Measuring Up The Smartphone QWERTY Devices

[Mike Temporale]

Last night I had a chance to check out the 3 hottest Smartphone QWERTY devices - the Motorola Q, the HTC Excalibur, and the Samsung i320. These heavy weight contenders are all after a slice of the mobile messaging arena. The Motorola Q may have been the first one out of the gate, but these other devices offer some stiff competition. As far as keyboards go, the Motorola Q was the leader here with a firm and well spaced design. The Samsung i320 is a close second. However, the Excalibur is a distant third place. The Excalibur has a soft keyboard with the keys pushed closely together. Overall, the Excalibur is a fast device with a very nice screen and a rubberized feel to it. However, the keyboard and JOGGR are a disappointment. Here's a couple pictures I snapped showing you how they size up against each other.

http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060926-SizeUp320-Q-s620.jpg (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060926-SizeUp320-Q-s620-Large.jpg)
Figure 1: From the top down - HTC Excalibur, Samsung i320, and the Motorola Q. The Excalibur looks thick in the pictures and while it's not as thin as the i320, it's no brick either. The Excalibur is very close to the old iPAQ 1910 size. Click the image for a fill size picture (82Kb)
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http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060926-SizeUp320-Q.jpg (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060926-SizeUp320-Q-Large.jpg)
Figure 2: Here we have the Samsung i320 sitting atop the Motorola Q. I was shocked to see the size difference between these devices. The i320 is very thin and light weight. Click the image for a fill size picture (807Kb)

http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060926-SizeUp320-s620.jpg (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060926-SizeUp320-s620-Large.jpg)
Figure 3: The i320 was just a hair longer than the Excalibur. However, when it comes to the device's thickness and width, the i320 easily wins over the Excalibur. Click the image for a fill size picture (114Kb)

[Pete Paxton]

The keypad issue is very interesting. I've heard some hate the Q's keypad while others like it. Some have expressed that they think the Excalibur will do well because of it's keypad. I really want wifi so the Excalibur is the only option for me so I hope I like the keypad and the JOGGR. I'd really like the Samsung i607 if it only had wifi.

[Jerry Raia]

I like the Q keypad a lot. I haven't tried the others though so I can't compare them.

[ricoks]

I really want wifi so the Excalibur is the only option for me so I hope I like the keypad and the JOGGR. I'd really like the Samsung i607 if it only had wifi.
Do we know that the i607 Doesn't have wifi for sure???
I know that the inclusion of HSDPA should eliminate the need (with a monthly plan, of course, oh, and a realistic map of coverage) but i too would prefer to have both, like the i600 does

Ricoks

[Tim Williamson]

Nice pics! I'll have to try the JOGR and keypad myself before making a decision on getting one.

[bigneeker]

mike: can you please post some more pics comparing the excalibur to the i320.

[Macguy59]

My fingers couldn't handle the keys and spacing smaller than the Q

[Jason Dunn]

I really like the i320 and the way it felt in my hands. Too bad I've heard nothing but bad news about the battery life. :-(

[Tim Williamson]

Got any more pics to share? :)

[Tim Williamson]

P.S. Looks like the Dash is coming Oct. 16th! :D

http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/09/27/t-mobile-leaks-dash-docs-october-16-confirmed/

[Rocco Augusto]

i really wanted the HTC Excalibur except i do not think i can handle the right-handed jog-strip-thing. im clumsy enough as it is with my good hand :)

who knows, maybe by the time im tired of my 3125, the Q or i607 will be out on Cingular and I will just buy that instead :)

[ricoks]

who knows, maybe by the time im tired of my 3125, the Q or i607 will be out on Cingular and I will just buy that instead :)

have we heard yet any 'confirmed' dates on teh i607 or the GSM Q?? 8) either of them confirmed to have/not have wifi additional?
*HOPING*

[ricoks]

I just remembered that i didn't remember reading anything re: the i607's power/sync port!! is it similar to the new, famed HTC port, or is it standard mini USB?? and if so, what type of audio jack, if any, does it have?

[me]

Any news about when the Samsung i320 might be coming out in the USA, and on which carrier?

I hope T-Mobile gets it.Of course they are about to launch the "Dash", but this Samsung looks much better to me.

[stuartforrest]

The i320 battery life is pathetic and if you use the phone with email sync on a when it arrives basis I cant see many people getting more than half a day of use out of it. Its rubbish.

The device apart from the battery life is awesome. I sent mine back only because of the battery. If they made it a couple of mm thicker and slightly heavier and put a proper battery in it then it would be great. In actual fact they are a bit thin in any case and quite difficult to hold and fish out of your pocket so it wouldnt do any harm.