HTC Desire HD vs iPhone 4
If you're in the market for a high-end, high-powered touchscreen smartphone you've likely shortlisted HTC's Desire HD and Apple's seminal iPhone 4 as contenders to fill the void in your pocket or handbag. Between them they represent the very pinnacle of smartphone development. With that in mind we've decided to let the two of them duke it out for the title of king of the heap, but which one will be victorious?
Screen - HTC's Desire HD comes bristling with tech but the one thing that stands out is its amazing 4.3-inch LCD screen, capable of vivid colour rendition that will allow you to immerse yourself in your media on the hoof. At 3.2-inches the iPhone 4's screen is a little more stingy with the space, but the quality offered by the LED-backlit IPS 'retina display' is unparalleled. The detail on offer from the 640 x 960 pixel resolution screen is mind blowing and even though the Desire HD's display is something special it's bested here by something spectacular.
Winner - iPhone 4
Optics - Apple heeded its critics when it was developing the iPhone 4 and included a top-quality 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash which is also capable of capturing 720P video. Similarly, the Desire HD offers 720P video capture and autofocus but behind this the device boasts a dual-LED flash and an 8-megapixel camera. Now, we'll be the first to agree that megapixels aren't everything but in this case they make a telling difference in picture quality, allowing the HTC Desire HD to pip its competitor to the post.
Winner - HTC Desire HD
Processing power - Apple's iPhone is a cutting edge piece of equipment and this is reflected in its specification. The device is powered by a 1GHz Apple A4 processor and 512MB RAM, allowing it to operate without the faintest suggestion of lag. Again, HTC's Desire HD takes what the iPhone 4 offers and ups the ante, boasting a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU and 768MB RAM! Both devices use their muscles wisely too, with seamless transitions between apps and menus and smooth gaming and video playback. It's hard to separate the two in this round, but the little bit of extra brawn tips the scale in favour of the HTC.
Winner - HTC Desire HD
Operating System - Google's Android OS is enjoying huge success at present and with good reason. It's powerful, efficient and damned easy to use and the fact that it's based on good, wholesome open source ideals makes it a very palatable offering for those with a conscience. Apple's software, iOS, is the one to beat though, and it's easy to see why when you pick up an iPhone 4. iOS is simplicity personified, and even the most ardent luddite would be able to be productive with a few moments of careful tuition. Installing apps is a breeze and if you encounter a problem you can quickly and easily restore your device courtesy of iTunes. Android is gaining ground fast but for now Apple's operating system is the benchmark.
Winner - iPhone 4
App Support - Apple's App Store recently saw its 1 billionth download, and its huge catalogue of over 300,000 apps has something to offer anyone, no matter how discerning. A good deal of the content available is free and you can also download TV shows and movies to your device through the service. The Android Market is on track to catch up with its esteemed opponent though. The number of apps available is currently over 100,000 and when browsing the catalogue you'll see the benefits of a more open screening process for titles, with some titles offering content that would rule them out of a place in Apple's plush agora. Both marketplaces have their pros and cons, and for this reason we can't separate them.
Winner - Tie
We were hoping for a definitive conclusion to this battle for smartphone superiority but both devices are brimming with virtues, leading us to a draw, albeit a stirring one. At this stage, if you are looking for the very best device available you won't go far wrong with either of these amazing pieces of technology.