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November 18, 2008

T-Mobile G1 review

To evaluate T-Mobile's new G1 wonderphone is inevitably a review of two halves: the handset hardware and its operating system software. (SEE ALSO: Google Android review). FULL UK REVIEW, UPDATED 18 NOVEMBER 2008.

Both were unknowns as the final anticipated product was unveiled, a phone billed somewhat predictably as yet another iPhone killer. As it turns out, the T-Mobile G1 may be the closest yet to fit that tall order but there remains the unavoidable issue of mismatch between hardware/software from disparate companies, an area where Apple capitalises with both its world-beating smartphone and its PCs.

While T-Mobile is the network provider who will sell you the phone (‘give' you, after signing up for its £720 18-month contract) in the UK, the T-Mobile G1 handset is from HTC in Taiwan and the touchy-feely interface is courtesy of US search-engine behemoth Google.

See also:

Apple iPhone 3G review

Apple iPhone review

T-Mobile G1 video

Click here for PC Advisor's exclusive T-Mobile G1 video review


Turning first to the T-Mobile G1 handset, we have a rather clunky looking slab with upbent talking end, at 17mm-thick rather stouter than is de rigeur these days. If the extra girth had gone into fitting a battery that enables standby for more than two days, we wouldn't mind so much, but we did find its longevity – before taking on long calls or browsing the web – was around 48 hours. At least it meets the iPhone head-on in this respect.

The T-Mobile G1's build quality, while not bad, is far from luxurious. Agricultural may be a better word. Holding it closed as a normal phone, you still feel the screen wobble slightly on its scissor hinge, and when it is fully open, that screen does not sit true to the rest of the phone, but at a slight angle that cheapens the overall efect.

For some functions within the T-Mobile G1 you can get by with the touchscreen interface, which oftens mimics the iPhone's, for example in the way you can finger ‘glide' around full-size web pages through a limited screen window; but where the iPhone experience is like gliding on oil over ice, the T-Mobile G1 was often closer to pumice over sandpaper.

There was a sense of both virtual stickiness, where the screen graphics were slow to respond to finger gestures; and sensual friction embued by the plastic screen, where Apple has chosen real polished glass.

To get on with the business of browsing, you must flip the T-Mobile G1's entire screen out by sliding it sideways, revealing a real-button qwerty keyboard beneath. This is manadatory for web work, as there's no virtual keyboard interface available through the screen.

As it slides out, the T-Mobile G1's display gets flipped into landscape mode. We found surfing over a 3G connection about as quick as an iPhone, with pages loading in impressively quick order.

Once you get to a site, though, navigation within the page is somewhat clumsier with the T-Mobile G1. Gone is the killer multitouch zoom gesture familiar to iPhone converts, replaced with a combination of scrolling around using the mini-trackball, à la Blackberry, gliding by (sticky) finger swipes, and using the magnifying plus and minus icons transparently overlayed at the bottom of the screen.

You kind-of get used to it all, but the T-Mobile G1 still made us crave the elegeant simplicity of the iPhone OS.

NEXT PAGE: link clicking and where the T-Mobile G1 beats the iPhone

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User reviews from

HTC T-Mobile G1 scores 8.0 out of 10 based on 1877 reviews

Reevoo reviews are by people who definitely bought the product

The 2 most helpful reviews:

12 Dec 2008 Nicola, Brighton

9

Good Points

Pretty much everything is great about the G1. I love the ease of use, all the applications available (for free!) and the layout of everything. I like the message layout, although it was different to get used to to begin with. The QWERTY keyboard is great!

Bad Points

The battery life is quite bad. It'll last longer if you just use it for calls, but when you're using the net, sms and especially online messenging, it seems to drain fast. The only other down point is that I've noticed it turns itself off when you have too much open sometimes.

12 Dec 2008 Chris, Newcastle

9

Good Points

I really like the Android operating system and the fact that people are writing open source applications for it. Phone itself is pretty good overall, with good sized full qwerty keyboard and neat trackball. Excellent web browser and good music player. Although it doesn't use std headphones, the supplied one's are OK, so not a big issue for me. Threaded messaging is great, didn't realise this until now as this is first mobile to feature it, much better way to organise texts and emails. The other really good feature is full integration with Google apps, like Mail, Calendar etc. This meant that my email and all contacts were sync'd very easily just by entering my Gmail details. Beats the Microsoft system hands down! (previously mobile was Windows based). Finally, it is very easy to add ringtones, music and pictures in order to customise the phone. Overall, highly recommended.

Bad Points

Battery life is not so hot, but having said that, all I do is plug it in when at my desk and there's plenty for normal use. It does go down if you really hammer the web browsing though. Generally nothing bad enough to put me off.

Overall score: 8.0

See more HTC T-Mobile G1 reviews on Reevoo.com


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Total reviews: 4,038

  • www.t-mobile.co.uk
  • 0845 412 5000
  • T-Mobile
  • Free handset, £30 per month (18 month contract)

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expert rating

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