AT&T HTC Titan - Review

While I was impressed with the Samsung Focus South, Dan kept telling me "wait until you become your easily on the Titan." I expected to see a quality Windows Telephone in the HTC Titan but was very skeptical of the four.7" big screen. The Focus Due south was large plenty with the 4.3" screen only would a 4.vii" screen be as well large?

Brusk answer... No.

HTC engineers have washed a fantastic chore of balancing a large screened device on a thin platform to minimize the bulk. The Titan feels comfortable in the hand, cheers to more beveled or curved sides and the iv.seven" screen really shines. Add an 8mp photographic camera with all the bells and whistles, a 1.5ghz processor, 16gb of storage, and a 1650mah battery and the Titan becomes a very strong performer.

Don't go me incorrect, the Samsung Focus Due south is likewise a quality, large screen Windows Phone but the Titan has only every bit strong (some may say stronger) of an appeal. While the Titan may accept an lengthy model designation (HTC PI39100) it's a solid Windows Telephone. To read more on the AT&T HTC Titan, hit the break.

Design

As much as been said about the sheer size of the Titan, when I first cracked the seal on the box my beginning thoughts were, "Well that's not likewise big." and after using the Titan for a few days my initial impression has held true. Sure, the Titan has a four.seven" screen and dwarfs other Windows Phones such as the Samsung Focus Flash only HTC has washed a commendable job of designing a frame effectually this massive screen to substantially reduce the overall size of the telephone. While the Titan is a large telephone, it lacks the bulk one would expect from a iv.vii" screened device.

Measuring 5.14 x 2.78 x .39 inches the Titan is just over a quarter inch larger than the HTC HD7S (iv.8 x 2.68 x .44 inches). Surprisingly, the Titan weighs in at 5.6 ounces which is lighter than the HD7S (5.71 ounces). HTC trimmed a lot of the bulk off the Titan past curving the sides of the phone more and designing the bombardment encompass to fit more than closely to the dorsum of the phone. Compared to the other large screen, 2d generation Windows Phone the Titan is .18" taller than the Samsung Focus Southward (iv.96 ten 2.63 x .33 inches) but 1.8 ounces heavier.

The Titan has some heft to it when compared to the Focus S but it isn't a cumbersome weight. The residue between the large screen, thin grade cistron and weight is so that the Titan feels comfortable in the hand.

Quick particular of note with regards to the color of the AT&T Titan, where the International version is blackness the AT&T version is gun metallic gray with black accents around the screen and buttons. Information technology'due south not too calorie-free or also dark of a shade of gray only does distinguish it from other Windows Phones. I would have liked a little texture on the dorsum of the Titan but will admit the common cold, shine aluminum does feel good in the hand.

Moving around the Titan, your 3.5mm headphone jack and power button rests at the top of the phone.  Along the correct side you will notice the book rocker and photographic camera push and along the left side of the Titan is the micro-USB port.

Downwards below is the microphone and battery encompass latch with the three traditional capacitive touch buttons are on the Titan'due south face.  An 8mp photographic camera is to the rear of the phone while a 1.3mp camera is on the upper right corner of the telephone's face.

Buttons manipulated, for the most function, with ease and they are large plenty to utilise without having to contort your fingers. I would have liked to take seen the buttons be a hair wider and the power button raised just slightly to be a little more accessible, but as is they do just fine.

The bombardment cover is a sturdy, low-cal weight piece of aluminum. The body of the Titan slides into the battery encompass creating a uni-body design. The battery embrace is basically a shell that encompasses the Titan'south working body. In that location is a hard safety rim that runs along the edges of the Titan'southward screen that raises up just slightly to give the screen a bumper of sorts.

The merely reservation I have with respect to the design of the Titan is with the micro-USB port'south location.  The micro-USB port rests on the lower left side of the Titan and is likely placed there to accommodate the horizontal placement in the HTC Desktop Cradle. The trouble in placing the micro-USB port on the side of the phone is that if you use the Titan with a automobile mountain/cradle, the arm clamps may encompass up the port. If you need to plug in a car charger, the port may not be accessible. This by no means is a bargain breaker merely something to consider.

All in all, the Titan is a solidly congenital, nicely designed, large Windows Phone. The only drawback, and this is more of a subjective measure, is that some may see the Titan as being likewise big.  Notwithstanding, I wouldn't judge the Titan on the specs alone.  You really need to get your hands on the Titan to figure out if it'southward too large for your tastes.  You might be surprised at how comfortable the design is.

Screen

The Titan's centerpiece clearly rests with its massive iv.vii" WVGA, 480x800 screen. Rumor has it that the screen is protected by Gorilla Glass (which would exist an added bonus) but regardless the screen is a solid piece of work. The Titan'southward screen quality definitely will hold its own upward confronting the Super AMOLED screens and is of meliorate quality than the Super LCD screen of the HD7S. There seems to be a touch more contrast, brightness and colour saturation with the Titan's screen when compared to other HTC Windows Phones which helps the Titan's functioning indoors and outdoors.

With regards to responsiveness, the Titan screen performed very well. I didn't experience the "ghosting" that is nowadays with other HTC Windows Phones and everything performed as it should.

Video playback is overnice on the Titan just there is an occasional graphics skip with some games. It'south more noticeable on the more graphically intense games such every bit Fruit Ninja or Let's Golf game 2. I'd describe it every bit a stutter or pause between graphics transitions such as going from the developer logo to the main carte (meet the overview video). It'south not a bargain breaker and hopefully this is something that can be addressed with a software fix.

The big screen definitely has its benefits in every attribute of using your Windows Phone. From more than elbow room to type to large print size to read to larger gaming images the Titan'southward screen is impressive.

Under the Hood

The HTC Titan is fitted with a single core, 1.5ghz processor that moves things along rather nicely. You lot have 512mb of RAM and 16gb of storage with the Titan. In that location is no memory expansion slot.

Of the 16gb of storage, out of the box with everything pre-loaded you will have just shy of 13gb of storage bachelor. AT&T was fairly gently on the pre-loaded software with the AT&T suite of apps and YPMobile. All of which can be uninstalled to free upwards boosted storage room.

The HTC Titan has all the bells and whistles to brand the most of Windows Phone 7.v such as the gyroscope and digital compass. At that place are a few unique settings with the Titan that include a hearing help setting that volition boost your in-phone call volume and the HTC Sound Enhancer is now incorporated into the OS as a permanent setting. You also accept the Cyberspace Sharing (requires a specific information plan to activate) option and SIM Applications settings that we've seen on other AT&T Windows Phones.

Everything is powered by a 1650mah battery that is a welcomed sight (or is it site?). The battery hands lasts a full mean solar day under moderate to heavy use. I'thousand ending an boilerplate day with approximately xl% of battery life remaining.

Camera

The HTC Titan is fitted with 2 cameras. An 8mp f2.two photographic camera with dual LED lights is to the rear of the photographic camera while a 1.3mp camera rests in the upper correct corner of the Titan's face. The rear camera is a 28mm, broad angle lens that is nice for landscapes and grouping shots.

The Titan besides is fitted with a BSI imaging sensor, only like the HTC Radar, that is designed for low light situation. The BSI sensor is a back-illuminated sensor uses a novel arrangement of the imaging elements to increase the corporeality of light captured and thereby meliorate low-light performance. Combine the BSI sensor and f2.two lens and the Titan is well suited for indoor, depression low-cal conditions. It's not going to calorie-free up the room simply it may mean yous'll only have to turn on one lamp instead of two for those indoor shots.

Software driving the camera is your typical Windows Phone app with two settings that should be recognized. Along with ISO, Metering, Picture Modes, etc. you volition observe a Panoramic Setting and Burst Mode (same every bit with what's on the HTC Radar). The Panoramic Setting allows you to stitch or combine multiple mural shots to create a larger, panoramic image. The Burst Way will crank off v frames in well-nigh two seconds to capture action scenes rather nicely. Why these two settings are non standard with all Windows Phones is a mystery.

Quick annotation on the Panoramic Setting is that it will take three photos and sew them together.  A horizontal line will appear in the center of your screen to guide you in between shots.  In one case y'all accept your beginning shot yous move along this line to take the second and tertiary shots (washed automatically once you reach a designated signal on the line).  Information technology is important that you lot follow this line carefully.  If you deviate from this line the stitching will not be polish.  Expect at the corner of the house and towards the right corner ane of the vertical lines didn't match up verbal.  Information technology's more axiomatic with the power lines.  Still, non a bad picture and when you proceed things direct, the Panoramic Setting is great.

As far as epitome quality is concerned, the Titan is a very good performer with respect to nevertheless images and video captures. Notwithstanding images were abrupt and I am impressed with the Titan's macro (shut upwards) abilities. Colour saturation could be better but what can't exist adjusted in the settings can be adapted for with post-processing software.

The video sample below includes two $.25 of footage.  One captured on a gray, cloudy 24-hour interval and the other on a sunny day.  Video quality was good nether both lighting conditions.

All in all, I was pleased with the photographic camera performance on the HTC Titan. I'm still non ready to requite upward my DSLR only I would be comfortable using the Titan for more coincidental or spontaneous events.

Phone Quality

No complaints whatever with regards to the Titan's performance as a phone. Earpiece volume was loud, the microphone picked up my phonation nicely and the speakerphone was good. Fifty-fifty the vibrate feature was noticeably stronger than other Windows Phones on the market. The vibration was easily felt through a belt case or when carried in a jacket pocket.

We have heard that the volume fluctuated in the earpiece and came across as tinny but in the short time I've been using the Titan, I didn't experience any issues with the volume. If anything the volume was loud enough that I had to dial it dorsum a little.  I also experienced good results listening to music through headphones.

All in all, the AT&T HTC Titan is a solid performer as a telephone with really no complaints, concerns or reservations to note.

And then, which is ameliorate?

At present that the Titan has been released, the xx-dollar question is, "Which is better, the Samsung Focus S or the HTC Titan?".

For the most part, these two Windows Phones are neck and cervix as to which is better. I would say it all boils down to your tastes in thickness and weight except for ii quirks with each phone; the machine-brightness setting on the Focus South and the graphics lag with the Titan.

For those not familiar, the auto-brightness setting on the Focus Southward dims the screen virtually a notch lower than other Windows Phones. It also seems to fluctuate more. I had gotten used to things until I started using the Titan, who'due south motorcar-brightness works like a charm, and the quirkiness of the Focus Southward really stood out. I'thou also forming the opinion that this quirkiness is effecting bombardment performance.

On the Titan side of the money, at that place is the graphics lag but it doesn't occur every bit abiding as the auto-brightness quirk does on the Focus S. While I see the lag with Fruit Ninja, I don't see it with Trine'due south Hangman or Angry Birds. The dimness of the screen on the Focus S isn't as isolated.

So which is better? I don't think you tin become wrong with either in that both phones are well built, have cracking looking screens (fifty-fifty though one is dimmer), 16gb of storage, respectable cameras, good call quality and feels comfy in the hand.  However, taking everything into consideration, I have to requite the edge to the Titan.  While at that place is the graphics lag it'southward not every bit consistently present as the auto-brightness quirk.  If Samsung and HTC can fix these quirks, the choice becomes more difficult. Likely returning to being a choice based solely on your preference of weight and thickness.

Summary

The AT&T HTC Titan is post-obit arrange with the other second generation Windows Phones by offering customers another quality Windows Phone. It may not meet everyone'due south needs or taste merely it gives us another quality phone to consider.  The Titan also gives AT&T a solid Windows Phone line-up.

On paper, the Titan may be confused with a Windows tablet instead of a Windows Phone. But don't let the specs discourage you from considering the Titan as your next Windows Phone. HTC did a really good task by combining the 4.7" screen with a frame that doesn't experience bulky. You really need to handle the Titan before writing it off as as well large. I was leaning that way until I picked the Titan up and realized how comfy information technology was in the paw.

While I tin sympathize the appeal of a smaller device for pocketability, the iv.vii" screen has merits of its own. The screen quality is up there with the Super AMOLED screens and the screen size makes games/videos a little more than enjoyable. Pictures seem to have more "pop" with the larger display, text is easier to read, and you lot have more than real manor to view webpages. To residue the larger screen and avert the Titan from coming across as bulky, HTC lightened things up and made the frame a chip more contoured.

While the Titan is an impressive phone, it's not without faults. You have the graphics lag that occurs on occasion and the power push can exist catchy to get to at times. Over the by few days, I've gotten used to the power push button and hopefully a software fix volition resolve the graphics lag. Luckily, none of the short comings on the Titan are detrimental and the Titan remains a strong performer.

Cost wise, AT&T is offer the Titan at $199.99 with contract and $549 out of contract. Deals are already cropping up for the Holiday Season to lower these prices such as the penny bargain going on at Amazon Wireless. The biggest challenge in purchasing the Titan may exist but finding one. While the Titan launched on Sunday, Nov 20th, many stores did not receive their inventory due to shipping delays until several days later. And what was delivered was very depression in number.

Overall, it's really hard to observe annihilation terribly disquisitional on the Titan. From build quality to photographic camera functioning to battery life the Titan is a solid performer.  Whether or not the Titan is the Windows Phone for you probably boils downwards to personal tastes.

The Titan volition offer you a solidly built Windows Phone with aplenty storage infinite, a fantastic screen, a very nice camera and good call quality. While non everyone will like the larger size of the Titan, for those who do notice it appealing, yous'll observe yourself with a very skilful Windows Phone. Arguably, the all-time out there.

Updated February 2022

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/att-htc-titan-review

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