The True Dash/Excalibur Successor (1/4)

HTC Snap with Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard


June 8, 2009
Review by: Brandon Miniman, Editor-in-Chief

Jump to: PAGE 1 | PAGE 2  | PAGE 3 | PAGE 4

INTRODUCTION
    Remember the T-Mobile Dash/HTC Excalibur? It was a thin and light messaging device with snappy performance and a fantastic keyboard. It took HTC a couple of years to make a successor to the celebrated device, and today, we finally have one. It's called the HTC Snap, and it has gotten a lot of attention from those that appreciate a petite Windows Mobile Standard device that is built for messaging productivity. But does the Snap deliver like the Dash? How does the keyboard compare to other similar devices? We've got the full review ahead!

WHAT'S HOT
    Let's go over the specs. The HTC Snap sports a Qualcomm MSM7225 processor running at 528MHz, running on Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard. It has 256MB ROM and 192MB RAM. The non-touchscreen is 2.4" and QVGA 320x240 resolution. It's a quadband GSM (850/900/1800/1900) phone with dualband UMTS (900/2100) with HSDPA. It also has assisted GPS, WiFi b & g, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, USB 2.0, and microSD expansion. The rear camera is 2.0MP with no auto focus or flash. Powering all of this is a 1500mAh battery which is quite large for a device of this type. For even more specs, check out PDAdb.net.

(all images link to larger versions)

As seen in the picture, the Snap is the stylish successor to the Dash, which came out in October of 2006. Take a look at this side-by-side comparison of the Dash versus the Snap.

The Snap is a super slim device at just 12mm thick, which is 0.8mm thinner than its predecessor. It's also quite lightweight at a mere 120 grams.

Device
Size (inches)
Weight (grams | ounces)
4.33" x 2.09" x 0.59"
117 | 4.12
4.66" x 2.48" x 0.47"
130 | 4.58
4.56" x 2.33" x 0.67"
188 | 6.63
4.64" x 2.36" x 0.48"
129 | 4.55
3.96" x 2.34" x 0.67"
133 | 4.76
4.68" x 2.44" x 0.67"
188 | 6.63
4.58" x 2.42" x 0.47"
120 | 4.20
4.56" x 2.33" x 0.65"
178 | 6.28
3.92" x 2.41" x 0.60"
137 | 4.83
4.24" x 2.09" x 0.53"
117 | 4.12
4.17" x 2.00" x 0.85"
151 | 5.34
4.41" x 2.24" x 0.49"
122 | 4.30
4.57" x 1.70" x 0.64"
140 | 4.94
4.88" x 2.44" x 0.53"
130 | 4.56
4.21" x 2.20" x 0.55"
120 | 4.20
4.53" x 2.47" x 0.47"
146 | 5.15
4.63" x 2.19" x 0.67"
158 | 5.57
4.35" x 2.07" x 0.67"
158 | 5.57
4.56" x 2.41" x 0.51"
125 | 4.41
4.44" x 2.36" x 0.55"
133 | 4.69
4.01" x 1.98" x 0.55"
124 | 4.37
8.28" x 4.67" x 1.08"
640 | 22.5
4.48" x 2.52" x 0.59"
154 | 5.43
4.17" x 2.38" x 0.68"
147 | 5.18
4.01" x 2.00" x 0.71"
165 | 5.82
4.41" x 2.24" x 0.49"
122 | 4.30
4.41" x 2.28" x 0.73"
140 | 4.94
4.61" x 2.51" x 0.78"
183 | 6.45
4.40" x 2.40" x 0.50"
123 | 4.34
4.01" x 2.00" x 0.45"
110 | 3.88
4.56" x 2.36" x 0.70"
200 | 7.05
4.60" x 2.30" x 0.50"
110 | 3.88
4.30" x 2.40" x 0.60"
120 | 4.23
4.20" x 2.30" x 0.60"
136 | 4.79
3.70" x 2.30" x 0.60"
126 | 4.44
4.48" x 2.39" x 0.51"
116 | 4.09
4.60" x 2.60" x 0.50"
134 | 4.70
4.40" x 2.32" x 0.75"
190 | 6.70
4.10" x 2.10" x 0.60"
150 | 5.30
4.01" x 1.97" x 0.78"
110 | 3.88
4.40" x 2.32" x 0.75"
190 | 6.70
4.40" x 2.50" x 0.50"
120 | 4.20

WHAT'S IN THE BOX

Here is the unboxing video for the HTC Snap. Included is a charging/syncing cable, audio headphones, a wall charger, the battery and the device. No case is included.

THE DEVICE

The HTC Snap is one of the first Windows Mobile device to have a BlackBerry Pearl-like trackball instead of a D-Pad.

The Snap's design is characterized by circular shapes, probably thanks to the Inner "Circle" feature (more on that later). The entire device is rounded at the edges, and the main row of hardware buttons in the center are circular.

Zooming into the top we see a status indicator on the left of the speaker grill. To the right is a light sensor, which is only used to turn on and off the keyboard backlighting, and not to regulate screen brightness.

First, take note to the nice-looking piece of brushed metal that surrounds the center strip of hardware buttons. There we have (from left to right) a call start button, a soft key, home button, trackball (which presses inwards to select), back button, second soft key, and call end/power button.

At first glance, you may suspect the Snap's keyboard to lend to a fantastic typing experience. Well, the truth is, unless you have smallish hands, you are going to find the keyboard to be cramped. Also, there is a Tab key placed where the "A" key should be. For those coming from the Dash, Moto Q9h, BlackJack, or another similar device, this is something you are going to have to get used to. In the first few days of using the Snap, I would always strike the Tab key when I meant to press the "A". Note the green button in the bottom right. More on that later.

On the left side of the device we find the volume rocker. Notice how thin the Snap is!

And on the right side, under a rubber flap, is the ExtUSB port used for charging, syncing, and audio.

On the back we have a nice rubbery coating that does not pick up fingerprints.

There is a nice piece of brushed metal that surrounds the 2.0MP camera sensor, which has no flash and no autofocus. More on picture quality on the third page of this review.

Taking off the back battery cover, we find the 1500mAh battery, the SIM card slot, and the microSD slot, which resides just below the SIM card area.

And when you are in a dark place, the keyboard backlighting kicks on. The trackball even is illuminated.

Here is the hardware tour video in case you missed it.

COMPARISONS

Here we compare the HTC Touch Pro2, Samsung BlackJack II, HTC Snap, and Moto Q9h.

Here they are in reversed order, stacked.

Click onto the next page where we'll get into the software on the HTC Snap, with screenshots galore!

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