HTC Pure Review

Now that Windows Mobile 6.5 has been out of the bag for some time, we see that the Pure is running the same exact interface that’s found on the HTC Tilt 2. The Pure doesn’t get the same treatment that the Imagio received with the Sense UI. Aside from the AT&T theme on the home screen, you get HTC’s wonder looking TouchFLO 3D interface that conveniently places information and apps all through the home screen. Navigating through the phone can be accomplished by a variety of methods which also includes the new Start Menu layout. There’s an occasional slowdown when you run certain applications, but doesn’t deter from the overall capable experience of navigating on the phone.

Although we would’ve liked to see a larger display, typing with the on-screen QWERTY keyboards proved to be a bit frustrating. The lack of space and small confines makes speed typing come down to a halt – you’d probably be better off using the stylus with the portrait QWERTY. As for the landscape one, it does add slightly more room for your fingers – but it’s still too cramped to type quickly without any mistakes.

You’ll get your choice of either using Opera Mobile or Internet Explorer for your web browser – the latter does offer some flash support to an extent. Still we noticed Opera Mobile loading up sites faster and rearranges everything in a manner to best suit the screen. Sure it’s nothing mind-blowing, but the experience we get out of using Opera Mobile on a Windows Mobile handset is considered to be normal at this point.
 
AT&T did miss out on getting some kind of variant of the original HTC Diamond, but we consider the HTC Pure as a decent offering for AT&T’s smartphone lineup. If you’re in the market for a Windows Mobile handset, we’d recommend the HTC Imagio as a better option – especially for those who would enjoy a bigger screen. We’d even go out on a limb and say that the HTC Tilt 2 is a far better option for AT&T business customers with its larger screen and physical keyboard. On the other hand, the Pure is best suited for users who don’t mind the smaller 3.2” display and less obtrusive look in the pockets when carrying it around. Alas, the HTC Pure doesn’t come out of the gates trying to stand out among the crop – it just stays pure and doesn’t come up with anything out of the ordinary in terms of functionality.

HTC Pure Video Review