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HTC Desire vs Galaxy S - Urgent, Need Quick Help

Lepodo

Newbie
Jun 26, 2010
24
7
Hello all,

I'm new to these forums and I REALLY want to get an Android device, I need a good replacement for my old Nokia, and I have an iTouch for multimedia, o now I want a really nice smartphone. Android is limited in Australia, and right now my options are down to the Galaxy S, Desire and Nexus One. Or wait for a new phone. Now, this is going to be long, so get ready. I also cannot be stuffed doing capital letters and stuff, so...

the htc desire really does seem like a good phone, i love every aspect of it, especially htc sense ui. i was so close to buying the samsung galaxy s from optus, but a few things put me down, such as the cheap and flimsy design, and samsung have been known for bad support, and to me it just doesn't feel android, whereas htc to me feels like a dream of android. the nexus one, is very similar to the desire specs wise, but the one big factor is htc sense. i do know you can root your nexus and pop on a desire rom, but i do not want to get involved with all that. back to the galaxy s, i have seen the interface, it is ugly and bleek. but optus is a nice carrier, and i have been with them previously. i have almost, almost put my money down for the htc desire, until i read some user reviews, apparently the buttons are very ugly, but could someone rephrase that? are they good or bad? i also like having htc, it makes me feel good
biggrin.gif
. but then after a quake playing test, the samsung completely smashed the desire, but i soon remembered i won't be gaming too much on this phone, just the standard doodle jump and whatnot. now, i do enjoy the occasional movie, but i hear the desire will be supporting divx after an update, so not a huge deal to me. so, in the end(ish?) i don;t care what carrier i'm on, but i can't decide which phone is for me. I will be doing a lot of web browsing, facebook and a large screen would be nice, but i can't get off htc. i think i'm going for htc desire, but also, is there any HUGE smartphones coming out in australia, either from htc or anything. is the droid ever coming out do you think? i think i'm just about ready to put my money down for a desire, but just wanted some last opinions. desire, galaxy s or hold off for something better, as this will be a 2 year contract, and i will nto be pulling out early.
whew, that was a lot
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cheers,

Lepodo

EDIT: i have just found out about android 3.0, both the droid and desire meet the minimum hardware, though the galaxy has a 4 inch screen hich means it will have 1280x760 resolution. these are only rumours, but still...
 
see the thing is software UI can change but hardware is what you will be stuck with for a while. So I would go for the best hardware you can afford unless you are willing to wait for Android 3 phones.
No, there is no phone on the planet with 1280x760 resolution. Those rumors about minimum hardware have no credibility at this time.
 
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i am exactly in the same case with u.
i have use a month to search information about desire and nexus one. After i decided to have htc desire, galaxy s appears. It's beautiful and large screen really really attract me.
after i saw the 3d Quake 2 test on galaxy s and desire (should be the same video of you), the difference is so big that i cannot make the choice. I really like htc sense ui but gaming on galaxy s is much much better.

What should i choose?? =_=
 
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Samsung Galaxy S hands down for me. Thinnest device, great screen (size, resolution, clarity) powerful, sleek looking, tv out that is awesome, AWESOME codec support (mkv, avi, divx/xvid, flac, need i say more?).

EDIT: i have just found out about android 3.0, both the droid and desire meet the minimum hardware, though the galaxy has a 4 inch screen hich means it will have 1280x760 resolution. these are only rumours, but still...

Um....how does 4inch screen = 1280x760....software updates now come with nanites that change the hardware for the better? COOL!
 
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i am exactly in the same case with u.
i have use a month to search information about desire and nexus one. After i decided to have htc desire, galaxy s appears. It's beautiful and large screen really really attract me.
after i saw the 3d Quake 2 test on galaxy s and desire (should be the same video of you), the difference is so big that i cannot make the choice. I really like htc sense ui but gaming on galaxy s is much much better.

What should i choose?? =_=

Aha, nice to see someone in the same position, we can go through this together :D Personally, The HTC Desire looks nicer, Sense UI is nicer, but is that enough for an extra 0.3 inches (not a lot in reality, but big on a mobile device) and faster processor? I'm not too sure... I think I'm just about to go for the Desire, but the thought of possibly Sense UI being ported via a custom ROM to the Galaxy S is in my head, and since I'm up on a 2 year contract, the decision is a big one. Both on a $49 cap here in Aus, and I have the money, it's just down to my choice now.. The quake video isn't important to me, as I won't be 3D gaming, and reviewers have said everything is still amazingly fast on the Desire. I reckon I'm getting it.

Um....how does 4inch screen = 1280x760....software updates now come with nanites that change the hardware for the better? COOL!

Not official, but rumours around Gingerbread (3.0) circulate this idea.


EDIT: As soo as I read this, I looked up a comparison. AND NOW I THINK I WANT THE GALAXY S! Ahaha, this is so hard. The Galaxy S has a better screen. Super AMOLED is better than the desires. It comes on Optus, which I like better than Telstra. It will have HTC Sense ported onto it at some point, and it shall all be good. HTC will be ported on it, and when it does, I'll have a silky slim phone with a great screen, HTC Sense UI, and it's supported by Australia. To me, that will feel like an Evo.
 
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It is impossible to increase the resolution of a phone through a software update.

Personally, I went with the Desire.

I tried the Galaxy out, but it felt really cheap and tacky :/

The Desire with 2.2 clocks higher than the Galaxy S, and Samsung aren't great about updating their software...
Alright, many people have said samsung is not great with their software updates due to the behold 2 not getting 2.1... The number of B2 users is not even comparable to the number of users the Galaxy S will get, there is a version of it coming out on every major US carrier. Samsung would not be stupid enough to not come out with updates for this phone. I guarantee that. I admit the Behold 2 situation was stupid of them, but i think they have learned their lesson.
 
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I'm also in the same dilema...and coincidently I'm in AU too XD lol

I can't really decide-

cheap look, great hardware, supports divX, can play all games smooth

vs

refined look, not as good hardware, has camera flash, has browser flash.


...well, to be honest, I take heaps of photos, I play games heaps, can't be bothered converting videos all the time, and I browse the net alot. (aka, I use the phone to its limit)

I (really) like a good looking device yet over a long term and non-subjective look will prove hardware is more useful.

The galaxy S will need to wait for the 'confirmed' yet 'uncertain' update to Froyo for Flash support.
 
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I'm also in the same situation as you. In Canada our Android choices are fairly... well there really aren't any. The SGS and HTC Desire should be out this month, so I'm picking between them and the Nexus One.

I love the SGS screen, but I cannot stand how the hardware looks, so I've pretty much ruled that out. I'm not a big 'phone gamer', so that really isn't an issue. A few puzzles, and maybe a brick breaking game or two and I'm a happy person. Samsung doesn't have the best track record with updating software either, which is way important to me.

The HTC Desire and Nexus One are so similar. I love Sense UI, but I also like the idea of getting the software updates first, so I think I'm leaning towards the Nexus One, it's already gotten Froyo, and hopefully Gingerbread will make the UI even better... Since it's so customizable, I think it shouldn't be to hard to live without Sense.

I prefer the Nexus One's trackball to the optical trackpad, but I'm unsure about the touch sensitive buttons...

Decisions, decisions...

edit; forgot to add, with the Nexus One, I'm not going to be on contract, so if these super amazing, 2GHz phones come out sometime around Christmas or whatever, I'd probably decide then to sign my life away and get one subsidized... assuming they make it up to Canada.
 
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I feel the same, I was dead set on a Desire and then along comes the Galaxy S!

However, I currently have a Symbian Samsung phone which I've been really disappointed with, so although the Galaxy S the better looking of the two Android devices, I think I'm gonna go for function over beauty!

Originally I was going to get a Nexus One, but Googles debacle of a release and support structure really put me off - I assume it's better now but still, once bitten by a bad phone, twice shy!
 
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I think you shouldnt forger that the Galaxy S has a far superior touch panel. The screen supports unlimited number of touches at the same time, while the Desire only supports 2. Also the Desire has the flipping axis issue and Galazy S doesnt.

I personally would go with the Galaxy S. The screen issue is big for me. Also the Galaxy S destroys the Desire in performance. Dont worry too much about Sense. We'll start seeing roms with sense ported over (if ur willing to root) on the Galaxy S.
 
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It is impossible to increase the resolution of a phone through a software update.

Personally, I went with the Desire.

I tried the Galaxy out, but it felt really cheap and tacky :/

The Desire with 2.2 clocks higher than the Galaxy S, and Samsung aren't great about updating their software...

SOrry, thanks for clarifying that. And what do you mean by 'clocks' in what exactly? Performance?
I'm also in the same dilema...and coincidently I'm in AU too XD lol

I can't really decide-

cheap look, great hardware, supports divX, can play all games smooth

vs

refined look, not as good hardware, has camera flash, has browser flash.


...well, to be honest, I take heaps of photos, I play games heaps, can't be bothered converting videos all the time, and I browse the net alot. (aka, I use the phone to its limit)

I (really) like a good looking device yet over a long term and non-subjective look will prove hardware is more useful.

The galaxy S will need to wait for the 'confirmed' yet 'uncertain' update to Froyo for Flash support.

The Desire is getting a new update that will support Divx, it's been confirmed. Flash is average on the desire, and I beleive all Android phones will have flash after 2.2?

I'm also in the same situation as you. In Canada our Android choices are fairly... well there really aren't any. The SGS and HTC Desire should be out this month, so I'm picking between them and the Nexus One.

I love the SGS screen, but I cannot stand how the hardware looks, so I've pretty much ruled that out. I'm not a big 'phone gamer', so that really isn't an issue. A few puzzles, and maybe a brick breaking game or two and I'm a happy person. Samsung doesn't have the best track record with updating software either, which is way important to me.

The HTC Desire and Nexus One are so similar. I love Sense UI, but I also like the idea of getting the software updates first, so I think I'm leaning towards the Nexus One, it's already gotten Froyo, and hopefully Gingerbread will make the UI even better... Since it's so customizable, I think it shouldn't be to hard to live without Sense.

I prefer the Nexus One's trackball to the optical trackpad, but I'm unsure about the touch sensitive buttons...

Decisions, decisions...

edit; forgot to add, with the Nexus One, I'm not going to be on contract, so if these super amazing, 2GHz phones come out sometime around Christmas or whatever, I'd probably decide then to sign my life away and get one subsidized... assuming they make it up to Canada.

Very good argument, almost wants me to pick up a Nexus One! I just found out they have them in AUstralia also for only $49 a month! Well, now I have 3 phones to choose from! Though the Nexus on the 49 cap only offers 50MB of data.. That won't last me long when the Desire and Galaxy S offer 500MB on their 49 caps. Still, I'm connected to wireless alot, and I have recently found out that the Nexus has a working Desire ROM on it, but that doesn't really matter to me. I can see your point on updates though, presuming a Nexus Two isn't out for a while.

I think you shouldnt forger that the Galaxy S has a far superior touch panel. The screen supports unlimited number of touches at the same time, while the Desire only supports 2. Also the Desire has the flipping axis issue and Galazy S doesnt.

I personally would go with the Galaxy S. The screen issue is big for me. Also the Galaxy S destroys the Desire in performance. Dont worry too much about Sense. We'll start seeing roms with sense ported over (if ur willing to root) on the Galaxy S.

I don't game, unlimited touches is meaningless. I know, but it's just the Desire and the HTC :p

I know this is very materialistic of me, and Android Fanboys will call me an apple person, but in AUstralia, Android is close to nothing. If I popped out any phone, Samsung, Google, they wouldn't know what it was, would refer it too 'crappy plastic' or 'looks lke an old nokia' Even with a stunning 4 inch screen. Too me, having a Samsung phone would not feel like Android. HTC is too me, and I'm sure to a lot of people, sorta the face of business phones for Android. Don't flame me, but that is just what I think. That is why I have made my final decision. Even if there is an extra 2mm in my pocket, I would rather have HTC, with the widget clock and that colourful wallpaper. That would be everything for me. I am getting the Desire tomorrow.
 
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Seems like a lot of ppl intent on the HTC desire are swayed by that quake 2 game demo. Indeed there was a stark difference though both sport a 1 ghz processor and similar RAM. I'm not a tech expert, but ppl in a local forum I frequent say what the Sgs does better in one aspect, the Desire does better in another like in multitasking or something. You might want to read up more...
 
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Seems like a lot of ppl intent on the HTC desire are swayed by that quake 2 game demo. Indeed there was a stark difference though both sport a 1 ghz processor and similar RAM. I'm not a tech expert, but ppl in a local forum I frequent say what the Sgs does better in one aspect, the Desire does better in another like in multitasking or something. You might want to read up more...

the reason for the huge difference in performance is because the SGS has a dedicated GPU, and a powerful one at that. The snapdragon platform only has an integrated Ati GPU which is quite weak.
 
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I'll just put my penny worth in, previously I had the same conundrum. I couldn't decide between the Desire and the Galaxy S. I had seen the desire in a Carphone Warehouse and yes the UI is nice. However when I went to the vodafone store to try the Galaxy S, the phone had not necessarily the nicest UI ever, but it was far less laggy and really slick. +1 to arifree, the UI can change but the hardware can't. I have now today ordered the galaxy S on orange. I plan to test the UI more, but If I don't like it I will probably switch over to another launcher, such as Launcher Pro. Btw you can get the clock weather widget from Beautiful widgets, or fancy widgets. They look very similar to the clock HTC Widget.
 
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I'm interested in the thoughts of those who have either owned or at least used both the Desire and the Galaxy S.

I currently have the Desire, but am tempted by the Galaxy S.

I had a play around with the Galaxy S in my local Carphone Warehouse, but it didn't seem as "fast" as the Desire when navigating menus and opening applications. Can anybody comment any further?

Are there any issues with dust under the screen of the Galaxy S?

Any feedback from people who have used both phones will be appreciated.
 
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Ahh, there it is.. just the perfect forum and thread! I'm also trying to decide which phone to go for, Samsung Galaxy S or HTC Desire. I planned to try out the phones tomorrow but it seems like the Desire is out of stock (in Sweden at least). That's just so bad because I would really like to see how they perform and feels like!

I am very new to the ROM porting and stuff... How hard is it to do the rooting to get the Sense UI if I would like too? What is there too lose?

As I understand the SGS is shipped with Android 2.1 and that there will be a 2.2 upgrade with the flash support, is that right? Will there be difficulties to upgrade to 2.2 with a rooted phone?

I'm so sorry that I only bring more questions!
 
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