HTC's Desire HD and Samsung/Google's Nexus S. Both smartphones have been lauded for their cutting edge technology and amazing multimedia capabilities but which one is the very best, which one represents the pinnacle of Android based tech?
Screen
The first thing you notice about the HTC Desire HD is the screen. Its 4.3-inch S-LCD display is simply mesmerizing and affords users an amazingly immersive visual experience. The Nexus S isn't a poor relative though, boasting a curved 4-inch S-AMOLED screen of extremely high quality. On the one hand you have, in the Nexus S, a screen that demands less power and offers deep blacks and vivid colours, but on the other you have a huge LCD that is less strain on the eyes and offers more accurate colour reproduction.
Drive Train
Google's Nexus S is a virtual powerhouse, running on a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU and also features a PowerVR GPU, 512MB RAM and 16GB of on-board storage which, when combined, equates to a lag-free, über responsive device.
The Desire HD offers a similar specification, including a 1GHz Scorpion CPU and a whopping 768MB RAM, not to mention support for a microSD card, which the Nexus S lacks. All told the Desire HD is a powerful device.
Software
Both devices run on Google's hugely impressive Android operating system, which is a user friendly, powerful smartphone platform that affords first time smartphone owners a great and rewarding experience as well as allowing more advanced users the ability to customise and tinker with their device. The Nexus S runs the very latest iteration of the software, version 2.3 (Gingerbread) whereas the Desire HD runs on the previous version, version 2.2 (Froyo) .
Camera
HTC's Desire HD boasts a hugely impressive 8-megapixel camera, which is capable of capturing video at 720P. With minimal fuss you can capture great shots and video with the device, which look great when displayed on the large display. The Nexus S comes packing a 5-megapixel snapper which performs well, but isn't up to the same standard as the Desire HD. There's no 720p capture on offer either, meaning that users who opt for the Nexus S will have to settle for WVGA movies, shot at 30FPS.
Construction
Samsung/Google's Nexus S is crafted largely out of lightweight, durable plastics, producing a solid feeling device which doesn't weight a great deal (129g), the lightweight feel is a plus point but there's the occasional groan from the case when squeezed which can be a little off-putting when you remember that you're holding one of the world's most advanced pieces of smartphone kit.
HTC's approach has always been entirely more craftsman like and the Desire HD is no exception. Its body is constructed lovingly of metal and plastic, producing a great feeling, though a little weighty (164g).
It's really rather a pleasing result because we love both devices and we'd hate to have to choose. If you pick one of these phones you're getting something which is both cutting-edge and extremely user friendly, and will give you hours of enjoyment, playing games, writing e-mails and consuming media.
It seemed as if Google had all but forgotten about its once beloved Nexus S. The company’s previous flagship handset was slated to receive an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update in December, but due to unforeseen problems that still remain a mystery, Google pulled the update shortly after its release. Since then, there has been radio silence from Mountain View as owners anxiously awaited details regarding the company’s plan for the device.