HTC Radar Sim Free Windows 7.5 Smartphone

I bought this thinking it would be a compromise when compared to the HTC Titan. I was very well surprised to find out that the build quality is excellent with a very sturdy metallic case. This is no compromise at all and it's coming with a very approachable price tag.

Together with the excellent Windows Phone 7.5 operating system this makes a great phone.

Having owned many phones in the past, I can honestly say that this is one of the best.

Firstly, be aware that it runs Windows Phone 7. This means that there are limitations such as having to use Zune to copy pictures, music etc between the phone and your PC. There is not the selection of apps on Android or the iPhone but there are still a lot of apps.

Windows Phone 7 is a great system especially if you are into communications - text and email - and social networking. It has a fantastic and fast web browser and is very smooth and slick. It has some great games and is brilliantly simple.

The Radar is a seriously solid device. It feels rock solid in the hand and nice to hold. The build quality is simply fantastic and better than pretty much anything else out there. It is extremely fast and responsive with a decent and very sensitive screen. I find the size to be perfect. I find the sound quality for calls and for music to be well above average. The battery life is also above average for me.

The software enhancements made by HTC to Windows Phone are worthy too.

The negatives for me are that the handset is a tad bland in its design and is a little thicker than I would like. The power button could be nicer to use, especially if it were metal like the camera button. There is only 8Gb of storage, about 6.5Gb of which is free and that has to store your apps, app data, music, podcasts, pictures and videos. It is simply not very much.

If you are looking for a mid range Windows Phone handset, this is the one to get. There is no compromise on performance and no compromise on quality.

In a market that is saturated with Apple and Android it sometimes happens that a fantastic phone like this is overlooked. Not only does this phone feel reassuringly solid in the hand, it also looks fantastic. HTC are well known for build quality and this phone is no exception, the unibody metal body feels really nice, the touch screen is hard as nails and yet the touch interface is excellent.

The 1ghz Processor tears through everything you throw at it, multitasking is handled incredibly well. The camera features great optics and a low light sensor for subdued light or indoor shots, it also features a panorama function with a handy spirit level guide so you get a nice straight photo stitch.

Let us not forget the vastly improved Windows Mango 7.5 operating system that is just so easy to navigate, customize and really make your own. Some of the Windows 7.5 benefits include

- Live tiles - the tiles are widgets re-thought, they update themselves with how many messages are waiting, how many texts you have, calls or any number of updates without having to go into the app.

- People Hub - all your social networks (fbook, linkedin, twitter) in one handy place, which means no need for 3 separate apps for social media.

- Groups - you can have your favourite contacts grouped into family, friends, colleagues, etc.

- Email - have multiple accounts set up and for the Business folk, dedicated Outlook email.

- Picture Hub - take and share photos to your social networks quickly and easily.

- Windows apps - growing quickly and with very high quality apps!

- XBOX LIVE - xbox live arcade game son your phone. Soon full xbox 360 games will enable your phone to be part of the action.

- Zune Music and Video - Zune is PC and now phone based software which has a great marketplace, great syncing with your phone and looks very pretty indeed! I am a convert from Itunes!

- and loads more! the windows phone site is great for more information -

1 down point is the lack of micro SD card expansion, but to be honest 8gb is enough unless you really want to keep crazy loads of data on there, if you get to your pc every day, Zune makes it easy to change what sits on your phone.

VERDICT

Great phone, really stunning and for the mid range price it is an incredible phone. It feels good, looks good, and after you put your mark on it, you will find it hard to turn back. If the medium size (very similar to iphone) puts you off, check out the Titan.