By JR Raphael (@jr_raphael)
'Tis the season for smartphones -- and boy, do we have a bunch of 'em on the way. HTC unveiled its new HTC Rezound Android phone at an event in New York City this week. The device will launch November 14 on Verizon Wireless.
The Rezound is the third high-end, high-profile Android phone set to hit Verizon this month. The heavily hyped Motorola Droid RAZR arrives next week, and the Google-backed Samsung Galaxy Nexus -- you know, the flagship Android Ice Cream Sandwich device -- is scheduled to go on sale in the coming weeks as well.
So what's the HTC Rezound all about, and how does it stack up next to the Galaxy Nexus and Droid RAZR? Check out the chart below for a side-by-side comparison, and read on for some more specifics.
SEE ALSO: Android 4.0 and the Galaxy Nexus: My in-depth reviews
HTC Rezound, Galaxy Nexus, and Droid RAZR Comparisons
The HTC Rezound, Galaxy Nexus, and Droid RAZR may look similar at a glance, but make no mistake about it: These are three very different devices. The Rezound is meant to appeal to audiophiles, with its Beats Audio integration and headphones; the Galaxy Nexus stands out for its pure, unmodified Ice Cream Sandwich software and accompanying speedy upgrade guarantee; and the Droid RAZR shines for its sleek, thin form.
Under the hood, each of the phones packs plenty of power. The HTC Rezound rocks a 1.5GHz dual-core chip, while the new Nexus and Droid RAZR both use 1.2GHz dual-core processors. Remember, though, that the numbers themselves don't necessarily determine performance; within Samsung's Galaxy S II line, for example, the T-Mobile model has a 1.5GHz chip while the AT&T and Sprint versions use 1.2GHz chips. The T-Mobile model is undoubtedly the weakest link of the lineup. As that scenario demonstrates, we'll simply have to wait until we've had more hands-on time with each phone before we reach any conclusions.
The Rezound, Nexus, and RAZR share the same 1GB of RAM. The Rezound and RAZR both have 16GB of internal storage and 16GB of external storage, expandable up to 32GB; the Galaxy Nexus has a choice of 16GB or 32GB of internal space and no support for external storage.
How 'bout displays? The Rezound and RAZR are matched in size, at 4.3 inches, though the Rezound has the higher resolution -- at 1280-by-720 compared to the RAZR's 960-by-540. The Galaxy Nexus, meanwhile, has a 4.65-inch screen with 1280-by-720 resolution.
In terms of cameras, the Rezound boasts an 8MP primary camera, as does the Droid RAZR; the Galaxy Nexus curiously has a 5MP camera, though initial hands-on reports suggest its photo quality is actually quite good (megapixel level is just one of several factors that determines a camera's quality). All three phones have front-facing cameras for video chat; the Rezound's is 2MP, while the other two phones' cameras are 1.3MP.
Specs aside, the HTC Rezound, Galaxy Nexus, and Droid RAZR each has its own unique look and style -- and any judgment in that department, of course, is completely subjective. The Rezound is the thickest and heaviest of the three phones, though, weighing in at 5.8 ounces compared to the Nexus's 4.8-ounce frame and the RAZR's 4.5-ounce body. (The RAZR's slim form does come with one downside, incidentally: Unlike most Android phones -- including the Rezound and Galaxy Nexus -- the RAZR does not have a removable battery.)
And then there's the software: The Rezound and RAZR both run Android Gingerbread and both have manufacturer-added skins (HTC Sense and Motorola Motoblur, respectively). Both phones are expected to be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich sometime in early 2012. The Galaxy Nexus ships with ICS already installed, and unlike the other two phones, it has no manufacturer-made modifications or bloatware baked in.
The Galaxy Nexus is also the only one of the three phones to offer NFC support.
The HTC Rezound will be available November 14 for $300 with a two-year contract; the Motorola Droid RAZR will be available November 11 for $300 with a two-year contract. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus will launch sometime in November; we're still waiting to hear a specific date and price.
[UPDATE (12/14/11): Verizon Galaxy Nexus release date officially confirmed]
Decisions, decisions -- but hey, a surplus of enticing options is certainly a good kind of problem to have.
JR Raphael writes about smartphones and other tasty technology. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.
Article copyright 2011 JR Raphael. All rights reserved.