HTC Magic v HTC Tattoo v HTC Hero

TheJFK · 22-10-2009, 9:50 PM

What's the best phone out of three and what's the worst?

I can get a Magic or a Tattoo for a similar price and I would like some help in choosing.

I may also be able to get a Hero at a similar price however that is not a definate.

Thanks for all the help, in advance.

Rizza · 23-10-2009, 1:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheJFK

What's the best phone out of three and what's the worst?

I can get a Magic or a Tattoo for a similar price and I would like some help in choosing.

I may also be able to get a Hero at a similar price however that is not a definate.

Thanks for all the help, in advance.

Go for the Hero, it's got more memory, Sense UI and a higher mega-pixel camera over the magic.

The Tattoo has similar specs to the Hero but with a smaller screen so the virtual keyboard may be a bit of a pain.

Rizza

ps... Tattoo also has a lower capacity battery that both the Hero and Magic

idheath · 23-10-2009, 7:18 AM

Hi,
I have a Hero and I have just got a Tattoo for my wife.

My initial views are that they're both great phones

I've had the Hero for a few weeks and it's been very stable and fault free (I upgraded to the new firmware as soon as I got it).

The Tattoo only turned up a few days ago, but I think it's a great little phone (it is quite small compared to the Hero). I find the Tattoo very tactile and far easier to hold than the Hero. The screen is resistive so requires more pressure to use than the Hero (not that this is an issue). Also the dual touch feature of the Hero is not on the Tattoo (to zoom a web page you need to use zoom +/- keys that appear at the bottom on the screen).

Feature wise they seem to be pretty simular, the Tattoo has a radio (the Hero doesn't), I haven't tried it yet. The screen resolution is smaller on the Tattoo, the Tatto's case can be totally changed (good if you scuff it I guess).

Regarding the touch-keyboard, yes it's smaller on the Tattoo but I still find it OK and the same HTC Sense UI is on it.

As to the camera, I don't think it's autofocus on the Tattoo but to be honest I think the camera is pretty-rubbish on the Hero anyway (far worse than my old N95 8Gb). It takes ages to focus and often gives blured shots.

Also regarding the Market Place there doesn't seem to be hardly any applications for the Tattoo yet (I looked for the 20'ish applications that I have on my Hero and almost none of them are available for the Tattoo). I think this is due to the reduced screen resolution and the lack of support for this in the application (here's hoping the various developers address this issue!).

Note that currently the Hero is running 1.5 firmware and the Tatto is running 1.6 (I've heard that 1.6 should be available on the Hero soon though).

If anyone has any specific comparison questions I'll try to answer them.

Cheers Ian

TheJFK · 24-10-2009, 6:37 PM

Thanks for both the replies but it looks like I wont be able to get the Hero so I've got a choice betweem the Magic and Tattoo.

I'm edging towards the Magic but is this the better phone?

Thanks.

Rizza · 24-10-2009, 6:53 PM

If you can live with the smaller keyboard on the tattoo then I'll recommend it because of the higher internal memory - 256mb as opposed to the 192mb on the Magic. However with a myriad of high end android phones coming into the market over the next few months, the tattoo may be marginalised with a smaller user base than others and this could limit application & ROM development for it.

Rizza

goony · 24-10-2009, 11:54 PM

Well I got my Tattoo yesterday, and I love it, Im in the UK, and mine came with a 2GB memory card as well, plus dont forget it has a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top, so you can use your own headphones. Which is a plus in my book. This is my first touchscreen, and I find it pretty good, Text messaging is easy, especially when phone in landscape mode. Overall pretty impressive..

Skinner.Daddy · 25-11-2009, 12:35 PM

Hi,

I too was having this issue as to which to choose. I chose the Magic for the following reasons.

Tattoo Screen resolution is lower than the Hero and Magic, thus some of the apps won't work or aren't listed as working in the apps store so won't show up.

I wasn't a fan of the Hero's physical looks BUT I wanted to use the Sense UI, thought it looked much better and was more customisable.

Anyway, I found that you can install a version of the Sense UI on the Magic, just needs reflashing (not as complicated as it sounds) with a modified version of the Hero ROM and Bingo it'll work!

So I ordered the Magic yesterday, it is on the delivery van as we speak and I'm just waiting for it to turn up at my office!

Rizza · 25-11-2009, 6:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skinner.Daddy

Hi,

I too was having this issue as to which to choose. I chose the Magic for the following reasons.

Tattoo Screen resolution is lower than the Hero and Magic, thus some of the apps won't work or aren't listed as working in the apps store so won't show up.

I wasn't a fan of the Hero's physical looks BUT I wanted to use the Sense UI, thought it looked much better and was more customisable.

Anyway, I found that you can install a version of the Sense UI on the Magic, just needs reflashing (not as complicated as it sounds) with a modified version of the Hero ROM and Bingo it'll work!

So I ordered the Magic yesterday, it is on the delivery van as we speak and I'm just waiting for it to turn up at my office!

Lot's of Hero ROMS for the magic have niggling issues simply because the Magic has less RAM (192MB) than the Hero which packs a whooping 288MB. Furthermore the Hero has a 3mm audio jack which I didn't realise I'd miss as much as I do now.

Don't get me wrong I have the Magic and I'm pleased with it, but at the time I got it the Hero wasn't out, but if I had to choose now it will be the Hero - in white!!!! All other colours are damn ugly.

Rizza

readymix · 27-11-2009, 2:25 AM

I have just purchased a Magic(Black) in singapore 288mb ram and sense UI still finding my way round it main complaint USB Headphones its time HTC dropped this stupid system.

Rizza · 27-11-2009, 7:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by readymix

I have just purchased a Magic(Black) in singapore 288mb ram and sense UI still finding my way round it main complaint USB Headphones its time HTC dropped this stupid system.

All htc handsets after the Magic have 3mm jacks, I must say that's my main criticism of the phone as well

Some people got adaptors with theirs, did you?

Rizza

readymix · 27-11-2009, 1:05 PM

No mate not included

JayCee · 27-11-2009, 9:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizza

All htc handsets after the Magic have 3mm jacks

They're 3.5mm and industry standard.

readymix · 04-12-2009, 3:32 AM

The WiFi connection on the Magic is totally crap,check on the Vodafone/Android forums before taking this phone on contract.

Moon-Unit · 04-12-2009, 9:09 AM

That's avery generalised statement - the WiFi on my Magic works flawlessly both at home, on the train and at work.

I appreciate some people have had problems but it's not every handset by a long way.

readymix · 04-12-2009, 11:18 AM

Moon-Unit,
Are you on Vodafone??

Rizza · 04-12-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moon-Unit

That's avery generalised statement - the WiFi on my Magic works flawlessly both at home, on the train and at work.

I appreciate some people have had problems but it's not every handset by a long way.

Same here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayCee

They're 3.5mm and industry standard.

Sorry I meant 3.5mm.

Rizza