Reviews icon HTC Touch Diamond CDMA Review

HTC Touch Diamond CDMA Review

Published on: 03 October, 2008 by PhoneArena Team

Click to see a large image.
Performance:

Overall sound quality was very good on both ends.  It wasn’t quite as outstanding as the original, but callers said we sounded good though a little distant.  On our end we felt the same, the callers sounded a bit distant but voice reproduction was accurate and the caller was crystal clear.  Reception does not appear to be an issue with the CDMA version as it was with the GSM unit we tested.  We were able to place and hold calls without incident.

Battery life is rated at just over four hours of talk time, and in our testing we fell only a few minutes short of this.  HTC claims 350 hours of standby time, but keep in mind that, as with any smartphone, standby time is considerably affected by what all is going on in the background.  For instance, email push or pull will have a significant impact on battery life.  Except for the first few days, when we were heavily using apps, video and just generally groping the phone frequently we have been able to get through the day with normal use.  HTC made a wise move in beefing up the battery, but heavy users will undoubtedly upgrade to an even bigger one.

We compared our SPB Benchmark results with the ones of the HTC Touch Diamond and HTC Touch CDMA.


Conclusion:

The HTC Touch Diamond is the best CDMA phone we’ve ever used.  That’s not to say it’s perfect, but its darn near close.  The size, weight and feel are phenomenal.  The VGA screen keeps us drooling, and TouchFLO 3D is an amazingly intuitive and useful interface.  Performance boosts have made even Windows Mobile run smoothly, and the OS allows infinite customization possibilities.  It’s powerful enough for the most hardcore business and techie users, but friendly enough that just about anyone can pick it up and go.  The music player is our biggest gripe, but the beauty of WinMo is that we can simply load another player we prefer more.  We’re extremely happy to see Sprint remained relatively hands-off with the software, and the few changes they made we approve of.   This is the phone we’ve been waiting for, and it doesn’t disappoint.

Pros

  • TouchFLO 3D is better than ever
  • Even with the burgundy back, the Diamond is dead sexy
  • Excellent size to go along with a top end feature set
  • Great out of the box, but endless possibilities with Windows Mobile
  • Teeter!

Cons

  • Performance is improved, but WinMo still has its moments
  • Battery life is as expected, but the power user will be looking for an even more extended battery

PAppeal

Christian Dior:
10 of 10
Very high

The new design sits up there with the fashion elites.

Average Joe:
8 of 10
High

TouchFLO 3D takes a lot of the intimidation out of Windows Mobile, but at $250 it won’t be a casual purchase.

Corporate US:
9 of 10
Very high

Lack of a physical keyboard is all that would keep business users away.

High-Tech junkie
10 of 10
Very high

What more could you want?

expand ratings

PA phone rating

  • Design 9.5
    • Build Quality 9
    • Look 10
  • Display 10
    • Quality 10
    • Resolution 10
    • Size 10
  • Camera 7.5
    • Resolution 8
    • Quality 7
    • Features, Comfort 7
  • Sound Quality 8
    • Incoming 8
    • Outgoing 8
    • Ringing 10
    • Signal Reception 8
  • Battery 8
    • Talk time 8
    • Stand-by time 8
  • Connectivity 10
    • Local 10
    • Internet 10
    • Data 10
  • Multimedia 6.5
    • Interface Comfort, Options 7
    • Quality 7
    • Supported formats 5
    • Connectors (3.5/A2DP) 7
  • Organizer 10
    • PIM 10
    • Phonebook 10
    • Messaging 10
Excellent
9.5
out of 10
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User comments

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0
1.
Hi, great review and lots of details which is what I'm looking for. however, I would like to see how Sprint TV fares in this device compared to Instinct; as well as handwriting capabilities (as text input)... is it accurate with the stylus or finger?

pls pls pls, any information is greatly appreciated.
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0
2.
we have rev a coverage in our call center and the sprint tv quality is outstanding, way better than the instinct.
Reply to this comment
0
3.
wow, with this phone I almost have to say that there was no point for the instinct, besides to rival the iPhone in time, if they made a dumbphone version of this they'd be perfect

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0
4.
Will this phone come in black as well? It seemed there were rumors that it would launch in red but have a black back later. Any info would be appreciated. As for right now, I will have to see a red one in person to see how it looks as every review states that the red looks better in person. Also, any issues with overheating? Thank you for such a great interview.
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0
5.
fabulous review. i had this phone since telesales started to sell it. it is marvelous. the best phone period.
Reply to this comment
0
6.
I've seen other reviews mentioned about the overheating/phone get hot problem... have anyone experience that?
0
8.
the battery does tend to get warm pretty quick making the back of the phone a lil toasty.
Reply to this comment
0
22.
I've also had the phones since telesales started selling it and I love this phone. In regardless to the saying of the battery over heating. I did alot of researching and tested the theory myself, it's not the battery that's over heating or getting hot. It's the radio that located below the battery area that gets heated, due to the manufactory squeezing it in a small area. To test that theory, when your phone heats up, just remove the backing of the phone and touch the battery, you'll find that the heat isn't there but below/bottom of the phone that gets hot. Thus far, no sulution to this issue.
Reply to this comment This comment is posted in response to #8 ( Show )
Reply to Paul Hide 2 replies to this comment
0
7.
I want to know if this phone will work on the GSM 800/1900Mhz Frequencies? According to HTC's webpage for this phone it is Dual-band (800/1900Mhz), CDMA2000 1xEVDO Rev. A/1xRTT and IS-95A/B voice or data with up to 1.8 Mbps up-link and 3.1 Mbps down-link. Trouble is I dont want to spend all the money then not be able to use it in the UK...
0
9.
this is the cdma version, you want the gsm unit which they also reviewed a few months back.
Reply to this comment
0
13.
I only have 2 or 3 carriers that work in my local town. Alltel, Sprint/Nextel and Centennial....... I'll be going to the UK 3 or 4 times a year and want the phone to work while I'm their..... I know the UK has carriers using GSM 800/1900Mhz Frequencies, so are you saying that the Specification on HTC website where it states (800/1900Mhz) is not GSM? If not then what are they? Thanks in advance.... Want to get it cleared up soon so I can order something.....
Reply to this comment This comment is posted in response to #9 ( Show )
0
14.
dual band for this phone is 800/1900 Mhz CDMA, it's same "frequency" as 800/1900 Mhz GSM, but different "signal"...
Reply to this comment This comment is posted in response to #13 ( Show )
0
16.
Thanks David........ You've finally put the nail in the coffin (which I am grateful for, because I havent spent any money)...... So... I'm still looking for a decent phone that will work in the UK and my home in the US. Any suggestions..? Please dont say Blackberry :)
Reply to this comment This comment is posted in response to #14 ( Show )
0
17.
with sprint the blackberry 8830 is your only option if you want to keep the same number. centennial is gsm like the uk, but theyre a small regional carrier and im not sure if their phones are unlocked. i dont know much about them, but you should be able to buy any unlocked quadband gsm phones which you can use both here and there.

if you dont care about keeping your number over there (which youll pay a pretty penny for) you could also buy a cheap unlocked gsm phone and a prepaid sim for when you travel to the uk, and get sprint here.
Reply to this comment This comment is posted in response to #16 ( Show )
0
21.
The Samsung Ace is a really nice phone that would work for you and is still windows mobile. But you lose the touch screen feature which is a turn off for a lot of people. It is a quad band phone though so it will work internationally...if you can afford to use the phone internationally
Reply to this comment This comment is posted in response to #16 ( Show )
0
25.
Keeping the same number while overseas is way over-rated as roaming charges are truly outrageous. simply get a cheap unlocked phone and buy pre-paid GSM sims wherever you travel..
Reply to this comment This comment is posted in response to #13 ( Show )
Reply to Pihrana Hide 7 replies to this comment
0
10.
touch pro october 19th baby
0
23.
The launch date of the Touch Pro has been pushed to the being of November 08.
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Reply to anonymous Hide 1 replies to this comment
0
11.
iphone who ?
blackberry storm who>?
go SPRINT!
Reply to this comment
-1
12.
Yuck, Sprint.

Once AT&T gets this or the Touch Pro I'm gonna be a happy person.
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  Total: 25 post(s)
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