The only closest touchscreen handset that could probably match the iPhone 3G is the HTC Magic with Google’s Android OS. And now that its exclusively available only for Smart Gold subscribers, you can grab one for just Php3,000 under Plan 3500.
The full price matrix, as published on their site, is here:
Plan 500 – Php27,000
Plan 800 – Php24,000
Plan 1200 – Php20,000
Plan 1800 – Php15,000
Plan 2500 – Php9,500
Plan 3500 – Php3,000
Plan comes with a 24-month lock-in period with Smart.
The HTC Magic is a pretty nice phone that nearly matches the iPhone 3G’s features and capabilities (including its own app store):
Qualcomm MSM 7201A 528 MHz processor
3.2 inches, 320×480 pixels
accelerometer sensor
handwriting recognition
192 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM (expandable via microSD card)
HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, HSUPA 2 Mbps
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
3.15 MP autofocus camera
built-in GPS
digital compass
The HTC Magic was available on a Globe Plan for a couple of weeks until Smart snag the exclusive deal with HTC by end of June 2009.
And while it is said that Apple gets a cut of the monthly subscription fee from iPhone subscribers (Globe pays a percentage of the MSF to Apple), I’m not sure if Smart also has a similar deal with HTC due to the exclusivity.
I wrote instructions on how to upgrade your HTC Magic to something better.
http://devbits.blogspot.com/2010/01/htc-magic-rom-upgrade.html
I got the black HTC Magic from Smart last December. Upon opening it there’s nothing interesting to do. Applying the HTC Sense ROM upgrade will reveal its full capabilities. The ROM was posted in the HTC website last November 10. It will prompt you for your google username and password after the upgrade and that’s when everything becomes interesting. Market is now available and you get HTC Sense. It is now a thing of beauty. The hardware is similar to HTC hero except for the camera and flash. Make sure you apply the Singapore/Philippines ROM and not the Malaysia/Indonesia/Vietnam one as that one does not have Market. My unit was apparently registered as a Malaysia model and I couldn’t download the Singapore/Philippines ROM. Communicating with HTC and Smart was not at all helpful and gave me canned responses. I was able to get hold of the ROM upgrade and used the gold card method to override the carrier id check.
I got one for free from getting a retention plan of 1800 from SMART when they had a promo during Ad Con 2009 in Subic.
The unit doesn’t come with Android Market – which is WEIRD – and my SMS application has hanged two times now after which, all messages were deleted.
Setting up gmail in the unit is quite easy. Setting up Yahoo Mail is another story altogether. You have to set it up manually and change settings in your yahoo account to make it work in HTC.
The bluetooth isn’t working yet on my unit, nor on my friends’ units (since 3 of us took that offer during Ad Con).
There is also the problem of the service center. Right now there’s only 1 in the country. It’s in Yakal St., Makati, and is open M-F, office hours, and Sat morning only. YEHEZZZ… Good job HTC! (*sarcastic*) The HTC store in SM North Edsa do not have any tech support guys so they cannot help me out in any way.
So basically, even if the features, size, weight, design, etc. are good, I’d still go with the iPhone if it’s available in SMART. Good thing I got this for free! :)
I have bought this phone the problem is the pre install it comes with the Open Handset distribution so it means you will not have the android market, gmail, google maps etc. and its sucks. :( I tried to flash the ROM but for now its not possible. so be warn :( same with the indian version
try to look at this link also for the info http://jyro.blogspot.com/2009/07/htc-magic-indian-version-expectations.html
No to Magic nor Iphone..
Hero parin!
Hi there! Just want to ask you. From your personal opinion. What’s the best netbook in the market today? coz i’m planning to buy one..
Wow, this phone is really awesome! Thanks for the great share, yuga. :)
Nino Natividad
http://www.ninonatividad.com
i phone is more great looking and have tons of apps…i think it will take time to replace it as the standard of touch phones
Very interesting. One thing going for it is that it isn’t an Apple product. Though personally I don’t like the way the cellphone market seems to be heading towards touch screen phones. I have yet to see a touchscreen phone that I was willing to use as my everyday phone.
I wish they’d price the HTC Hero similarly. May pose a bit of a challenge to the Iphone. Could be my first touch screen phone….
iPhone pa din. mas maganda ang features and style. And madaming apps. :)
I’ll still get 16G iphone 3GS. Almost 2k lang difference nya.