5 Best Windows Phone 7 Devices
A new operating system five brand new handsets…
STEPHEN FRY MAY HAVE BEEN SEDUCED BY Windows Phone 7, but ultimately the operating system’s success will depend upon the quality of the handsets. Built for pleasure as well as business they all have Xbox Live connectivity, Zune music players, at least a five-megapixel camera and the ability to edit Office documents. A good start…
HTC HD7 – Best Web Browser
The HD7 has the largest screen on test. an expansive 4.3 inches with a 800×480-pixel resolution. The camera is also a highlight. with a du& LED flash and a five-megapixel sensor. It also shoots HD video, although it can be a little choppy when viewed back on a larger screen. Perhaps too generously sized for some. this is nonetheless an excellent platform for web browsing. viewing video clips and Xbox Live gaming. with a handy kick stand for hands-free use. A top media phone. the HD7 makes great use of WP 7′s new features.
(+) Large. responsive screen. Good camera
(-) Tricky lock button. Short battery life. A little too large for some
Price £380
HTC 7 MOZART – Best Camera
Music and photography take centre stage on the HTC 7 Mozart. It has a 3.7-inch. 800×480-pixel screen. eight-megapixel camera with a proper xenon flash that takes the best pictures on test. and the audio is slightly improved by HTC’s purportedly surround sound-mimicing SRS WOW HD technology. Some of the button placement. however. is less-than-ergonomic and there were times when we experienced a certain amount of lag from the 1GHz processor – especially when taking pictures. The battery life is also particularly short.
(+) Best camera on test. Stylish unibody design
(-) Short battery life. Slight lag apparent when taking photos
Price £399
LG OPTIMUS 7 – Best Overall
The LG Optimus 7 is packed full of features. Our favourite is PlayTo. a DLNA server where you can flick videos from the Optimus 7′s 3.8-inch. 800×480 touchscreen onto a TV. Intelligent Shot mode on the fivemegapixel camera is also a highlight. making it easy to get the best snaps. There’s no xenon flash. but in good lighting the results are great. Easy to use and full of multimedia features. the Optimus 7 is the best of the first wave of Window Phone 7 handsets. A battery that lasts for up to two days means you can enjoy it for longer too.
(+) Extra media features really help make this phone a cut above
(-) Metallic design feels a little over-engineered
Price £499
SAMSUNG OMNIA 7 – Best Touhscreen
The Samsung Omnia 7′s killer feature is its Super AMOLED. 800×480-pixel screen. offering a superb video and internet browsing experience it also turns the already accurate on-screen keyboard into the most responsive on test. The build quality is average. with a plastic chassis. and the five-megapixel camera with LED flash doesn’t provide great results. Despite that. the battery, which allows the Omnia 7 to keep working for up to two days. and the large. accurate touchscreen is enough to make the Omnia 7 worth a look.
(+) Super AMOLED screen. Long battery life. Accurate touchscreen
(-) Design doesn’t live up to the higher price tag
Price £499
HTC 7 TROPHY – Best Value
The Trophy is the solid. workmanlike handset of the pack. It has no standout features. but can be picked up for £25 a month on contract. It’s got a 3.8-inch, 800×480 screen and a 1GHz processor that’s capable of keeping up with more expensive handsets. There’s also a five-megapixel camera that can capture The Trophy lacks the extra features and stylish design of other WP7 phones. but it is practical, affordable and good value for money for those wishing to give Windows Phone 7 a go.
(+) Solid. practical and affordable
(-) Plastic build and dull overall design. No standout features
Price £399
A new operating system five brand new handsets…
STEPHEN FRY MAY HAVE BEEN SEDUCED BY Windows Phone 7, but ultimately the operating system’s success will depend upon the quality of the handsets. Built for pleasure as well as business they all have Xbox Live connectivity, Zune music players, at least a five-megapixel camera and the ability to edit Office documents. A good start…
HTC HD7 – Best Web Browser
The HD7 has the largest screen on test. an expansive 4.3 inches with a 800×480-pixel resolution. The camera is also a highlight. with a du& LED flash and a five-megapixel sensor. It also shoots HD video, although it can be a little choppy when viewed back on a larger screen. Perhaps too generously sized for some. this is nonetheless an excellent platform for web browsing. viewing video clips and Xbox Live gaming. with a handy kick stand for hands-free use. A top media phone. the HD7 makes great use of WP 7′s new features.
(+) Large. responsive screen. Good camera
(-) Tricky lock button. Short battery life. A little too large for some
Price £380
HTC 7 MOZART – Best Camera
Music and photography take centre stage on the HTC 7 Mozart. It has a 3.7-inch. 800×480-pixel screen. eight-megapixel camera with a proper xenon flash that takes the best pictures on test. and the audio is slightly improved by HTC’s purportedly surround sound-mimicing SRS WOW HD technology. Some of the button placement. however. is less-than-ergonomic and there were times when we experienced a certain amount of lag from the 1GHz processor – especially when taking pictures. The battery life is also particularly short.
(+) Best camera on test. Stylish unibody design
(-) Short battery life. Slight lag apparent when taking photos
Price £399
LG OPTIMUS 7 – Best Overall
The LG Optimus 7 is packed full of features. Our favourite is PlayTo. a DLNA server where you can flick videos from the Optimus 7′s 3.8-inch. 800×480 touchscreen onto a TV. Intelligent Shot mode on the fivemegapixel camera is also a highlight. making it easy to get the best snaps. There’s no xenon flash. but in good lighting the results are great. Easy to use and full of multimedia features. the Optimus 7 is the best of the first wave of Window Phone 7 handsets. A battery that lasts for up to two days means you can enjoy it for longer too.
(+) Extra media features really help make this phone a cut above
(-) Metallic design feels a little over-engineered
Price £499
SAMSUNG OMNIA 7 – Best Touhscreen
The Samsung Omnia 7′s killer feature is its Super AMOLED. 800×480-pixel screen. offering a superb video and internet browsing experience it also turns the already accurate on-screen keyboard into the most responsive on test. The build quality is average. with a plastic chassis. and the five-megapixel camera with LED flash doesn’t provide great results. Despite that. the battery, which allows the Omnia 7 to keep working for up to two days. and the large. accurate touchscreen is enough to make the Omnia 7 worth a look.
(+) Super AMOLED screen. Long battery life. Accurate touchscreen
(-) Design doesn’t live up to the higher price tag
Price £499
HTC 7 TROPHY – Best Value
The Trophy is the solid. workmanlike handset of the pack. It has no standout features. but can be picked up for £25 a month on contract. It’s got a 3.8-inch, 800×480 screen and a 1GHz processor that’s capable of keeping up with more expensive handsets. There’s also a five-megapixel camera that can capture The Trophy lacks the extra features and stylish design of other WP7 phones. but it is practical, affordable and good value for money for those wishing to give Windows Phone 7 a go.
(+) Solid. practical and affordable
(-) Plastic build and dull overall design. No standout features
Price £399
