Samsung Galaxy S Android 2.1 (update to Android 2.2 in
Nov,2011) 64.2 x 122.4 x 9.9mm GSM 850/900/1800/1900 UMTS
900/1900/2100 HSDPA 7.2Mbps HSUPA 5.76Mbps Wi-Fi (WLAN) 4 inches
Super AMOLED touch screen display WVGA mDNIe 4.9 megapixels camera
resolution auto camera focus 0.3 megapixels secondary camera
Support MPEG4 H.264 H.263 DivX HD XviD VC-1 Support 3GP MP4 WMV ASF
AVI MKV FLV MP3 AAC AAC+ WMA AGPS Samsung-Intrinsity S5PC110 1 GHz
Processor SMS MMS Email Exchange ActiveSync Office 2007 document
reader and editor Swype USB 2.0, Bluetooth 3.0 Secure storage 16GB
microSDHC memory card HKD 5,588
Slide 2
Samsung Service support after sales Online Warranty
Registration Samsung Customer Service Center Samsung Apps Super
Amoled EA mobile Game Facebook Fan Page Member Benefits Phone Firm
Update Software & Manuals update
Slide 3
HTC Desire Android 2.1 (update to Android 2.2 in Aug,2010)
Advanced HTC Sense interface Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 1 GHz
Processor GSM 850/900/1800/1900 UMTS 1900/2100 7.2 Mbps HSDPA 2
Mbps HSUPA Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 3.7 inches 480x800 multi-touch screen
display QWERTY keyboard 4.9 megapixels camera resolution auto
camera focus LED camera flash AGPS / Quick GPS Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
Optical Joystick Support Adobe Flash microSD memory card (Max 32GB)
1400mAh battery capacity HKD 4,598
Slide 4
HTC Service support after sales Online Warranty Registration
HTC Customer Service HTC Online Services Support via Hotline
Support via e-Mail Free Training Course for Customers HTC Sync
Customer Satisfaction Survey
Slide 5
Apple iPhone 4 16GB Apple iOS 4 GSM 850/900/1800/1900 3.5G
850/900/1900/2100 115.2x58.6x9.3mm / 137g HSDPA 7.2Mbps HSUPA Wi-Fi
802.11 b/g/n AGPS / Geo tagging 3.5 inches 960x480 326dpi
multi-touch screen display 5 megapixels camera resolution auto
camera focus LED camera flash 0.3 megapixels secondary camera
Built-in battery HE-AAC MP3 AAX Apple Lossless AIF WAV H.264 MPEG4
m4v mp4 mov Proximity Sensor Accelerometer Secure storage 16GB
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR Samsung-Intrinsity Apple A4 (S5PC110A01) 1 GHz
Processor HKD 4,988
Slide 6
Apple Service support after sales iPhone Authorized Service
Provider Apple Technocal Support Line AppleCare Protection Plan App
Store 3Smart Club, 3Shops, 3Repair Centre, 24-hour hotline (3)
iPhone Workshop (one2free) / SmarTone One2free Services (one2free)
SV apps (SmarTone) Apps Select (SmarTone) LUXE City Guides Mobile
(1010) Realtime Stock Stream Master, 3tv, 3Books, Messenger 3HK,
KKBOX, Data Roaming Daily Pass, Stereo HD Ringtone, Handset
Replacement Plan, Visual Voicemail (3)
Slide 7
Slide 8
iPhone 4 The iOS4 interface is more evolution than revolution,
but that doesn't mean it's not a lot better than before. Things
like double tapping the home button to call up multitasking and
iPod controls work well, and the menu system is as familiar as
ever. However, the time is right for Apple to start thinking about
widgets people might have been scared before, but now iPhone users
are starting to 'get' what smartphones are about, and a few things
like weather widgets wouldn't go amiss it's not always 23 degrees
and sunny. HTC Desire The HTC Sense UI is one of the best overlays
we've seen on a mobile it's the perfect blend of style and
functionality. From being able to pinch the screen to see all Home
screens at once to the integrated social networking in the contacts
menu, the overall feeling is one of intuition. Granted, it takes a
while to set up, but once done you're sorted for the entire journey
with your new phone. Samsung Galaxy S Adding the TouchWiz 3.0
interface was a good move for Samsung, as it offers more than the
basic Android overlay we've seen on its other Android phones. Seven
Home screens are accessible for widget and icon dropping, and the
menu system is simple to use. However, the widgets on offer are
woeful why are there so few available, Samsung? The contacts menu
is better, but a little convoluted compared to the intuitive Sense
UI. Interface Winner : HTC Desire
Slide 9
iPhone 4 The Retina Display from Apple packs the highest amount
of pixels into a mobile phone screen, and offers a very sharp image
on the screen indeed. You can zoom right into letters on a web page
and there's no graining Apple says this is so high- res that the
human eye doesn't need any more. It uses LCD technology, rather
than OLED, so it's a little thicker although the iPhone 4 is still
the thinnest smartphone on the market. HTC Desire The OLED screen
on the Desire is pretty nice in its own right decent colour
saturation, high contrast ratio, good response but despite it being
at the sharp end of the industry, it's still beaten comfortably by
its rivals. It has the same resolution as the Samsung Galaxy S but
doesn't have the same clarity although watching video on the screen
is still a nice experience, and you can really ramp the brightness
up when necessary. Samsung Galaxy S The Super AMOLED screen on the
Galaxy S is the most advanced the Koreans have created and it
shows. The screen is pin sharp, and the speed and response time is
the best we've seen on a mobile, which means watching movies is a
really nice experience. According to the spec sheet, the iPhone 4's
Retina Display is actually superior but to our eyes we prefer
looking at things on the Galaxy S. Screen Winner : Samsung Galaxy
S
Slide 10
iPhone 4 The iPhone has traditionally been plagued with dropped
call issues that seems to have been remedied in the latest version,
which is lucky, as people were about to lose faith in Apple.
However, somehow Jobs' lot managed to let a big problem slip
through the net: holding the iPhone 4 in your left hand will force
signal to drop dramatically. We haven't encountered any dropped
calls because of it, but it's a poor show. Call quality is good
thanks to the noise cancelling microphone though and FaceTime is
there if you like living in the early part of the millennium. HTC
Desire The Desire loses one key feature from the Nexus One in a
separate noise cancelling microphone although that does mean it's 5
a month cheaper on contract. Call quality is only average as a
result not poor by any means, but get caught on a noisy street and
you'll struggle to be heard. Samsung Galaxy S Like the Desire,
there's no noise cancelling here call quality is improved simply
because the device is longer than most others thanks to a 4-inch
screen. Other than that it's the same basic experience you get a
fun beepy sound when calls are connected, the buttons are nice and
easy to hit, and you'll feel pretty chirpy about the whole thing to
be honest. Calling Winner : Samsung Galaxy S
Slide 11
iPhone 4 The iPhone has always come at messaging from the right
angle Exchange email, threaded conversations and so on, and now
it's got a unified inbox too. We agree it's not groundbreaking, but
all the small steps are in the right direction. The QWERTY keyboard
is ridiculously good on the touchscreen so many people will use the
iPhone as their first taste of non-keyed handsets and will be blown
away at how easy it is. HTC Desire With the Desire you're actually
pretty limited in terms of how much you can do messaging-wise.
Sure, you can add widgets for Facebook and Twitter and such, but in
terms of core functionality, it's pretty much the same as the
iPhone. That's not to say it's a bad experience, but we'd hope a
forward-thinking company like HTC would be seeing opportunities to
create a unified inbox for Facebook, Twitter, email and everything
else, like the BlackBerry range manages so easily. That said, the
keyboard is almost on a par with the iPhone, spookily working out
what you're trying to say even if you just look at the correct
keys. (Note: not actually true about the eye thing. But typing-wise
it's tip top). Samsung Galaxy S Like the other two phones on test
here, the Galaxy S doesn't really have much in the way of
unification. Like the Desire's Friend Stream, it has social
networking all in the same place, and the cool 'Write and Go'
application works nicely too if you find you have something to say
but can't initially decide whether to email, text or Twitter it.
The keyboard is decent too it also packs Swype, where you trace
instead of tapping letters out. It's clever and works well, but
it's not so much re-inventing the wheel as creating something
that's as good but different. Like erm we don't know what's as good
as a wheel. Messaging Winner : iPhone4 / HTC Desire
Slide 12
iPhone 4 The iPhone series has been built on a solid internet
experience and that hasn't changed since the inception of the
range. Pinch and zoom was a revelation, loading speeds for full
HTML are brilliant and even the transitions between the window
changes are cool However, we're still not treated to Flash video,
nor will we ever be the iPhone 4 is a little stuck until HTML5
video pops up. HTC Desire We never thought a mobile could
out-iPhone the iPhone when it comes to the internet, but the
Android OS has offered that chance, and the HTC Desire has taken
it. A fast 1GHz processor and quick-loading internet pages might
make it the equal of the iPhone 4, but it's in the details where
the Desire comes alive. Things like being able to easily share via
Twitter or Facebook from the internet menu and a constantly updated
list of your most-visited sites are awesome touches and with Flash
already onboard it makes internet video a cinch and this will be
improved even further when Flash 10.1 lands via the Froyo update in
the near future. Samsung Galaxy S Making the best use of the
Android web browser, the Samsung Galaxy S internet experience is
pretty good although not up to the level of its Desire brethren.
It's essentially the same experience, with a finer detail thanks to
the Super AMOLED screen, but doesn't use Flash video, which is a
little bit of a let down. You can still share links and see the
most visited pages as bookmarks, which is cool plus the internet
menu has a quick link to the brightness setting of the Galaxy S,
which is a really nice touch. Internet Winner : HTC Desire
Slide 13
iPhone 4 Apple's iPhone cameras have long been the stick with
which to beat the handsets sure, Safari Mobile is great, but the
2MP cameras in the first models were just rubbish. Jobs must have
taken umbrage with such criticism, as the iPhone 4 has a 5MP camera
with LED flash and HD video recording. It's a great option to have,
simply because the pictures look so good and the shutter speed is
out of this world HD video recording is slick and stable too. And
when it comes to media, we're looking at up to 32GB of storage, the
full range of iPod power making music and video browsing very easy,
and a decent audio performance coupled with good video thanks to
the retina display. HTC Desire It's strange to think that in a few
short months the Desire has slipped so far back in terms of
photography and media power. Sure, the 5MP camera isn't going to
set the world alight, as it only offered slightly above average
photos, but it was certainly better than anything HTC had offered
previously. But it's not in the same league as the iPhone, as even
though it has a flash it's not as powerful and the shutter speed
isn't anywhere near plus it only records at DVD quality, where
others are moving to HD. Media is the same it's all very good, it's
just not stellar with things like audio performance and ease of
browsing (with videos lumped in with photos for some reason) not
quite hitting the high levels its peers are managing with ease.
Samsung Galaxy S Samsung has always had a heritage of making decent
cameras, with the Pixon 12 among the most advanced cameraphones in
the world. However, that knowledge hasn't really shown up on the
Galaxy S, as despite packing a 5MP sensor like the others on test,
it hasn't got a flash and also struggles to take clear snaps. The
HD video recording is a bit better though, with decent footage
possible providing you can hold the camera really still. But when
it comes to media, the Galaxy S really excels. Not only is the
screen clear, large and bright, it's also got a ridiculous amount
of sharpness to it when watching videos, and the contrast ratios
are immense too. Audio-wise it's great as well, with the bass and
high-end particularly nice. However, thanks to the poorer camera,
you'd have to argue the iPhone 4 is better overall. Camera Winner :
iPhone 4
Slide 14
iPhone 4 Were you aware the iPhone family has an app store? It
does, you know, and a very good one at that. Packed with a whole
host of apps, and boasting the largest number of big name brands
chucking their wares in, the App Store has revolutionised the way
we use smartphones. Mapping is decent too quick, easy to use and
often updated, with the API offered out to developers for apps as
well. However, it lacks some of the critical elements that Google
obviously saves for its Android platform, which means it will
always be slightly inferior. HTC Desire The HTC Desire has access
to the Google Android Market, which is apparently closing in on
offering 100,000 applications. However, this portal is a little
under-stocked still, with most of the tier-one applications only
available on the iPhone. This should change in the next year, as
many brands are seeing Android as a more mature platform, but it's
a long way from matching the iPhone. The Google Maps application is
great, not least because it's making good use of the phone's 1GHz
processor. Elements like transit lines, free satellite navigation
and a swift GPS signal make this a really good option if you're
looking to find yourself literally, not in the philosophical sense.
Although there may be an App for that Samsung Galaxy S Like the
Desire, the Galaxy S has access to a whole range of applications
through the Market, so there's no differentiation there. However,
the Galaxy S also has another portal: Samsung Apps. It's a little
odd as not only are there just six apps on offer, but these keep
getting updates every two to three days. It's not a great offering,
but one that we hope will get bigger and offer tailor-made Galaxy S
applications to users. Map-wise, the Galaxy S slightly outdoes the
Desire simply by having a better and clearer screen. This means if
you're using the phone as a sat nav, seeing where you're going is
that much easier, which is always a plus when navigating. Apps and
Maps Winner : iPhone 4
Slide 15
iPhone 4 The battery life on the iPhone range has been
notoriously poor over the last few years, with the phone constantly
asking for more than the power pack can provide. The iPhone 4 bucks
that trend by making a battery that last 40% longer, with the Apple
processor helping to make sure the device only sips power, rather
than gulping it down in huge swathes. HTC Desire If there was one
problem with the Desire, it would be the battery life, as users
often struggle to get it to last the day at times. It's not a
terrible battery, because most are used to overnight charging of
their phones, but it could still be a little bit better, especially
when the competition has raised its game. Samsung Galaxy S The
Galaxy S is neither awful at retaining battery nor good at lasting
for a good length of time. Depending on whether you're enticed by
the movie or music player, the power source can last from 8 hours
to 1.5 days. The main problem is the battery meter output it will
quickly slip down from 50% to almost nothing on occasion, meaning
you can feel a little tricked by your handset. Battery Winner :
iPhone 4
Slide 16
iPhone 4HTC DesireSamsung Galaxy S Interface W Screen W Calling
W Messaging WW Internet W Camera W Apps & Maps W Battery W Cost
W After Sales Services WW Verdict W
Slide 17
We like what we're seeing here: three smartphones that really
offer a shedload of hardware for your cash. The iPhone 4 and HTC
Desire are very closely matched at the head of the field, with the
Samsung Galaxy S not too far behind either. It almost comes down to
preference are you a lover of the open Android approach, or do you
prefer the controlled-but-app-filled Apple existence? Thanks to the
reception problem, the HTC Desire still represents the best all-
round device in our opinion Apple's free case solution is a great
step, but it doesn't alter the fact that the phone hardware still
has the problem. So well done to the HTC Desire despite being the
oldest on test, it's still the top smartphone in our eyes... and if
something beats it in the next few months, we're looking forward to
seeing that. Conclusion
