Build quality of HTC Desire

[g4rvd4]

This is a question to all the longer term users of the phone.
I've had several phones before, all new and shiny in the beginning but before too long their facade starts to come off.. Finishing, body, etc.

How good is the desire in this respect?

- How many nicks have you got on yours? Does it get scratched easily? I mean the touchscreen as well as the body.
- Does the body colour come off easily?
- Are there any parts of the phone where dust accumulates?
- Does the battery cover show signs of becoming loose?
- Do the volume rocker keys become loose?

Can the phone take a couple of falls? I've been handling my Desire like my own baby but it's only a matter of time before it slips from my hands I feel.

Also I simply love the look of the phone, and don't want to put on a silicone or a body shield but if it's really necessary I shall.

Thanks for your replies in advance..

 

[DesireMe]

Nearly 3 months old, no scratches, nicks, or any sign of wear. Keep it naked too, not even a screen protector. Looks brand new.

 

[chris100575]

I've had mine for about two months now and it still looks brand new. I've dropped it once or twice but fortunately it was indoors onto carpet, and I am careful that when I put my phone in my pocket nothing else is in there with it. This is a naked phone by the way.

So far nothing seems loose. The power button does rattle slightly if I hold the phone to my ear and tap the back but it's not noticable otherwise.

 

[g4rvd4]

Nearly 3 months old, no scratches, nicks, or any sign of wear. Keep it naked too, not even a screen protector. Looks brand new.

Have you ever dropped it/ put it along with keys in the same pocket?

 

[CarsnGadgets]

nearly 2 months old, with a screen protector and hard plastic shell.

still perfect, but dust does collect in the speaker grill at the top.
no rattles creaks or defects.

never dropped or put in pocket with anything else

 

[mbatson89]

Had mine for near on 2 months, dropped a couple of times but no noticeable scratches. The only thing i have found, is that a tiny bit of the chrome paint on the 'back' hardware button (inside the head of the arrow) has peeled off, but doesn't affect it's use in anyway.

 

[aldredd]

Have you ever dropped it/ put it along with keys in the same pocket?

I always ensure there is nothing else in my pocket. That said, my girlfriend put my phone in her bag for me, and later that day noticed a scratch on the screen .

For dust, a bit gathers in the small gap around the edge of the screen. Nothing major though.

 

[brad-short]

interesting question. My only concern is the flushness of battery cover. I find that 2 months in, its not as flush as it was.

 

[lunatic59]

So far nothing seems loose. The power button does rattle slightly if I hold the phone to my ear and tap the back but it's not noticable otherwise.

That's not the power button, it's the spring for the autofocus on the camera, or the accelerometer (nobody is saying for sure) and according to HTC it is notsupposed to do that. However, this seems to be common to almost all the Desires and Nexus's to some degree. If it really bothers you, they will replace it, but the replacement is a.) going to be a refurb, and b.) most likely make the same noise. From what I've read, nobody can pin it down to one thing, but there are no adverse consequences either.

 

[pcbms]

3 months here and only a small nick at the top where I must have scratched it with my keys - better than that though I dropped it accidently into a sink full of water - I thought that would be it but 2 days later its working like new

 

[TheTrueSpin]

3 months here and only a small nick at the top where I must have scratched it with my keys - better than that though I dropped it accidently into a sink full of water - I thought that would be it but 2 days later its working like new

!!!!!! wow... would never have expected it to survive anything like that...

 

[g4rvd4]

I always ensure there is nothing else in my pocket. That said, my girlfriend put my phone in her bag for me, and later that day noticed a scratch on the screen .

I'm scared of this too.. I'm going to give my girlfriend explicit instructions regarding handling of my phone..

interesting question. My only concern is the flushness of battery cover. I find that 2 months in, its not as flush as it was.

I'm very much concerned about this.. Why couldn't HTC have designed a better battery cover? In any case battery covers are available as replacement parts, yes?

 

[g4rvd4]

!!!!!! wow... would never have expected it to survive anything like that...

Lol..
You know I had a Sony Ericsson before this, and I accidentally left it in my jeans pocket when I washed the jeans. A full minute it lay submerged in the detergent water, before I realized my phone was missing.
Found it, took it out, dried it for a couple of hours, and the phone started working like new.. well almost.. the speaker phone volume had considerably lowered since then..

 

[willy9b]

Lol..
You know I had a Sony Ericsson before this, and I accidentally left it in my jeans pocket when I washed the jeans. A full minute it lay submerged in the detergent water, before I realized my phone was missing.
Found it, took it out, dried it for a couple of hours, and the phone started working like new.. well almost.. the speaker phone volume had considerably lowered since then..

Well, it's bound to sound a bit wishy washy after that

(I'll get me coat...)

 

[DesireMe]

Have you ever dropped it/ put it along with keys in the same pocket?

No to both.

 

[chris100575]

That's not the power button, it's the spring for the autofocus on the camera, or the accelerometer (nobody is saying for sure) and according to HTC it is notsupposed to do that. However, this seems to be common to almost all the Desires and Nexus's to some degree. If it really bothers you, they will replace it, but the replacement is a.) going to be a refurb, and b.) most likely make the same noise. From what I've read, nobody can pin it down to one thing, but there are no adverse consequences either.

After some careful testing (OK putting my finger on the button and tapping the phone!) in my case it appears to be the power button and something internal, probably the spring of which you speak. It doesn't bother me, it only does it if I tap the phone. My N85 had a whole repertoire of creaks, rattles, and wobbles!

 

[ianm2k4]

That's not the power button, it's the spring for the autofocus on the camera, or the accelerometer (nobody is saying for sure) and according to HTC it is notsupposed to do that. However, this seems to be common to almost all the Desires and Nexus's to some degree. If it really bothers you, they will replace it, but the replacement is a.) going to be a refurb, and b.) most likely make the same noise. From what I've read, nobody can pin it down to one thing, but there are no adverse consequences either.

I get this but I think its the power button rattling?

 

[g4rvd4]

I get this but I think its the power button rattling?

Yeah I think so too.. Press and hold the power button, and then shake the phone.. The rattling sound is no longer there.

 

[nx1977]

Get a case, and get a screen protector.

 

[ktradx]

Nearly 3 months old, no scratches, nicks, or any sign of wear. Keep it naked too, not even a screen protector. Looks brand new.

Mine's in good condition too but i have a small scratch on the screen protector..lucky..lol

 

[g4rvd4]

Get a case, and get a screen protector.

I bought a case.. Now for a screen protector..

 

[Smoka]

3 months here and only a small nick at the top where I must have scratched it with my keys - better than that though I dropped it accidently into a sink full of water - I thought that would be it but 2 days later its working like new

lol my LG Viewty got washed twice and dried twice, its somehow still works with everything working perfectly except no-one can hear me lol

 

[SB13X]

Like new even after a couple of minor drops, lens cover survives being scraped along a rang of surfaces by my children when I've been dopey enough to leave it in arms reach which also means its survived my 11month old and 3 year olds grubby mitts too with hands covered in cake, chocolate, jam, rusks spilt bottles etc.

 

[BlueDan]

interesting question. My only concern is the flushness of battery cover. I find that 2 months in, its not as flush as it was.

Had mine since Saturday morning. The cover fits flush but it seems to be slightly too big - I can't see it but I can feel a little step if I run my finger over it.

 

[sansenoy]

Mine feels pretty solid, only have a small scratch on the top of the screen because I put it in the pocket with an ipod touch, and the little bugger went straight for the kill, it seems. It has a very solid, rounded, aluminium frame, but it is sharp around the screen and it was too much for the Desire. The scratch doesn't bother me as much as the phone's glass itself, there is too much friction when compared to the ipod, which isn't even 3rd generation with the oleophobic coating... Also I have a dead pixel, right smack in the middle of the screen, very obvious.

Still think it's a great device tho