HD7 - How is it?

[Mr. Gibs]

Well after waiting somewhat patiently for the Dell Venue Pro, I've gotten fed up with the lack of customer service, the lies, and the constant delays.

Seriously, nobody on their customer support team knows anything...and now after finding out the device only has 256mb ram (good job Dell for lying to your customers on your own website, and then removing that entire section entirely after people found out)..I've decided to say **** it and get the HD7.

So for those of you who own the HD7, what's the phone / screen like? How does the device feel etc?

Thanks!

[neo158]

I have the HD7 and it's not a bad phone, sure it's had more than it's fair share of issues but revision 2 hardware seems to have resolved a lot of them. At the moment no one seems to know what type of screen it is, S-LCD or LCD, personally I believe it's S-LCD. Whatever it is, it's bright enough with very good colour reproduction. The device is large but doesn't feel large when holding it.

The version I got was the 16GB one (specs are in my sig) which is exclusive to O2 in the UK as the 8GB version is too small for my needs.

I would try one in a Phone Store before making a decision though, that's what I did and it helped me make my decision as I wanted a big screen WP7 device and the HD7 fits perfectly.

[~Johnny]

I have the HD7 and it's not a bad phone, sure it's had more than it's fair share of issues but revision 2 hardware seems to have resolved a lot of them. At the moment no one seems to know what type of screen it is, S-LCD or LCD, personally I believe it's S-LCD. Whatever it is, it's bright enough with very good colour reproduction. The device is large but doesn't feel large when holding it.

The version I got was the 16GB one (specs are in my sig) which is exclusive to O2 in the UK as the 8GB version is too small for my needs.

I would try one in a Phone Store before making a decision though, that's what I did and it helped me make my decision as I wanted a big screen WP7 device and the HD7 fits perfectly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKtqWFeUynM&feature=related Mozart has a Super LCD (one of the right). As you can see, it's a discernably better screen than the HD7's (which actually has very similar colour output to the HD2, leading most people to conclude it is infact that same screen as the HD2).

HD7's not a bad device, but not great either. Battery life isn't top of the pack (infact, probably worst), screen is biggest, though quality is probably the worst (along with a slower refresh rate) but in all honesty, the only thing that really puts it down is the the battery life. I'd look into the Optimus 7 also is that's available in your area, I'd say that's probably the finest of the bunch.

<img>

[jakem1]

Maybe consider waiting another month or two to see if anything new comes out of MWC. I'd really like a WP7 but the current crop of devices all seem to have one compromise or another. I'm hoping that this first round represents a cautious step by the OEMs and the initial success of WP7 will lead to better devices shortly.

[micro]

I love my HD7, the only thing i dislike about the phone is that the volume rocker is slightly lose.

Also for those saying the battery life is the worst, or bad etc. I dont think they even own the phone. My phone gets a solid 15 hours of battery life with moderate usage. Wifi and location enabled at all times.

It should have ZERO problems making it through the day. (unless you have like 5 email accounts constantly syncing)

I dont believe any new wp7 phones are coming out for T-Mobile until atleast march or april.

If you're going to buy one get one today, enjoy WP7 and then around May see what's out there.

[neo158]

http://www.youtube.c...feature=related Mozart has a Super LCD (one of the right). As you can see, it's a discernably better screen than the HD7's (which actually has very similar colour output to the HD2, leading most people to conclude it is infact that same screen as the HD2).

HD7's not a bad device, but not great either. Battery life isn't top of the pack (infact, probably worst), screen is biggest, though quality is probably the worst (along with a slower refresh rate) but in all honesty, the only thing that really puts it down is the the battery life. I'd look into the Optimus 7 also is that's available in your area, I'd say that's probably the finest of the bunch.

<img>

At the moment no one knows what screen is in the HD7 as HTC have not provided any specifications of the screen and all attempts to find out are given conflicting information. I believe that issues with the refresh rate may be due to early "drivers" and may be fixed in an update but this is just a guess.

I went for the HD7 for the reason stated in my first post and haven't been disappointed, you're right though, it's not the best WP7 device on the market and battery life, for me at least, has improved over the last few charge cycles as HTC ship all batteries uncalibrated.

Another thing I like about the HD7, not sure about others, is that the screen stays off while charging.

[George P Global Moderator]

The HD7 is fine but it's got the same old screen tech, I'd like a AMOLED at least.

[neo158]

The HD7 is fine but it's got the same old screen tech, I'd like a AMOLED at least.

Source?

The truth is no one knows what screen is in the HD7 atm. For each website that says it's S-LCD another says it's LCD, not even the HTC support line know and are giving out conflicting information.

[micro]

The screen is 4.3 inches.. you aren't going to find a 4.3" amoled any time soon, also you dont want amoled. Color reproduction is saturated and they also suffer from color banding issues - http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2010/12/05/super-amoled-color-banding-issue-microsoft-could-partially-fix-it/

I noticed it on my Dell venue pro, thankfully i had to return it because of hardware issues and i got the hd7 instead.

[xendrome]

The screen is 4.3 inches.. you aren't going to find a 4.3" amoled any time soon, also you dont want amoled. Color reproduction is saturated and they also suffer from color banding issues - http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2010/12/05/super-amoled-color-banding-issue-microsoft-could-partially-fix-it/

I noticed it on my Dell venue pro, thankfully i had to return it because of hardware issues and i got the hd7 instead.

Samsung is working on a new Android handset that can pip Korean?s bestselling Galaxy S device. Samsung is preparing SCH-I510, which according to DLNA?s certification is codenamed ?Stealth V? and will feature Android 2.2 OS, a 4.3-inch AMOLED display, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and 8 megapixel camera.

[~Johnny]

The screen is 4.3 inches.. you aren't going to find a 4.3" amoled any time soon, also you dont want amoled. Color reproduction is saturated and they also suffer from color banding issues - http://www.mobiletec...rtially-fix-it/

I noticed it on my Dell venue pro, thankfully i had to return it because of hardware issues and i got the hd7 instead.

All WP7 devices suffer from banding issues at the moment (nature of the OS... for now), though it is discernibly more noticeable on the SAMOLED screens due to the to the greater contrast... And to be fair, at lot of us prefer vibrant, over saturated colours to washed their generally duller and washed out counterparts of traditional LCD screens. I'd prefer an AMOLED screen to a TFT / Super LCD, if it doesn't have pen tile matrix pixel arrangement >.<

Folks down at XDA have pretty much all come to the conclusion HD7 is definitely regular LCD, and it doesn't really show any of the greater contrast of black levels of SLCD.

Couple of other things about the HD7 - it'll have the best flash light performance of ANY WP7 device if that's any consolation... those dual LED's make for some seriously bright light! =D That, any HTC's WiFi components seem to have trouble to connecting to certain models of WiFi routers (most of the complaints I've seen have been about connections with Netgear routers), but it's not effecting everyone so who knows

<img>

[Mr. Gibs]

I'd look into the Optimus 7 also is that's available in your area, I'd say that's probably the finest of the bunch.

Nah, we have the Focus but that's on AT&T...and I refuse to switch to them and their retarded 2gb data plans (and not to mention that since I don't have a SSN, international student, AT&T expects me to put down a $1000 deposit even if I buy the phone at no-contract prices). So that just leaves me with the Dell or the HD7 (Can't go CDMA since it won't work when I go back home)

But thanks for all the info / comments guys, guess I'll go into a t-mobile store when they open sometime after Christmas and see the device for myself. The main reason I wanted the Dell was the AMOLED screen, sure the colors are oversaturated but they just look so much more vibrant (or are supposed to look more vibrant anyways). However if what some of you are saying is correct, that it's the same screen as the HD2 then I don't mind...I have an HD2 and the screen is dam good so.

[micro]

HTC's WiFi components seem to have trouble to connecting to certain models of WiFi routers (most of the complaints I've seen have been about connections with Netgear routers), but it's not effecting everyone so who knows

<img>

hmm, im connected to a secure netgear wgr 614 with no issues, didnt know it was a problem with htc? I heard about the graphic issues with gen 1 revisions.

Also i had the Dell venue pro, and the display was much better than the hd7 that i now have (especially when scrolling through lists). But to be honest, the hd7 screen is very crisp and it looks pretty nice to me.

Also FYI the dell venue pro only has 256mb ram available while the hd7 has 512mb..

[BGM]

Nah, we have the Focus but that's on AT&T...and I refuse to switch to them and their retarded 2gb data plans.

But thanks for all the info / comments guys, guess I'll go into a t-mobile store when they open sometime after Christmas and see the device for myself. The main reason I wanted the Dell was the AMOLED screen, sure the colors are oversaturated but they just look so much more vibrant (or are supposed to look more vibrant anyways). However if what some of you are saying is correct, that it's the same screen as the HD2 then I don't mind it...I have an HD2 and the screen is dam good so.

he's talking about the handset, not whatever **** plans it's available on.

i have an optimus 7.. great phone, feels solid and battery is fantastic!

[Mr. Gibs]

he's talking about the handset, not whatever **** plans it's available on.

i have an optimus 7.. great phone, feels solid and battery is fantastic!

Yes I know that, but in America we have these things called locked devices with different bands. The Samsung Focus (basically the American version of the Omnia 7) is only available on AT&T, and it doesn't have T-Mobile's 3G bands...hence if I were to buy it, I would either have to switch to AT&T and their **** plans or use it on T-Mobile's network and not get 3G.

And it sucks :( The focus is one hell of a phone and the screen is just gorgeous..

[BGM]

Yes I know that, but in America we have these things called locked devices with different bands. The Samsung Focus (basically the American version of the Omnia 7) is only available on AT&T, and it doesn't have T-Mobile's 3G bands...hence if I were to buy it, I would either have to switch to AT&T and their **** plans or use it on T-Mobile's network and not get 3G.

And it sucks :( The focus is one hell of a phone and the screen is just gorgeous..

harsh mate.. ;)

[Mr. Gibs]

harsh mate.. ;)

Welcome to America :rofl:

[jakem1]

I think you're mixing up the Omnia 7 and the Optimus 7. The former is by Samsung (its equivalent is the Focus in the US) and the latter is by LG.

[BGM]

I think you're mixing up the Omnia 7 and the Optimus 7. The former is by Samsung (its equivalent is the Focus in the US) and the latter is by LG.

indeed! i am talking about the LG Optimus 7, awesome handset :D

[mad_onion]

Yeah, the Focus is like the Omnia 7. I have the Omnia 7, the screen is awesome for sure. But if the US sucks then the HD7 is still a great phone.

[zivan56]

Better to get a HTC HD2 (T-Mobile version) instead of an HD7. Why? It's basically the same in terms of hardware (same CPU, RAM, Camera (720p recording is a driver update only), same size screen and possible the same type). Why is it better?

1. You can always get the latest version of Android, which works flawlessly on the HD2. Likewise, you can use any cooked ROMs.

2. You get a 1GB ROM+16GB Memory card, compared to 512MB ROM and 8 GB card with HD7 (apparently they weren't as cheap in Asia, where you get an equivilent 16GB SDHC card).

3. $100-200 cheaper for the same thing

The only reason to buy a HD7 is if you are a WF7 fanatic or its a really good deal. If you are a WP7 fanatic, I suggest a phone that isn't simply a cosmetic change to a phone that came out over a year ago.

[Mr. Gibs]

2. You get a 1GB ROM+16GB Memory card, compared to 512MB ROM and 8 GB card with HD7 (apparently they weren't as cheap in Asia, where you get an equivilent 16GB SDHC card).

In America you get a 16gb microSDHC card too.

Plus I already own an HD2 ;) Would love to try Wp7 so.

[Digitalx]

It's easily known just by looking whether HTC release it officially or not or change it around but the majority [if not all] of the HD7's have standard tft lcd same as Desire HD, HD2 etc currently HTC are mostly using s-lcd in 3.x" devices since samsung have failed to release AMOLED's sufficiently to anyone so htc jumped into bed with sony and samsungs lcd technology instead.

[George P Global Moderator]

THe LG Optimus 7 is my fallback device if I can't get something better, not that I don't like it as well, but I'd like a 4" screen to (the Optimus 7 is 3.8" etc). Still I like the apps LG has on it so those are a bonus, specially the DNLA app they have, I'd use that quite a bit actually.

[WA7ER]

What're the issues with the original batch of HD7's?

I got one on launch day and get some seriously weird things with mine, I haven't had a chance to return it yet though. Screen goes crazy every now and then switching between negative colours and regular, all live tiles going blank etc...