HTC HD2

The HD2 (Codename Leo) was a Windows Phone (Windows Mobile 6.5) made by Taiwan manufacturer HTC. When it was released, it achieved some of the firsts in the mobile world: First 4.3" screen (which was very big those times), and the first capacitive Windows phone. This phone was released in late 2009 and has become a legend of a phone - it can be flashed to run the new Windows Phone operating system (7, 7.5, 7.8 and even 8.0), and even Android (up to ICS, even Jellybean). I am currently using one (running an Android ICS ROM) and here are my thoughts.


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A quick look on the specs:

Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
Body	120.5 x 67 x 11 mm
Weight	157 g
Display	TFT capacitive touchscreen
Size	480 x 800 pixels, 4.3 inches (~217 ppi pixel density)
Internal memory	512 MB ROM (1024MB for T-Mobile version)
Expandable storage	yes, microSD
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Wi-Fi router
Bluetooth	v2.1 with A2DP
USB	Yes, micro USB
Camera Primary	5 MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus, dual LED flash
Secondary	None
OS	Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5
CPU	1 GHz Scorpion
GPU	Adreno 200
Battery	Li-Ion 1230 mAh
Capacity	Talk time: Up to 6 h 20 min (2G) / Up to 5 h 40 min (3G) Stand by:Up to 490 h (2G) / Up to 390 h (3G)

The Good:

Big Screen: It's a matter of opinion, but a big screen gives more functionality for a smartphone (surfing, productivity). Screen resolution may be low by today's standards, but it is still very capable.



Camera: It has a 5mp camera, it's good for outdoor shoots. The dual LED flash helps in dark environments, but the sensor is not fit for night shots (images tend to color green).

Flash-able / ROM Friendly: As I have said, this phone can be flashed to run a different mobile OS. I am using an Android-flashed HD2, and while the interface is not that silky smooth at times, the mere fact that you can flash virtually any version of Android (or Windows Phone) makes this phone the most geek-friendly handheld. Try any ROM and find one that suits your preference.

Notification LED: Only few handsets now have this feature. A notification LED is very useful to show you of a newly received message or a missed call.


The Bad:

Single Core: Windows Mobile operating system may be OK for single cores, but if you want to flash and Android ROM in this handset, expect a not-so-smooth experience. But rest assured that the phone is stable enough for everyday use - depending on your settings of course.

512MB ROM:Again, for Windows Mobile OS, this may be enough; for Android, this may limit the number of apps you can install, plus the fact that you may have stability issues when you ran out of memory. There's one version of HD2, the T-Mobile version, that sports a gig of ROM, so if you're going to purchase a second-hand HD2, better get the T-Mobile version.




Overall:

Let's give credit to this phone. It was ahead of its time when it was released, and up until now it has proven that it is still capable amidst the numerous phones newly released. The screen, which was criticized for being big when it was released, is now a mainstream, if not mid-range, feature of today's smartphones. The phone is being supported by a number of developers, so even if HTC pulled off the plug for support, these developers will continue to give new life to this legendary phone.