HTC HD2 vs. Apple iPhone 3GS

May 4, 2010 By Nick Mokey

Does the finest Windows Mobile phone ever built outperform the iPhone 3GS? We compare the HTC HD2 vs the Apple iPhone 3GS to find out.

Back in 1981, before computers took over the world of financial number crunching, Hewlett-Packard built the 12c calculator. Even today, it’s considered one of the finest financial calculators ever built – the apex of a dying breed. In 2020, we’ll probably look at the HTC HD2 in much the same way. Windows-Mobile-based smartphones may be headed for the dumpster, but the HD2 is destined to be remembered as one of the finest ever built – and if you want to live out two more years with it, it might be the best way to do it. Here’s how the HD2 stacks up – in tech specs alone – next to its principle rival, Apple’s iPhone 3GS.

Display

Winner: HTC HD2

Both the HD2 and the iPhone 3GS both use LCD screens, rather than the increasingly popular OLED tech. But side-by-side, they’re like comparing apples, and… well, grapefruits. From a size perspective, anyway. The HD2 uses a whopping 4.3-inch display, while the iPhone has a 3.5 incher, and the resolution to match: Only 480 x 320, compared to 800 x 480 on the HD2. That makes this a no-contest win for the HD2.

Portability

Winner: iPhone 3GS

A wise man once said, “With great screen size comes great bulkiness.” Or something along those lines. In any case, the HTC HD2 is both heavier and significantly larger than the iPhone thanks to the oversized mini TV on the front, making it a pocket anchor in the truest sense of the word. At 4.8 inches tall and 2.6 inches wide, the HD2 could completely cover the 4.5-by-2.4-inch iPhone on a table, and tip scales its way, too, at 5.5 ounces to the iPhone’s 4.8. We will concede, though, that it’s technically thinner at just 0.43 inches deep, compared to the 0.48-inch iPhone.

Processor

Winner: HTC HD2

The 833MHz ARM Cortex A8 chip in the iPhone is no slouch. But the 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon in the HD2 has it beat, especially considering the iPhone chip is underclocked to 600MHz right out of the box. It’s worth noting, of course, that the iPhone also features a PowerVR SGX dedicated graphics processor, which makes up some of the difference when it comes to 3D rendering – like in games.

Keyboard

Winner: HTC HD2

Apple’s iPhone once ruled the roost with one of the first touch keyboards to make typing on glass acceptable, but in the years since its introduction, many competitors have successfully copied the formula. Including HTC. The HD2 ditches Microsoft’s archaic keyboard intended for styli and instead embraces a revamped version with the Sense user interface. Besides addressing the fat-finger issue with a bigger screen and therefore bigger virtual keys, it includes Swype, which allows users to string together words by dragging across the letters, rather than tapping on them. Not everyone will embrace it, but the option alone – alone with greater size – elevates it to something more than Apple offers.

Storage

Winner: iPhone 3GS

Both the iPhone 3GS and HTC HD2 offer 16GB of storage for $200 with contract, but Apple builds it into the phone, and the HD2 carries it on a microSD card. Either phone can handle 32GB maximum, but they each come with their own caveats: The HD2 can be upgraded to a 32GB microSD card, but right now they run $200, putting your total expense at $400. Apple offers a 32GB iPhone for $300, making it a comparative bargain, but because it’s internal, you’ll have to decide at the time of purchase how much storage you want your phone to have. We love removable storage, but side with Apple on this for the value part of the equation. Until 32GB cards come down in cost, anyone who wants the maximum phone capacity gets a better deal with the iPhone 32GB.

Camera

Winner: HTC HD2

Neither camera will really best even a basic point-and-shoot camera here due to pint-sized optics, but the HD2 manages a closer approximation in part because it offers an LED flash to help brighten up night shots. Its sensor also offers 5-megapixel resolution to the 3.0-megapixel shooter on the iPhone 3GS, and side-by-side tests seem to indicate the same.

Software

Winner: iPhone 3GS

As we noted at the beginning of this comparison, Windows Mobile 6.5 is on its last legs. It has looked dated for years, and the iPhone OS puts it to shame in all categories except multitasking. The number of Windows Mobile apps available also pales in comparison to iPhone apps, and when Windows Phone 7 Series arrives this fall, we expect the last remaining Windows Mobile developers to jump onto that platform. Fare thee well, Windows Mobile.

Battery Life

Winner: HTC HD2

The battery life on the iPhone 3GS has never been particularly impressive, so it should come as little surprise that the HD2 will outrun it on both talk and standby time. According to HTC, the HD2 should deliver 6.3 hours of talk time and 490 hours of standby, while Apple only claims 5 hours of talk and 300 hours of standby for the iPhone 3GS.

Overall Winner: HTC HD2

The HTC HD2 outspecs Apple’s iPhone 3GS in nearly every vital category, making it a winner on technicalities, but we’re still hesitant to declare it the best buy. With an aging, soon-to-be-replaced operating system, it’s tough to recommend the HD2 on the merits of hardware alone. The HD2 proves to be the cream of the crop for Windows Mobile devices, but those aspirations of apps, slick sliding menus and full-featured Web browsers should look elsewhere, like at the still-competent iPhone 3GS, HTC Incredible, or Palm Pre.

Check out our other smartphone comparisons:

iPhone 4 vs. Droid X

iPhone 4 vs. Android’s Best: Spec Face-Off

Apple iPhone 4 vs. HTC EVO 4G

HTC Incredible vs. Apple iPhone 3GS

Motorola Droid vs. HTC Incredible

HTC Incredible vs. HTC HD2

Check out our full iPhone 3GS and HTC HD2 reviews.

Showing 27 comments

SITFO.org at 2:52pm 20th November 2010 It's worth remembering how Microsoft used to refer to Windows Mobile devices: 'Pocket PC'. If you're familiar with and need the functionality of a true Pocket PC, the iPhone doesn't even get to the start line. I've never seen a negative report on an HD2 from a business user who knows the Windows OS. SImilarly, if all you want is a consumer device, the iPhone wins on the simplicity of its OS. The flaw is in trying to compare the two - they're aimed at very different requirements, something that Microsoft forgot with the advent of Windows Phone 7...
Orio at 1:53am 4th November 2010 HTC HD2 Sucks, I hate windows mobile software , its outdated
chuks at 12:02pm 30th October 2010 how do i upgrade my htc hd2 to the latest windows???
Unbiased at 7:42pm 14th September 2010 In a nutshell, Although I am a HD2 owner and lover, I would say it's very hard to tell which one is better. Each of which has it's own lovers.
ho0sy at 12:17pm 12th September 2010 onlyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy apple 3gs
Craig at 12:12am 18th July 2010 No way. The the HD2 is a great hardware but the software is TERRIBLE. 3GS wins, hands down.
Motorola Droid vs. HTC Incredible at 9:22am 24th June 2010 [...] Face-OffApple iPhone 4 vs. HTC EVO 4G HTC Incredible vs. Apple iPhone 3GSHTC Incredible vs. HTC HD2HTC HD2 vs. Apple iPhone 3GSCheck out our full Motorola Droid and HTC Droid Incredible reviews. Related PostsiPhone 4 vs. [...]
Asreseww at 1:01am 14th June 2010 windows mobile? what a waste of a sleek looking phone...looks better than the evos cheap weird back piece..although i would never get either...way too big..coworker just got evo..its slick... if you have a fanny-pack to carry it in.
CoolDude at 8:17am 6th June 2010 "Windows Mobile 6.5 is on its last legs. It has looked dated for years, and the iPhone OS puts it to shame in all categories except multitasking."

Oh really... the way I see it is ... Windows Mobile 6.5 key features are: adaptability, UI personalization, virtual/physical keyboards, T9 support, character recognition, contact integration, real multitasking, real tethering, and support for unsigned apps.

In addition, no mobile phone syncs with Windows desktop running Office and Outlook perfectly like Win Mobile. And that includes Exchange as well.

So, here's the deal ... If you play in Apple's playhouse, get the iphone. Windows, HD2 or Touch Pro 2, Google, Incredible or Evo. I love being a consumer with choice.
Sunil at 2:09pm 6th May 2010 Dont How you come to this result... but on very first use i didnt like HD2 at all... its not a worth at all..and second we can not upgrade this Jumbo to Win Mobile 7... then dont a single penny worth
JohnMarks at 3:26pm 5th May 2010 HTC HD2 does have Swype: tinyurl.com/2vz62sp. There is even a specific HD2 Swype cab.
Aaronio at 1:26pm 5th May 2010 HTC HD2 does not have Swype
1. Ray at 1:22am 2nd July 2010 The HD2 does have swype hit the little arrow next to your keyboard and it gives you the option to change to swype text
Payam at 11:19am 5th May 2010 I love my HD2 :)
Ian Bell at 10:58am 5th May 2010 Maybe you should have read the whole article then? :)

"With an aging, soon-to-be-replaced operating system, it’s tough to recommend the HD2 on the merits of hardware alone."

I think that says enough.
Chark at 10:55am 5th May 2010 All I needed to read was "Does the finest Windows Mobile phone ever built..." to know in advance that this was going to be a biased report looking only at a spec-by-spec comparison without looking at the complete package.
Nick Mokey at 10:51am 5th May 2010 Absolutely agree, which is the point I try to make in the conclusion. The HD2 outdoes the iPhone 3GS on five out of eight of the features compared, but the iPhone's OS is enough to wash away a lot of the minor counts against it, like a missing LED flash or slightly smaller keyboard.
goodguy at 9:49am 5th May 2010 Unfortunately, the features that are compared in this article are not "weighted". In my mind, it's the OS that matters most, and trumps almost every other feature compared. Yes, the iPhone is a little worse then the HD2 in most of these features (but for the most part not really significantly). Because of the OS, in my opinion, the iPhone still wins hands down.
rabidcb at 9:44am 5th May 2010 NO.
rabidcb at 9:43am 5th May 2010 HD2 sucks, don't get it, its junk.
needanswer at 8:49am 5th May 2010 can you upgrade the hd2 os to win7 with it comes out?
Rednoc at 6:45am 5th May 2010 Everyone keeps talking about HD2's soon-to-be outdated software. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I have no interest in Windows Phone 7! If I wanted the restrictions of an iPhone-like phone, I'd buy an iPhone! With "Co0kie's Home Tab" (from XDA Developers) along with many other tweaks and mods, I'm very happy with my HD2.
Clean Colon Pro at 2:38am 5th May 2010 HTC HD2 is the best as its display upto the required standard.
Clean Colon Pro
sreekruthsravan at 1:47am 5th May 2010 Yes u are right htc hd2 is far better than 3gs but can u tell details of batty backup as i wanted to buy this month
1. Manish at 11:00am 14th August 2010 am using 3GS...& got HD2 too , for sure its nice fone baded on linux Apple OS... but battery hmmm , u need charger at office & at home simultaneously!
Ashutosh at 12:34am 5th May 2010 HTC HD2 is better than iPhone 3GS
gbrilliantq at 6:54pm 4th May 2010 Just to let you know, you can get 32gb microSD cards for under 90 bucks. Even Kmart has them for 88 bucks. So I guess that makes the HD2 the winner of that segment too...