AT&T HTC HD7S - Review
T-Mobile customers accept been enjoying the HTC HD7 for some time at present. The large screen Windows Phone is at present headed to AT&T as the HD7S. The "South" is for the Super LCD WVGA screen. Personally, I would accept liked to have seen AT&T go with something more than creative like the HTC Slate. HTC HD7S is fitting simply it can exist somewhat of a tongue twister.
We ran a commencement impression video before and was impressed with what we saw. Over the past few days nosotros've used the HD7S exclusively and while it still makes a expert impression, there is some room for comeback.
Movement on past the break to meet how well that first impression lasted.
Tell of the Tape
Key specifications for the HTC HD7S include:
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD 8250 1ghz
- Memory: 512ROM, 576RAM, 16GB Storage
- Display: 4.3" 800x480 sLCD WVGA
- Dimensions: 4.8x2.68x.44 inches
- Weight: five.7 ounces (with battery)
- Bombardment: 1230 mAh
Compared to the HTC Surround, the HTC is noticeably larger and thinner. Compared to the other large screen Windows Phone carried past AT&T, the Samsung Focus, the two Windows Phones are virtually the same.
The Focus has more than curved corners, while the HD7S is more box shaped. The Focus is noticeably lighter and feels thicker past just a hair. The HD7S curves slightly at the sides giving it a thinner feel. Solely taking fit and experience into business relationship, if a Samsung Focus owner was forced to replace their Focus with the HD7S, they wouldn't exist upset.
The layout of the HD7S has the volume and photographic camera buttons resting on the correct side, ability/screen on-off push at the top, and the 3.5mm jack and micro-USB resting on the bottom of the telephone.
To the dorsum you will find a 5 megapixel photographic camera with dual LED lights. The back of the telephone is finished in a nice matte greyness stop that offers a decent corporeality of grip to the phone. The camera is framed with a hinged piece of metallic (that resembles a bottle opener) that can swing out to prop the HD7S upright.
The HD7S's stand feels amend than the peg-leg stand found on the Surround. Information technology is one of those "amend to have it and not demand it, than need it and not accept it" features.
The but design bug I could detect deals with the bombardment encompass, the power button and the HD7S'south front end design.
The issue with the power push button is that information technology sits likewise affluent with the telephone. On the positive, it reduces the chances of accidentally pressing it. On the negative, it'south not the easiest to access. I think information technology could exist raised a few millimeters without effecting the positive. It's non a critical issue but one you'll have to get used to.
The battery encompass is a little more complicated. The dorsum is split with the upper 2/3rds beingness the removable battery cover. The bottom 1/3rd is stationary, likely to prevent curious souls from trying to encounter if the storage can exist expanded.
The issue is ii fold and deals with the removable battery cover. First, it'due south flimsy. In removing it, you lot tin't assist just feel it's going to snap in two. 2d, information technology doesn't fit flush with the bottom 3rd of the back. There is a pilus line gap large enough to meet the SIM card and let all sorts of dust, dirt, crud and moisture through to the phones innards.
I'll requite HTC the benefit of the doubt in that this may exist a fit issue exclusive to the phone I'm testing but it may be something to look for and consider once the phone hits the open market.
My issue with the front pattern is that the screen doesn't extend completely from the top and bottom of the phone. The screen stops just shy of the edges to accommodate a mesh grill that covers the earpiece (and sensors?) up top and just for residual at the lesser. The mesh is recessed and in the procedure creates a pocket-size ledge where dust, grit and grime tin accumulate. The mesh covers looks good but I would have preferred they were flush with the edges of the screen.
While I call up there is some room for improvement, all in all, the HD7S is a nicely built, comfy in the hand Windows Phone. Address the flimsy, gaping bombardment encompass, recessed mesh covers and it will shine brighter.
Software
As with other Windows Phones, the HD7S runs Windows Phone 7. It comes updated with the pre-Nodo and Nodo updates and then it can re-create/paste correct out of the box.
Asides from the typical Windows Phone 7 features, the HTC HD7S also has the customary HTC Hub software and AT&T Bloatware. The nice thing about the additional software add-ons is that you can delete any y'all don't want, like or need.
The Snapdragon processor moves everything along rather nicely. Kick speeds and load times were prompt, not dissimilar what you would see with other Windows Phones. In an un-scientific exam, it took the HD7S nearly twenty-ix seconds to kicking.
I did detect one oddity with regards to stability. About four hours into the day, the HD7S reset itself twice for no apparent reason while in the case. After the first example, I thought the power button was being pressed by the case. I made sure the button wasn't in contact with the case and about five minutes afterwards, it reset itself once again. In the three days I used the HD7S, these resets never repeated themselves and then I'll mark this off as an anomaly for at present.
Da' Screen
There'southward been a lot of discussion concerning the screen. How does it compare with LCD WVGA screens? What most AMOLED screens? How does it measure up to the HD7? Outdoor performance? I promise to address as much of the curiosities every bit possible.
The iv.3" capacitive touch screen is nicely responsive to the touch. I did non experience any difficulties in navigating around the HD7S with regards to swipes, touches, taps, and holds.
With regards to screen quality, the sLCD is a prissy screen. Video play dorsum was very good and graphics came across equally every bit nice. Only how does it compare.
One inclination is to compare it to the Super AMOLED screen of the Samsung Focus (here's an earlier comparison with the Focus, Surround and HD7S). The more appropriate comparison may be up confronting the HTC HD7. In my opinion, the HD7S falls somewhere in between the ii.
While an HD7 isn't readily available, we saw in the comparison video with the Focus, Surround and HD7S the AMOLED Screen of the Focus has an border to it. The Super AMOLED screen comes beyond more vibrant with more contrast that gives the screen a bit more pop.
The same can be said of outdoor use. On a sunny 24-hour interval the Focus screen was easier to come across. Oddly, the standard LCD WVGA screen of the Surround as well was like shooting fish in a barrel to encounter than the HD7S. While it may not easily come out on the video, all 3 are viewable outdoors, the HD7S was the weakest performer of the 3.
I stopped by the local T-Mobile Store and compared the HD7S to the HD7. While I couldn't spend much quality fourth dimension with the ii phones, it was really difficult to tell the difference. If anything, the HD7S might have merely a bear on more pop with its screen.
Overall, all iii (Super AMOLED, sLCD, and LCD) are all very prissy screens. If I had to rank them by overall performance, it would be the Super AMOLED first and so a dead tie between the sLCD and LCD. Regardless of the comparison, the screen on the HD7S is very good with respect to quality and responsiveness.
The only nit I take with the screen is that information technology is a fingerprint magnet. More then than other Windows Phones that I've handled. It felt that every touch, tap, swipe and concord left its marking on the screen for all to run into. Non sure what could exist washed about this but information technology did stand out. The grease collection isn't a breaking point but you will notice yourself shirt wiping the screen ofttimes.
Battery Life
One reader asked near the HD7S's battery life. The HD7S is fitted with a 1230 mah battery that seems to be awfully small for such a big phone. But then again, Windows Phone 7 has vastly improved power management and then it might concluding longer than expected.
A typically solar day with a Windows Phone for me includes voice calls, text messaging, email exchanges, making my moves in AlphaJax, testing out a few games and other apps, and updating what needs updating. Using the HD7S for three days, yielded the same results with regards to bombardment functioning. I ended the solar day with about xx% of my battery life remaining. This is on par (peradventure a nudge meliorate) with other Windows Phone seven devices I've used.
Ane more observation with regards to bombardment performance is that while I never felt a temperature change around the battery, I did observe that afterward near v minutes of apply the lower tertiary of the HD7S's dorsum warmed up. It would get too hot to impact, simply warm enough to exist noticeable.
Dolby Mobile
The HTC HD7S is equipped with Dolby Mobile audio. To make the most of the sound system on the HD7S you need to make sure HTC's Sound Enhancer is installed (gratuitous app through the HTC Hub). From there you Dolby Mobile or the SRS Enhancement for your sound and video playback.
While you really tin can't tell any difference when playing audio from the telephone'due south speaker, plug in a pair of earphones and Dolby Mobile enhances the sound nicely. For me, the SRS adds also much bass to the mix but the Dolby offered a overnice balance.
Camera
The HD7S is fitted with a v megapixel photographic camera that has both yet and video imaging abilities. Besides the photographic camera lens is two LED lights that will assist with focusing in depression calorie-free and human action as flashes when necessary. Equally with near Windows Phone cameras, the LED lights don't really practise much with respect to low low-cal photography.
Still Images
Outdoors, the HD7S's camera performs really proficient with respect to still images. Photos did seem to have a slight bluish color cast at times. Indoors, image quality isn't as good with underexposure being common. The indoor examination photo was shot nether ii 250W bulbs and one 500W seedling lighting upwards the tabular array pinnacle. The other challenge with indoor shooting is that to compensate for the lack of light, the HD7S will move to a slower shutter speed that will create movement mistiness. The twin LEDs just don't put out enough lite to make a difference.
Overall image quality is expert and with a little work in a photo editor, the quality improves. (Note: exam images have not been edited, save being re-sized for publication). I'm a hard guess of Windows Phone cameras (but as well used to stand lonely DSLR cameras). Rating the all the same prototype functioning of the HD7S, I would put it in the heart of the pack. Amend outdoors, sub-par indoors.
Video Quality
Video Quality was expert with the HD7S. It has the capability to shoot 720P, VGA, and QVGA resolutions with, naturally, the 720P HD being the best of the three.
As with the notwithstanding photos (or any photographic camera for that affair) lighting is fundamental. Overall though, the video functioning of the HD7S is on par (if not a bit better) than other Windows Phone video cameras.
Oh yeah, it'south a phone also
With all the features and software on Windows Phones, it is piece of cake to lose sight that these devices are phones also.
Call quality was practiced, on par with other Windows Phone. Calls could be heard conspicuously and the microphone picked upwards my voice nicely. The back speaker was of a little concern due to it'due south tiny size just information technology belted out incoming calls with a respectable volume.
Ane phone feature that I really miss with my HTC Tilt two was the vibrate setting rattled your fillings. I had no problem feeling incoming calls while the phone was in its instance or across the room.
It seems that Windows Telephone 7 engineers have lost sight of the demand for a solid vibrating ringer. However, things might be looking up. To appointment, the HD7S has the strongest vibration alert of any of the Windows Telephone 7 devices I've tested. It still can be difficult to distinguish the telephone vibration from, oh... the breeze brushing against your leg, but it is more than distinguishable than the Focus, Surround, and Quantum.
Overall Impression
The HTC HD7S will be very highly-seasoned to AT&T Customers (or anyone else for that thing) looking to make the motion to a Windows Phone. The 4.3" Super LCD screen is prissy with regards to both impact responsiveness and paradigm quality. The telephone feels skilful in the hand and performs very good for 24-hour interval to day use.
Battery life is respectable and call quality skillful. The pros easily out counterbalance the cons with the HD7S. I would like to see HTC redesign the bombardment cover to a one piece design. Either that or tighten up the seam between the cover and the stationary lower third of the phones backing. Yous can go accustomed to the power buttons low profile only it would be overnice if it was raised just a hair (or put on the side of the phone).
The Camera is eye of the road. Video quality was decent and still images alright. Nada to knock your socks off with but good plenty to take a decent home video or snapshot with.
Now the $20 questions. Focus or HD7S? HD7 or HD7S? I'll tackle the easiest one get-go. If you ain an HD7 and are happy with T-Mobile, stick with what you have. If y'all're deciding on whether or not to become with T-Mobile or AT&T, let the service provider be the determining factor. These two phones are and then close that even the sLCD doesn't seem to push one past the other.
Now the more complicated question. As someone who already owns a Focus, I don't think the HD7S is stiff plenty to pull me away. Withal, if you own neither, the choice could exist more hard to brand. The obvious plus with the Focus is the Super AMOLED screen. It actually stands out when sitting the 2 screens adjacent. The HD7 does have a slightly larger screen (.3" larger) simply if the screen was the sole determining cistron, the Focus wins out. If you take the screen out of the equation, and so the option becomes a petty more difficult to brand.
Personally, I like the button layout better on the Focus merely I too similar the micro-USB and 3.5mm jack's location ameliorate on the HD7S. But that is more of a subjective measure and your thoughts may exist different. Functioning every bit a smartphone, these ii phones are nigh tied. The HD7S has more on-board storage simply the Focus has that attainable micro-SD slot. I'd have to give a slight edge to the Focus with regards to camera operation. But, taking everything into consideration likewise screen quality, it's really a money toss as to which is the better Windows Telephone.
Will I give up my Focus for the HD7S? Tough call. I'1000 a niggling partial to the Super AMOLED screen plus I fear it would take weeks to re-install all the apps, merge contacts and get an HD7S upwards to snuff. If someone in the dark of night swapped out my Focus with the HD7S, I wouldn't scream also loud just it's a tough call as to if I would make the switch voluntarily.
Ane affair is for certain, AT&T has a very healthy and respectful line upward of Windows Phones. The HD7S only adds to the force of this line up and should you choose the HD7S, I don't recall you'll exist disappointed. The HD7S is expected in AT&T stores on June fifth for $199.99 later on ii year contractual discounts.
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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/att-htc-hd7s-review
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