You are hereNokia N97 vs HTC Touch Pro 2: Head to Head Complete Comparison
Nokia N97 vs HTC Touch Pro 2: Head to Head Complete Comparison
At first glance these two smartphones look very similar in design, but look past the initial form factor and there's worlds of difference in every aspect. Here's the full breakdown:
| Device | Nokia N97 | HTC Touch Pro 2 |
| Weight, dimensions | 150g, 117x55x17mm (19mm at points) | 180g, 116x60x17mm (i.e. slightly wider) |
| Screen mechanism | Double-jointed alloy hinge with solid ribbon cable barrier. Build quality is great, think Rolls Royce or Bentley. | Slide (and manual tilt) mechanism in sprung steel. Heavy but sturdy. Build quality is good, but think Volkswagen(!) |
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| Display | 640x360 (nHD) TFT, with resistive touch layer, bright, adequate in bright sunlight | 800x480 (WVGA) TFT, with resistive touch layer, bright, not as good as N97 in bright sunlight |
| Processor/RAM | 434MHz/56MB free (without Facebook widget) after booting. Speedy for most tasks, you have to hit the N97 quite hard to hit the RAM limit and start slowing things while apps are closed down | 528MHz/90MB free after booting, speedy for most tasks and unlikely to run out of RAM in any normal use |
| Qwerty keyboard | Three rows, somewhat condensed layout, space bar optimised for the right thumb. Estimate 30wpm possible. | Super five row keyboard, including numbers and punctuation without modifier keys. Estimate 40wpm possible. |
| Base OS | Symbian OS 9.4, plenty of heritage, very function-rich | Windows Mobile 6.1, also plenty of heritage, also function-rich, the core OS here is up to the task |
| User interface | S60 5th Edition, largely tried and tested UI concepts, but with some distinct quirks for touch | TouchFLO 3D app launcher and front-end for many (but not all) applications, plus original Windows Mobile 6.1 apps as well. Significant confusion and duplication |
| Application set highlights | Ovi Store, Share, Quickoffice viewers (editing version due imminently, though will be a paid upgrade), S60 PIM, Podcasting, etc. | Office Mobile (full editing, very nice), business card reader (works very well to put details into Contacts), various games |
| Navigation | GPS with Ovi Maps, with full voice route guidance on ad-hoc subscription model (first 30 days free though) | GPS with Google Maps, no turn by turn navigation, but sat-nav add-ons available separately as commercial products |
| Camera (stills) | 5 megapixels, Carl Zeiss optics, high quality, dual LED flash, superb results in average-to-good light conditions | 3 megapixels, low grade sensor, no flash, produces very poor results |
| Camera (video) | VGA, 30fps, very clear for objects over 2 metres away | VGA, 30fps, very disappointing quality, I suspect poor optics, poor sensor AND poor software algorithms |
| Electrical | microUSB data and charging, 3.5mm audio jack, 1500mAh battery | miniUSB data and charging, extUSB audio jack (hate this....), 1500mAh battery |
| Wireless specs | Quad band GSM, Tri band 3G | Quad band GSM, Dual band 3G |
| Capacity | 32GB internal mass memory, plus microSD expansion | microSD expansion |
Looking at the hardware, as you can see from the table above, the keyboard size and quality is the only area where the HTC Touch Pro 2 is better than the Nokia N97 - away from text input, it's pretty much a romp home for the N97 in all departments.
And I'm afraid the romp becomes a veritable walk in the park once we start looking at software. You see, Symbian OS 9.5 with S60 5th Edition on top for the UI is a known quantity now. A rock solid base OS with a slightly quirky set of touch optimisations grafted onto the existing S60 3rd Edition FP2. The interface is most definitely not perfect, it's not even properly optimised in some areas, though the N97 variant is noticeably smoother than the 5800 version, showing the difference another 6 months development can make. But yes, I'll freely admit that Symbian/S60 (or as it will simply become, Symbian Foundation) is by no means the most intuitive system available - I enjoy using it and am familiar with it, but I can understand how setting it all up might present a new user some head scratching moments.
However, all this pales into comparison beside the unholy mess that is the software on the HTC Touch Pro 2. Starting with Windows Mobile 6.1 (the full 'Programs' list, stylus-based interface, miniscule dialogs and control icons), HTC have been fashioning an alternative user interface for years. But, rather than changing the core OS and UI elements, they've approached the problem by writing an all-singing, all-dancing app launcher and data viewer that sits on top of Windows Mobile. So you get a flashy finger-friendly interface some of the time - and then you do something simply like create a new Calendar appointment and bang, you're back in fiddly stylus world and WM 6.1. HTC have tried to help here by putting in a pretty good finger-friendly alternative to the old stylus-centric on-screen keyboard, and they've even started doing what they should have been doing since the start, reworking the menus to make them prettier and more finger-friendly - at last.
But, and I have to say this, the end result, as modelled in the Touch Pro 2, is a MESS. Jumping between pretty but limited top level TouchFLO 3D 'applications' and ugly but more powerful stylus-designed Windows Mobile apps, with the occasional hybrid element such as a finger-friendly menu grafted into an older application, is inelegant, it's horrible, it's confusing.
You might infer from the last two paras that I hate what HTC (and, to an extent, Microsoft, by their inaction) have done to Windows Mobile with a passion. You'd be right. You might infer from the name of this site (All About SYMBIAN) that I'm horribly biased and that you can't trust what I say. But you'd be wrong - this article could have appeared on any independent site with equal conviction. And I say much the same things in the upcoming cross-platform Phones Show 83.
Next time you complain about oddities in S60, just remember that it could be worse - your IT dept might be forcing you to use a modern Windows Mobile device like this one.
A deserved win then for the Nokia N97. I'm no fan boy and have already pointed out numerous problems with it. But, unless you're a die-hard Windows Mobile user with legacy apps and history with the platform, the N97 still roars past the Touch Pro 2 from a standing start and leaves it in the dust.
credit: allaboutsymbian
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I have to say I stopped reading half way. Every time you mentioned the N97 downfalls you did it in a motherly fashion protecting a golden product. And in comparison every downfall with the TP2 was a horrific abomination.
One should learn how to hide personal opinions out of proper "head to head complete comparisons"
I'll just give you a few nudges at what I mean:
You said:
"
Looking at the hardware, as you can see from the table above, the keyboard size and quality is the only area where the HTC Touch Pro 2 is better than the Nokia N97 - away from text input, it's pretty much a romp home for the N97 in all departments.
"
I answer:
N97 has a smaller screen with a smaller pixels per inch resolution.
-Although higher resolutions mean harder work for the display chips I find the TP2 very responsive and up to the task. Battery life consumption my friend - at a very very good respectable level.
Screen mechanism..
N97 - the double hinged system felt very plasticy and akward. And to go on you have no control over at what angle the screen is when tilted. The only downside I find with the TP2 screen tilt is that it requres a somewhat sturdy hand to tilt it from its flat position. The feel of the two are in no way comparable as a bentley - VW.. Do not make me laugh.
Memory:
The N97 has less RAM after startup. Although both have nice amounts of it, less is less - it is not -better-. Nuff said about that.
Camera:
Hands down win for N97 for the better Carl Zeiss optics and flash I do agree. Although the N97 has produced nothing but clear beautiful pictures in normal day light. The weak performance comes when there is dim light.
Software highlights N97
"Ovi Store, Share, Quickoffice viewers (editing version due imminently, though will be a paid upgrade), S60 PIM, Podcasting, etc."
Podcasting also works on WM, and as you may or may not know TP2 came bundled with but not limited to the following:
Youtube viewer, Google maps (mentioned), RSS hub, MSN Messenger, Internet Explorer + Opera
Hating a company or two is not the way to go about. Viewers couldn't really care less if you dislike HTC or WM and they couldn't care even less what I'd have to say about either - Or Nokia. They want a solid "head to head comparison".
And a big neg for the Nokia touch sensation. When you have your menu open with icons and what not you actually have to put your finger on the scrollbar to scroll properly unlike the Iphone or WM touch phones. Like where was Nokia's quality control when this blooper went and got out? Shame on them.
To smm it up your review was 7/10 for effort 3/10 though for actually -being- a fanboy. You can't not be one just because you say you are not.
Hello,
I read your review, and i found it very clear that you are a true Symbian user, so please don't bother making reviews.
The HTC Touch Pro was a good phone with some minor things... the Touch Pro 2 is very clear a big and more grown up brother. It's very fast and feels good. I must mention when it's not open slided it's opening a bit.
Anyway i found the Touch Pro 2 very nice... the N97 is a good phone but as everyone hoped to be it isn't the flagship of Nokia we have waited for.
Please next time stick to reviewing phones you have real knowledge about and been working with both phones a longer period.
Sincerely,
Michiel
i think N97 can't stand up against the 6.1WM, plus that the TP2 is upgradable to 6.5WM which means that it will be a hero in another shape and i mean the HTC HERO
You raised some good points here. Everyone can has its favorite. I just want to be a happy Nokia fan.
http://www.ApplicationsN97.com
Hello,
I read your review, and i found it very clear that you are a true Symbian user, so please don't bother making reviews.
The HTC Touch Pro was a good phone with some minor things... the Touch Pro 2 is very clear a big and more grown up brother. It's very fast and feels good. I must mention when it's not open slided it's opening a bit.
Anyway i found the Touch Pro 2 very nice... the N97 is a good phone but as everyone hoped to be it isn't the flagship of Nokia we have waited for.
Please next time stick to reviewing phones you have real knowledge about and been working with both phones a longer period.
Sincerely,
Michiel
Hello,
I read your review, and i found it very clear that you are a true Symbian user, so please don't bother making reviews.
The HTC Touch Pro was a good phone with some minor things... the Touch Pro 2 is very clear a big and more grown up brother. It's very fast and feels good. I must mention when it's not open slided it's opening a bit.
Anyway i found the Touch Pro 2 very nice... the N97 is a good phone but as everyone hoped to be it isn't the flagship of Nokia we have waited for.
Please next time stick to reviewing phones you have real knowledge about and been working with both phones a longer period.
Sincerely,
Michiel
I agree your word about N97, "the N97 is a good phone but as everyone hoped to be it isn't the flagship of Nokia we have waited for".
It's true that we have so high expectation on N97, but the actual N97 turned out to be not as we expected.
I think Nokia is listening to us. Let's see what the coming touch phones Nokia will provide. Will it become better and better?
I'd like to be positive.
http://www.ApplicationsN97.com
So i read your review and......
i think its pretty clear to everyone that you are biased towards nokia and as others have told you before if you want to be a succesful reviewer you must learn to keep your personal opinions to themselves. I have both phones and i have reviewed them and in all fairness i can say that the HTC touch pro 2 is better than the nokia n97. If you want to see a real review watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZwWWwL6jJc
So i read your review and......
i think its pretty clear to everyone that you are biased towards nokia and as others have told you before if you want to be a succesful reviewer you must learn to keep your personal opinions to themselves. I have both phones and i have reviewed them and in all fairness i can say that the HTC touch pro 2 is better than the nokia n97. If you want to see a real review watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZwWWwL6jJc
Wow, Give me back my 10 minutes reviewing your baised article. you give enough detail to presaused a non user of either device to pick NOKIA N97. must make you feel pride, chump! How much Nokia paying you?
Microsoft seems to be the company everyone dumps on, but really its just a company focusing their attention on PC OS Windows 7. "WM" OS 6.5, released oct 6 will address most user issues. however by 2010, WM 7 will blow the top off all smartphones given that these license are given to HIGH End devices. Also you pasted tons of great features of the TP2 because N97 had nothing to compare like G sensor and accelemeter sensor. turning the phone onto the touchscreen activates a best audio speaker cystal clear sound. Theres a reason why HTC went with a 3.2 camera. you said it in your review.... "dim lighting is an issue with EVERY smartphone regardless of flash. 3.2 and 5.0, Really No Difference in pixel quality. If you're going to make a decision basedd on the camera size and touchflo 3d. all you have done is made an opinion. any idiot can do that.
By the way, TouchFlo can to shut off in settings/ today options. I currently use SPB House Mobile Shell 3.02. Its setup like a Andriod G1 or Mytouch with 3 desktop screens and 3D carouse to navigate the Windows Mobile. Weather and tons of other features are overkill to the point I would say TP2 is better than an Iphone. Also this device has a stylus and the best keyboard. Dare I mention that internet Explore is 10 times better, allowing flash and acting more like a Desktop computer, unlike blackberry and other smartphone that refuses to allow you to see every page forcing you into a mobile edition of sites IE Myspace.
The resolution is Awesome for the TP2, 800x480. WOW, using a High Def picture makes a world of a difference.
No author to make credit for his work?? Its clear you're a Symbian OS 9.5 Fanboy. thumbs down, you have no clue and i bet you took the smartphones straight out of the box and you didnt know how to use the Windows device. So be a report that says "the N97 still roars past the Touch Pro 2 from a standing start and leaves it in the dust."
DISREGARD THIS REVIEW, I would recommend CNET.com
I'm tired of Fanboy reviews. I'm due for an upgrade and I wanted a fair review so I could make an informed decision. This review is Pro N97.
Next time, try to be objective. Highlight the strongest points for each phone. Also keep in mind the target market for each phone. The Touch Pro 2 is mainly for business users, e.g. though I like taking a pic now and then, that is not a priority. I need my Office.
I'm tired of Fanboy reviews. I'm due for an upgrade and I wanted a fair review so I could make an informed decision. This review is Pro N97.
Next time, try to be objective. Highlight the strongest points for each phone. Also keep in mind the target market for each phone. The Touch Pro 2 is mainly for business users, e.g. though I like taking a pic now and then, that is not a priority. I need my Office.
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