HTC ThunderBolt vs Apple iPhone 4
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Two of the newest smartphones to hit Verizon Wireless this year are the HTC ThunderBolt and Apple iPhone 4. Both have a lot to offer customers, as the ThunderBolt is the first 4G LTE smartphone for the carrier, which also takes advantage of Android's highly-customizable nature, while the iPhone 4 features a world of quality apps and a deeply polished software experience. We’ve used both devices for quite a while now, so we'd like to show you how they stack-up next to each other in some key areas. So, let’s get it on!
Design:
In terms of their overall design and appearance, the HTC ThunderBolt and Apple iPhone 4 are literally comparing apples to oranges. The ThunderBolt looks like a “big boy’s phone” as its size is on the large side, as is its weight at 6.23 oz. Even though it is constructed out of plastic, it feels solid and firm overall. Meanwhile, the iPhone 4 is more compact, easier to hold, and doesn’t feel quite as heavy. It also has a more high-end look and feel to it, with the solid-piece glass on the front and back, and the metal trim around the sides. But the one thing that we do like about the ThunderBolt is the use of the soft-touch coating on the back, as it doesn’t show fingerprints like the glass back of the iPhone 4 – as this is a trade off. Between the two, the iPhone 4 does look and feel better overall, but the ThunderBolt is still made well, as long as it’s not too big for your hands.
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The HTC ThunderBolt (L) and the Apple iPhone 4 (R) | ||
The main reason the ThunderBolt is on the beefier side is due to the large 4.3” 480x800 pixel resolution touchscreen display, while the iPhone 4 is using a smaller 3.5” display, but it’s pixel density is much higher due to its 640x960 pixel resolution. We love both…really. The larger screen on the ThunderBolt is quite good, images and text look sharp and videos also look great. When we viewed the same content on the iPhone 4, it did look a bit clearer (due to the higher pixel count) and colors did look more natural, but you are limited to a much smaller screen. One thing that we did notice when using the phones outside on a sunny day was that the screen on the ThunderBolt looks almost blacked-out (even though we turned the backlight brightness all the way up), while the screen on the iPhone 4 is somewhat viewable.
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The displays of the HTC ThunderBolt (L) and the Apple iPhone 4 (R) | |||
As you probably already know, the iPhone 4 just has the one solitary physical button on the front that takes you back to the home screen, while the ThunderBolt has 4 touch-sensitive buttons at the bottom for home, menu, back, and search. These do come in handy, as you could be in your email’s inbox and just click the search button and type in a search for it to perform. However, the side buttons on the ThunderBolt could have been designed better, since the power/lock button is rather small and flush with the surrounding plastic, and the volume rocker is one piece and you’re not sure where to press. By comparison, the iPhone 4 has separate volume buttons that have nice feel and “click” to them when pressed, as does the top power/lock button. Both devices come with a standard 3.5mm headset jack on the top, but for charging and PC connectivity, the iPhone 4 uses Apple’s proprietary 30-pin plug, while ThunderBolt uses the more common microUSB connection, which is a plus.
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The HTC ThunderBolt (left, down) and the Apple iPhone 4 (right, up) | ||
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50 Comments
1. lookingforunbiasedsites (unregistered) posted on 30 Mar 2011, 08:01 5 3
as always, the FAVORITE (i)phone is compared to anything else great-as if its the defending champion looking for challengers that will be deemed losers.
23. Kjayhawk posted on 30 Mar 2011, 20:41 2 2
Why are people making such a big deal about this. Phonearena prefers the iPhone a lot! because its a personal choice. Techno buffalo, cnet and Wirefly have done the samething, but obviously the HTC Thunderbolt was on top. If you are really keeping score. Then its 3-1.
2. boggie (unregistered) posted on 30 Mar 2011, 08:06 8 6
as usual, another biased interview from a one of the sheep. Iphone is dead dead dead!
24. Lucas777 posted on 30 Mar 2011, 20:57 3 2
oh ya i guess those iphone 4s u see everywhere and the iphone 5 news was just made up...
3. boit (unregistered) posted on 30 Mar 2011, 08:06 10 8
Written biased to Apple... You didn't mention that you can surf and call at the same time on the Thunderbolt, that even the 3G speed is superior to the iPhone, and that the build quality is really superior, because the Thunderbolt is manufactured from tough aircraft aluminum. One other neat point is that anyone with a Thunderbolt and Tango can video chat with anyone with an iPhone and Tango. I have successfully used this combination even on a 3G signal, but it is of course better to use wifi.
The Thunderbolt is a MUCH better device than anything Apple has ever made, or ever will make. Let's stop the hype right now.
25. Lucas777 posted on 30 Mar 2011, 20:59 3 3
okay honestly who cares about searching and calling at the same time... att makes a big deal out of it but nobody uses it... also u have to have 4g. and also just saying but i think it is unfair to compare such an old product to a new one... of course it is better... but alas everyone loves the iphone and obviously it sells amazing... no phone has ever or will ever do better
41. Jman16 (unregistered) posted on 31 May 2011, 00:16 0 1
iphone 4 isn't that old and i believe after this article and others i will get the thunderbolt i want the larger screen and other superior performance over the more popular iphone
4. hot stuff (unregistered) posted on 30 Mar 2011, 08:08 8 6
this author probably makes love to his iphone in his ibed!! the iphone does not even touch this awesome revolutionary droid phone! please!!!
29. rocker-guy posted on 31 Mar 2011, 05:04 3 3
theres nothing revolutionary in this droid... iphone4 is still better.. either its built quality or the resolution or the OS stability... iphone rocks all the way
6. 3MTA3 (unregistered) posted on 30 Mar 2011, 08:35 6 7
The battery on my TBolt is just fine and the sheep here at my office keep their crapple phones plugged in to a charger all day becuase if they don't they have no charge by days end. The TBolt has everything the sheep phone has and MORE - the only area the icrap phone wins is, yet again, thinner. That is all apple has over the competitors - slim devices - that doesn't cut it for me and other companies are doing the same now with their devices but are keeping updated technology so look out apple - you are going down! This review is just plain stupid and biased!
10. bucky posted on 30 Mar 2011, 10:00 5 6
you are definitely talkin shmack. There is NO way that your phone will last longer. I have had the desire, desire z, hd2 and desire HD. The hd2 and the HD NEVER stood a chance to make it through a full day with 3g on and regular use-not even close.
My desire z wont even last the whole day.
14. LionStone posted on 30 Mar 2011, 11:31 5 4
Yea Bucky, and you're not talking schmack either? 3MTA3 never said his battery will last longer!? BTW, battery life is dependent on individual use; I asked my friend how long his ip4 lasts if he starts the day at full..."well, uh yea I have to charge it by the afternoon." So who really cares? You use your phone more, you use the battery more, wow, what a concept!
Too funny this comparison, I think they did it just to get a laugh...I mean basically it says, if you want a slower phone and smaller screen, then you know which one to get. I have big hands so i have no problem with the size of the phone or knowing how to use the volume control or power button lol! I appreciate a bigger screen to view any content on the screen better and I certainly appreciate the 4g speeds. Soon in the next year or so I'm sure you will see a bigger screen and 4g for the ip, then a comparison should be made.
16. bucky posted on 30 Mar 2011, 14:03 2 3
one thing you (and many others) dont understand is that hardware isnt everything! Android is a very powerfull platform but the hardware required to run it hasnt caught up enough to compete with IOS with regards to fluidity and speed(for the most part).
Android will simply always eat more battery, probably because it does have "real" multitasking and widgets. To say your battery, coupled with that screen is better is simply uneducated.
28. LionStone posted on 31 Mar 2011, 01:42 2 0
Well since you are misstating what other people write, I'd say you are making uneducated remarks. I never said my battery and screen is better than anything. I mentioned I liked a bigger screen to view content better and I like the 4g speed.
You can love on the IOS all you want if that's what works for you...for me, the T-Bolt has plenty of fluidity and speed.
30. bucky posted on 31 Mar 2011, 11:47 1 3
"The battery on my TBolt is just fine and the sheep here at my office keep their crapple phones plugged in to a charger all day becuase if they don't they have no charge by days end"
...read that line carefully and tell me what its implying...
The last line of your statement is best thing you have said.
7. cmatt666 (unregistered) posted on 30 Mar 2011, 08:54 7 3
I have both devices and I prefer the Thunderbolt over the iPhone 4 by a large margin. No battery issues with my Thunderbolt.
8. loolcom posted on 30 Mar 2011, 09:35 5 10
Do u guys really think that the thunderbolt is the best android out there ,,,, come on it is already an outdated average android phone ,,,,
