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Samsung and LG have been battling in the budget touchscreen phone arena for some time now, but the HTC Tattoo just sauntered into the stadium and casually stabbed both companies’ efforts. To death. Forget The LG GM750 or the Tocco Ultra: this dinky Android phone packs in everything you could need, along with some of the best mobile software on the planet. Read on to find out why we’re smitten in our HTC Tattoo review right here.
If you can accept the smaller footprint and screen (and we love the HTC Tattoo’s tiny shell), there’s little to recommend other budget Android efforts like the T-Mobile Pulse over HTC’s new baby. Not only does it pack all the smartphone as per, like 3G, Wi-Fi and GPS, but it’s got HTC’s Sense skin draped over the top of Android. Last seen on the upper crust HTC Hero, it’s a homescreen layout that sucks in all your social network updates from Twitter, Facebook and Flickr, and it works a treat: seeing a mate’s Facebook status next to their mug before you dial is incredibly helpful, and will make you think twice before ringing a hungover bod. HTC has also locked away the lag we saw originally with Sense on the Hero so anyone worried about stall times can strike that concern from the list.
You’ll also find Google’s regular bundle of apps like Maps and Mail on board the HTC Tattoo, plus Android Market access to download more. It’s worth pointing out that not every program may work because of the HTC Tattoo’s unusually small screen rez, but the apps we tested, including Transdroid, WikiMobile and Places Directory, worked just fine.
Read our HTC Touch2 review now
Sadly, it’s not all a conjuring act that’s helped HTC keep costs down with the HTC Tattoo: the camera’s 3.2 megapixel shots won’t wow anyone, but are better than the new those from the new BlackBerry Curve 8520 and look much sharper on a bigger screen. And speaking of screens, the smaller, 2.8-inch panel uses a cheaper touch technology than the spangly HTC Hero’s display, so is noticeably less responsive. HTC’s software goes a long way towards correcting any spelling bobos, but it’s a pain when you’re trying to bring up the menu from the icon in the bottom corner of the screen.
That really is our only gripe with the HTC Tattoo though. We said when we reviewed the almost identically specced HTC Touch2 that only Windows Mobile was holding it back from greatness, and Android on the HTC Tattoo is everything we hoped it would be. If you’re looking for a tiny touchscreen smartphone on the cheap, this is it.
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