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AT&T's Tilt 2 smartphone gets mixed reception
- Crisp voice quality
- Roomy, responsive keyboard
- Windows Mobile 6.5 adds productivity software
- Large and heavy
- Buggy Windows Mobile interface
- Unwieldy audio adapter
- Poor 3.2-megapixel camera
A so-so Windows Mobile smartphone
The HTC Tilt 2 is a strong addition to AT&T's smartphone lineup, but has several problematic design features, reviewers say. The positives include excellent call quality, a large QWERTY keyboard, great GPS navigation capability and Windows Mobile 6.5; the consensus is that the Tilt 2 has excellent features for business use. The negatives include its hefty weight, spotty reception, weak camera and, for some reviewers, user-interface troubles.
This phone is AT&T's version of the HTC Touch Pro2 (*Est. $180 with new contract) smartphone that's on T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon. "For business users, the phone packs calling features that put it leagues beyond the competition," says Philip Berne, editor at InfoSyncWorld.com. Stephen Borders, a regular contributor to MobilitySite.com calls the Tilt 2 "the perfect replacement for my aging Tilt," with "all the right hardware and software upgrades." He especially likes the Tilt 2's productivity features, including network printing, PowerPoint slideshow creation and editing capability. Lisa Gade of MobileTechReview.com calls it "fast and responsive" and especially likes the touch screen and TouchFLO 3-D user interface. PCMag.com's Jamie Lendino, however, is not so impressed. He acknowledges that it's a good business-class phone, but comparing the Tilt 2 with the Touch Pro2 phones from the other carriers, he says, "AT&T did the sloppiest work of the bunch."
Features praised, performance panned
All the reviews we read praise the Tilt 2's keyboard and give high marks to voice quality. GPS navigation is rated highly by all that mention it, and battery life is consistent with the manufacturer's ratings. The 3.2-megapixel camera is mostly panned, however; Lendino complains of glare and poor image quality in any light, while Cha says there's "room for improvement." Video playback is said to be smooth, but some reviewers report crashes and other hiccups. Berne and Lendino experience the biggest problems with the phone's interface. Berne cites frequent application crashes and browser response issues, while Lendino says the Windows Mobile 6.5 menu and icon structure are "confused." No one likes the audio headset adapter that comes with the Tilt 2.
The most comprehensive review we found comes from Stephen Borders at MobilitySite.com. Philip Berne at InfoSyncWorld.com and Jamie Lendino at PCMag.com also give the Tilt 2 a thorough once-over. MobileTechReview.com and CNET are always credible; MobileTechReview.com's Lisa Gade is more positive about the Tilt 2 than Bonnie Cha at CNET. Cha refers us to the CNET review of the Touch Pro2 and concentrates on what's different about this AT&T version.
Our Sources
1. CNET
Bonnie Cha takes a good look at the Tilt 2 and praises the Windows Mobile 6.5 OS, keyboard and call quality, but finds the camera lacking and has trouble with reception in her downtown San Francisco office.
Review: HTC Tilt 2 (AT&T), Bonnie Cha, Oct. 20, 2009
Editor Philip Berne takes a thorough look at the Tilt 2 and generally likes its full set of business features. He loves the keyboard and calls it "the best QWERTY phone on AT&T's lineup." Overall, though, he has issues with its user interface, reception and browser response.
Review: HTC Tilt 2 Review, Philip Berne, Oct. 23, 2009
3. PCMag.com
Reviewer Jamie Lendino likes the Tilt 2's business features, but finds it less attractive than the iPhone 3GS and the BlackBerry Bold 9000. He likes the voice quality, keyboard and display and has no problems with the web browser, but finds the user interface inconsistent and the camera to be a weak spot. Overall, he thinks the Tilt 2 is "unlikely to win new converts to the cause" of Windows Mobile.
Review: AT&T Tilt 2, Jamie Lendino, Oct. 26, 2009
Lisa Gade says the Tilt 2 on AT&T is "an excellent smartphone" in this relatively non-critical review. She finds it "fast and responsive," with good reception and strong voice quality, and compliments the touch screen. Gade likes the Tilt 2 as much as the Touch Pro versions from the other carriers.
Review: HTC Tilt 2 (AT&T), Lisa Gade, Oct. 20, 2009
Regular contributor Stephen Borders is not a staff writer, but he knows his phones and looks at the Tilt 2 from every possible angle. Overall, he likes it, calling it "the perfect replacement for my aging Tilt" and a "solid and well-built business-centered device."
Review: Review: HTC Tilt 2 from AT&T, Stephen Borders, Nov. 23, 2009
