HTC Vivid or Inspire

[SagaLore]

Looking at the htc vivid or htc inspire.

Any personal experiences here?

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Looking at the htc vivid or htc inspire.

Any personal experiences here?

vivids screen is meh, and the inspire is dated. Id rather have the GS2 for now than either. SAMOLED is where its at.

 

[SagaLore]

vivids screen is meh, and the inspire is dated. Id rather have the GS2 for now than either. SAMOLED is where its at.

I asked about HTC. I'm not sure what your preference for Samsung has to do with anything. :hmm:

 

[alent1234]

don't plan for ICS with the Inspire

had one for 6 months this year, and got rid of it. it was OK, nothing special

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

I asked about HTC. I'm not sure what your preference for Samsung has to do with anything. :hmm:

just not sure why you are considering two mediocre phones, when there are better phones out.

Between those two its the vivd, hands down. I dont see one thing the inspire has over the vivid.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

just not sure why you are considering two mediocre phones, when there are better phones out.

Between those two its the vivd, hands down. I dont see one thing the inspire has over the vivid.

QFT. If you are looking at smartphones on at&t the two best Android phones are the Galaxy S2 and Skyrocket in that order.

 

[hans007]

I asked about HTC. I'm not sure what your preference for Samsung has to do with anything. :hmm:

I'd get the vivid. It looks like its basically a 4.5" version of the HTC sensation on t-mobile.

And yes I sympathize with you on everyone who is going to tell you to get a skyrocket or SGS2, iphone or whatever.

you asked about HTC phones, and admittedly i'm an htc fan as well. As much as everyone seems to recommend samsung for everything (i owned a galaxy S for like 3 weeks and have used the nexus S , focus S etc from friends) either SGS2 or the all mighty "wait for / import galaxy nexus" they make phones that feel like cheap injection molded mcdonalds toys in my opinion. that and touchwiz is not good in my opinion. I mean if you are going to have a skin on your android (and i'm pretty much at the point that I almost prefer sense to stock) well htc sense is probably the nicest one still.

So yeah, get the vivid. I think the inspire is basically a thunderbolt without LTE and as someone who has both a thunderbolt and a rezound (which i think is more or less a vivid with a nicer but smaller screen) i'm pretty sure the difference is going to be quite large. i'd imagine the inspire is more or less free on contract at least (probably the only thing going for it)

 

[Strk]

Between the two? The Vivid.

But why are you limiting yourself to those two? HTC gets you thick phones, poor battery life and, from what people are saying, the seriously offending part of CarrierIQ (not that I would want any of it on my phone). And how about the boot loaders on those phones? Has HTC stopped doing that?

 

[Puddle Jumper]

I'd get the vivid. It looks like its basically a 4.5" version of the HTC sensation on t-mobile.

And yes I sympathize with you on everyone who is going to tell you to get a skyrocket or SGS2, iphone or whatever.

you asked about HTC phones, and admittedly i'm an htc fan as well. As much as everyone seems to recommend samsung for everything (i owned a galaxy S for like 3 weeks and have used the nexus S , focus S etc from friends) either SGS2 or the all mighty "wait for / import galaxy nexus" they make phones that feel like cheap injection molded mcdonalds toys in my opinion. that and touchwiz is not good in my opinion. I mean if you are going to have a skin on your android (and i'm pretty much at the point that I almost prefer sense to stock) well htc sense is probably the nicest one still.

So yeah, get the vivid. I think the inspire is basically a thunderbolt without LTE and as someone who has both a thunderbolt and a rezound (which i think is more or less a vivid with a nicer but smaller screen) i'm pretty sure the difference is going to be quite large. i'd imagine the inspire is more or less free on contract at least (probably the only thing going for it)

Actually the version of Touchwiz on the Galaxy S2 is by far the best Android skin out there, it's significantly faster and smoother than any other skin and even outperforms stock Android. On the other hand the latest versions of Sense have become incredibly bloated and is much less smooth than Touchwiz.

Also the Galaxy S2 has significantly more powerful hardware than any HTC phone.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Touchwiz vs. Sense is (almost) completely irrelevant if you load up an alternate launcher, which I always do. The only thing it affects is certain apps like the calendar, alarm clock, dialer, etc. And the Sense vs. Touchwiz versions of those apps are very similar. Maybe a slight edge to Sense but the inferior hardware of those HTC phones makes me want to stay away.

Samsung has the best screens, the best guts, and is the most modder-friendly. If you're going to sign up for a 2-year contract, why not get the best phone possible?

 

[GT1999]

I'm an Inspire owner. If you check out the XDA forums there is already a beta version of ICS for the Inspire. (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1374912). It's working with the exception of WiFi tether, Camera, and true hardware acceleration at this point. They are still working on it. There will not be an official release of ICS for the Inspire.

Honestly the Vivid is a much better phone.

And the Skyrocket is even better, but you asked Vivid vs. the Inspire, so my answer is the Vivid. Just don't expect a lot of custom ROMs, if any. Last time I checked XDA there was only temp roots available for the Vivid. The Skyrocket is a much better choice IMHO...

 

[hans007]

Actually the version of Touchwiz on the Galaxy S2 is by far the best Android skin out there, it's significantly faster and smoother than any other skin and even outperforms stock Android. On the other hand the latest versions of Sense have become incredibly bloated and is much less smooth than Touchwiz.

Also the Galaxy S2 has significantly more powerful hardware than any HTC phone.

i dont think all the S2s are more powerful.

I know the xynos chip is more powerful but the skyrocket has the same cpu as the vivid which is a qualcomm unit. so he can buy a really fast cpu phone and not have LTE which is a tradeoff (i'm on verizon and well i wouldn't make that tradeoff if it came down to say a hypothetical evdo phone with an xynos vs LTE with a qualcomm s3). I think honestly part of the reason I didnt like owning a galaxy S was that it was just too blatant that samsung had 0 originality copying apple. I mean I don't buy all the patents BS about say making a square phone, but touchwiz they clearly were aiming for the look of a particular other device.

that said, an S2 cpu is definitely faster than a 1.2ghz snapdragon s3 if he did get a non lte SGS2 but there are other factors. the S2s all have 800x480 screens if you don't want pentile matrix. and they have unnatural looking colors. sure its a nice looking screen, but you can't get qhd (i dont think they even make a qhd phone) or 720p screens on a non pentile samsung phone as far as i know. and the feel / build of they feel cheap in hand. you know that thing you hold phones with.

i mean thats still my personal opinion. the whole build quality thing, and i know a lot of geeks don't care (i've spent hours arguing about say an audi interior vs say one in an equivalent priced mustang which has way more HP... so its the same damn argument)

 

[poofyhairguy]

i dont think all the S2s are more powerful.

I know the xynos chip is more powerful but the skyrocket has the same cpu as the vivid which is a qualcomm unit. so he can buy a really fast cpu phone and not have LTE which is a tradeoff

Since the OP inquired about the Inspire that means non-LTE devices are on the table. Not everyone lives in an LTE market. The non-LTE SGS2 will eat alive any Qualcomm device, meaning every HTC device.

the S2s all have 800x480 screens if you don't want pentile matrix.

Three things:
1. All SGS2s are non-pentile
2. The Inspire is also WVGA
3. WVGA is the current standard Android resolution offering you maximum compatibility. With the Gnex being 720p the whole qHD thing might be washed away next year (meaning terrible 2 year app support).

the whole build quality thing, and i know a lot of geeks don't care

Depends on how you calculate build quality. Drop tests show the SGS2 might be the hardest to break phone out there. I have dropped mine on concrete a bunch with no problems.

Why? Because of physics- the SGS2's lack of weight means less mass on impact. A brick HTC phone with its extra weight begs to be shattered. What feels good in the hand hits harder on the floor.


With all of this said, if OP really wants an AT&T HTC phone my advice is to buy a Inspire off contract (like Craigslist or ebay or something) and wait till next year to use the subsidy when AT&T has better HTC phones to offer. Something with ICS, 720p, Quad Core, etc.

 

[AstroManLuca]

With all of this said, if OP really wants an AT&T HTC phone my advice is to buy a Inspire off contract (like Craigslist or ebay or something) and wait till next year to use the subsidy when AT&T has better HTC phones to offer. Something with ICS, 720p, Quad Core, etc.

That's a great idea. No use blowing a subsidy on an outdated phone.

 

[GT1999]

SagaLore if you do decide to get the Inspire, and you do root and want to stick with Gingerbread ROMs, check out TalonROM on XDA. It's Android 2.3.7, almost pure AOSP unlike CyanogenMod which is hacked to hell. It's the fastest, cleanest, and most bug free ROM I've found with zero bloatware. If you like HTC Sense, check out capy's RCMix3D's Runnymede ROM, it's Android 2.3.5 with Sense 3.5. The Inspire ships with Sense 2.1. 3.5 is a huge upgrade, visually and functionally.

Then again if you aren't going to do custom ROMs, just forget everything I said. But I highly recommend them... and the Inspire is full of choices.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

i dont think all the S2s are more powerful.

I know the xynos chip is more powerful but the skyrocket has the same cpu as the vivid which is a qualcomm unit. so he can buy a really fast cpu phone and not have LTE which is a tradeoff (i'm on verizon and well i wouldn't make that tradeoff if it came down to say a hypothetical evdo phone with an xynos vs LTE with a qualcomm s3). I think honestly part of the reason I didnt like owning a galaxy S was that it was just too blatant that samsung had 0 originality copying apple. I mean I don't buy all the patents BS about say making a square phone, but touchwiz they clearly were aiming for the look of a particular other device.

that said, an S2 cpu is definitely faster than a 1.2ghz snapdragon s3 if he did get a non lte SGS2 but there are other factors. the S2s all have 800x480 screens if you don't want pentile matrix. and they have unnatural looking colors. sure its a nice looking screen, but you can't get qhd (i dont think they even make a qhd phone) or 720p screens on a non pentile samsung phone as far as i know. and the feel / build of they feel cheap in hand. you know that thing you hold phones with.

i mean thats still my personal opinion. the whole build quality thing, and i know a lot of geeks don't care (i've spent hours arguing about say an audi interior vs say one in an equivalent priced mustang which has way more HP... so its the same damn argument)

s2>Vivid
skyrocket=vivid in terms of power

HSPA+ is more than fast enough, id rather not have it and save on battery

Design comes down to preference, and i actually do like the way HTC designs their phones (titan looks awesome), but im at the point where i just want less design, small bezel, and huge screen. ICS can put the buttons right on the screen, and im sure ill buy a case for whatever phone i use, so i really just want a huge beautiful screen, with nothing else.

like someone mentioned, qhd is a dealbreaker. 720p phone owners will undoubtedly feel some growing pains as apps change over to the new res, so id rather have a really nice standard res screen, or at least what the new standard is going to me.

As far as samsungs screens go, i would say 99 out of 100 people would choose thier screens over the competition. Even my sgs2 screen is absolutely beautiful at a lower res. I cant wait to see the nexus' screen. Colors are vibrant, and blacks are deep. Do you really think your going to notice pentile on a 720p screen that the nexus has?

I personally could care less how it feels in the hand... because if your using your 500+ dollar device without a case your asking for trouble. My phone feels fantastic with the case i have on it.

As far as the software on the phone goes, the less the better. Sense and TW annoy me, so im currently running CM7. If i wasnt, id at least choose a different launcher.

IMO, HTC's offering on ATT are crap at the moment, so dont blow your upgrade on a crappy phone.

With all of this said, if OP really wants an AT&T HTC phone my advice is to buy a Inspire off contract (like Craigslist or ebay or something) and wait till next year to use the subsidy when AT&T has better HTC phones to offer. Something with ICS, 720p, Quad Core, etc.

This was my dilemma. I hate having an upgrade and not using it right away (im stuck on att, so the longer i take to use the upgrade, the more money im giving them)

I caved and the the s2, and if dont end up liking it, ill sell it and get the nexus.

Usually i buy whatever iphone is the newest and sell it. So i look at an upgrade as a 400 dollar credit for me to buy a phone.

This is why i hate when people waste an upgrade on a phone that really isnt worth much. Example:

Someone going and buying a htc inspire for 50 on contract, when they could have bought it for 150-200 on craigslist. (att giving you 100-150 dollars)

I got my s2 for 50bucks, so if i sell it ill probably get at least 400 (+350)

 

[SagaLore]

SagaLore if you do decide to get the Inspire, and you do root and want to stick with Gingerbread ROMs, check out TalonROM on XDA. It's Android 2.3.7, almost pure AOSP unlike CyanogenMod which is hacked to hell. It's the fastest, cleanest, and most bug free ROM I've found with zero bloatware. If you like HTC Sense, check out capy's RCMix3D's Runnymede ROM, it's Android 2.3.5 with Sense 3.5. The Inspire ships with Sense 2.1. 3.5 is a huge upgrade, visually and functionally.

Then again if you aren't going to do custom ROMs, just forget everything I said. But I highly recommend them... and the Inspire is full of choices.

So you think the Inspire is a better choice over the Vivid?

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

So you think the Inspire is a better choice over the Vivid?

I don't think anyone here would say that. Why are you trying to make this decision harder than it has to be?

Inspire has more custom roms because its older. Vivid will get more over time, and eventually the inspire will be left behind while the vivid still has life - speaking in terms of both performance and devs supporting the phone.

Unless your paying substantially less for the inspire off contract, get the vivid. And do NOT waste a 2 year contract on the inspire brand new.

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