[rafabr4]

Hi!
In a few months I will change my actual phone (Blackberry /: ) and I really want a WP7. So my three options are the Lumia 710, HTC Radar and Omnia W.

Lumia 710 pros: clearblack display, nokia software, nokia hardware¿?
Lumia 710 cons: no front facing camera, no wifi tethering (although I don't use it too much), 1300 mAh battery

Omnia W pros: Super AMOLED display, front facing camera, 1500 mAh battery
Omnia W cons: is there any?

HTC Radar pros: front facing camera, 1520 mAh
HTC Radar cons: is there any?

So what am I missing here? People tell me that the Lumia 710 is good because Nokia's hardware is always good. But people doesn't seem to like the Radar or the Omnia W so much, why??

Also I looked into a comparative of this three phones cameras in: Photo Compare Tool - GSMArena.com
and there is no huge difference beween them, so what would you recommend?

[ubizmo]

Hi!
In a few months I will change my actual phone (Blackberry /: ) and I really want a WP7. So my three options are the Lumia 710, HTC Radar and Omnia W.

Lumia 710 pros: clearblack display, nokia software, nokia hardware¿?
Lumia 710 cons: no front facing camera, no wifi tethering (although I don't use it too much), 1300 mAh battery

Omnia W pros: Super AMOLED display, front facing camera, 1500 mAh battery
Omnia W cons: is there any?

HTC Radar pros: front facing camera, 1520 mAh
HTC Radar cons: is there any?

So what am I missing here? People tell me that the Lumia 710 is good because Nokia's hardware is always good. But people doesn't seem to like the Radar or the Omnia W so much, why??

Also I looked into a comparative of this three phones cameras in: Photo Compare Tool - GSMArena.com
and there is no huge difference beween them, so what would you recommend?

You've summarized some of the main points pretty well. You need to ignore what "people" say and decide what's important. For example, in my opinion the Lumia 710's 1300 mAh battery makes it clearly underpowered. For me, that's a deal-breaker. I refuse to have a phone that has to be recharged before I go to bed at night. You may not care. I have no use for a front-facing camera, but you might. The Lumia is definitely better to look at in direct sunlight, but how much of an issue is that for you? I've found that in most circumstances I can tilt my Radar away from the sun and see it without too much trouble. On the other hand, I'd love to have Nokia Drive on the Radar, but it's not a deal-breaker, or else I wouldn't have bought it. I can get by with other navi software. The Radar has some added special-purpose camera functions, but they don't mean much to me; they might to you.

I still have my BlackBerry, and in fact use it more than my Radar, but I'm keeping both to see if that changes with time, and with upgrades to WP.

[speedtouch]

Everything about the Lumia 710 is awesome...except for the battery. Its huge Achilles Heel. But the hardware is good, it's very fast, the screen is awesome, and since MS and Nokia seem to be married now, I suspect we can count on updates to the phone.

[rafabr4]

Yeah, I find the Lumia's battery very frustrating, because overall is a very good phone (and cheap). I don't really use the front facing camera but I'm sure that someday I will need to do some video calls. Also the nokia exclusive software is not a deal-breaker as you said.

So I think the Lumia 710 is not an option here (for me), it leaves us with the two other phones. The Samsung's main advantages are the super AMOLED screen and the 1.4ghz processor, over the S-LCD and 1.0ghz on the Radar. But I seem to like more the design and build quality of the Radar, the display is good enough for me as well. Also the Samsung's screen seems to drains the battery, so the Radar's battery lasts longer.

The Omnia W is very expensive (at least in my country, Mexico), so I will wait for the Radar to arrive, hopefully it will be cheaper.

Thanks

[speedtouch]

Good luck! I hope you find the right phone. Why not consider a first generation WP7 device? Surely you can find a used one very cheaply.

[rafabr4]

Good luck! I hope you find the right phone. Why not consider a first generation WP7 device? Surely you can find a used one very cheaply.

Well, I want 2nd gen devices because I think they have more chance of being updated on the future, also the only 1st gen WP7 device we have here is the LG Optimus 7 (which is always out of stock), and buying unlocked phones from USA would be more expensive and a lot of trouble because of the shipping. So getting new phones with a plan is easier for me.

I just read an article which said that the Lumia 710 was coming at a really low price, so if I find the HTC Radar being too expensive, the Lumia will be the chosen one.

[sentimentGX4]

I'd probably get the Lumia 710 since it's the best value.

The Radar is a low end device with a 1 ghz processor. I'd rather just get a Samsung Focus or any 1st gen device, which are cheaper.

[VernonEL]

The Samsung Focus Flash is a really good device. It is selling like hotcakes. I really like the size of it, and the fact that it has the FFC and a more robust battery seem to tip it over the edge.
However, the Flash is ugly compared to the 710. My daughter really wants the 710, just because of the white front and blue back. She doesn't care that it doesn't have a FFC.
It really depends on where you place your priorities.

[Gmotagi]

I bought my son the 710 and its a really nice phone, he loves it. Re: the battery, is it really that much of an issue to plug it in once a day or overnight?

However all three of those phones are in my 'really nice' list so tbh I dont think you will be dissapointed whichever one you choose :)

[bilzkh]

It's a tough choice, all 3 of them are great devices in their own right...

Focus Flash is a superb all-round device, and I don't think you could wrong with the Radar either. Lumia 710 is a solid device at its price ($254.99 no-contract in Canada), and having Nokia Drive and Maps doesn't hurt.

That said, it just depends on what you can live with and without, and how much you're willing to pay for your next phone. But if you're into WP7 no matter what the circumstance, I don't think you can regret your phone choice, all are great devices. I just yearn for the day we see a $250-300 WP7.5 phone with FFC, gorilla glass, AMOLED, etc - now that would be a fighter.

[speedtouch]

I bought my son the 710 and its a really nice phone, he loves it. Re: the battery, is it really that much of an issue to plug it in once a day or overnight?

However all three of those phones are in my 'really nice' list so tbh I dont think you will be dissapointed whichever one you choose :)

You're right. It's not a huge deal. The battery life of the 710 is enough to make it through a day. But that is the biggest negative of the 710. Otherwise, the 710 is a rockin' phone.

[rafabr4]

Thank you all for your replys, I won't buy the Omnia W since it's very expensive at the moment, and it's only available through a carrier I don't really like. So I'm looking forward to buy a Radar if it turns to be not so expensive, If not, the Lumia 710.

[freestaterocker]

For me battery life is king, so I would choose the Radar or the FF. Probably the Radar since I can see Pentile...

[rafabr4]

For me battery life is king, so I would choose the Radar or the FF. Probably the Radar since I can see Pentile...

What do you mean about Pentile?

[RenatoFontes]

Yeah, I find the Lumia's battery very frustrating, because overall is a very good phone (and cheap). I don't really use the front facing camera but I'm sure that someday I will need to do some video calls. Also the nokia exclusive software is not a deal-breaker as you said.

So I think the Lumia 710 is not an option here (for me), it leaves us with the two other phones. The Samsung's main advantages are the super AMOLED screen and the 1.4ghz processor, over the S-LCD and 1.0ghz on the Radar. But I seem to like more the design and build quality of the Radar, the display is good enough for me as well. Also the Samsung's screen seems to drains the battery, so the Radar's battery lasts longer.

The Omnia W is very expensive (at least in my country, Mexico), so I will wait for the Radar to arrive, hopefully it will be cheaper.

Thanks

You can actually buy an unlocked focus flash from ebay, as long as the total cost doesn't exceed 300 dollars you wouldn't pay taxes even if it is shipped to mexico.

I'm thinking about buying it too. =)

[gregoron]

I have the 710 after much comparison. Just liked its camera, looks, and feel better than the Radar. Did not like having to switch to micro sim card and not able to use my old phones with regular sim. Radar uses regular sim.

[Winterfang]

I've being seeing a lot of 710 lately but yesterday I found someone that returned one. I find it funny that she mentioned the phone she used to had and wanted to see if there was accessories.

Why she returned it? No easy way to transfer all her contacts. She got a Galaxy Ace now, which I personally find it to be inferior but it had what she needed. =(

[ljkelley]

I've being seeing a lot of 710 lately but yesterday I found someone that returned one. I find it funny that she mentioned the phone she used to had and wanted to see if there was accessories.

Why she returned it? No easy way to transfer all her contacts. She got a Galaxy Ace now, which I personally find it to be inferior but it had what she needed. =(

Which is ironic as the Lumia 710 is probably the WP7 device that is easiest to get all your contacts on with Contacts Transfer using Bluetooth. And provided she then created a Live account it would all be in the cloud for any future device.

[freestaterocker]

What do you mean about Pentile?

The FF (Omnia W) uses a screen that has a pentile matrix. This means that each pixel is made up of four sub-pixels; red, blue, and 2 greens. It was designed as a battery-saving measure because green is easiest for the human eye to perceive, allowing the phone to be useable at lower brightness settings. Problem is, it creates very subtle diagonal green lines that are especially noticeable on a white background, making text appear blurry, and it is incredibly annoying for people who can see it. However, many people can have the screen inches from heir face and not notice it. I can see it easily.

[rafabr4]

Well, the HTC Radar hasn't arrived to Mexico yet. This means I'm getting the Lumia 710, is very cheap. I've noticed that the updates for Nokia devices are released very fast, is this the same for other manufacturers?

[HeyCori]

Well, the HTC Radar hasn't arrived to Mexico yet. This means I'm getting the Lumia 710, is very cheap. I've noticed that the updates for Nokia devices are released very fast, is this the same for other manufacturers?

I don't think there's any OEM for any platform that release updates as fast or as often as Nokia.

[socialcarpet]

For what it's worth, they do make extended batteries for the Lumia 710 now.

Mugen Power makes an excellent 1500 MaH extended battery for it that fits the phone without making it any thicker or needing a new battery door.

Though that would probably raise the price enough to make it the same cost as the Focus Flash (Omnia W) for you. (the battery is about $45 U.S.)

Personally I have more trust for Nokia to back their Windows phones up, make them update friendly and I just think the phones are very well made.

The Samsung, like all Samsung phones feels a bit cheaply made, though the components and specs are good. The Flash is a very small phone too, something which could be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on your perspective.

The HTC Radar is very nicely made, quality is evident there, but then you're stuck with a first ten 1 ghz processor.

If I were you, I would go with the Lumia 710. It's still the newest model in that lineup. Nokia has an excellent reputation and they are the only company 100% committed to the Windows Phone platform, which means you can expect the best support from them.

The battery is a small point I think, if it really seems inconvenient later, you always have the option of the upgraded battery.

[Hellmur]

Yo should also consider the specific manufacturer apps.

In my Lumia 800 I have Nokia Drive, Nokia Public Transport, Nokia Music, Nokia Transfer to (beta for DLNA services), and I think they are only available for Nokia phones. HTC and Samsung probably have some specific software too.

[rafabr4]

Well, I know it has been some time since the last reply. But I can tell you I'm finally getting my Lumia 710 in a few days. Lately I've been tempted by the Radar. However, it is almost almost $100 more expensive than the Lumia, and considering that we are not getting the Windows Phone 8 update, I decided that is not worth investing that much in the Radar. Despite having a smaller battery and lacking a FF camera, I think Nokia is doing a great job with the updates and the exclusive apps. Anyways, I'll buy a case for my Nokia since it is not a unibody design and it is plastic.

Thanks everyone!

[rafabr4]

Got my Lumia 710 a few weeks ago, and I love it. It is just incredibly fast, the screen is great, camera is good enough and the nokia apps rock! Sadly, I am barely making it through a day, even though I turn off the WiFi and other stuff.