WP7 Gen 2 Devices Roundup

With the launch of the Mango update for the Gen 1 WP7 phones, there are also WP7 generation 2 devices releases launches around the world but being in Canada (you know how it goes), we have zero idea of when the big 3 are getting these new devices, and of course, not even a peep of information for the little carriers on the AWS band (Wind and Mobiliticity among the smaller players)

In this post I will attempt to compile a list of the known generation 2 WP7 handsets and the likelihood of Canadians getting our hands on them and of course the ones that we have no chance of getting unless you are getting it unlocked.  I'll also try to list out some specs for these phones.

Note that some specs may not be entirely correct as I am gathering the information from manufacturers' websites as well as places like GSM arena.  Please also note that this "Likely Carrier" thing I have for each phone is my personal opinion, I am only guessing based on history of the manufacturer's relationship with the carrier.

Read on for more...


Samsung Focus S

• Processor: 1.4 Ghz Single Core CPU
• Screen Size: 4.3", Super AMOLED Plus
• Camera: 8MP
• Front Camera: Yes - 1.3MP
• Weight: 111g
• Battery - 1650mAh
• User memory - 16/32GB
• Likely Carrier - Rogers - Rogers sold the original Focus and there's no reason for it not to continue, especially since it appears that Rogers and HTC hates each other for whatever reason.

Samsung Focus Flash

• Processor: 1.4 Ghz Single Core CPU
• Screen Size: 3.7", Super AMOLED
• Camera: 5MP
• Front Camera: Yes - (no information on websites but likely 1.3MP)
• Weight: 116g
• Battery - 1500mAh
• User memory - 8GB
• Likely Carrier - Rogers - See reason for Focus S, and if Rogers decides to spread the love to Fido, this would be the one that Fido would likely get as it is a cheaper alternative to the Focus S.

HTC Titan

• Processor: 1.5 Ghz Single Core CPU
• Screen Size: 4.7", Super LCD
• Camera: 8MP
• Front Camera: Yes - 1.3MP
• Weight: 160g
• Battery - 1650mAh
• User memory - 16GB
• Likely Carrier - Telus/Bell/Wind/Mobilicity - It appears that if HTC is to sell phones in Canada, it would have to be Telus/Bell. The reason I also mentioned the folks on the 1700Mhz 3G bands is that HTC has always been open to the 1700Mhz band with their phones (See TMobile USA's HD7), so I wouldn't be surprised to see Wind/Mobilicity offer this as one of their flag ship phones especially now that iPhones does not seem to be making an appearance on the 1700Mhz band

HTC Radar

• Processor: 1 Ghz Single Core CPU
• Screen Size: 3.8", Super LCD
• Camera: 5MP
• Front Camera: Yes - VGA camera (that's 640x480 for you young kids)
• Weight: 136g
• Battery - 1520mAh (not replaceable, at least not without taking the phone apart)
• User memory - 8GB
• Likely Carrier - Telus/Bell/Wind/Mobilicity - TMobile USA is already selling it so look for it on Wind/Mobilicity if they ever get their act together.  

Nokia Lumia 800

• Processor: 1.4 Ghz Single Core CPU
• Screen Size: 3.8", AMOLED
• Camera: 8MP (w/ Carl Zeiss optics)
• Front Camera: No
• Weight: 142g
• Battery - 1450 mAh (not replaceable, at least not without taking the phone apart)
• User memory - 16GB
• Likely Carrier - Rogers, Telus - Both Telus and Rogers have a long history of selling Nokia phones as well as the Nokia Smartphones (N8, E71, E72) so I would imagine that this flagship WP7 device will eventually make itself into these carriers' smartphone lineup
• Unfortunately, during Nokia World couple weeks ago in London, this kick ass Nokia flagship phone will not be available until Q2 2012

Nokia Lumia 710

• Processor: 1.4 Ghz Single Core CPU
• Screen Size: 3.7, LCD
• Camera: 5MP
• Front Camera: No
• Weight: 126g
• Battery - 1300 mAh
• User memory - 8GB
• Likely Carrier - Rogers, Telus - See Nokia Lumia 800, however, with this lower end Nokia WP7 handset, look for Rogers to bring it to its Fido brand
• Timeframe - Q2 2012 - but in the US, The Nokia Lumia "Sword" has gone through FCC certification, not sure if it means that some US carrier will have it for this Christmas?

Acer W4

• Processor: 1 Ghz Single Core CPU
• Screen Size: 3.6, LCD
• Camera: 5MP
• Front Camera: No
• Weight: 126g
• Battery - 1300 mAh
• User memory - 8GB
• Likely Carrier - Rogers - Probably going to make it into the Fido line up as Fido currently offers that piece of poo Acer Liquid running Android. 

ZTE Tania

• Processor: 1.4 Ghz Single Core CPU
• Screen Size: 4.3, LCD
• Camera: 5MP
• Front Camera: No
• Weight: Unknown
• Battery - 1400 mAh
• User memory - 4GB - likely to be easily up-gradable
• Likely Carrier -None - No North American 3G bands at this moment, it's too bad really, from pictures it actually looks to be a decent looking WP7 handset - build quality is unknown

Toshiba IS12T

• Processor: 1 Ghz Single Core CPU
• Screen Size: 3.7, LCD
• Camera: 13.2MP!!!!
• Front Camera: No
• Weight: 113g
• Battery - 1460 mAh
• User memory - 28GB (32GB total)
• Likely Carrier -None - no chance in hell, no North American 3G bands

Samsung Omnia W

• Processor: 1.4 Ghz Single Core CPU
• Screen Size: 3.7, Super AMOLED
• Camera: 5MP
• Front Camera: Yes, VGA
• Weight: 115g
• Battery - 1500mAh
• User memory - 8GB
• Likely Carrier -None -With the Samsung Focus lineup, no way this is coming to Canada

Unknowns

• LG - Rumour has is that LG is about to bring 2 WP7 handsets to the gen 2 party but so far, haven't seen anything yet, so you LG fans out there will have to wait a bit longer.  I will of course update this post when more information becomes available
• Dell - If you love the portrait keyboard on a WP7 phone (really, that's the only way to have a keyboard with WP7 as WP7 doesn't support horizontal keyboards that well), get ready for some sad news, the long rumoured gen 2 WP7 from Dell ("Wrigley") does not appear to be happening partly due to the initial problems the DVP ran into during early production (since rectified from what I could tell from forums and other review sites).  Will still keep an eye out for this but don't keep your hopes up
• Sony Ericsson (or just Sony now) - the on again, off again WP7 rumours just refuses to die and with all the Apple patent lawsuits against the Android handset manufacturers, Sony might have to make a move. 

I'll update this page with reviews from other sources as well so you can have an idea of what you are getting yourself into.

I am going to do a little Zune Music Pass review in Canada in the next little bit, I am waiting for the Xbox360 fall update to roll out first before I write it up, all you have to know is that in the first 10 days of my zune music pass trial, I downloaded 2.5GB of songs over 3G (not streaming).  Good thing I have a 6GB data plan..

Sources: GSM Arena, Samsung, HTC