Friday, April 15, 2011

Nokia X7 Versus HTC Sensation: Big screen enterainment

Nokia X7 Versus HTC Sensation: Big screen enterainment ; The biggest Nokia-related news this week is undoubtedly the arrival of the exciting new Nokia X7, coming as it does with the polished new Anna update to Symbian^3. But HTC also chose to set loose a big-screened smartphone on Tuesday, the Android-powered HTC Sensation. So we thought it only fair to put the two head to head and see how the Nokia X7 stacks up against its Taiwanese rival. Read on for all the details!

Let’s say it right at the start: the HTC Sensation does look like a seriously capable high-end smartphone, and undoubtedly the new leader of HTC’s Android armada. But we’re not so sure it has the measure of the Nokia X7, and reckon the new X Series flagship has more than a few key advantages of its own over the Sensation. Let’s take a closer look…

X-factor looks

It’s a point we’ve made about HTC phones before: look at the HTC Sensation and you’re getting the same generic approach to design as you see on all its handsets: inoffensive, but uninspiring. The Nokia X7, meanwhile, is a real head-turner, with its strong lines making a design statement that’s quite unique.

Build quality

Nokia’s reputation for building strong mobile hardware is second to none, and when you’re paying the kind of prices the Nokia X7 and HTC Sensation command, that’s important. What would you rather have: the Nokia X7′s stainless steel body and Gorilla glass screen, or the Sensation’s ‘unibody’ chassis that manages to be heavier despite not being as strongly built.
Screen

HTC is rightly proud of the Sensation’s 4.3-inch qHD screen, but write off the Nokia X7′s stunning display at your peril. It’s slightly smaller at 4-inches across, and the resolution’s lower on paper, but it’s an AMOLED panel featuring Nokia’s ClearBlackDisplay technology. The bottom line: we dare you to compare the two in the flesh and tell us Nokia’s is the inferior panel.

Camera

If you’re into your mobile photography, we feel sorry for you if your path has crossed an Android phone’s before. Android hardware has many strengths – we don’t mind saying that – but you’ll seldom see the camera featuring on that list. So while on paper both of these smartphones feature 8-megapixel snappers, we’ll take the Nokia X7 any day of the week, thankyou very much.
On-board storage

This might seem like an easy win for the Sensation, with HTC claiming 4GB of on-board storage versus just 350MB for the Nokia X7. But three-quarters of that is taken by the HTC Sense interface, and you’re far more likely to resort to the 8GB supplied microSD card, which is exactly what Nokia gives you with the Nokia X7. Not so inferior after all, is it?

Gaming goodness

The Nokia X7 is designed to appeal to mobile gamers, and that’s no empty claim. The superb screen, responsive hardware and newly polished software set the perfect platform for gaming, and Galaxy on Fire and Asphalt Five are pre-loaded on board to get you started without any delay. Opt for the Sensation, meanwhile, and you’re left playing generic Android releases on a handset built as an all-rounder, not an entertainment specialist.

Have your say

We’ll happily admit we’ve played to the Nokia X7′s strengths here, and no doubt HTC fans have a few points of their own they’d like to make. But if there’s one thing we’ve proved here it’s that the Nokia X7 shouldn’t stand in fear of any rival – it has plenty going for it, and looks set to be one of the biggest Nokia releases of the year.

But enough from us – we’d love to hear from you on the subject: how does the Nokia X7 stack up against competition like the HTC Sensation? What are its key advantages, and what are the weak spots in its mobile armour? Let us know in the Comments.

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