Samsung Droid Charge vs HTC ThunderBolt
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Design:
Even though both the Samsung Droid Charge and HTC ThunderBolt have a candy-bar form factor, their appearance is different. For starters, the ThunderBolt is larger and heavier at 6.23 oz and features a dark charcoal color used on the exterior, as well as a kick-stand on the back, while the Samsung Droid Charge is gray in color with chrome accents and is a bit lighter at 5.04 oz. Even though both devices are made out of plastic, the ThunderBolt feels more sturdy and solid, and features a soft-touch coating on the back that provides a nice grip with your hand, while the Droid Charge feels “cheaper” and has slick plastic that is more difficult to get a firm grip on.
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The Samsung Droid Charge (left,bottom) and the HTC ThunderBolt (right,top) | |||
One of the most noticeable differences is in regards to the display technology that is used. The HTC ThunderBolt relies on a standard 4.3” WVGA resolution TFT LCD display, which is nothing that we haven’t seen before, but the Samsung Droid Charge uses a 4.3” WVGA resolution Super AMOLED Plus display, that is the newest type on the market. Even though both screens are the same size and have 480x800 pixel resolution, the Super AMOLED Plus display used by the Droid Charge delivers better contrast and color saturation, which allows text to be sharper and images to look more life-like. One other advantage is that the screen on the Droid Charge is much easier to view outside in the sun, while the one on the ThunderBolt is dark and hardly visible.
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The Samsung Droid Charge (left) and the HTC ThunderBolt (right) | |
Located above the display on each device is a 1.3MP fixed-focus camera, that can be used for taking self portraits and for video chat (if the app supports it).There is also a light sensor and proximity sensor for the display, but the ThunderBolt includes a standard LED notification light that will flash if you receive a new message or alert; something that is missing from the Droid Charge. At the bottom are four navigation keys on the ThunderBolt for accessing the menu, home, back and search, but they are capacitive touch-sensitive and can easily be pressed accidentally, while on the Droid Charge they are physical buttons, which we prefer. On the sides are the volume rocker and power/lock buttons, but on the Droid Charge they are raised more and defined from the surround plastic so they are easier to operate. Both phones also have a microUSB port for charging and for connecting them to your computer, but only the Droid Charge comes with a HDMI video port to connect to a HDTV.
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24 Comments
1. the joneses (unregistered) posted on 09 May 2011, 10:20 8 5
So basically both of them are half baked :)
Love it....
Give us more half designed / half tested / rushed out/ not thought trough expensive crap so we can spend our money on them every few months...
2. Rich (unregistered) posted on 09 May 2011, 10:23 4 2
i have had no problems on my thunderbolt. never experienced the 4G, 3G, 1x cycle as the article mentioned.
The only thing is the battery WAS terrible. Until i rooted my phone and used setcpu. Now my thunderbolt lasts all day + more. So thats no longer an issue.
12. davyjones (unregistered) posted on 13 May 2011, 08:19 1 1
I had 3 (THREE) of them.
This 3rd one seems ok, only minor probs. like
-speaker is distorted,
-the call quality has tin-can-syndrome,
-all incoming calls start on the LOUDEST volume (no tty, all settings are checked by me and htc tech and it still does it.) Every call is on MAX VOLUME. The only way to get rid of it is when s.one calls I got to move up the volume slider to max, then down. Pretty annoying from a new phone.
3. LionStone posted on 09 May 2011, 10:37 2 1
Yea, mine did the cycling thing and the second day I had it, I returned it for a new model that works properly. Maybe other people should do that too and give accurate reviews instead...oh and call quality is great on mine too. I use it in the mountains all the time and the quality and reception is fine.
4. MalakiMills posted on 09 May 2011, 11:02 3 0
The only thing about this review that pulls me toward the Charge is the Super AMOLED Plus, that is a beauty of a screen. But everything else that it has better aren't really that impressive. I would prefer the camera, sense, build quality, and "better" performance are the deciding factors. And the less than average track record for updates from samsung don't bode well with me either.
5. vette21man posted on 09 May 2011, 13:34 1 1
IMHO, both of these devices are too late to the market. 4G is the only thing separating them from the competition...and that has enough reviews (not just on this site) to feel disappointing. Looks like the cameras are junk, too. I'll wait for the dual-core monsters to rear their heads to see what my next upgrade will be. Going to take quite a bit to pry my jailbroken iPhone 4 away.
6. ajsdfasdkj (unregistered) posted on 09 May 2011, 13:47 1 7
PhoneArena never checks facts anymore do they.... the thunderbolt is not a standard lcd it is a Super LCD, also it has 768mb of ram not 512. phonearena has become morons.
9. James123ab (unregistered) posted on 11 May 2011, 07:09 0 0
Actually Thunderbolt is not Super LCD...looks like someone should recheck their checking.
http://www.technobuffalo.com/mobile-devices/phones /htc-thunderbolt-review-fastest-droid-yet/
7. Hey You! (unregistered) posted on 09 May 2011, 13:51 0 0
If the Thunderbolt had a Super AMOLED plus display who would win then?
8. rayjones09 posted on 09 May 2011, 16:25 0 0
Think I'd take the Droid Charge, although I must say I like the look of the Tbolt. But, I want an Omnia 7 on Verizon anyway.
10. immolate (unregistered) posted on 12 May 2011, 07:03 0 0
Here's a thought and probably a point for comparison.
Samsung Droid Charge: $300
HTC Thunderbolt: (as low as) $129
11. davyjones (unregistered) posted on 13 May 2011, 08:12 0 3
The dual core, ATRIX 4G with better display, better battery, fingerprint reader..etc....is $99.99. It was 119 when the Tbolt was 249....
I don't mind to pay more if the phone is new AND BETTER what p.me off is that they hang these 250-300 tags on them just because it's "new" NOT BETTER. Yet other phones already on the market are ahead of these....
13. (unregistered) (unregistered) posted on 18 May 2011, 06:40 2 7
and the winner is....Iphone! Again, poor quality and outdated technology from the "new" android phones...they're just not built as well as the iphone whether you're an Apple fan (which I'm not!) or an android fan..This is why Apple is still King.
14. mr. droid posted on 18 May 2011, 16:59 1 2
i have both sitting here side by side and the picture us far more brilliant on the thunderbolt. BOTH phones have more flaws than any other phone i have ever had. PROBABLY because they are the first 4G phones and if i have ever learned anything else before, never buy something that is the first of its kind. wait and let things get perfected.
15. heckman45 posted on 21 May 2011, 16:58 1 1
Since both have been out, we haven't sold a whole lot of them. I mean really, Verizon, get it together. You put out your first dual-core processor in a 3G DEVICE? Yet, your 4G phones are both single core. Doesn't make sense. Not to mention, the Thunderbolt will last you a good 8 hours if you aren't doing ANYTHING on it. Maybe 4 hours with data usage. Fail.
16. Think (unregistered) posted on 26 May 2011, 07:15 1 0
You guys are bitching about No Dual Core and low battery life. Do you realize how much worse battery life is going to be when your feeding twice the cpu draw?
Agree, the facts they post here about both phones, is not accurate. very odd.
18. Eric (unregistered) posted on 27 May 2011, 22:35 0 0
My Atrix is 4g, Dual Core and the massive battery lasts two days. CDMA is your enemy.
17. codymws posted on 26 May 2011, 19:47 0 0
Where'd you get that flash drive with the Verizon logo on it? I want one of those! =)
22. pia (unregistered) posted on 28 Jun 2011, 20:51 0 0
I got one at a verizon wireless seminar. It's only 1gb though.
21. listener68 (unregistered) posted on 20 Jun 2011, 23:18 0 0
Droid charge Great phone, but lastest 2 days and 4G, went to 3G. then DOA.. Intermittent and flaky at best, and call s were broken and stuttery even in suburban metro area.
