Hi there, I am upgrading my 3 mobile this week and wondered what your thoughts were on the two phones mentioned.

I feel the Galaxy has the edge and think I'll most likely purchase that, but I'm unsure if the Desire HD would have anything else as it's newer.

So, what do you think??

Thanks very much.

I'm by no means a tech wizz at phones, but I went for a Galaxy S and am thrilled with it to be honest.

I was debating whether or not to get the Desire HD, but at the end of the day I wanted a better screen for media playback (Super AMOLED trumps Desire & HD) and was not too fussed over the "better" Operating System of Sense (which the HTC has), or the slightly larger screen of the HD.

The Samsung is also able to play a multitude of video/audio codecs, where as the Desire (I think) is limited in that respect.

Yes the HD has Android 2.2 already, but the SGS will have it come the end of November so it's not really a selling point for me.

The "build" quality on the Desire HD is a little better supposedly but I still think the SGS is a neat handset, and besides it doesn't really make too much difference if you are planning to stick a case over the top of it!

That's not to say that the HD is not a brilliant phone, and everyone has their opinions of course!

Have you looked at the Samsung Omnia 7 - has S-AMOLED screen too.
It's available on 3, they just haven't promoted it really is all.

Been reading up myself as I have been thinking of getting on of the handsets. The Desire HD seems to win on everthing I have read so far. Just Google them and you will see countless comparisons.

I'm not a fan of the Galaxy S.

It seems cheaply built out of the worst plastics Samsung could find, and coated in Teflon - nice and slippery.

There seems to be hardware issues, too. There is an internal SD card that is reported to die randomly, forcing you to send it away for repair.

The software is also pretty poor - it's an Android 2.1 phone when many other phones are getting 2.2 or are coming out with it, and Samsung have opted to use a weird file system, that by design limits the phone's performance and causes it to "lag" often. There are also GPS issues.

It seems that Samsung is only just coming out with fixes, months after the phone has been released.

Out of the two, I'd rather get the Desire HD.

There's nothing wrong with the build quality of the SGS - it's just not as good as the HTCs, but then are you really that fussed when it's in a case? The SGS is very decent quality imo, plastic or not.

Android 2.1/2.2 is a pointless argument, as Samsung update is due in November.

I've experienced no GPS issues, it seems to work very well tbh. Ive also experienced no lag really and I have already stuffed the phone full of media.

I have the HTC Desire HD and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Runs like a dream.

Even getting 24 hours of battery on one charge and haven't even fully conditioned the battery.

My friend gets his Galaxy S tomorrow and mostly the Desire HD is better in the specs except for the Super AMOLED, I know Im going to be jealous of that!

The Galaxy S currently has the most powerful graphics of all smartphones so coupled with the great screen the op is probably right.

I also have the desire HD (mine arrived last friday) and also wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Despite the large 4.3" screen it feels surprisingly light and fits in the pocket well. You can get a good 24 hours battery life after a bit of tweaking (you don't really need facebook feeds to automatically update every 30 mins, set it to 4 hours) Particularly impressed with the overall feel of the phone and speed/ quality of the software on it.

samsung galaxy s is a great phone i love mine, and froyo for samsung galaxy s is already here, ive got it on my phone now.

heres a link, scroll down to the post in red to see how to get it if anyone wants it

http://samsunggalaxysforums.com/show...-is-here/page4

That method allowed for a Scandinavian version of FroYo to be downloaded, but Samsung have now pulled it so you can't use that registry hack any more.

I was lucky enough to get in there before they pulled it so I'm running FroYo.

I was following the rumours of the Desire HD before it came out as I was undecided whether to wait for that or go to the SGS.

In the end as they had very similar specs the deciding factor was the Super Amoled screen, and I'm glad I went for it, it's an amazing screen.

As for these comments about 'build quality'...some people really need to think about what they're saying and stop repeating other people's garbage.

The phone has a very high quality gorilla glass screen and good quality plastics on the back, it's very well put together and feels sturdy in the hand. It might not be metal, but don't confuse the build materials with the build quality.

I've got a cover on mine so you can't see the case anyway, but cover or not, the phone feels as though it's been very well put together. Design is always a tradeoff between different characteristics, on a relatively large phone a metal casing would have added weight, Samsung have managed to keep with weight down having a plastic case with the result that the phone is comfortable to carry even in a shirt pocket. Horses for courses here...

My wife's got an HTC phone and it's a cracker as well, so whatever phone you decide on you're going to enjoy.....so enjoy!

Have to agree about the build quality, nothing wrong with it at all,
also thanks andy for clearing that up about froyo, i didnt know samsung had pulled it, its not like me to be in the right place at the right time to get it.

try http://www.gsmarena.com/ u can compare phones and read reviews too

You forgot the SGS's superior/faster processor

Seriously though, other than 0.3" on the "inferior quality" screen (which stretches the pixels on media anyway, not increases the resolution), and HTC Sense as a "superior" operating system, what can be perceived as much better?

The HD has more RAM, but the superior processor of the SGS evens that up really.

The problem we have when comparing the two is that because the SGS does not currently run on 2.2, it's very difficult to compare them "like-for-like", because of course the HTC is going to look like it runs better.

They are both great phones, but I think HTC are starting to become the "iPhone" of the Android market, and it skews opinion a little. Just my thought.

desire hd is bigger than the samsung. worth considering just how big you want your phone to be.

Best way to make the decision is decide what YOU want from your handset. Then to help you decide, visit a phone store and play with both for a short while, pick the one you like the most.

Both have ups and downs when compared to each other. The display on the SGS is better while the GPS on the Desire HD is better for example. Swings and roundabouts.

Go try both before you decide

For my my personal usage I think the bigger screen the better,
I give higher marks to the Galaxy S on a general basis but would still choose to buy the HD.

The crammed screen of the iPhone 4 is a very weird talking point. A bigger one in the new year to add choice?

Had a quick play with the Galaxy S and even though the screen is better, overall I much prefer the Desire HD. Reason being that the DHD has a much more solid and quality feel whilst the SGS feel cheap and plastic.

The DHD has a RAM advantage so obviously felt quite a bit faster.

Has anybody had any issues with Kies the software for the Galaxy? Apparantly its a nightmare to use....

Is their any reason why HTC is the only manufacturer that seems to have trouble getting this AMOLED screen, for it's phones.

Is their super LED replacement really that inferior in quality?

Plus, how come HTC didn't go for a 1024 res display. With such a large phone, it would have stolen Apples thunder.

Current versions of Android don't really support that high a resolution. Probably going to be a little while before they do.

The main reason it would have felt quicker would have been because it was running on 2.2, not the extra RAM, I would have thought.

Stick the SGS in a decent case, and it feels solid and quality!

Seriously though, I know the HTCs are very very well built phones, but I don't get this insistance that the SGS looks and feels cheap. It doesn't....it's perhaps just not as good to hold as the HTC in most people's eyes.

I'd take the better screen, and the high quality plastic

I have both phone sitting next to me. The DHD feels very solid in the hand and is very responsive. It has a great screen but compared to the SGS it is quite plain. Now the SGS does feel more lightweight compared to the DHD. That does not mean it is not well built. After a few months hard use there are still no marks on it or plastic creaks. The other way to look at it is, do you want to carry a phone that is quite a weight and bulky or more of a discreet lighter phone ? Both are lovely phones but for me the SGS even with 2.1 has the slight edge.

Samsung are the people who make AMOLED screens, so their handsets have no issues getting hold of them. However HTC were having issues sourcing them in large enough quantities. This is why only early Desires came with AMOLED screens and newer Desires came with SLCD. The Desire HD doesn't come with SLCD however, it's only LCD.


There are comparisons online between Desires with AMOLED and SLCD, take a look on Youtube for example to see the difference. As for LCD vs AMOLED, in the case of Desire HD vs Desire, yes it's noticeable. Next to each other the Desire looks better displaywise, but it's only something you'd have issues with if you put them next to each other - did this myself with my two to check.


Already answered by someone else above, but in terms of thunder Android phones have already done that which is why they are outselling Apple at the moment.

Anything Apple does is wonderful.

If anyone else does it reality strikes and it becomes grossly stupid.