Get info about new reports and updates
A solid messaging smartphone for T-Mobile
Pros
- Very good messaging features
- Soft-touch finish for easy handling
- Supports threaded (conversation) messaging display
- Long battery life
- Wi-Fi-capable for web surfing
Cons
- Can't make calls over Wi-Fi
- Awkward keyboard arrangement
- Limited 3G coverage
- Skimpy camera
How the T-Mobile Dash 3G stacks up
T-Mobile's HTC Dash 3G -- a variation of Sprint's HTC Snap (*Est. $130 with new contract) and Verizon's HTC Ozone (*Est. free with new contract) -- scores well in reviews for its sleek design, generous messaging features, clear call quality and long battery life. Still, reviewers agree that when compared to beefier market rivals, it doesn't make the cut. The Dash "doesn't have the chops to compete with other messaging powerhouses such as the BlackBerry Curve 8900 or Sidekick LX, both on T-Mobile as well," says Ginny Mies of PC World. Liane Cassavoy, About.com's guide to smartphones, sums up the overall sentiment -- the Dash 3G has a decent mix of features, "but it doesn't offer enough to make it stand out."
The Dash even lags behind the HTC Snap. CNET's Bonnie Cha is disappointed that the Dash 3G skips HTC's Inner Circle feature, which is available on Sprint's Snap. Inner Circle lets users set up their email accounts so incoming messages are automatically prioritized by senders and earns much critical praise. And although the Dash 3G one-ups the Snap with Wi-Fi, the Dash lacks unauthorized mobile access (UMA) support, which means the phone can't make or receive calls at T-Mobile's Wi-Fi HotSpots. "Weird, huh?" says Naomi Graychase of Wi-FiPlanet.com. Philip Berne of InfoSyncWorld.com agrees, noting that T-Mobile's BlackBerry Curve has Wi-Fi and feasts on the free calling (you don't use up your minutes this way). The Dash does offer T-Mobile's My Faves for unlimited calls to your five favorite numbers on any carrier.
Good design, better messaging and call quality
Experts and users agree that the Dash's silky, soft-touch finish is a big selling point. "The Snap just looks like a toy next to it," says Cha says of the slimmer, lighter Dash 3G, while Berne notes that it's the "best looking device to come out of the HTC Snap family." The Dash 3G also has a full QWERTY keyboard, navigation trackball and 2.4-inch (320 pixels by 240 pixels) LCD screen. These features aren't exactly well-received, though. CNET and PhoneScoop.com users lament the cramped keyboard, and while the trackball may appeal to BlackBerry fans, responsiveness is fickle. In Berne's tests, it "gave our thumbs a marathon workout." Cha speaks for most critics and users when she says the LCD screen "falls short" of the Curve 8900's beefier 480-by-320-pixel resolution.
Nevertheless, reviewers agree that the Dash is a crowd pleaser on the messaging front. In addition to push email and access to POP3 and IMAP email accounts, the Dash 3G synchronizes with Outlook calendar and contacts for easy productivity. Like on the Snap, text messages appear as a threaded conversation for easy tracking. Messaging is zippy with T-Mobile's faster 3G network (currently limited to about 130 cities, although T-Mobile plans to add 100 more by year's end), but the Dash 3G is weighed down by the dated Windows Mobile OS 6.1. (Windows Mobile 6.5 is now available for download.) Berne cautions not to expect "full desktop functionality," while Cassavoy notes that the Internet Explorer Mobile browser delivers "mixed bag rendering." The 2-megapixel, fixed-focus camera is "meager," according to Lisa Gade of MobileTechReview.com. Still, the Dash 3G receives rave reviews across the board for healthy battery life; HTC rates it at 8.5 hours, while in CNET's tests it lasts about 7 hours.
Detailed reviews from CNET, InfoSyncWorld.com and MobileTechWorld.com compare T-Mobile's Dash 3G to the BlackBerry Curve 8900, HTC Snap and HTC Ozone, to name a few. Although less thorough, evaluations from PC World, Wi-FiPlanet.com and About.com are easy to read, while user reviews at CNET and PhoneScoop.com help to confirm expert findings.
Where To Buy
| Home Wall AC DC Travel House Battery Charger for T-Mobile HTC Dash 3G - HTC Dash Excalibur S620 - HTC G1 Dream Cell Phone - BestCellBuy Brand | |
(4 reviews) In Stock. |
|
Our Sources
1. CNET
Bonnie Cha puts the Dash 3G through the paces, comparing it to rival phones such as the HTC Snap (Sprint) and the BlackBerry Curve 8900. While she considers the Dash 3G a pleasant and "long overdue" update in terms of design, 3G support and "plenty of messaging options," she's disappointed that the smartphone doesn't include HTC's Inner Circle feature or UMA support for T-Mobile's HotSpot calling.
Review: T-Mobile Dash 3G, Bonnie Cha, June 30, 2009
According to Philip Berne, the Dash 3G is not only the "best-looking" device in the HTC Snap family but also, given its scheduling and productivity options, quite a workhorse. However, he and his team of testers don't see the Dash 3G "kicking the BlackBerry Curve off its pedestal any time soon."
Review: T-Mobile Dash 3G, Philip Berne, July 9, 2009
3. PC World
Although impressed by the heavy-duty messaging features and sleek design of the Dash 3G, this updated model "doesn't have the chops to compete with other messaging powerhouses" from T-Mobile. These rivals edge out the Dash 3G with better LCD displays and multimedia capabilities.
Review: T-Mobile Dash, Ginny Mies, July 1, 2009
When comparing the Dash 3G to its HTC siblings -- the Snap and the Ozone -- Lisa Gade and her testing team like the Dash 3G best. The keyboard, decent battery life and YouTube application score points, although the steep price and "meager" 2-megapixel camera chip away at value.Â
Review: T-Mobile Dash 3G by HTC, Lisa Gade, July 1, 2009
Reviewer Naomi Graychase gives the HTC Dash 3G "two thumbs up," strongly recommending it to T-Mobile customers wanting a 3G-capable smartphone. Nevertheless, she is as perplexed as other reviewers about the lack of Wi-Fi calling.
Review: T-Mobile Dash 3G, Naomi Graychase, July 22, 2009
6. About.com
Despite offering a "decent mix of features for both work and play," Liane Cassavoy concludes that the Dash 3G isn't a standout. She cites the "mixed bag" browser and lack of T-Mobile's HotSpot calling as some of the notable setbacks. (Note:ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation).
Review: T-Mobile Dash 3G: A So-So Smartphone, Liane Cassavoy
A handful of users share their experience with the HTC Dash 3G. The smartphone scores for speed and style, but complaints include low volume and an awkward keyboard layout.
Review: HTC Dash 3G/Snap (GSM), Contributors to PhoneScoop.com, As of Oct. 2009