Smartphones and Cell Phones

Matthew Miller

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

By Matthew Miller | January 10, 2012, 4:30am PST

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 800×480 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 800×480 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?

Join the conversation!

Follow via:: RSS; Email Alert

Just In

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

qorax 14th Jan

I prefer the N9. Why? For the same awesome design, classy looks & rugged body I get 'Pentaband' -- meaning, I could use it anywhere in the world, with any carrier. Especially here in Canada, I get to boot-out the big-3 & use it on WIND or Mobilicity [both AWS, akin to T-Mobile]. The form factor, build, great UI & looks are what drove me to the N9 & I'm lovin it!

View in thread

Please Select
Please Select

0 Votes

+ -

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

ccrockett@... 10th Jan

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!

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

modean2525@... 12th Jan

@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.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

Rick_Kl Updated - 10th Jan

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?

Reply
Flagged

0 Votes

+ -

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

Rama.NET 10th Jan

@Rick_Kl
Keeping your statements about hardware out, we all know you wont buy anything related to Microsoft.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

Rick_Kl Updated - 10th Jan

@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.

0 Votes

+ -

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

jscott418 Updated - 10th Jan

@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?

0 Votes

+ -

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

admiraljkb 11th Jan

@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).

0 Votes

+ -

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

jscott418 10th Jan

@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.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

Rick_Kl 10th Jan

@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).

0 Votes

+ -

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

Fletchguy 10th Jan

@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.

0 Votes

+ -

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

Rick_Kl 10th Jan

@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.

0 Votes

+ -

I would love either one just not on ATT

jscott418 10th Jan

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.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

Rob.sharp@... 10th Jan

@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.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

grayknight 10th Jan

@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.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

brentgee 10th Jan

Right now the only phone I care about is a second WP7 phone on Verizon.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

Digger_z 10th Jan

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.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

iarslangiray 10th Jan

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

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Interestingly the head of HTC mentioned on stage yesterday that his

Johnny Vegas 10th Jan

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.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

Rick_Kl 10th Jan

@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

0 Votes

+ -

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

grayknight 10th Jan

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

0 Votes

+ -

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

Rick_Kl Updated - 10th Jan

@grayknight Microsoft is supposed to be working on an OS for landline phones, So distinguishing, between mobile and landline phones is proper. It is also proper to label the 7th version "version 7", is it not? So where is the issue there. Just because I see the king has no clothes, it does mot make me wrong, to not want to look.

0 Votes

+ -

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

grayknight 10th Jan

@iarslangiray please note that Windows Mobile is not Windows Phone. Windows Phone is a stable phone OS that competes well with iOS and Android and even leads the way in integration and ease of use (amoung other things).

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

LmFAO

Rick_Kl 10th Jan

@grayknight Windows Phone is a stable phone OS that competes well with iOS and Android and even leads the way in integration and ease of use (amoung other things). you made me laugh, Window mobile phone version 7 is not leading he way in any aspect. It is not easier, just different. It is not better, again it is just different.

0 Votes

+ -

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

erichon99 10th Jan

give me the hot rod red Nokia 900 that I saw from the leaked images a month ago.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

sarllc 10th Jan

i was with blackberry for years! summer of '09 switched to android and have an htc Inc2! but i have been SERIOUSLY considering windows phones now! as the %'s show....tons of people are interested but only a small % are buying! that's what gets me! fear is a major factor here! i don't have to go with the flow of everyone else but sometimes it's ok to watch what others are doing!
i agree with you...nothing to blow my socks off yet BUT...they sure are advancing! and it IS a stable OS! better than android! which i am getting so sick of force-closes, etc...! android apps & customization are great BUT...
what does it matter if you can't use your PHONE when you need to OR you can't get to your contacts because they've all just been deleted!?!
ANdroid needs to definitely tighten up the ship like Windows & Apple!
I want VZW to get something new! give us all there a TRUE choice of phones AND OS's!!!

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

farhad4uk 10th Jan

Niether are good enough, They need to redesign them with more or even expandable memory and we need the new quad core processors. After all we talking about unreliable Winows. The graphics need an update ASAP. HTC offer a better camera but you need more memory to put it in good use.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

Qbt 10th Jan

@farhad4uk

You must have an Android phone where not even a quad core can make the OS smooth and not lag all over the place.

Windows Phone doesn't need a quad core, if you actually used one you will know this.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

HAHAHAHA FAIL! WP is vastly more secure, robust, and reliable than android

Johnny Vegas 10th Jan

and its perfomance on single core is better than androids on quad core. Android is a bloated mess now. WP is sleek and efficient and optimized.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

Rick_Kl 10th Jan

@Johnny Vegas Only if that single core is over 1 GHz and the OS is tweaked to run on it. Put Windows mobile Phone 7.x on a 900 MHz phone and it will bog down even worse that Android.

0 Votes

+ -

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

grayknight 10th Jan

@farhad4uk well, Winows are unreliable as I have yet to see one. But Windows Phone is not Windows Mobile and it is not Windows ME (or Vista prior to SP1).

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

davidtb 10th Jan

looking at the specs, one would suspect that these are phones developed some time ago, and were waiting for the right time to market, unfortunately hardware changes so quickly these phone are old before their time. The internal memory's a killer, smarter programs are getting bigger. External memory's a good idea, but can slow a phone down. The "hi end" snapdragon processors could perform like a dog if it not used properly. I'm thinking these phones were on the drawing board a long time before production.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

Rick_Kl Updated - 10th Jan

@davidtb The Microsoft Lumia phones are the same as the Megoo based N9 just with Windows mobile Phone 7.x shoehorned into it. The Microsoft Lumia 900 phone could easily cost over $700, based on published prices of the Microsoft Lumia 800.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

The_observer 10th Jan

Nokia Lumia 900 beyond doubt. I am waiting to get hold of one.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

Rick_Kl 10th Jan

@The_observer you???re going to buy one of the fragmented OS phones? Even there Microsoft employees say that the Microsoft Lumia phones will have exclusive apps, and other content. So you???re going to have a fragmented setup, the first tier phones from Microsoft, and the second tier from the other OEMs. Microsoft would love to see theirPhones sell well, and their subjects sell as many licenses a possible. If Microsoft gets the majority of locked in customers, expect the m to start charging the same the of monopoly rents they enjoy with Windows.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Most Definitely The Lumia 900

1019902735 10th Jan

Or even the Lumia 800 happy

The size is just short of being 'too big', and the phone doesn't share a design with any other phone in the U.S. As a matter of fact, it is the most uniquely, visually appealing phone on the market.

HTC phones - all look alike; since 2010! Sea of Sameness is synonymous with HTC - and I will never spend my money for HTC wares!

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

Rick_Kl 10th Jan

@1019902735 and think of the bonus, the Microsoft Lumia phones are made like Bic lighters, use them up and toss em out.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

LTE only

archangel9999 10th Jan

The LTE modem is the only thing 900 has over my Focus S - so don't see why you're ranking it as THE high end device - perhaps if it had a microSD option, higher res screen, or other features but when Samsung releases a LTE version of the S Nokia has nothing to brag about

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

These are nice and all BUT....

Joe_Raby 10th Jan

I'm going to hold onto my HTC Surround for a while longer - at least until we see details about WP8. It's a good phone. Sound is amazing, which is great for Zune Pass, and I like the metal style of it. I definitely don't like the all-plastic design of the cheap Samsung phones. I can run every app so far on the WP Marketplace, so I don't see a real need to upgrade. I know that when WP8 comes out, phones will be better than what we have appearing at CES (and availability of the announced phones won't be until later on in the year anyway). Besides that, I may switch mobile providers later, and I'm not sure if I'll go to one of these discount ones that run off AWS spectrum.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Lumia 900

animageofmine1 10th Jan

I have used Nokia in past. I have also used iPhone (my current phone) and windows Phone (Samsung Focus). Out of all, in terms of hardware, Nokia wins hands down for me. The problem in US is that not a lot of people have used Nokia smartphones. I bet, once people try it, it will win their hearts. As of now, I want to get a Nokia Lumia 900, its an awesome piece of hardware and of course the software/OS. As I said, I have used Windows phone for over a year and I have to say that I miss it sad

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

Rick_Kl 10th Jan

@animageofmine1 you just won fanboy of the week, you should receive your zune points life see poster of Steve Ballmer in the next 12 to 16 weeks wink

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

HackerJ 10th Jan

I want them BOTH! The Micr0$uck$ LoseDoze Fone7 Operating System (O/S) is the ONE and ONLY mobile phone that will install the internet and browse the web and point and click and cut and paste and multitask and do all of the things that are so DIFFICULT if not outright IMPOSSIBLE on any other phone!

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Bummed about WinPhones...

dcristof 10th Jan

What is the effing deal with the 16 GB of storage on these phones with no expansion? I get the security issues, but capping out SkyDrive at 25 GB is Joke.

Either open up SkyDrive to handle Amazon cloud drive sizes or offer more onboard memory. I have been wanting one of these phones for a long time, but it really makes it a grit your teeth thing without more memory.

The other half is the lack of multicore processor support. I imagine once the kernel is replaced with MinWin (what I have heard from the rumor mill) it will support multicore processors.

CES has been amazing, the only phones I know I don't want run Android.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

Rick_Kl Updated - 10th Jan

@dcristof You seemed to miss it. Microsoft stipulated the maximum onboard storage, and how much online storage you should be allowed.You should never question the almighty Overlords. You might get sent to one of Microsoft???s re-education camps wink

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

brhorv Updated - 12th Jan

@Rick_Kl Man, you really need to get some medication. Your hatred for Microsoft cant be good for you. If the Windows Phones sucks so bad then whats the problem? Let people buy them and when they see how right you have been all the time, they will drop WP7 the next time they switch phones and buy iPhones. So you se, you win in the long term as you know that WP7 will fail.
So calm down now and watch as all users buying the WP7 phones will be dissapointed. And then you will win.
Thank god you are around telling us the truth!!

But then again... we have this little crazy report about customer satisfaction:
http://blog.amplifiedanalytics.com/2011/12/2011-customers-view-of-smart-phones/

wink

0 Votes

+ -

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

linuxforhumanbeing 10th Jan

I will go for galaxy nexus

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

bdznet 13th Jan

I would really like to try a Windows 7.5 phone, but there is no way I will buy another phone crippled by the AT&T network. I switched to AT&T a couple of years ago to buy an iPhone 3gs, and learned 2 things: AT&T is horrible, and iPhones have really poor build quality, and should never be purchased on a 2-year contract. By the time my 2-year contract expired, the volume control button had fallen off, the ring silencing switch had gotten so sloppy it would turn on and off in my pocket, and iOS5 had started randomly draining my battery so I never know whether my phone is going to be dead or not. As for AT&T, travelling around the country I find my self on AT&T's EDGE (2g) network a lot of the time, so their claims of good 4g seem silly.
I've been holding out hoping that Verizon will get a decent Windows phone, but I'll probably give up and go with Android soon.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

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

qorax 14th Jan

Reply
Flag

Join the conversation!

Subject (Max length: 75 characters)

Formatting + Comment

BB Codes - Note: HTML is not supported in forums

[b] Bold [/b]
[i] Italic [/i]
[u] Underline [/u]
[s] Strikethrough [/s]
[q] "Quote" [/q]

[ol][*] 1. Ordered List [/ol]
[ul][*] · Unordered List [/ul]
[pre] Preformat [/pre]
[quote] "Blockquote" [/quote]

The best of ZDNet, delivered

ZDNet Newsletters

Get the best of ZDNet delivered straight to your inbox

Vendor Showcase

TECH VISUALIZER Sponsored by Brocade

Facebook Activity

Blog Roll

Blog Archive

White Papers, Webcasts, & Resources

Gartner Research: Magic Quadrant for Blade ServersGartner Magic Quadrant for Blade Servers. The market for blade servers is ... (Hewlett-Packard (HP) & Intel)Download Now
Forrester Research: Blades PaperHow Blade Centers Impact Data Center Management and Agility. This paper ... (Hewlett-Packard (HP) & Intel)Download Now
ComputerWorld Tech Dossier HP ProLiant Gen8 Servers: Intelligent Mgmt and Greater Efficiency Throughout the LifeCycleThe new HP ProLiant Gen8 server features capabilities that speed and ... (Hewlett-Packard (HP) & Intel)Download Now

ZDNet is available in the following editions:

Special Reports

Hot Topics

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

Related ZDNet stories

More from “Smartphones and Cell Phones”

Topics

Disclosure

Matthew Miller

Biography

Matthew Miller

Vendor HotSpot

Related Discussions on TechRepublic

Join the conversation!

Just In

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

Join the conversation!

Resources from our Sponsor

The best of ZDNet, delivered

Vendor Showcase

Facebook Activity

Blog Roll

Blog Archive

White Papers, Webcasts, & Resources

Featured Articles

Services