View Full Version : Samsung Galaxy or HTC Desire?
So lady luck does not seem to be on my side with regards to getting an iPhone 4 :cry: but the Galaxy and the Desire are my next choices. I would prefer the Desire Z but as far as I am aware that is not available yet so the Desire will have to do. Could you guys please give feedback about which tops the other (factual reasoning) and why? Things I do more often are surfing the web (at home will use wifi connection), emailing and connectivity when not in office or at home. Also would start to like using it more for photos on the go, videos, skype and media etc. So reception, battery life, reliability or anything you guys would like to point out I will appreciate.
Both are really good smart phones. My suggestion is to play around with both, check which interface you fancy (Touchwiz vs HTC sense). Features are rather similiar, so is the OS. You mentioned photos, so it would be wise to check the camera out on the Galaxy, if memory serves me correct, it does not have a flash.
Having said that, many would rate the Samsung the better phone.
If your budget permits get HTC Desire HD. One thing is for sure, Android FTW!
Shads
09-11-2010, 02:26 PM
Wait a week or two and get the Desire HD. You'll be sorry if you dont! Fastest, huge, beautiful screen, solid build, already got Froyo loaded!
Budza
09-11-2010, 02:34 PM
Desire HD is cheaper on MTN for some retarded reason.
Has an 8MP camera vs the SGS's 5MP. Desire HD has a flash too.
SGS has better battery life, DHD a better screen.
I'm in the same boat. Can't decide!
GSM arena doesn't seem to have an in depth review on the DHD yet. Check out their review of the SGS in the meantime.
The_Unnamed
09-11-2010, 02:38 PM
Desire HD is cheaper on MTN for some retarded reason.
Has an 8MP camera vs the SGS's 5MP. Desire HD has a flash too.
SGS has better battery life, DHD a better screen.
I'm in the same boat. Can't decide!
GSM arena doesn't seem to have an in depth review on the DHD yet. Check out their review of the SGS in the meantime.
It has a LARGER screen. Not better :)
Synaesthesia
09-11-2010, 02:47 PM
Same with the camera. More megapixels != better camera.
bullzeye.za
09-11-2010, 02:54 PM
I got the Galaxy - With a few tweaks it will outperform any other android device, if performance is your thing.
Otherwise, if you are a camera person, the desire has the flash, and the Galaxy has no competition to that. Unless you like looking at photos, in which case the Galaxy's screen ( super AMOLED ) is unmatched for it's colors.
It's much of a muchness, and being a Galaxy fanboi, I'll tell you to get the Galaxy, and a desire owner will tell you to go for the Desire.
I advise you to wait for the GSMarena review of the Desire HD, and then make up your mind.
I can tell you for what it's worth ( and take it with a pinch of salt if you like, anyone who spends this kind of money on a phone will invariably stick by it and argue that it's the best :P ) that I am incredibly happy with my little phone, in every respect.
Budza
09-11-2010, 02:55 PM
The flash helps at least.
Most commonly used 'auxiliary' function on my 5800 (besides Music and Internet) was the LED torch. Camping/braaing whatever, that thing was handy.
I'll miss it on the SGS, should I take that route.
WiseCrack
09-11-2010, 02:58 PM
The Galaxy S already has a large screen at 4" 's. The Galaxy looks huge in your hand so just think how big the Desire HD will look.
renierp
09-11-2010, 03:02 PM
I have a brand new galaxy for sale if someone is interested. Sealed in box, local voda stock. 5k
How are the phones looking and behaving after extended use? I know it is still relatively quite short period but curious to know how worn out they are becoming with time.
FarligOpptreden
09-11-2010, 03:38 PM
Well, with some hard use my SGS is still looking pretty sparkly. Some minor scratches around the grayish/cromeish bezel around the front and some scratches on the back in the one corner from letting it fall and slide under the car in 'n parking lot. Other than those, it really looks good. Not a single scratch on the screen so far, which is pretty surprising as I'm not the lightest of handlers.
lachesis
09-11-2010, 03:59 PM
The flash helps at least.
Most commonly used 'auxiliary' function on my 5800 (besides Music and Internet) was the LED torch. Camping/braaing whatever, that thing was handy.
I'll miss it on the SGS, should I take that route.
Imagine a 4inch super AMOLED screen illuminating an area with its ultra bright screen set to display only white. you'll wonder just how usefull that auxiliary function really was !!!
You can't even have a romantic dinner with that screen set as such - its too bright.
HapticSimian
09-11-2010, 04:02 PM
My Desire's also holding up well. It doesn't get any special treatment beyond me being careful not to drop it & it getting a trouser pocket to itself. No marks apart from a tiny fleck of paint that chipped off when I dropped it (it was 2 days old :( ). No marks on the screen whatsoever & all the buttons still feel like they did on day one.
The_Unnamed
09-11-2010, 04:10 PM
My Desire's also holding up well. It doesn't get any special treatment beyond me being careful not to drop it & it getting a trouser pocket to itself. No marks apart from a tiny fleck of paint that chipped off when I dropped it (it was 2 days old :( ). No marks on the screen whatsoever & all the buttons still feel like they did on day one.
Nothing is worse than a first week injury for a device you have bought. Dropped my ipod on the very first weekend i had it. Nice dent / scratch right down the back.
HapticSimian
09-11-2010, 04:14 PM
Nothing is worse than a first week injury for a device you have bought. Dropped my ipod on the very first weekend i had it. Nice dent / scratch right down the back.
Agreed, but the mark is tiny enough that it only bothered me because I knew it's there. Quick reflexes had it fall on my foot clad with a well-worn leather shoe. It only had about a two inch drop onto the paving. I've made peace with it by now.
'Tis OK - it's character.
CrazYmonkeY159
09-11-2010, 04:16 PM
OP thats a very tough question. imo go to your carrier and feel the demo units. aswell, Personally i prefer Sense over TouchWiz. but the 4" S-AMOLED cannot be ignored. both devices fair pretty much the same in web browsing and emailing etc. but you will probably find (im talking about the Desire HD not the original desire) the DHD has better GPU performance than the normal Desire, since it has the newer generation of snapdragon (scorpion). Hummingbird did best the 1st generation snapdragon, but who knows now
HapticSimian
09-11-2010, 04:24 PM
People who buy phones on the basis of graphics benchmarks need help... Any of these phones would be plenty quick enough to cope with the day-to-day tasks required from a phone. The original Desire's limited onboard memory available to install apps is a little disappointing, but I've got everything on my phone that I use regularly (including satnav) and I've got about 47mb or so available...
In my opinion Sense > TouchWiz but unless you plan on keeping your phone boggo standard even that doesn't matter much. I can only agree that physically trying out the phones beforehand would be ideal. I see the OP is in Bloem and wouldn't you know, there's a Lab88 store there:
Shop UG16a
Loch Logan Waterfront
Bloemfontein, Free State
They'll have live demos of the HTCs available to much about with.
RoloTomasi
09-11-2010, 07:25 PM
What is the battery life like if you compare the HTC Desire to the Samsung Galaxy ?
I can only agree that physically trying out the phones beforehand would be ideal. I see the OP is in Bloem and wouldn't you know, there's a Lab88 store there: .
I have not wondered in that store since I was last looking for notebook in August. Will go check it out. Nothing definate now though but Galaxy is being order for me tomorrow and they say it should be here by Friday latest. Oh, how I hope they have stock by then so that I can actually play with it this weekend and next week whilst recovering from surgery. I also hope that this is going to be the right choice as SGS was second on list to iPhone4.
Got the Galaxy today...nice phone so far. Lots of potential. Cannot wait to get into it and start playing.
AntiThesis
19-11-2010, 02:49 PM
I have not wondered in that store since I was last looking for notebook in August. Will go check it out. Nothing definate now though but Galaxy is being order for me tomorrow and they say it should be here by Friday latest. Oh, how I hope they have stock by then so that I can actually play with it this weekend and next week whilst recovering from surgery. I also hope that this is going to be the right choice as SGS was second on list to iPhone4.
If it helps, I was in exactly the same situation. I was planning on getting the iPhone 4 - just for kicks kinda idea since I've never owned an Apple before. Had the same stock issues where they told me they couldn't tell me anything :D
Happy I got the Galaxy S though - kicks ass. Absolutely loving it.