The Desire HD brings all the quality of the original device and adds to it a fantastic 4.3-inch capacitive Super LCD screen, perfect for watching your captured 720P HD movies. The device also boasts support for XviD video content, allowing you to enjoy converted or downloaded content, along with this enhanced codec support you can also enjoy rich, high quality sound, courtesy of the on-board Dolby Mobile audio processor.
The Desire HD also brings a 256MB RAM upgrade to the table, taking the total up to an impressive 768MB, which helps the device motor along, handling your tasks without so much as a hiccup. Along with these enhancements you also get an improved 8 megapixel camera with autofocus, geo-tagging, face detection and a dual flash.
Technical improvements and screen real-estate came at a cost though, taking the Desire HD to the very limit of pocketability. With dimensions of 123 x 68 x 11.8 mm, it isn’t the most gargantuan device out there, but you won’t forget you’re carrying it in a hurry.
Battery life isn’t great either, in fact it’s rather mystifying why HTC opted to pack a 1230mAh battery in (which is smaller than the original Desire, which had battery-life issues of its own!) rather than add an improved cell to help power that lovely screen. It isn’t too much of an issue though, provided you keep a spare USB cable in your desk or a car charger on hand.
The Desire Z is an equally impressive beast, though one which aims to be more use than fun. With its slightly smaller 3.7-inch S-LCD, the Z isn’t going to take any points off the Desire HD in the visual media department, but it will certainly hold its own if you’re planning on typing out long emails or attacking some work on the go as the included Qwerty keyboard is quite simply one of the most comfortable we’ve used in a long time.
Where its voluptuous sibling offers improved camera functionality the Desire Z opts to retain the original 5 megapixel, autofocus offering with single flash. The results aren’t stellar and certainly don’t compare to the HD but they’re fine for casual use. The flash is still a little on the overbearing side too, lending people an alabaster hue when caught close-up, but this isn’t unique to the Desire Z, it’s more an HTC trait.
There’s no Dolby Mobile, or 1GHz processor in the Z either, it offers a modest 800MHz CPU but in all honesty we found it punched well above its weight and never found the device wanting in the power department.
Naturally the smaller screen gives the ‘Z’ an altogether more pleasant feel in the pocket. The 2.4mm increase in thickness is largely offset by the space saved in width and length (119 x 60.4 x 14.2 mm) meaning it won’t ruin the line of your suit like it’s portly brother. The general build quality is excellent for both devices, but the Desire Z edges the HD with its aluminium unibody casing.
Both devices also offer the usual array of connectivity, such as HSDPA, HSUPA, DLNA, Wi-Fi (802.11 b,g,n) and Bluetooth. They also include 1.5GB of storage on-board, as well as the requisite support for up to 32GB micro SD cards.
To pick a winner in this contest is a tough job. So tough it’s nigh on impossible. The HD is a great device for multimedia, offering an unrivalled movie watching experience whereas the Desire Z is a svelte, efficient messenger, which will run all day.
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