Image Gallery: First look at the HTC Touch Dual

HTC is now using some great packaging on their devices that I first experienced with their HTC Touch. The presentation gives new owners a sense that they purchased something valued.

The box contained the HTC Touch Dual, a wired stereo headset, screen protector, battery, a/c adapter, and USB to miniUSB cable. This particular unit had no paperwork or CD that may ship with full retail models.

These are 3 slider phones with similar designs and you can see that the Touch Dual almost has the same outer dimensions as the T-Mobile Shadow. It is thinner than the Nokia N95 and feels much more solid.

Here we see the N95, T-Mobile Shadow and Touch Dual opened up. The Shadow has the nice SureType keyboard, but the buttons on the Touch Dual are also well spaced and include a couple additional hardware buttons.

The Touch Dual is narrower than the Touch with a 2.6 inch display vs a 2.8 inch display. It feels much more like a phone and is just about perfect in your hand. There is a nice heft to it and I like something that feels a bit substantial.

The soft touch covering is used all over the device, giving it a nice feel in your hand. There is a 2 megapixel camera on the back and the entire back cover is removable for the battery and SIM card access.

You will find the 1120 mAh battery and SIM card slot under the back cover. There is a button on the bottom of the device to make removing the cover quite easy.

Since this is a touch screen device a stylus is also included that runs along the right side of the device.

There is a small ridge on the stylus that makes it easy to remove with your finger while allowing it to remain securely in place.

The stylus is metal and plastic and actually has a decent length and heft to it. It is one of the better models I have used lately and is probably about as good as you could get while maintaining a decent overall weight of the device.

The camera is found at the top and has a small self-portrait mirror. There is flash on the device.

The back has the Touch branding and the cool HTC logo. I like the subtle branding included on the device.

The send and end buttons are a bit small, but I find them easy to hit with a finger or thumb since they are widely spaced. The directional pad is large and works well.

The speaker grill also houses the indicator lights for calling and connections. The front facing camera is used outside the U.S. for video calls.

HTC continues to use a nice Home screen by default so you can quickly and easily access critical information with your finger. You can also use the directional pad to navigate around the Home screen.

In addition to the traditional 12-key phone keypad you will find Start, messaging, back, and Internet Explorer buttons.

You will find a volume rocker, miniUSB/HTC port and the microSD card slot on the left side.

The card slot is covered by a rubber cover that curves down around the bottom of the device. It took me a bit to get it opened since I have no fingernails and also was a bit tough to press in and get my card back out.

The only objects on the right side are the stylus silo (upper) and the camera button (lower). The silver banding continues around the device.

A lanyard slot and the power button appear on the top of the device.

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