CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

Summary: The new Lumia 900 and HTC Titan II are solid Windows Phones, but are they really the best that we can get on Windows Phone at this time?

Many of us who use all the mobile platforms believe that Windows Phone will be the third major platform, but after one year of life it is going to take some major efforts to convince others that the platform is compelling. I personally prefer Windows Phone over Android, but haven't found Windows Phone hardware that really knocks my socks off yet. After getting a chance for some of my own hands-on time With the HTC Titan II and Nokia Lumia 900 I am seriously considering an AT&T account to get one of these two.

The HTC Titan II and Nokia Lumia 900 both support AT&T's LTE network and run Windows Phone 7.5 (aka Mango).

The Nokia Lumia 900 includes the following:

  • 4.3 inch AMOLED ClearBlack screen at 800x480 pixels
  • 8 megapixel with Carl Zeiss optics
  • 1 megapixel front facing camera
  • 1.4 GHz Snapdragon processor
  • 16GB integrated, non-expandable memory
  • 1840 mAh battery

The HTC Titan II specs include the following:

  • 4.7 inch Super LCD display at 800x480 pixels
  • 16 megapixel camera
  • 1.5 GHz Snapdragon processor
  • 16GB integrated, non-expandable memory
  • 1730 mAh battery

I am a bit disappointed that Windows Phone devices with large screens don't yet have higher resolution displays, especially compared to the HD display I have been using on Galaxy Nexus. I also think that high end Windows Phone devices should come with 32GB, especially when there is a focus on the camera and media. I understand that you get 25GB storage with Skydrive, but still believe it is valuable to have plenty of onboard memory for apps, media content (movies and music), and created media.

I honestly think after holding on to both devices and checking out the specifications in detail that I will wait and see what might be announced later in 2012 for Windows Phone. Do either of these two new LTE Windows Phone devices appeal to you and if so, which one?

Related ZDNet stories

Initial impressions of the T-Mobile Nokia Lumia 710 (video and gallery) Microsoft and partners to heavily promote Windows Phone in 2012 Great Debate lost: What will it take for Windows Phone to be the 3rd platform? Windows Phone users: LTE models may be closer than you think Without 4G pronto, Nokia's Windows Phones are hampered in U.S.

Topics: Software, HTC, Microsoft, Mobility, Nokia, Operating Systems, Telcos, Windows

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  • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

    I would love the Lumia 900, but not enough to switch from T-mobile to AT&T. Hopefully T-mobile will get a high-end WP7 device soon, maybe the Lumia 800!
    clcrockett
    • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

      @ccrockett@... I prefer the Lumia 900, but I won't switch from T-Mobile to get one. I sincerely hope it comes to T-Mobile or that we get a similar device with 32GB/64GB storage. 16GB doesn't cut it anymore. Aside from that, the Lumia had a much better design (that doesn't look borrowed from an Android device) and I trust Nokia more than HTC. Before having a smartphone, I always bought Nokia phones, and am looking forward to seeing their offerings this year on T-Mobile.
      modean2525@...
  • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

    I vote for neither, as they do not contain enough memory for my needs. My iPhone 4s has 64 GB of storage, so that is the benchmark another phone would have to meet. Whats with the low resolution screens? 800480 on a 4+inch screen? Can you say cutting corners? Im willing to bet these phones do not have user repealable batteries either. Unless thats only a bad thing when its an iPhone?
    Rick_Kl
    • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

      @Rick_Kl
      Keeping your statements about hardware out, we all know you wont buy anything related to Microsoft.
      Ram U
      • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

        @Rama.NET why buy something that doesnt suit my needs/wants? If I choose to go with one of the better option (one that better suits my needs), rather that outdated phone, running a spyware laden OS. Yes it is spyware laden as Microsoft still collects 'telemetry data', from the phones.

        I personally do not want one company to have control over the majority of the digital realm. I???m not willing to give up freedom to suit any Multinational Mega corporation,. Especially one that want to collect a monthly fee for my data.
        Rick_Kl
      • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

        @Rama.NET If you want to talk about a outdated phone the iPhone is about as outdated as any of them. Android seems to be attracting a lot of interest from Anti Virus companies. So tell me who has the bad mobile OS?
        jscott418-22447200638980614791982928182376
      • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

        @Rama.NET

        Umm, if Rick_Kl has got a iPhone4s, he's in the target market, along with low end Android users. Regardless of whether he personally would or wouldn't get one, that is the reaction of an iPhone user to the Windows Phone. The higher end Android users are having a similar nose thumbing at it for lack of features that are important to them (like it being single core, no expandability at all).
        admiraljkb
    • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

      @Rick_Kl But how much did you pay for that 64 GB? I know you'll never probably buy a Windows phone anyway. But from a standpoint of value I think the iPhone is not the best deal.
      jscott418-22447200638980614791982928182376
      • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

        @jscott418 I paid $399 for the phone, I wonder what these GodPhones will cost. The Nokia should be cheap, as it is built like a disposable phone (sealed to prevent it from being opened).
        Rick_Kl
      • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

        @jscott418
        $400 for a cell phone thats just nuts especially for an outdated lackluster phone like the iphone..I still love my dated evo 4g which i bought first week off contract new in box for $175 delivered.. Both of these are non players though running the new windows with metro ui. If they let you drop the metro ui and have a windows desktop id consider one but with metro its not worth it but of the 2 the Titan 2 is the better phone.
        Fletchguy
      • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

        @jscott418 Yet it was not a problem for me. You can usually find the majority of Windows mobile Phone 7.x phones in the bargain bins. They re worse than everything the Microsoft fanboys complained about in the iPhone and Android rolled into the worst mess available.
        Rick_Kl
  • I would love either one just not on ATT

    Personally I have a Verizon HTC trophy Windows phone which is very good. So I guess I have to pick the HTC Titan. My past experience with Nokia was never very good.
    jscott418-22447200638980614791982928182376
    • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

      @jscott418

      I have the Trophy too. I like it and the 16GB suits my needs since my laptop and desktop are still my primary devices and will always be until a phone can do everything a Windows 7 PC is capable of.

      My next phone will be a high end Nokia if one is released on Verizon...if not i'm not jumping carriers because my phone's paid for by my employer and no phone is worth a contract when you don't have to pay a cell bill.
      Rob.sharp
    • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

      @jscott418 I have Verizon also, and though I like the HTC Trophy, I'd love to have more options on Verizon. I'd get an HTC Titan, but there is no way I'm switching to AT&T. They have horribly spotty coverage where I live.
      grayknight-22253692004129760887070084760051
  • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

    Right now the only phone I care about is a second WP7 phone on Verizon.
    brentgee
  • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

    I really want to have a Nokia Lumia 900 in my hands to judge for myself if the build quality is as good some say it is. If true, that will be my next phone.
    Digger_z
  • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

    Neither. Both Windows Mobile and RIM are the losers of the mobile industry. It is amazing to see HTC losing their energy for something is worthless. We will root the devices and use them with Android
    iarslangiray
    • Interestingly the head of HTC mentioned on stage yesterday that his

      personal phone is an htc windows phone. It's far too early to know who the winners and losers in the mobile industry are. People change phones every 1-2 years and the majority of the population still isnt on smartphones at all.
      Johnny Vegas
      • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

        @Johnny Vegas Yet you classify any non-Microsoft product a loser with similar marketshare in the same span of time? Linux has more marketshare than Windows mobile Phone ver. 7
        Rick_Kl
      • RE: CES 2012: Which do you prefer, Nokia Lumia 900 or HTC Titan II?

        @Rick_Kl, that would be Windows Phone 7 (no "mobile" or "ver." in the name).
        grayknight-22253692004129760887070084760051