HTC 7 Mozart - Review

The HTC 7 Mozart is among the first lineup of Windows Phone 7 devices. The device features a 3.7 inch display, 8GB of internal storage, 8MP camera with Xenon flash and is powered by a 1GHz processor with 448MB of RAM.The Xenon flash on the device allows taking photos even in low light conditions and you can capture 720p HD videos. Specifications Photo Samples Video Samples

The HTC 7 Mozart hopes to stand out midst it's peers as something special. It's specialty is in it's camera which is set above the already demanding specification requirements for Windows Phone. The 8MP camera on the device comes with Xenon flash with a promising experience for the camera lovers out there. So lets take a minute to review this unique device and see if it really stands out as a must have Windows Phone.

We know that Windows Phone is late to a race which is headed by Android and iOS and it is important that Windows Phone devices have distinguishable characteristics that let them stand out ahead of their competition. HTC in this case has decided to offer a great camera along with the other attractive specs.

Lets take a look at some of the featured specifications of this device.

• 3.7" Super LCD capacitive touchscreen display
  • Corning Gorilla Glass protection
  • 480 x 800 pixel resolution
• 8MP camera sensor
  • Xenon Flash
  • autofocus and touch-to-focus
  • 720p video capture
  • Scene Modes
• 8GB of built in storage
• Superior build quality with unibody design
• Windows Integration
  • Microsoft Office Mobile
  • XBox Live
  • Windows Live
  • Skydrive
• HTC Hub and HTC Apps

HTC 7 Mozart - Official Photos

HTC 7 Mozart - Official Video

HTC is renowned for it's superior build quality, and the Mozart doesn't fail in this department. The question is if the Windows Phone platform can keep up with it's competitors as we take a closer look at the device itself.

Unboxing and Hands On

The box contains the USB cable, headphones, charging adaptor along with the manuals and documentation.


Device Closeup - Hardware

 The Mozart continues to impress in the build department with a premium plastic and metal body. It has a solid feel in the hand.

The front of the device is mostly made up of the 3.7 inch Super LCD (S-LCD) touch screen display which has a 480 x 800 pixel resolution. While S-LCD does not have the quality of Super AMOLED you still get a decent experience. Above the display is the earpiece behind a shiny metallic grill which also hides the indicator LED which lights up to show if your battery is low or your device is charging. Below the grill behind the black border around the display are two sensors (proximity and ambient light) which turn off the display when you are answering calls and adjusts the display brightness according to the surrounding light conditions.
 

Below the display are three capacitive buttons. The Windows key is in the center with a search button on the right and a back button on it's left. You can use these keys to navigate through most of the Windows Phone UI. The right side of the device has the dedicated camera key. The camera is accessed by pressing hard against the button and there is one stage for focus with a second stage to capture the photo. Taking photos in portrait seams relatively hard and will require you to hold the device in landscape mode for comfort.

The left side hosts the volume rocker and the microUSB port. The volume rocker is on the curved section of the device. We would have preferred if it was placed a little higher to make it easier to operate. While the volume rocker is quite generous we found that you have to grip the screen when you adjust the volume.

On top of the device you will find the power button and the 3.5 mm connector for your headphones. The power button also acts as a lock switch for your display. At the bottom you will find the microphone. The rear of the device has a unique three segment design. A metallic wave runs the in middle and two rubbery plastic sections ensure grip while maintaining a nice look to the device.

The rear houses the 8 megapixel camera, the xenon flash and speaker grill. The Mozart is the first Windows Phone to feature xenon flash and is promising in the camera department. The xenon flash is quite small and we have seen larger ones even on much older units like the Nokia N82. While the Mozart won't probably be the top camera phone, it will stand out in the Windows Phone department for now.

The lower rear section is removable and reveals the battery which is held in place by a plastic lock. Removing the battery reveals the SIM card slot which is behind it. The 1300 mAh battery is quoted to give you around 435 hours of standby and over 5 hours of talk time on 3G.

Our tests allowed around 2 days of regular use with one day of heavy use. Battery life on HTC devices is not as good as it's competitors and this is something we have to live with.


Conclusion

The overall design and build quality of the HTC 7 Mozart is of the high standard we have come to expect from HTC. The size fits well in your hand or in your pocket. It's 8MP camera with Xenon flash allow it to stand out among it's first generation Windows Phone brethren.

Windows Phone on board may not be as mature as iOS or Android, but it is promising. With features like Skydrive, Mobile Office and Xbox live along with tight integration with Social Networks make it an operating system which will grow on you. We will continue to review the features of the HTC Mozart and  see if it has what it takes to stand out against the big players.