We’ve got two new Android phones that are a bit different than the rest, mainly because of their form factor — a full qwerty physical keyboard — the Samsung Galaxy Pro B7510 and the HTC Chacha.
While the Galaxy Pro B7510 is already available locally, the HTC Chacha might not be out until next month (saw them in SG last week) and both Android phones are aimed at the mid-market and those looking for a physical keyboard.
Still, it’s interesting is these qwerty handsets will gain a lot of traction in the Android ecosystem. I’m sure people will find it odd that the screens are very small — sacrificing screen real estate over a physical keyboard reverses the paradigm shift that happened to smartphones years ago when the iPhone and Androids were first introduced.
 |
 |
|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Pro B7510 | HTC Chacha |
| 800MHz CPU | 800MHz CPU |
| HSDPA 7.2Mbps | HSDPA 7.2Mbps, HSUPA 384Kbps |
| 2.8″ @ 320×240 pixels | 2.6″ @ 480×320 pixels |
| 512MB ROM, 512MB RAM | 512MB ROM, 512MB RAM |
| microSD up to 32GB | microSD up to 32GB |
| 2GB microSD included | TBD |
| GPS w/ aGPS support | GPS w/ aGPS support |
| 3.15MP autofocus camera | 5MP autofocus camera w/ LED flash |
| Android OS 2.2 Froyo | Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread |
| WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, WiFi hotspot | WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, WiFi hotspot |
| 108.6 x 66.7 x 10.7 mm | 114.4 x 64.6 x 10.7 mm |
| 103.4 grams | 120 grams |
| Stereo FM radio with RDS | none |
| 1350mAh battery | 1250mAh battery |
| ~Php12,000USD 204INR 17,335EUR 195CNY 1,489 | TBD |
On paper, it looks like the HTC Chacha has a bit on a edge over the Galaxy Pro and while the latter has a slightly bigger screen, the pixel density on the Chacha is more than twice that of the B7510. The Galaxy Pro’s edge is the built-in FM radio tuner while the Chacha has a dedicated Facebook button.
The verdict isn’t out yet since we don’t have a suggested retail price on the HTC Chacha. My guess is that it will be in the Php13k to Php15k range.
But the question remains — does a full qwerty smartphone with small screen still appeal to you?
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Jesse says:
Physical qwerty keypad could be still appealing if it has the familiar feel of Blackberry’s but an android would be better off with virtual touch keyboard. I’m in favor more of the screen than the keypads.
tfcnow01 says:
absolutely YES
Eason says:
More in favor for me, but due to the smaller resolution I’ll have to pass. I’ll wait for the time when its in the standard resolution so that the android experience is not compromised
Fleeb says:
But those are standard displays.
(Granted not all apps would work well with QVGA.)
MyMaria says:
I’m a big fan of QWERTY phones ever since and I think I’ll definitely go for one now that it comes with Android :)
adam says:
I prefer touchscreen than qwerty.
Cocopako says:
Pwede na din,,,
tmcr says:
I own a Galaxy Pro. Texting, sending emails, and communicating via Skype, YM are a joy.
Dippin Slash says:
I’ll go with the HTC Chacha.
bart says:
no, it doesn’t. BUT! For me.. Form factor outweigh’s anything else though. So no matter how old your handset or how outdated its OS would be in the future.. as long as you like its intricate design.. then it would still be an apple of your eye. I’ll go for cha cha coz i like its trademark HTC earpiece design. I would be tickled pink using it during a call.
HTC says:
Kailangan pa bang imemorize yan?? HTC na!
quzaqi says:
i hope they can make one like the nokia N900 so as not to sacrifice the screen size but retain the qwerty keyboard.
tmcr says:
@quzaqi.they actually made a slideout qwerty. Samsung has the mid-range galaxy 551 while htc has the desire z which is more of a flagship device months ago.
– sent via Samsung Galaxy Pro
Yunus Mohammed says:
I wld like to know how would one get a purchase when bought a material via sea or airport
Dr.MedTech says:
you think openline ang HTC Chacha if prepaid mo binili?
rahul says:
Overall the samsung galaxy pro is best …..with price, size,screen and weighti.
It looks more stylish.
jums says:
parang mali mali yung specs dito
Sonia says:
I send a lot of messages and emails through my mobile phone, so definitely the qwerty keyboard is for me a must! I actually have the samsung galaxy and it really gives me a hard time when I am writing my messages. With a qwerty keyboard I do it much more quicker…
Hazel Lyn says:
HTC ChaCha. My phones of the previous year December 2010-December 2011 were the Desire HD and Nokia E72. The QWERTY form factor is certainly preferable for a lot of messaging activities— texting, e-mail, etc. but I found the Nokia quite annoying to do text messages with as the format isn’t threaded. So I tended to use my Desire HD more due to a more refined experience… I’m quite fast with using the on-screen keyboard and have no complaints with it. I actually prefer it during the times when silence or subtlety is a must, but that Facebook button as well as the therapeutic feel of a real keyboard… just strikes me as necessary, for some reason.
Got my HTC Desire HD succeeded with an HTC Sensation XE this last Christmas. (Thank you, my loving parents!) Am now going to succeed my Nokia E72 with an HTC ChaCha. Love the Sense UI experience and absolutely love HTC’s premium phones! No other UI integrates with Android so well in such an intuitive manner. <3
b0mb_shel says:
Im a big fan of qwerty phones…previous owner of nokia e63 and now i am using htc chacha…htc chacha is the best phone i owned so far…love it :))
Meghana says:
Hey! I want to buy a new phone, which has qwerty and touch screen. and these two seem to be the best! but im so confused which one to choose between them! please help!
Neo Antonio says:
Wish to buy this. Do you still have the phone? Thanks.