HTC Desire vs HTC Desire HD
HTC has always been lauded for its excellent devices but so often they were let down by the disappointing Windows Mobile operating system. The introduction of Google's Android operating system brought the Taiwanese manufacturer into its own though, with a stable, visually pleasing OS which really allowed its hardware to shine. With this in mind we've decided to pit two of their most popular devices, the Desire and Desire HD, against each other to see which one should be regarded as HTC's best.
Internals
Both of these devices offer heaps of processing power thanks to their Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processors, though the Desire HD tips the balance with 768MB RAM compared to the Desire's 576MB. When it comes to internal storage the HD leads the way again, with 1.5GB on-board compared to the Desire's 512MB ROM. Both devices are augmented with support for MicroSD cards, though you'll get an 8GB with your HD, rather than the run of the mill 4GB with the Desire.
Winner - Desire HD
Imaging
The original Desire packs a decent 5-megapixel camera, which produces good snapshots even in low light, thanks to the LED flash. Its big brother brings more to the table again though, with 8-megapixels, and a dual-LED flash. Both devices capture 720P video at 30FPS so there's little to separate them there, but we feel the higher pixel count is enough to hand this round to the Desire HD, though both perform admirably.
Winner - Desire HD
Media
If consuming media is what you're about then you'll find plenty to please in the Desire HD. The 4.3-inch LCD screen is bright and vivid, the included Dolby Mobile support enhances the audio and the device also includes more codecs than you can shake a stick at, supporting a good deal of common media formats (DivX, XviD,WMV), making for an excellent experience when viewing movies or listening to music. The Desire holds its own with a lustrous 3.7-inch AMOLED screen, which will keep you going for longer thanks to lower power demands but it's largely surpassed by the HD which proves that, in this case at least, bigger is better.
Winner - Desire HD
Battery Life
Mind bogglingly the Desire HD comes packaged with a smaller battery (1230mAh) than it's sibling, even though it's running with considerably more under the bonnet, leading to battery life that is less than impressive. The Desire's 1400mAh cell naturally out performs the HD’s and that's without taking into account the smaller screen. When you factor all the variables you end up with around 2 hours more life from the Desire, which even with its newer chipset pales in comparison with its littermate.
Winner - Desire
Form Factor
While the HD's 'bigger is better' mantra works on some fronts, on others it's a pain in the backside (literally), and it's difficult to find a comfortable way of hauling the device around without resorting to a belt-clip, which is a nauseating proposition. The Desire on the other hand comes in at a comfortable 3.7-inch and 135g meaning that you won't even realise you've got it in your pocket half the time. While you could argue that popping your HD into a bag or briefcase solves the problem we feel that it diminishes the device's usefulness to accomplish its raison d'être, which is to be a communications device.
Winner - Desire
There isn't a lot to separate these two great devices but the Desire HD edges it. Its increased storage and enhanced multimedia experience make it a worthwhile upgrade though the inclusion of a smaller battery is something of an annoyance. The fact that the Desire is slightly older means that one can expect improved subsidies when buying one on contract and this alone is reason enough to recommend it. When you factor in the excellent hardware and battery life you can't help but feel that the Desire still has lots to offer, especially when newer firmware updates are pushed-out to the device.