AT&T HTC HD7S - Review

T-Mobile customers have been enjoying the HTC HD7 for some fourth dimension now. The large screen Windows Phone is now headed to AT&T equally the HD7S. The "S" is for the Super LCD WVGA screen. Personally, I would have liked to have seen AT&T go with something more creative similar the HTC Slate. HTC HD7S is fitting but it tin can be somewhat of a natural language twister.

We ran a first impression video earlier and was impressed with what we saw. Over the past few days we've used the HD7S exclusively and while it withal makes a skillful impression, there is some room for improvement.

Move on past the suspension to see how well that beginning 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.three" 800x480 sLCD WVGA
• Dimensions: four.8x2.68x.44 inches
• Weight: 5.7 ounces (with bombardment)
• Battery: 1230 mAh

Compared to the HTC Surround, the HTC is noticeably larger and thinner. Compared to the other large screen Windows Telephone carried past AT&T, the Samsung Focus, the two Windows Phones are virtually the same.

The Focus has more curved corners, while the HD7S is more box shaped. The Focus is noticeably lighter and feels thicker past but a hair. The HD7S curves slightly at the sides giving it a thinner experience. Solely taking fit and feel into account, if a Samsung Focus owner was forced to replace their Focus with the HD7S, they wouldn't be upset.

The layout of the HD7S has the volume and camera buttons resting on the right side, power/screen on-off button at the top, and the 3.5mm jack and micro-USB resting on the lesser of the phone.

To the back y'all will find a v megapixel photographic camera with dual LED lights. The dorsum of the phone is finished in a dainty matte gray end that offers a decent amount of grip to the phone. The camera is framed with a hinged piece of metal (that resembles a canteen opener) that can swing out to prop the HD7S upright.

The HD7S'southward stand feels better than the peg-leg stand up plant on the Surroundings. It is 1 of those "better to take it and not need information technology, than need information technology and not have it" features.

The only design issues I could find deals with the battery cover, the power push button and the HD7S's forepart design.

The issue with the power button is that it sits too affluent with the telephone. On the positive, it reduces the chances of accidentally pressing information technology. On the negative, it's not the easiest to access. I think it could be raised a few millimeters without effecting the positive. Information technology's not a disquisitional issue but 1 you'll take to get used to.

The bombardment comprehend is a little more complicated. The dorsum is carve up with the upper ii/3rds existence the removable battery cover. The lesser 1/tertiary is stationary, probable to prevent curious souls from trying to come across if the storage can be expanded.

The consequence is ii fold and deals with the removable battery encompass. First, information technology'south flimsy. In removing it, you can't help just feel it's going to snap in ii. Second, it doesn't fit flush with the bottom third of the dorsum. There is a hair line gap large enough to see the SIM card and allow all sorts of grit, clay, grime and moisture through to the phones innards.

I'll give HTC the benefit of the doubtfulness in that this may exist a fit issue exclusive to the phone I'm testing but information technology may be something to look for and consider one time the telephone hits the open market.

My issue with the front blueprint is that the screen doesn't extend completely from the top and lesser of the phone. The screen stops only shy of the edges to accommodate a mesh grill that covers the earpiece (and sensors?) up top and just for balance at the bottom. The mesh is recessed and in the process creates a modest ledge where dust, grit and crud can accumulate. The mesh covers looks good only I would take preferred they were affluent with the edges of the screen.

While I recall in that location is some room for comeback, all in all, the HD7S is a nicely built, comfortable in the paw Windows Telephone. Address the flimsy, gaping battery cover, recessed mesh covers and it will polish brighter.

Software

As with other Windows Phones, the HD7S runs Windows Phone vii. It comes updated with the pre-Nodo and Nodo updates then it tin can copy/paste right 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 lot can delete whatever you don't want, like or need.

The Snapdragon processor moves everything along rather nicely. Boot speeds and load times were prompt, not unlike what you lot would run across with other Windows Phones. In an un-scientific test, it took the HD7S about 20-9 seconds to kick.

I did notice i oddity with regards to stability. Almost four hours into the day, the HD7S reset itself twice for no apparent reason while in the example. Afterward the start case, I thought the ability push button was existence pressed by the case. I made sure the push wasn't in contact with the case and about five minutes later, it reset itself again. In the three days I used the HD7S, these resets never repeated themselves so I'll mark this off equally an bibelot for now.

Da' Screen

In that location's been a lot of discussion concerning the screen. How does it compare with LCD WVGA screens? What almost AMOLED screens? How does information technology measure out up to the HD7? Outdoor performance? I hope to accost as much of the curiosities as possible.

The four.3" capacitive touch on screen is nicely responsive to the touch. I did non feel whatever difficulties in navigating around the HD7S with regards to swipes, touches, taps, and holds.

With regards to screen quality, the sLCD is a nice screen. Video play back was very practiced and graphics came beyond every bit as nice. Simply how does information technology compare.

One inclination is to compare it to the Super AMOLED screen of the Samsung Focus (hither'south an earlier comparison with the Focus, Surround and HD7S). The more advisable comparison may exist up against the HTC HD7. In my opinion, the HD7S falls somewhere in betwixt the two.

While an HD7 isn't readily bachelor, nosotros saw in the comparison video with the Focus, Surround and HD7S the AMOLED Screen of the Focus has an edge to information technology. The Super AMOLED screen comes across more vibrant with more contrast that gives the screen a bit more popular.

The same can be said of outdoor apply. On a sunny mean solar day the Focus screen was easier to see. Oddly, the standard LCD WVGA screen of the Surround likewise was easy to see than the HD7S. While information technology may not easily come up out on the video, all iii are viewable outdoors, the HD7S was the weakest performer of the three.

I stopped past the local T-Mobile Store and compared the HD7S to the HD7. While I couldn't spend much quality time with the two phones, it was actually difficult to tell the deviation. If anything, the HD7S might have only a affect more pop with its screen.

Overall, all three (Super AMOLED, sLCD, and LCD) are all very nice screens. If I had to rank them past overall functioning, it would be the Super AMOLED first then a dead tie betwixt the sLCD and LCD. Regardless of the comparison, the screen on the HD7S is very proficient with respect to quality and responsiveness.

The merely nit I have with the screen is that it is a fingerprint magnet. More than so than other Windows Phones that I've handled. It felt that every touch, tap, swipe and hold left its marker on the screen for all to encounter. Not sure what could be done about this but it did stand up out. The grease collection isn't a breaking signal but you will discover yourself shirt wiping the screen often.

Bombardment Life

One reader asked about the HD7S's battery life. The HD7S is fitted with a 1230 mah battery that seems to be awfully modest for such a large telephone. But then once more, Windows Phone 7 has vastly improved power management and so information technology might last longer than expected.

A typically day with a Windows Phone for me includes voice calls, text messaging, electronic mail 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 battery performance. I ended the mean solar day with about 20% of my battery life remaining. This is on par (maybe a nudge meliorate) with other Windows Phone 7 devices I've used.

One more observation with regards to battery performance is that while I never felt a temperature change around the battery, I did notice that later on about five minutes of utilize the lower 3rd of the HD7S'due south back warmed up. It would get besides hot to impact, simply warm enough to be noticeable.

Dolby Mobile

The HTC HD7S is equipped with Dolby Mobile sound. To make the nearly of the sound organization on the HD7S you demand to make sure HTC'due south Sound Enhancer is installed (free app through the HTC Hub). From there you lot Dolby Mobile or the SRS Enhancement for your audio and video playback.

While you lot actually tin can't tell any difference when playing audio from the phone'due south speaker, plug in a pair of earphones and Dolby Mobile enhances the sound nicely. For me, the SRS adds likewise much bass to the mix merely the Dolby offered a nice residuum.

Photographic camera

The HD7S is fitted with a v megapixel camera that has both still and video imaging abilities. Likewise the photographic camera lens is two LED lights that will assist with focusing in depression low-cal and human action as flashes when necessary. Equally with most Windows Phone cameras, the LED lights don't actually exercise much with respect to low light photography.

Nonetheless Images

Outdoors, the HD7S'due south camera performs really good with respect to still images. Photos did seem to have a slight blue color bandage at times. Indoors, image quality isn't as good with underexposure beingness common. The indoor test photo was shot nether two 250W bulbs and one 500W bulb lighting up the table top. The other claiming with indoor shooting is that to compensate for the lack of lite, the HD7S will move to a slower shutter speed that will create motion blur. The twin LEDs just don't put out enough light to make a difference.

Overall image quality is good and with a little work in a photo editor, the quality improves. (Note: test images accept not been edited, save being re-sized for publication). I'thousand a difficult judge of Windows Phone cameras (just too used to stand lonely DSLR cameras). Rating the even so image operation of the HD7S, I would put it in the middle of the pack. Better outdoors, sub-par indoors.

Video Quality

Video Quality was good 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.

Equally with the yet photos (or any photographic camera for that matter) lighting is key. Overall though, the video performance of the HD7S is on par (if non a bit better) than other Windows Phone video cameras.

Oh yeah, it's a phone too

With all the features and software on Windows Phones, it is easy to lose sight that these devices are phones also.

Call quality was expert, on par with other Windows Telephone. Calls could be heard conspicuously and the microphone picked up my voice nicely. The back speaker was of a little business concern due to it'south tiny size only it belted out incoming calls with a respectable book.

One phone feature that I really miss with my HTC Tilt 2 was the vibrate setting rattled your fillings. I had no problem feeling incoming calls while the phone was in its example or across the room.

It seems that Windows Phone 7 engineers have lost sight of the need for a solid vibrating ringer. Even so, things might exist looking upward. To date, the HD7S has the strongest vibration alarm of any of the Windows Phone 7 devices I've tested. It still can be hard to distinguish the telephone vibration from, oh... the breeze brushing against your leg, only it is more distinguishable than the Focus, Surround, and Breakthrough.

Overall Impression

The HTC HD7S volition exist very appealing to AT&T Customers (or anyone else for that affair) looking to brand the move to a Windows Phone. The 4.3" Super LCD screen is nice with regards to both touch responsiveness and image quality. The phone feels good in the paw and performs very good for solar day to solar day use.

Bombardment life is respectable and call quality good. The pros easily out weigh the cons with the HD7S. I would similar to run across HTC redesign the battery cover to a i slice design. Either that or tighten up the seam between the comprehend and the stationary lower third of the phones backing. You can get accustomed to the ability buttons low profile only it would be nice if it was raised simply a hair (or put on the side of the phone).

The Camera is middle of the road. Video quality was decent and still images alright. Nothing to knock your socks off with but good enough 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 first.  If you ain an HD7 and are happy with T-Mobile, stick with what you lot accept.  If yous're deciding on whether or not to go with T-Mobile or AT&T, let the service provider be the determining factor.  These two phones are so close that even the sLCD doesn't seem to push button i by the other.

At present the more complicated question.  As someone who already owns a Focus, I don't retrieve the HD7S is potent enough to pull me away. Still, if you lot own neither, the choice could exist more difficult to brand. The obvious plus with the Focus is the Super AMOLED screen. It really stands out when sitting the two screens side by side. The HD7 does have a slightly larger screen (.3" larger) but if the screen was the sole determining cistron, the Focus wins out. If you lot accept the screen out of the equation, and so the option becomes a lilliputian more difficult to make.

Personally, I similar the push button layout amend on the Focus just I also similar the micro-USB and 3.5mm jack's location better on the HD7S. Just that is more than of a subjective measure and your thoughts may be different. Operation as a smartphone, these two phones are about tied. The HD7S has more on-lath storage but the Focus has that attainable micro-SD slot. I'd accept to give a slight edge to the Focus with regards to camera performance. But, taking everything into consideration besides screen quality, it's actually a coin toss every bit to which is the better Windows Phone.

Will I give up my Focus for the HD7S? Tough call. I'm a little partial to the Super AMOLED screen plus I fright 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 too loud but it's a tough call as to if I would make the switch voluntarily.

I thing is for sure, AT&T has a very good for you and respectful line upwardly of Windows Phones. The HD7S simply adds to the strength of this line upwardly and should you lot cull the HD7S, I don't recall you'll be disappointed.  The HD7S is expected in AT&T stores on June 5th for $199.99 afterward two year contractual discounts.

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/att-htc-hd7s-review

Posted by: hiserwarge1965.blogspot.com

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