Samsung Galaxy vs HTC Hero: The difference is skin-deep!
September 30th, 2009 by Mr. Spock
We recently had a chance to mess with two new Android devices, the Samsung Galaxy i7500 and the HTC Hero. Although on the surface, these two seem rather alike (3.2 inch capacitive touchscreens, Android 1.5, 5 MP shooter, GPS with compass), no two devices could be more different. And no, we are not yammering about the fact that the Galaxy has more onboard memory (8GB to the Hero’s relatively modest 500-odd MB) or that it has an OLED screen or that its camera has a flash, but about the interface.
Whereas Sammy has opted to let the Galaxy have the typical Android device look (complete with analog clock), HTC has decided to be far more innovative and thrown a skin over it. Called Sense, the UI is the successor of the much-hyped Touch Flo, and is certainly a heckuva differentiator. Unlike some manufacturers who just use skins to accommodate larger and more finger-friendly icons (these are the stylus’ last days, after all), HTC have made Sense something that adds to the Android experience. Instead of three customisable screens, the user gets a massive seven. Most significantly, the browser and the album have been tweaked to accommodate multi-touch – so you can zoom in and out of pages by pinching your fingers just like you can on that-phone-from-that-company-in-Cupertino. Top it all of with Flash support for the browser and the Galaxy starts looking positively poor, in spite of all its tech muscle.
In terms of operations, both phones run very smoothly, but let’s face it, the Hero does give users so much more, thanks to that interface. The Galaxy in contrast looks and performs like the HTC Magic on steroids – good, but not necessarily compelling. Yes, running widgets all the time on both devices butchers the battery but that is the peril of having always-on widgets, as users of the N97 discovered a few months ago.
It is a sign of the mobile times that we live in that it’s that interface that gives the Hero a massive boost over the Galaxy, which would have otherwise had it for lunch in the tech specs department. Perhaps therein lies the secret of success in the cellphone world these days – forget the specs, focus on the interface. HTC have certainly done their homework on that one. Samsung, who have done so much with TouchWiz, need to get something similar (preferably more powerful) on to the Galaxy and their forthcoming Android phones if they want to be really competitive.
Our verdict: If it is ease of use you are looking at, go for the Hero. Spec fetishists, head to the Galaxy.
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Categories: Android, HTC, Reviews, samsung, smartphones | Tags: Android, Galaxy, Hero, HTC, htc hero vs samsung i7500, i7500, samsung, samsung android
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There is already a Sense UI interface available for the Samsung Galaxy i7500. You just need to install the custom mod some developers have created. Its all over the web too.
So the HTC is actually the better phone and this because of their Sense UI. At the same time the Samsung Touchwiz UI also functions great. @Asfaq: I didn’t know about the Sense UI being available for the Samsung (or for any other smartphone). Concerning the looks, for me the HTC wins.
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You mean the difference is NOT skin-deep, right?
Anyways, Galaxy now retails for half the price of Hero. Check the Univercell site.