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Smartphone with virtual QWERTY keyboard on 3-D touch screen
- Compatible with Sprint's high-speed 3G network
- Virtual QWERTY keyboard on touch screen
- 3.2-megapixel camera
- Performs most functions well, reviews say
- Can be sluggish
- No flash for camera
- Disappointing battery life
- No microSD slot
The HTC Touch Diamond is a slab smartphone that lacks a real QWERTY keyboard -- there's a virtual one on the 3-D touch screen -- but gets generally good reviews. Slim, at just 0.6 inches deep, the Diamond's features include a 2.8-inch touch screen, 3.2-megapixel camera and 4 GB of non-expandable internal memory. The Sprint version can access the high-speed 3G network, but the unlocked and Alltel versions cannot.
Otherwise, reviews indicate the Diamond delivers good features like GPS and performs most functions well as a phone, message maker and multimedia device. However, the Diamond is criticized in reviews for sluggishness and poor battery life, and some sources ding call quality. Some reviews describe the Diamond as a "consumer" smartphone. Another calls it "business lite." If you're going to do a lot of typing, the HTC Fuze (Discontinued), HTC Touch Pro (Discontinued) and HTC Touch Pro2 (Discontinued) offer full QWERTY slideout keyboards. Most reviewers consider the Apple iPhone 3G (Discontinued) and BlackBerry Curve (Discontinued) to be more robust and better for power users. The new HTC Touch Diamond2, covered separately, offers a few significant but hardly radical upgrades, namely a bigger screen and a microSD slot. The Samsung Instinct (Discontinued) for AT&T is also offered as a less expensive alternative, and its touchscreen is considered superior by reviewers.
We found substantive reviews of the HTC Diamond from WirelessInfo.com, CNET, PCMag.com and ConsumerReports.org. Owner reviews at CNET significantly outnumber those at Amazon.com.
HTC Fuze / HTC Touch Pro GSM (US ATT Version) Unlocked with No Warranty
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BlackBerry Curve 8520 Phone (AT&T)
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Samsung Instinct SPH-M800 Phone, Black (Sprint)
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| HTC Touch Diamond Unlocked Phone with 3.2 MP Camera, MP3/Video Player, and Windows Mobile 6.1--International Version with No Warranty (Black) | |
(8 reviews) In Stock. |
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| Featured Stores | Store Rating | Notes | Total Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  1,219 store reviews | In Stock. Earn 2% eBay Bucks on qualifying purchases! Backed by eBay Buyer Protection Program. Terms and Conditions apply. | $124.99 | See It |
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Our Sources
This is the longest review we found, offering the most detailed pros/cons list and comparisons with five other phones, including the iPhone 3G and BlackBerry Curve. The gist is that the HTC Touch Diamond is a good choice only for "business lite" users.
Review: HTC Touch Diamond Cell Phone Review, Marianne Schultz, Oct. 14, 2008
2. CNET
CNET tests most major cell phones and rates the HTC Touch Diamond (unlocked version) as "good" despite sluggish performance and "subpar" call quality. About 40 user reviews combine for a slightly lower score, some pointing out that a software update improves speed significantly.
Review: HTC Touch Diamond, Bonnie Cha, June 27, 2008
3. PCMag.com
This review points out that the Sprint version of the HTC Touch Diamond has 3G support that the U.S. unlocked version lacks. Overall, it rates a "good," but the battery life and video playback are called "poor," and the software is buggy.
Review: HTC Touch Diamond (Sprint), Jamie Lendino, Sept. 26, 2008
4. ConsumerReports.org
ConsumerReports.org tests and ranks about two dozen smartphones, including the HTC Touch Diamond. Among factors considered are ease of use, talk time and voice quality.
Review: Smart Phone Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, Jan. 2009
This review includes three video demonstrations. Despite software that is "not ready for prime time," the HTC Touch Diamond is "the coolest Windows Mobile Professional device I have used, bar none," says reviewer Michael Oryl.
Review: HTC Touch Diamond, Right Off The Boat!, Michael Oryl, June 8, 2008
6. Amazon.com
About 15 owner reviews give the HTC Touch Diamond a middling score, with about two-thirds rating it three or fewer stars out of five. Most complaints are about slowness and poor call quality.
Review: HTC Touch Diamond P3700, Contributors to Amazon.com, As of April 2009
