Meet the second Android phone: HTC's Magic

Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:11PM EST

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Slimmer and sleeker than T-Mobile's clunky G1, the Google Android-powered Magic is set to arrive in Europe this spring, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it arrive in the States shortly thereafter.

Unveiled earlier today in Barcelona—site of the annual Mobile World Congress wireless trade show—the HTC-made, touchscreen Magic jettisons the slide-out keypad on the bulky G1, the first Android phone that debuted on T-Mobile last October (check out my full review).

Vodafone—which will carry the Magic in the U.K., Spain, Germany, France, and Italy in the spring—and HTC have only released a handful of details about the handset so far.

Here's what we do know: It'll come with a 3.2-inch touchscreen (slightly bigger than the 3.17-inch display on the G1), a 3.2-megapixel camera (still no LED flash, unfortunately), GPS, Wi-Fi, 3G data access, and a full suite of Android OS-powered Google services, including Gmail, Google Maps (along with the cool "Compass View" mode, which automatically changes the orientation of Street View images as you wave the phone in the air), YouTube, and Google Talk.

Engadget has a hands-on video, which shows a slimmer, sexier shell than on the boxy-looking G1; you'll also see the new, virtual touch keypad, which replaces the G1's slide-out physical keypad. (For those of you Android geeks out there: Yes, we're talking the long-rumored "Cupcake" update.)

So, how's the Magic shaping up compared to the likes of the iPhone, the Palm Pre, and the touchscreen BlackBerry Storm? Hard to say at this point, given that I haven't had the chance to see the Magic up close and personal yet. Based on the chatter coming out of Barcelona, it sounds like the Magic isn't a gargantuan leap over the T-Mobile G1; indeed, the virtual keypad aside, the Magic's Android interface appears to be essentially the same as on the G1 handset. So if you've tried both the G1 and the iPhone and found yourself leaning toward the iPhone, you probably won't find much to change your mind; then again, if you loved the G1's interface but hated its clunky shell, the Magic might be the ticket.

OK, but when will the G2—oops, I mean the Magic—be coming Stateside? No word from HTC for now, but I'd bet my bottom dollar that the handset will land in T-Mobile's handset lineup in the next few months. Stay tuned.

Related:
Vodafone and HTC unveil Android-powered HTC Magic [Vodafone]

 

 

Comments on Meet the second Android phone: HTC's Magic

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  • 26 Posted by lonelay88 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    G1 sucks, man... seriously. super slow and key pad is hard to type... hopefully, this one's better...

  • 28 Posted by seeya_lots on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    Looks great to me! Im loving the new look, the G1 was a great phone besides its clunky look but it still tops others and shares the spotlight with the iphone, ill be getting the Magic/g2

  • 29 Posted by kenny_glock on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    Keep going back to the drawing board HTC G1, G2 or magic what ever it is. You're still not even half way or not ever come close to an iphone...

  • 31 Posted by destinynin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    Are all of the cell providers going to have it? I hate it when I see a phone I want but can only get it through a different provider. I'm not going to switch providers for any phone.

  • 32 Posted by ranrus on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    i guess my t-mobile phone in the u.s. doesn't count

  • 33 Posted by sanhosdurg on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    With a coverage like TMO's no new phones will bring in any added value in long term. My colleauge subscribed to TMO recently only to return back the phone as he realized he cannot get good coverage at his home, a urban subdivison in Atlanta. Hope the battery life is better with this phone.

  • 35 Posted by somebodys_here on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    It looks like a BBStorm running Android. I like it, but I don't think I'll ship one in any time soon.

  • 36 Posted by amber.soucy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would have to aggre w/ jwsingle. It does seem as though you are being manipulated into a certain mobile carrier.

  • 37 Posted by giova251 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'd have to disagree with number 30 because the iPhone has better app prices

  • 38 Posted by saleetruart on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    I wouldn't be so disappointed that HTC hasn't released the phone over here. I have an HTC Mogul from Sprint and it's the worst phone I've ever had. I slipped on the ice and had to crawl 2 blocks to get to a pay phone all because the Mogul freezes up on me. I couldn't call for help and neither HTC nor Sprint will do anything to replace the phone. It's never been damaged or anything. It's just a piece of crap and so are HTC and Sprint for selling it.

  • 39 Posted by kemcho12345 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    Verizon, Sprint, Cellular South use CDMA network, but CDMA network is not very much popular in rest of the world. Outside USA GSM network is used, for the most part. So, to make this a truly global phone, it is smart to go with GSM.

  • 40 Posted by moesha75 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    I happen to like the G1 and this phone looks even better than the G1 because I don't really care for the slider function.Too bad they don't have a release date so I guess I'll have to settle for the G1 for now.

  • 41 Posted by giova251 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    Well I think we could all agree that if the Magic had the G1's easy keypad 4 txting and the iPhone's cheap but cool apps, this phone would be an instant hit. also everyone knows that phones become popular because they steal for other top phone companies that are having hit phones.

  • 42 Posted by brian_r_kirby on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a G1 and I love it. Sure it's a little clunky, but totally worth it to have a physical QWERTY keyboard.

  • 43 Posted by jubtlr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    i just got this phone when i lunched the phone so i have about 6 of them and there good phones

  • 44 Posted by imayesfan on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    Great. I thought we were in a worldwide recession, but i guess people have money for the latest gadgets.

  • 45 Posted by vsbarnett52 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think I will stick with my uscellular. I have a computer so I need my phone to be just a phone.

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