HTC Touch Diamond vs. Samsung i900 Omnia: Head-to-Head

02 July 2008
It’s PocketPC playoffs and HTC are giving Samsung a match at the GSM Arena. With two of the stars of the season arriving in our office all at once, we thought it’s a heck of an opportunity for some Diamond-Omnia-Diamond-Omnia-Diamond-Omnia game-set-match. We got two aces up to the challenge, so sit back and stretch out. Ah well, get that six-pack too and join us for the kick-off...

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  • n
  • nicolasiac
  • SXp
  • 03 Jul 2008

I think Omnia is far better.
When you are buing a pocket pc phone the first things that you look are memory, cpu and size of display. (functionality seem to be the same)

Video playback or how good the photos are come second.

    • F
    • Firstime
    • inL
    • 03 Jul 2008

    This is very nice review

    Cover pretty much everything this phone capable of,

    However, i wish if possible, to see the Video out function of OAmnia, and avaliable memory (RAM) when start PPC, and to install third party programs on both phone to check compatability.

    anyway this review is already cool!

      • J
      • JM
      • vGe
      • 03 Jul 2008

      This is why I love gsmarena so much .
      first getting the best gadgets in the world and making it somehow even better with such head to head reviews .
      i have been considering both these phones and whats better than this review !!

        • d
        • dimok
        • mXb
        • 03 Jul 2008

        I have the Diamond for a week now… Biggest problem for me is the battery, and believe me it is a big problem.
        I’m in UK, and I want to use Diamond on 3(three) network. 3 doesn’t have a 2G (as far as I’m aware) ant the 3G antenna drains out the battery fast. I didn’t manage to use(medium usage) the phone for a hole day and I don’t mean 24h. I take it out about 7AM and somewhere around 5PM it is dead :(.

        No card slot, smaller camera, really rubbish battery, smaller screen… and I would still prefer it over the omnia.
        This phone is just superb!

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • vue
          • 03 Jul 2008

          zzz
          looks like diamond beats omnia on web browsing and video playback due to its higher resolution. I thought omnia would win :(

            • A
            • Applefanboy
            • C44
            • 03 Jul 2008

            woot great review!

              • P
              • Paul
              • QJ6
              • 03 Jul 2008

              It says that there's two version of the Diamond? Where can I get my hand on the US version? What's the chance of getting a Diamond and having it not be the version you want?

                • M
                • MyNameIsOptional
                • nS9
                • 03 Jul 2008

                Omnia if you want more media centric device with business features. Diamond is better for business with average media functions.

                I guess it's a bit like the Nokia N and E series smartphones. What features are more important to you?

                Personally I prefer the Samsung Omnia... Unless you have great eyesight VGA on 2.8" is tiiiinnnnyyyy. I have an E90 with a 4" 800x354 resolution and everything is small enough already. Omnia screen is much bigger. 2.8" is too small for my liking.

                Samsung also have better hardware. Much faster CPU (Intel), better camera etc.

                Software and UI can be added/improved but hardware cannot. SPB anyone?

                  • C
                  • CompuNerdLOL
                  • nS9
                  • 03 Jul 2008

                  Superb comparison! Many thanks!

                  I don't understand the figures on the bottom of page 6 about the audio... Does the Omnia perform just as good as an iPod or the N81?

                  Would the Omnia audio be classed as poor/average/good/very good/excellent? Same question for iPod or N81.

                  Sorry for all the questions but I really don't want to carry a seperate mp3 player if this phone does the job.

                    • J
                    • Jayjaysw19
                    • 32B
                    • 02 Jul 2008

                    Nice review! These 2 phones are really doing well but I have to admit I would prefer the Diamond. First because of its TouchFlo and VGA screen and secondly because of the brand, I find it nice to change a bit from the Nokia, Sony, Samsung specially when you get your first smartphone. Saying that, Samsung is a quick learner :)

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • jJe
                      • 02 Jul 2008

                      I think OVERALL, the Omnia is the better performer. But even so, the Diamond's web browser outperforms the Omnia, which is actually more important to a lot of people (like me). Also, Omnia may have the faster touch UI, but the Diamond has better visual graphics. And I think the major advantage of the Diamond really is its VGA screen and its high resolution. Zooming in on pictures is awesome. It keeps the details crisp and clear and does not pixelate the image like most screens do when you zoom in. So it really depends on what phone qualities are more important to you. If you subscribe full internet for your phone & if you're more particular with high quality screen display and like to store pictures into your phone not minding to transfer photos from your digital camera, then the Diamond would be the better choice. But if what's more important for you is a fast touch UI that can get you from 1 application to another smoothly, does a lot of texting, and use your phone as your primary camera, then the Omnia is your obvious choice. Honestly, the sluggish touch UI of the Diamond sometimes gets on my nerves, but it's really not that bad. The only phone I would consider to replace my Diamond would be Meizu MiniOne that comes out in October or November, because that one would also come with a VGA screen but with a bigger display of 3.2 inches.

                        • M
                        • Matt
                        • pJi
                        • 02 Jul 2008

                        Very good review, offers more detail on the Touch Diamond than any others I've read.

                        Now....I just need to get my hands on one so I can finally decide on whether to get one or go for the 3G iPhone!

                          • C
                          • Chris
                          • MVB
                          • 02 Jul 2008

                          G, 02 Jul 2008Nice comparison :) Although I still think the windows mo... moreBrilliant job guys, fantastic write up and pictures

                            • C
                            • CSingh
                            • k8X
                            • 02 Jul 2008

                            these are both great phones no mistake but at the end of the day i know that the omnia will be in my pocket! :D

                              • T
                              • The Diamound
                              • 04W
                              • 02 Jul 2008

                              for God sakes they are just phones....Get a life everyone.....btw The Diamound has way better, way cooler look and amazing and i mean amazing display better than even the iphone

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • n}v
                                • 02 Jul 2008

                                Omnia is much better than Diamond

                                I love this phone .

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 2Am
                                  • 02 Jul 2008

                                  both handsets are the finest offering from samsung and htc. But, thank god im not a windows mobile user or else i'll be in a big dilemma!

                                    • C
                                    • Chamon
                                    • PfB
                                    • 02 Jul 2008

                                    I've loved this review, but... Now i'm confused. Wich one i get? Or, maybe I can wait for 3G Iphone come to Brazil... I don't know! Someone can help me?

                                      • j
                                      • jacka$$1
                                      • 4Hm
                                      • 02 Jul 2008

                                      Great review! But you failed to mention if the Omnia REALLY does have TRIBAND 3G! There's plenty of sites out there with contradicting info on this subject. The features presented in this head-to-head review are all fine and good. However, for U.S. importers, "does the Omnia have triband 3G?" is the BIG question on everybody's minds before making the HUGE investment in importing the thing. I know it's listed on the GSMArena specs as HSDPA 850/1900/2100. But since you folks have the pre-production unit, please reconfirm. Thank you! :)

                                        • F
                                        • Fayez
                                        • 258
                                        • 02 Jul 2008

                                        the real deciding factor must be price between these 2 powerful mobiles. but samsung must be given advantage in term of storage space and 5 mp camera with face detection....