We recently had an opportunity to play around with the newest Windows 7 phone from Verizon Wireless, the HTC Trophy. The key features (as listed on the Verizon website) are as follows:
- Windows Phone 7
- Bluetooth Stereo Support
- Camera 5.0 Megapixel
- HTML Web Browser
- Global Ready
As with any product we didn’t think taking the manufacturer’s word for it was sufficient so without further intro here’s our thoughts on the product.
Our first impression (grade) would be 4 out of 5 stars. The keyboard is very easy to use for a smart phone and it’s got some great customizable screens and menus. The sensitivity on the keyboard is second to none which makes for a very nice typing and interface experience. With all the talk around the office from our iPhone users about their apps, we were surprised to see just how many apps were actually available for the Trophy. While the app store isn’t up to the level of Apple’s there seems to be enough there to keep us busy. The integrated MS Office comes in super handy. Reviewing MS Word files (.doc) attachments was quick and easy from the Trophy. The screen shows colors very well in both bright and low light and the battery life is OK for such a powerful phone.
Battery Life According To Verizon:
- Up to 294 minutes of usage
- Up to 286 hours of standby
One drawback that we found was a poor / inefficient use of screen area in the start menu. When you’re dealing with limited space you really need to make sure to maximize your real estate. Another downfall is the whole concept of copy and paste. Even though this phone has a copy and paste update it’s still not very easy to do (though this isn’t specific to the Trophy… the iPhone leaves quite a bit to be desired here as well).
Overall Impressions
We were very impressed with the HTC Trophy. After a couple of weeks of playing with it, the phone has grown on us withe good outweighing the bad, keeping the score at a solid 4 out of 5. It provides an nifty alternative to the iPhone, has a beautiful camera and screen interface and is chock full of apps and features for all levels of users. With the already announced Mango Update coming in the fall this phone may go from great to outstanding.