PocketlintThe HTC Sensation is an extremely accomplished device, but there's no getting around the feeling that it underwhelms. While it is indeed a dual-core speed demon like the Samsung Galaxy S II, HTC's latest doesn't exhibit quite the same level of UI responsiveness and is furthermore saddled with a signed bootloader that prevents users from improving things themselves. Our biggest issue is with Sense, whose fancy new graphics and improved lockscreen utility can't hide the fact that the core UX hasn't materially changed from the days of the Hero.
In terms of design language, HTC is a monoglot and proud of it. The Sensation doesn't break with the company's established styling, yet its subtle physical refinements add up to make it a veritable pleasure to hold and to operate. Combining these excellent ergonomics with the phone's superior battery efficiency and generous qHD display resolution makes the Sensation a formidable foe for Samsung's celebrated new flagship. Given the choice between the two, we'd opt for the Galaxy S II for its brilliant display and snappier performance, but that's just a matter of preference. Ultimately, you'll have to decide what it is you value most in your Android superphone and pick the one that fits those needs best.
SlashgearFor the most part the HTC Sensation runs very smoothly indeed. We did find that Wi-Fi went to sleep overnight and on a couple of occasions we had to prompt the Sensation into reconnecting, but its not alone in this. We found that the HTC Sense experience is more refined than ever, it doesnt stutter or hiccup as you move around the place and the animations make it more visually engaging than before, even though it sticks very closely to the original Sense design.
Its certainly a worthy adversary to the Samsung Galaxy S II, its closest rival, and we can see that both will be extremely popular. While the SGSII feels more powerful at times, the complete package that HTC offers in the Sensation will appeal to many and it comes highly recommended.
With strong devices, of course, come difficult decisions, and choosing between the Sensation and Samsungs Galaxy S II is perhaps the most difficult to-date. Both have their hardware strengths: the Sensations qHD display lends itself well to browsing and ebook reading, while the lower-resolution Super AMOLED Plus of the GSII is better suited to multimedia. Samsung offers more RAM and internal storage, but the Sensation never felt at a loss aside from in the benchmarking apps themselves. Meanwhile, HTC Sense feels more thought-out and complete than TouchWiz, and the out-of-the-box experience with the Sensation is more polished than that of the GSII.
Neither is a bad device nor a bad choice; our gut reaction is to think of the Sensation as the consumers phone and the Galaxy S II as the Android fans phone. Broad brushstrokes do neither any great favors, though. HTCs attitude to mods may dissuade the Android faithful, but those looking for a solid, well-designed smartphone with a premium feel and refined combination of hardware, software and services will be served excellently by the HTC Sensation.
The two phones may compete in Europe, but not here: the Sensation has 900/1700/2100 3G, so it's useless on AT&T's 850&1900 network, while the SGS2 has 850/900/1900/2100, making it useless on T-Mo's AWS (combined 1700/2100) network.
Right, but on different carriers.Obviously there will be USA versions of the phones.
Right, but on different carriers.
Wouldn't be surprised if the SGS2 wifi glitch isn't a software thing. There have been many that modders have found/created/eliminated on various SGS firmwares.
Samsung screen is so good, it makes everything else pretty much irrelevant. The specs being better is nice gravy, but the screen is enough.
HTC needs to stop cutting corners on flash memory. 1GB app storage was acceptable in 2010 but competitors have all up their game. Phone industrial design looks dated. People want thinner and lighter devices.
I think they do give you a 8gb micro sd card with the phone. So technically you are getting 1gb + 8gb.
It's 1gb for app storage. There's no data storage (pics, music, videos, whatever) without the SD card. It's not "1gb + 8gb of storage", it's 1gb for installing apps to, and 8gb of general storage.
Edit: My SGS Vibrant has 2gb for apps - I've got 1.45gb free. I don't have a problem with 1gb for apps.
You can't install apps on the sd card at all?
Everytime I consider an android device with each new release I'm re reminded of the inconvenience of it's app storage. I'm not sure how people live with 1gb.
HTC needs to stop cutting corners on flash memory. 1GB app storage was acceptable in 2010 but competitors have all up their game. Phone industrial design looks dated. People want thinner and lighter devices.
the plastickyness of the SG2 is a huge downer for me.
There are some glaring flaws, however. Where the GSII pairs its 1.2GHz dual-core with 1GB of RAM, the Sensation makes do with 768MB. Similarly, while Samsung have packed 16GB of memory into their flagship, HTC leaves users with just 1GB baked inside; instead you get a preloaded 8GB microSD card. Unfortunately, there’s just no way that even a fast microSDHC card can be as quick as NANDFlash connected directly to the logic board, and that leaves the Sensation at a speed disadvantage.
And more durable, as well.Agreed, but that is how we get thinner and lighter phones. There's always a trade off.