HTC Imagio XV6975 Review
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One of the more successful smartphones for Verizon over the past year has been the HTC Touch Diamond. We were hoping to see a Verizon release of the Touch Diamond2 later this year, but it appears that the HTC Imagio XV6975 will take the place of the original model. The Imagio is similar to the Touch Diamond2; however it has grown in size in order to add a bigger screen. In addition, it runs on the new Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional operating system and is the only current smartphone for Verizon to support VCast Mobile TV, powered by Qualcomm’s FLO TV network. The Imagio also includes an updated TouchFLO 3D user interface, Opera Mobile 9.5 browser, and a 5MP camera. All of this combines into one high-end device that will be tough competition for the Samsung Omnia II and the Motorola A855 Android device that are due out later this year.
Included in the retail package is the HTC Imagio XV6975 phone, 1500 mAh battery, wall charger with detachable miniUSB cable, 3 power adapters, 2 stylus, CDs and user manuals.
Design:
Since the HTC Imagio is not part of the Diamond series, it loses the uniquely designed diamond-cut back that we’ve come to love. Instead the Imagio has a 2-tone back plate, of which 75% has a soft-touch finish and the remaining 25% is shiny plastic. The Imagio is also slightly taller and wider than the Touch Pro2, but is not as thick since it lacks the sliding QWERTY keyboard. Because of this, the Imagio feels less “brick like” and is more comfortable to hold in your hand. It also isn’t as noticeable when placed in your pants pocket.
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The HTC Imagio XV6975 feels comfortable to hold in your hand | ||
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You can compare the HTC Imagio XV6975 with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.
One feature we truly love about the HTC Imagio is the large 3.6-inch 480x800 WVGA resolution resistive touchscreen display, whereas the Touch Dimand2 only has a 3.2-inch display. Since the Imagio doesn’t have a physical keyboard or d-pad, the touchscreen is the main point of interaction with the device, and it works flawlessly. Images and text look excellent on it, though one can hardly see what is being displayed once taken outdoors in direct sunlight..
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Below the display are the touch-sensitive zoom bar and 5 physical buttons for send, end, Mobile TV, Start, and back. The buttons work well and are noticeably larger than the ones used by the Touch Pro2. On the right side is the volume rocker and on the bottom are the 3.5mm headset jack and miniUSB data port. Located on the back are the 5MP autofocus camera, external speaker, and kickstand (to help when viewing videos). One part we didn’t care for was the battery cover, as it has to be popped off, instead of being slid off, which makes you feel like it is going to break. But you have to remove it to gain access to the microSDHC memory card slot, which can use cards of up to 16GB in size. We would have preferred a side-access cover to the memory card slot instead.
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Right side | Left side |
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The bottom and top sides of HTC Imagio XV6975 | |
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33 Comments
1. bluehorseshoe posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:55 0 1
How can you give it a 9.5 if there is an issue with call quality? Bells and whistles are great, but these are phones nonetheless. That's at least a point or so in my book.
3. PhoneArena Team posted on 07 Oct 2009, 13:41 2 0
Under normal conditions the call quality was fine. The only issue was the faint background "hiss" that could be heard through the earpiece, which sounds like "white noise" (some phones have this while other don't), and if you turn the volume up all the way you'll hear some speaker distortion. But we found that having the earpiece volume set below medium is still plenty loud, and there is no distortion.
13. honoldng posted on 08 Oct 2009, 16:02 1 2
One could just as easily argue that this is a portable multi-media/computing/camera/etc. device that happens to make phone calls. If you are more worried about phone call quality, there are thousands of basic cell phones available. People who are looking to buy this type of device are clearly looking for more than just phone calls.
2. ErikSax posted on 07 Oct 2009, 12:00 0 0
Can you please show examples of the MobileTV service on the Imagio? That is the feature everyone needs to see demonstrated and evaluated. You only showed VCast Video, which we have all seen before.
4. PhoneArena Team posted on 07 Oct 2009, 13:52 0 0
The Mobile TV service is shown at the top of Page 4, it is not VCast Video. The label will be changed. -Thank you.
5. AvtoExport posted on 07 Oct 2009, 16:56 0 1
What the DivX player you are installed ? I wont to... Please provide me Name and Web site to download ?
6. PhoneArena Team posted on 07 Oct 2009, 17:11 0 0
It can be found on the Divx site:http://labs.divx.com/MobileDow
nload Click on the Windows Mobile 6 Professional link, download, copy all the files to your smartphone and run the CAB file.
8. se7en11 posted on 07 Oct 2009, 21:27 0 1
Thanks for the great review. I've been waiting for this phone to come out for a while and was really looking forward to purchasing it. That was until the big press conference where Verizon and Google announced their two new Android phones. Anyone know how the HTC Imagio is going to compare to Verizon's HTC Hero?
9. j.as.on posted on 08 Oct 2009, 00:29 0 1
You talk about the quality of the keyboard. Any chance we can get some video of it in action?
11. martycota posted on 08 Oct 2009, 11:58 0 0
13.5 hours standby? How is that a good battery life? Considering my Touch Pro claims 350 standby hours and it barely makes it 2 or 3 days in good signal area, and you rate this as having a good battery life?
12. PhoneArena Team posted on 08 Oct 2009, 13:15 0 0
It should read "The 1500 mAh battery is rated to provide up to 5.3 hours of talk time or 13.5 days of standby time on a full charge." It will be corrected -Thank you.
14. brikz4real posted on 09 Oct 2009, 08:20 0 0
Your review left out one very important feature; one that will make me send back my Touch Pro 2 (well within 30 days) to get it: The fact that it supports VCast w/Rhapsody. Gotta have my music .... and this will be the first WinMo device to support Rhapsody "subscription" service as well as downloaded music.
15. PhoneArena Team posted on 09 Oct 2009, 09:10 0 0
We have it listed on the top of page 4: "...media services like VCast Video, Music with Rhapsody, and Mobile TV" The upcoming Samsung Omnia II is also expected to have VCast Video and VCast Music with Rhapsody, but not Mobile TV. -Thank you.
16. brikz4real posted on 09 Oct 2009, 15:54 0 0
Rechecked it....you're right. It's right there. My bad. Just wish Verizon had that feature in the TP2 as well.
23. WarBear posted on 13 Oct 2009, 11:21 0 0
Just want to add a note since you have an interest in streaming media. I have had this phone since Oct 7th and instantly installed my Slingplayer Mobile w/ no monthly fee on the device using the 3g data package and NOT WiFi. Works outstanding! Full screen capable and even flips the screen to the side. Quite a nice picture, some blocks, and some frame rate issues....but overall extremely watchable quality. Watched my dolphins beat the jets last night since I was in an area with no internet, only the 3g :) On a side note it is capable of tethering using pdanet's software w/ no monthly fee. I was going to mention something else, but I forgot what I was gonna say....oh well.
30. usmc7898 posted on 30 Oct 2009, 16:55 0 0
understand that you were able to load and us sliingplayer mobile on the Imagio, i'vve been using it on the xv6900 for the past year, but just recently my phones screen cracked.. Ipurchased the Imagio and loaded slingplaye rmobile, it boots up, but the controls at the bottom dont activate. any ideas???? your help is greatly appreciated.
18. Elysian posted on 10 Oct 2009, 21:30 0 0
I'm frequently outdoors during the winter and I need to know if the touchscreen is responsive to cold/gloved fingers?
