Review of the Android HTC Magic

The HTC Magic is the second HTC handset to hit the shelves running Google’s Android platform. If you were a little disappointed by the G1, then you will want to take a look at the HTC Magic.

Hardware

The Magic is the second Android phone produced by HTC, the first of course being the Google G1 that launched the Android platform in October 2008.

This new iteration of Android mobile phone, is smaller, lighter and sexier!  The chunkiness has now gone and we now have a sleek, curvy handset that can at least give the iPhone a run for its money.

The slide-out screen and keyboard from the G1 has also gone – this phone is purely about touch!

Like the G1 the Magic features hardware buttons on the front, this time with the addition of one more – Search which sits alongside Home, Menu, Back and Call Pick-up and Call Hang-up and the trackball.

The side of the handset features the volume rocker and the bottom has the USB charger slot.  Sadly HTC failed to listen to the complaints about the lack of 3.5mm headphone jack on the G1 and again opted for the headphones to be used via an adapter plugged onto the USB slot.

On the back of the handset you will find the 3.2 megapixel camera, again no flash.

Tech specs

• 3G / HSDPA
• 3.2in TFT LCD touch screen
• 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus
• GPS
• WiFi
• Bluetooth 2.0 (with A2DP)
• MicroSD Card slot

Software

The underlying Android OS has been slightly improved upon since the G1 with the release of Cupcake, which brings video recording & sharing, Widgets, Voice Search, better web browser and all round better security and speed improvements.

The same lightening fast set-up with Google is still there, provided you already use Google’s services.

The handset also has a link to the Android Market – a shop front of games and applications that you can download (some free) to your handset. It may not be as well known or well stocked as the iPhones App Store, but the content is growing daily.

Compared to other handsets

The HTC Magic is a great looking handset, it’s light and will fit easily in your pocket.  Holding the HTC Magic and the Apple iPhone at the same time, did make the iPhone feel really big and heavy.

As you can see from the image below there isn’t much difference in size between the Nokia N97, HTC Magic and Apple iPhone.

HTC seem well on their way to getting into the same league as the iPhone, with great hardware and the unrestrictedness of Android, Apple had better watch their backs!