INTRODUCTION
It's a crazy world out there. Our Smartphones are suddently called "Standard", and keyboards are sliding open from all parts of our devices (front, side, bottom). Now, we have a new device to throw into the mix: the new HTC Vox S710, which seems almost magical to those in the Windows Mobile community with two firsts (the first Windows Mobile 6 production device and the first Smartphone that has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard). There's a lot we have to say about the Vox before we declare it a winner. Read on for our thorough review!
WHAT'S HOT
Unless you've got a Samsung SGH-i600 or a Motorola Q, you don't typically find full keyboards on Smartphone-style phones. That's what's hot about the Vox S710 - it's small enough to slip into your pocket, though a full keyboard is just a screen-slide away.
Let's talk specs. It's got a 201Mhz TI 850 OMAP CPU, 128Mb ROM, 64Mb RAM, Windows Mobile 6 Standard, a 2.4" QVGA screen, Quadband GSM/EDGE, Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi (b & g), and a 2.0MP camera.
Device |
Size (inches) |
Weight (grams | ounces) |
4.74" x 2.63" x 0.43"
|
157 | 5.53 |
|
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
|
Compared to other devices out there - the Vox is much thicker than, say, the Motorola Q, but also less wide. It weighs 20 grams more than the T-Mobile Dash, and I can confirm that in-hand, it feels heavy compared to other Smartphone's without a keyboard.
WHAT'S IN
THE BOX
(all images link to higher resolution)
HTC-branded devices come in black boxes. The Vox S710 is shown as a "pro" device, probably because it's got a keyboard.
Inside the Vox, or, I mean "box", we have the usual: the VOX S710 with battery, user manual, warranty, software, charger, USB cable, and earphones with proprietary connector.
THE DEVICE
Prototype pictures of the Vox showed it having a black number pad and D-Pad. Well, as you can see, the production version uses silver in these spots. The device is outlined in chrome, which gives the Vox a touch of class. The chrome, plus shiny screen, means that you'll be cleaning the screen often with your shirt, as it's a fingerprint magnet.
On the bottom of the image is the miniUSB port (covered by a piece of rubber) which is used for charging, and, unfortunately, for audio output (how about a standard jack?). On the bottom right corner is the slot for the microSD card, which is also covered by a piece of rubber. Notice the offset of the number buttons, such that the bottoms are taller than the tops. This makes "feeling" for numbers on the keypad very easy and comfortable.
Ah, the glorious keyboard. Notice how the Vox S710 only has three rows of keys, whereas the HTC Hermes and Wizard has four. This was achieved by leaving out any sort of hot keys. I didn't like the placement of the hardware soft keys - I felt they were about 1mm too close to the screen, because my finger nail would rub up against the screen part.
If you're a user of the Smartphone OS (or Standard, whatever you want to call it), you know that the home button is used a lot - it takes you back to the Homescreen. On the Vox, when the keyboard is open, the only way to access the home button is to press the one near the number pad, which feels strange if the keyboard is slid out, since the home button is sideways at that point. I wish they'd include a home button on the keyboard.
And here's how it looks from a profile shot. The screen takes up about a third of the width of the device. The keyboard is spring-assisted, which feels great, and allows for a satisfying lock-in sound.
And since it's a Smartphone-style phone, it's meant to be a bit smaller than a Pocket PC phone. Even with the keyboard fully extended, the Vox S710 fits nicely in-hand. While we're on the topic - the screen rotation on this device is WAY too slow. We're talking 2-4 seconds before the screen orients the opposite way.
The back is branded with the HTC logo. The sides and back are covered with rubber-plastic, making the phone feel secure in-hand. Also on the back is the 2MP camera sensor, a self-portrait mirror, and the speaker (which wasn't very loud, and at loud volumes, would distort).
Opening up the back cover we see the 1050mAh battery.
Oh, and this is new - they put the SIM card receptacle on the back of the screen. Usually it's behind the battery.
And at night, there's a lot of backlighting going on in a cool blue color.
