The Titans Compared
We’ve been hearing a lot about the next set of phones to come out from HTC and there’s been lots of drooling going on. Every hands on video makes us more and more excited. But what are we getting excited over and is it warranted? I decided to take the spec sheets for the heavyweights: the Touch Pro/Fuze, Touch Pro 2, Diamond 2 and the Touch HD. The Touch Pro and Touch HD are available right now (ok the HD is a little tough to get in America but our European friends are loving it).
There’s a few noticeable items. All of the devices use the same processor and RAM/ROM so on paper they should be running at the same speed. Also, although the Diamond 2 and the Touch Pro 2 are always thought of being identical except for the keyboard, there’s actually a different size screen between the phones and both phones have smaller screens than than Touch HD. Also, the Touch Pro\Fuze is the only phone with a camera flash. There are also software differences out of the box – namely that the newest version of TF3D will be available for the Touch Pro 2 and Diamond 2 and those phones are known to be getting 6.5 upgrades (it’s unclear if the Fuze and the Touch HD will get it).
Anyway, that’s enough describing a spreadhseet for me:) Take a look yourself here (note that it’s a pdf). What do you think? If you already own a Fuze, is it worth the price to upgrade? And if you’re still on a Tilt, is this enough of an upgrade over the Fuze to really get you excited?
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
baymon On the PDF file it says that TP2 doesn’t have flash, it contradicts your posting statement.
David K Baymon – the TOuch Pro 1 has a flash- not the TP2.
The Fuze has A2DP – they all do just HTC leaves it off their website.
One of the things I did leave off if the proximity sensor on the TP2 which I need to update the chart for.
KCMatt After going from Tilt to Fuze, I might have to sit this one out (Touch Pro 2). Of course, that’s what I thought about the Fuze.
I feel like HTC is so far ahead of everyone else when it comes to Windows Mobile devices (especially those with slide-out QWERTY’s), that they can afford to hold back a little and just give us small incremental improvements on an annual basis and those phones will still be the best available. And that pisses me off.
Also, I really don’t like this movement away from D-pads and hardware buttons. It’s much easier to rely on tactile feel and not have to look at a screen, especially when driving. The Fuze’s d-pad is practiaclly unusable, almost as if HTC is trying to train us to get used to not using it on the TP2.
Why can’t someone come out with a WinMo slide-out qwerty that has all the latest features (and a 3.5mm jack!) that is very usable and works really really well?
I could design one, but that’s not my job at all. Maybe I’m in the wrong industry…
wendykb I’m looking forward to the better speaker on the Fuze2. I can get by with the one on the current Fuze, but I’d like to finally have a cell phone with a strong speaker.
I’m also interested in the larger screen on the Touch Pro2 and that it tilts. That’s a big plus for me.
I use a bluetooth headset exclusively, so the lack of a 3.5 jack isn’t a concern. However, I missed the fact that TP2 will not have hardware buttons? I love exterior buttons!
TorVez Anyone know if Spb Mobile Shell 3.0 will work with the larger screen on the TP2? Other than the larger screen (and looking hella-cool), I’m not sure it’s worth upgrading my Fuze.
Player911 I own a Fuze and I can’t really convince myself to get a Pure/Tilt2. I mean if you own a Fuze, you are still under contract and not upgrade-worthy anyway. Even at $150 Upgrade price… it doesn’t seem worth it.
The physical screen isn’t much bigger even though it sports a higher resolution. They aren’t much thinner then my Fuze either.
I just don’t see any real benefits from getting a new phone now when I have a Fuze
sdgil The Fuze running the latest Energy ROM is more than capable of doing most everything I need. It is fast, stable, has a physical keyboard (and unlike some, I much prefer the AT&T keyboard layout), and is prettier than the Tilt 2.
The Tilt 2 is MUCH easier to type on. It’s got a nicer screen and better battery. Also works better as an alarm clock than the Fuze because its speaker is upgraded. But those improvements are not enough to entice me to an early upgrade. My Fuze contract isn’t eligible for a discounted upgrade for another 7 months. During that time HTC is liable to drop their cool Android phones for several competitors–and if Android really starts to take off I may just have to hop on the bandwagon. As tweakable as WinMo, as stable as…well, more stable than anything else out there.
And in an HTC package. Can’t beat that. Plus, my work just did a contract with T-mobile that has as good a discount as their deal with AT&T so now I can get out of the AT&T ghetto.
In seven months.
If you are an ATT customer and are eligible for upgrade with discounts, the deal they are offering on the Tilt 2 is just incredible. Get it, wait patiently for a killer ROM, then flash that sucker into usability.
You will absolutely love that phone. For me, not worth the hundreds of bucks for marginal improvements (especially now with Energy’s 6.5 ROM for the Fuze) but for you who are ready for a new device, this thing rocks.
jsr I tried the Tilt 2 because my Tilt was on the verge of death. While the Tilt 2 had an awesome screen, and some nice features, I couldn’t get used to not having a D-Pad. These fat fingers of mine just don’t swipe and point well. I returned it for the Fuze today. I spent 30 minutes playing with the Fuze at AT&T and decided the lack of the D-pad was a deal buster for me on the Tilt 2. I’m happy, though not ecstatic, about this decision. I hope HTC brings the D-Pad back on their next device. Anyone who blindly navigates by feel with their D-pad (like me) should consider this before their purchase.
I’m waiting for an HTC phone with a 3.5mm jack AND proper video drivers. Until then, I’ll stick with the Fuze.