HTC HD Mini Initial Review
In brief
A friendly interface and crystal clear touchscreen, combined with a compact frame and advanced features, make the HTC HD Mini a decent smartphone.
Look and Feel
The HTC HD Mini looks as smart as it is compact. Its all-black case is enlivened by the addition of a functional and visible screw in each corner of the phone’s back. Apparently, these screws hold the phone together as well as add an edge to the design. And the design edginess does not stop there – you wait until you take the back off to get to the SIM and battery details, and you’ll see just how yellow the inside of a phone can be.
Unlike its bigger brother, the
HTC HD2 which sports an impressive 4.3 inch screen, the HTC HD Mini has a more standard 3.2 inch screen. And instead of physical keys beneath, like on the HD2, the Mini has touch-sensitive keys beneath its screen which let you make and end calls, go back, and launch the home screen and main menu, with just one press. The screen itself supports direct access to features too, with the icons running along the bottom of the screen to apps like Twitter or email – and the capacitive technology ensures you only need to lightly press or swipe with your finger and the phone will react.
Special features
Social networking is integrated on the HTC HD Mini with apps for Twitter, Facebook and Flickr. You can interact online in no time, and the Sense UI ensures this experience is logical and friends’ communication is nicely streamed for you. There may not be the new Friend Stream service that appears on the
HTC Legend and
Desire, but the Sense interface still packs a friendly punch on this Windows Mobile handset.
If you like listening to music on your mobile, you’ll enjoy all the audio features on the HTC HD Mini. There is an FM radio, a 3.5mm audio connector and a music player onboard, so you can add your own tunes, stream songs and music videos onto the phone, and tune into your preferred radio programme. Even when the HD Mini is locked, you can still use the music player and change the songs without having to unlock the phone.
The multiple connection options span Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS so you can communicate with ease and use your HTC HD Mini to help you find your way. The inbuilt 5-megapixel camera comes with autofocus, and with a lightweight and compact frame you will have plenty of opportunities for capturing moments on the move. It is a shame, though, that the camera is not supported by a flash.
The HTC HD Mini looks good and offers lots, all within a small frame. We’ll be adding to this review shortly, so make sure you check back soon for more details on this handset.