HTC Touch Pro – Review and Teardown
For full teardown analyses, bill of materials, and high-resolution pictures, hit up the wiki: http://www.phonewreck.com/wiki/index.php?title=HTC_Touch_Pro
Many praises have been given to HTC ever since its recent diversion into the self-branded handset space. Being the newer, more functional, but bulkier sibling of the million-selling Touch Diamond, the Touch Pro now zooms its way into CDMA networks on both Sprint and Verizon.
In traditional phone wrecking fare, we give the Touch Pro some good words, some bad words, and we rip it open for amusement. Read on!
HTC Touch Pro Review
Greats
HTC has done well in this phone (probably more than any other Windows Mobile phone) to cover up, well, Windows Mobile. With its TouchFLO 3D streamlining a lot of the WinMo functions for touch use, it’s definitely much more pleasant to use. Given normal circumstances, a regular user wouldn’t even see much of WinMo except the Start button and the typical icons on the top right. The interface is fluid and it runs really smoothly without too many hiccups. The Sprint color schemes are also pleasing to the eye.
Moreover, the resistive screen is among the best of the resistive world. The screen is very bright, there’s minimal distance between the film and the screen, and it’s very solid underneath. With the minimal distance, it almost feels like a glass screen. It’s easy to glide your finger across and doesn’t require much effort. Traversing the menu on the bottom of the TouchFLO 3D panel feels very satisfying.
Finally, Windows Mobile. As annoying to use as it is, Windows Mobile presents functionalities that aren’t offered on any other phone. In the true sense of the word, smartphone, the Touch Pro provides access to everything you’ll need on a handset. It gives you a good connections manager, task manager, a bevy of standard applications, and even lets you manage memory statistics and whatnot.
Middle-Earth
In the land of Tolkien, Middle-earth is presented as a place of struggle where people battle for control. In this section, each of these functionalities and characteristics struggle to find their way between good and evil. First up, comes the aesthetics. The chrome sides and the glossed and tinted metallic front are quite the stunner. The logos from Sprint and HTC are also among the best and the sleekest. Unfortunately, the back cover feels rather cheap, as it’s basically a thin sheet of plastic. Also, the sheer size of the device is a pretty big downer. Those looking for a QWERTY device may be expecting the size, but in hand, it feels even bigger than the pictures.
Build quality. The phone is generally quite solid with front facing buttons that look great and give a good feeling when depressed. However, here is where the back cover ruins things again. The cover creeks a little when you firmly grasp the device, and considering the amount of use by a smartphone like this, the lack of foresight on this part really hurts it. Also, the sliding mechanism is definitely not as smooth as the XPERIA X1′s nor the G1′s. The bottom of the screen module scrapes over the keys, resulting in an inelegant transition.
Speaking of opening the device, the keyboard is another mediocre solution. Having a massive 5 rows of keys is great in theory, but the final implementation is why it’s in this section rather than the Great section. The keyboard is very useful. It types fast, and the keys are all where you would expect it to be. There are, however, minor annoyances. The grippiness of the material coupled with the flatness, causes you to subconsciously revert to using nails — which gets rather tiring. The space bar is also ridiculously small and the placements of the symbols are awkward to get used to. When we did however, we flew through the emails and text messages, with a moderate amount of effort. It’s good, but it’s not great.
Processing. The phone uses a Qualcomm MSM7201A processor that handles most of the dirty work. Running Windows Mobile is perfectly fine, and it swallows everything you throw at it. The TouchFLO 3D interface runs smoothly most of the time, but accessing some of its functions will expose some lag issues. When syncing and sideloading onto the computer, Microsoft’s ActiveSync works as it should, but slows down file tranfers dramatically when compared to Mass Storage mode. ActiveSync ended up at 1.4MBps while Mass Storage gave me about 3.2MBps. The speeds are expected as the hardware architecture is very similar to the XPERIA X1, but its still nowhere near as fast as the Bold’s blazing 15MBps mark.
Gripes
Windows Mobile. Similar to the XPERIA X1, the most annoying thing about the phone is the use of Windows Mobile. It’s unattractive and totally does not work well with the thumbs. It’s greats in functionality are totally leveled with its gripes in usability. Let’s hope Microsoft finishes their updates fast.
Conclusion
All in all, HTC has done a good refresh to the Diamond, adding in much better functionality with the QWERTY keyboard. Unfortunately, it’s still bulky, it still has a resistive touchscreen, and in the end it’s still Windows Mobile. I don’t mean to completely bash WinMo 6.1, but it’s totally outdated and is dying for a refresh.
In the end, the Touch Pro targets current users of the Tilts and other hardcore smartphones. The sheer bulk of the phone isn’t much different and totally not comfortable in the pocket, but the new look, and the fresh TouchFLO 3D UI definitely are worth taking the plunge over — if that’s what you’re looking for.
phoneWreck Score: 8 slides out of 10
HTC Touch Pro Teardown
We chose to do this teardown, because most people have noted the insides of the GSM teardown and its highly similar architecture with the GSM Diamond. Instead of the Qualcomm MSM72xx processors, the CDMA Touch Pro uses the Qualcomm MSM7501A along with the traditional Qualcomm chipset – including the Qualcomm PM7540 and the Qualcomm RTR6500. So check out the block diagram below!
Again, the processor integrates the GPS, audio codecs, and also the USB controller. Shown on the main PCB (below), we see that Anadigics has won the design for the dual-band CDMA power amps, with EVDO Rev. A capabilities. Samsung, in traditional memory fashion, has gotten the win for the memory chip with integrated NAND Flash and RAM.
On the other side of the PCB, we have the processor and most of the rest of the chips. The USB PHY is an SMSC chip, similar to pretty much the rest of the HTC devices. Texas Instruments has its Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chipset, BRF6350BL and WL1251B respectively, with the WL1251FE power amp.
Shown below is the screen module. Here we see an Epson IC for what we believe controls the resistive touchscreen, as it’s also found on the XPERIA X1. Also interesting to note is two ICs for microcontrollers, from Atmel and Cypress.
Finally, we have the rest of the parts of the device. The camera module and the board comparing the USB are shown below. The other interesting thing to note is the four torsional springs implemented just to slide the device. In fact, the small and light cover, uses a dual torsional spring, just to hide the ribbon.
Finally, everything together! Enjoy!
If you have questions, comments, concerns, humorous anecdotes, be sure to let us know in the comments or through e-mail (phonewreck@gmail.com). Also be sure to visit the wiki for more pictures (http://www.phonewreck.com/wiki/index.php?title=HTC_Touch_Pro)! Thanks!
Did you happen to find a FM Radio chip?
@ Sean
No we didn’t. None of the marked chips were FM-related, but there ARE some unmarked (no manufacturer name) ICs that could possibly be it. If anyone knows what the IC looks like in the GSM versions, we’d be happy to take another look.
Thank you so much Dr. Wreck.. Your find has prompted a thread all its own on the site I am a member of…
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=49932
Any updates on the FM Radio for CDMA?
great work, i’m playing with getting android up on this thing and have a couple hardware questions you may be able to help with:
1) I believe the cypress uC with cap sense block is running the touch sensitivity on the home/back pad. There are only 5 mechanical switches here, one under home/send/left arrow, one under back/hangup/right arrow, one under uparrow, one under down arrow and one under the navipad. The difference between a press of home, left arrow, send seems to be detected through the touch sensitivity.
2) Any thoughts on the atmel controller? i couldn’t find the model number you mentioned in the article but have worked with plenty of atmega’s in the past, is it obvious what this unit is connected to via traces? I’m not sure what it does at this point, it may have a hand in running the home/back key panel
3) The IC next to the keyboard connector, is there any useful labeling on it? The phone does something odd in the managing of the keyboard pressing and i think this IC is responsible for the decoding of pressing, then possibly communicating them to the qualcomm proc via I2C.
Cheers,
x
Hello, great review. I’d like you to give me an advice. I’m about to change my old but very usefull SE W810i. I’m in the advertising business, and I would like a phone that lets me view and even edit office documents. One that lets me web browsing and check my email accounts. Good Sound, good screen image. I have these three options, HTC Touch Pro, Nokia 5800 and the Samsung Omnia, although I’ve heard that the Omnia has problems with the sync between the sound and image when recording a video. What do you think? I’d like to know your opinion and if you have any other recommendation it is welcome. From Bogota, Colombia…Tony
Hey, what type of connectors are those on the mainboard connection that look like antenna connections, do they have a specific name, or specific number? I would like to order an adapter that would connect that to a FME connector for an external antenna
@ Dan
i don’t know for sure but they look like standard MC-card connectors in the pictures, you probably want a MC-card to SMA pigtail i would guess depending on what kind of antenna your thinking of connecting to it.
cheers,
x
well, after calling around to several places it turns out that this connector is not:
and MC connector
nor a U.FL connector
or even the more exotic MS-147 connector, even though it is the closest to that.
is that touch pro still in pieces? if so, is there any way to get a measurement of the connector, how high, diamater, and a real big closeup? I really want to find the connector name now, if only for the satisfaction of knowing…
Were able to tell if there are any 01005 size passive components and the qty used?
Sorry for getting to you guys so late! We’ve been a little busy with other things.
@ xianthax: Good catch on the Cypress uC! As for the Atmel, it’s nigh impossible to see what its hooked up to. I also have no idea what the IC beside the keyboard connection thing is for. Sorry!
@ dan: I’m actually not too sure about the antenna thing. Unfortunately, we don’t have the Touch Pro on hand anymore. I hope xianthax can help you out on that one.
@ Mike: Sorry, we’re not really experienced in passive components. And again, we don’t have this thing anymore. If you could give us an idea of what to look for, we could possibly go through our pictures to see. Give us an e-mail at: phonewreck@gmail.com
Thanks guys!
Dear Dr. Wreck
I have this phone for about month. Few days ago strange things started to happend. Phone’s speaker is buzzing or not working at all, strange thing is that it is working when i touch the screen and few seconds after it stops again. ive tried everything software related, no help. If you have ANY clue what this might be please help. I love this phone, but i have no warrenty.
ps. i can make a video if that can help you. THANK YOU!!!
Hi ,
I am looking to understand better the PM7540 solution. what are the accompanying discretes and what is the footprint of the total power management solution ? thanks.
Hey Adja,
The PM7540 is part of a Qualcomm reference design that includes the baseband, PMIC and RF transceiver. I don’t know specifically want you want in terms of footprint. Feel free to send us an e-mail!
Mike were you able to get a confirmation on the presence of 01005 components in there ?
thanks
Hello. Awesome tear down. There is something I need to ask you.
I own a HTC Touch Diamond and thinking of buying a Touch Pro. Diamond has a dedicated graphics processor and drivers to support 3d acceleration. I am interested in knowing whether the Pro also exhibits same graphic performance like Diamond while watching MP4 H.264 videos. I would like to ask you whether the Pro has also been fitted with a dedicated graphics processor, and does it playback MP4 video as good as the Diamond.
Thank you in advance.
BRF6350BL is the one could provide FM Radio feature
Yes, some how my htc touch pro has locked and im not remembering the pass code, I`d called my phone company, they tried everything is there an by-pass code
Any idea where the sensor that detects weather the keyboard is in or out may be. i recently replaced the keyboard in mine and now it acts as if the keyboars is always out even when its not. When it boots up it makes the sound that incdecates that the keyboard has just been slid out.
Hey,
Lately my HTCS touch pro’s screen has been acting up. For lack of a beter word, the screen(not phone) vibrates and shakes. Sometimes the screen turns completly green or gray. ANything i can do?
Hi,
I have a reliability report to submit: I accidentally put the htc touch pro through a complete wash and spin cycle. It survived with all functions intact except the battery which I had to replace and the GPS which is not working at all.
If the GPS is integrated onto the core CPU chip I guess there is no way to replace it other than by replacing the CPU?
-Arvid
I just ditched my Incite for your Tilt 2 (AT&T) All I can say is WOW this is a better phone! I see lots of messages here regarding the TP2, is this a different phone completely, or is it just the Verizon version of the same phone with slightly different interface? Was there a Tilt 1? I am trying to get accessories and want to make sure I don’t buy the wrong stuff.
1 day old TP2 and having some adjustment shock. I will look completely thru this website, nevertheless it is so distinct from my q and my palm 800 which have been both largely the same. At this time the only factor I genuinely fully grasp is tips on how to access web ( which can be why I bought it ) Creating calls recieving messages is harder, moving photos to TP@ so I can use it being a viewer looks difficult. I can move them but i want them to be easily identified around the device. Learning curve I hope is all.
Hi Dr. Wreck,
I recon you are really doing gr8 work. I need some help from you in deciding about a mobile phone. I hope you could help me in this. I am planning to by the HTC SMART (F3188) at around $150 unlocked. below is the site which shows the exact model I am looking at. Could please let me know is t value for money. or else can u please suggest some other phone which will be a gr8 buy.
Thanks in advance
Prashanth. K