby
We cool nerds like to compare things like that. There are not two equal objects and I think it is interesting to point out the differences between the same concept placed in different carriers/countries.
The information about the buttons was really useful to me. Even if I don't buy or own each phone, I am one of those people that take gadgets and technology as a hobby, and learning about each detail is kinda cool.
I personally now like the Eris more than the Droid.
good for you, but I hope that you know that the droid is the better phone
There is no "better." To me, a keyboard is a waste of space. Sense UI is amazing...so Hero is the better phone.
Android 2.0 is only exciting right now because it's new. Soon it'll be "It's running stock 2.0, which is a let down..." in every Android review.
I like it better too. Too bad it's not 2.0.
Waiting for the Passion which will hopefully be the same form factor but larger screen.
Yupe, there is no "better" phone. What is better for me, could be worst for you. For me the Eris has a really nice interface. HTC did a great job with Sense UI. Also the form factor is more "compact" and the keyboard is not too bad. The only thing I don't like about the Eris, but that is insignificant.
Is there any way the Hero could be updated to Eclair?
@tikiteko/cmsb55: HTC are working on a 2.0 upgrade for the hero (they are skipping the 1.6 update entirely). It's gonna take a while though cos there's been quite a bit of customisation of android to incorporate SenseUI.
@TikiTeko Same here, I'm on my second Eris, however. :(
HD2 review pls kthxbye
Just returned from Verizon. Was hoping to leave with an Eris. The Droid was nice, but didn't like the keyboard; it was so flat, might as well have been virtual keyboard. Android 2.0 seemed pretty nice. The Eris was/is purty. However, Verizon said I'd be paying $99/month for 450 minutes, unlimited text/email/data. Too expensive for me at this time. I'm going to take my chances on the Sprint network w/the HTC Hero, same plan Verizon was offering, but only $69/month. $30/month difference is big in these shaky economic times, no?
@George Anthony: That's exactly the reason why I went with Sprint. Where I am 99% of the time it works great for me. come to think of it, I've never had issues with network. Those $30/mo saved on the plan come to $720 over the 24mo contract. Well worth the extra $80 you pay upfront.
Though if where you live Verizon has better coverage, then you are kinda stuck. The GSM one is not relevant for most, since it's not offered by any carrier in the US. Does the 3G on it work with Att or Tmobile 3g?
It is man. It is. That is a $360 saving per year. Plus you get unlimited calling to any mobile anytime, GPS, Sprint TV (that even if not stellar, hey it may save you from boredom waiting on a line or at the doctor's), nights start @ 7 PM (to call the other numbers).
To be honest, I would prefer to get the Moment on Sprint. I really need to go check that one out. IT has a gorgeous screen and so far the reviews I have seen have been positive.
The only thing I really hate about CDMA is how the phones are only usable here in the US. I mean, I feel way more comfortable with GSM, I think their resale value and opportunity is higher, but that seems not to bother other people.
I wish you luck in Sprint.
Yeah, Verizon's plans are just way too expensive. This will obviously put a damper on Verizon's sales.
Hopefully something as good as the Droid eventually reaches other carriers.
Happy SERO customer here with my $30 plan that includes 500 minutes, unlimited text, unlimited data.
Sucks that we don't get great deals on certain devices but the plan more than makes up for it.
Yeap, I prefer the design of HTC Magic, but as jubeh said, inside (and screen also) they all share the same specs.
So why so many variations?
I'd like a tabled DROID with 3.7" OLED 800x480 screen (like the new Samsung Omnia II - aka i8000) without sliding or loose parts, but so many variations and there is still not what's more natural evolution.
So I keep my HTC G1 untill android kiks the ass of windows phone on some hardware terminals I would like.
Because not everyone likes to have the same thing everyone else has. People have different tastes. I think its very smart that HTC takes the same phone innards and cranks it out in 5 different guises. Very smart.
Its not like this is the 1st time HTC has released the same phone (relatively speaking) for multiple carriers... its actually a pretty regular occurrence. In this case you have an extremely popular phone, so besides the European version, you'll see several in the U.S.
Not really a big deal.
Sorry for being so naive, but the HTC Magic is basically the G2 in the US right? :/
HTC on twitter made a post saying the hero will get a 2.0 update