HTC Desire HD review: Most wanted

Final words

The HTC Desire HD is not in the mood to fool around – it has to be the biggest screen, the fastest processor, the latest software on the block.

It’s easy to pick the best available ingredients – but making them work in a slim and solid package like the Desire HD is what separates the wannabes from the champions. And HTC did a great job – the HD is almost exactly the size of a Samsung Galaxy S despite the 0.3” lead in screen size.

Having mentioned it, the Samsung Galaxy S already has a solid market headstart and a Froyo release. Its screen may be 0.3-inches smaller, but it’s definitely superior. The TouchWiz is not the best custom UI but sure gets the job done. The Galaxy S costs at least 120 euro less than the Desire HD, which along with the Super AMOLED screen and the better HD videos is a serious advantage.

Samsung I9000 Galaxy S

Looking at the Eclair-running Droids, we find the Motorola MILESTONE XT720 and the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10. We’re talking big high-res screens, 8 megapixel still cameras with HD recording and custom user interface plug-ins. Both phones fetch a much lower price than the Desire HD, but neither is likely to get a Froyo upgrade any time soon.

Motorola MILESTONE XT720 • Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10

There is no way we can miss the Apple iPhone 4 or the Nokia N8. In this price bracket, it’s mostly flagship phones the Desire HD will be dealing with. So, if budget is of no concern, the iPhone-grade touchscreen experience and Retina display are well worth your time and money. So is probably the best cameraphone you can get these days – the Nokia N8.

Apple iPhone 4 • Nokia N8

Or you might want to give Microsoft a second chance. If that’s the case, there’re quite a few Windows Phone 7 alternatives. HTC have the HD7 – almost the same specs as the Desire HD with nearly the same price tag. Another excellent offer is the Samsung I8700 Omnia 7 – a 4-inch Super AMOLED display being its most prominent feature.

HTC HD7 • Samsung I8700 Omnia 7

Like most of the phones listed above, the HTC Desire HD is for those looking for the ultimate gadget.

We’re dealing with a true heavyweight here. This phone is hard to beat, whether it’s hardware or software. It takes SuperAMOLED or Retina to actually challenge the massive screen. Froyo has brought a major performance boost too.

In all honesty, its camera performance is less than stellar, and so is the audio reproduction quality, but there are other things that make the phone so desirable. One of them is the updated Sense UI with a host of remote services. There’s also the unibody design and the impressive connectivity package. Not least, it’s the massive screen matched to a slim profile.

If you fear the 4.3 inches worth of screen might too big for your hand or pocket or think that 768MB of RAM is a bit of an overkill, you should definitely try the phone out before shelling out the cash. If you find out you like it, or if you have your heart set on getting the a top feature package, then the HTC Desire HD is one of the handful phones that fit the job description and definitely deserves serious consideration.