Touch Pro or Touch Pro2, What’s the difference?

If you are currently in the market for a Windows Mobile device and are considering the Touch Pro2 I highly recommend you take a look at my review of the Touch Pro2.  With that being said, many of you have sent me emails asking me about the difference between the Touch Pro2 and the original Touch Pro and whether it is worth the upgrade.  To help answer that question I’ll start by breaking down the specs between the two devices.

Size/Weight

The Touch Pro2 is a much larger and heavier device than the Touch Pro.  The increase in screen size from 2.8 to 3.6 inches is the main culprit, but I consider it a worthy sacrifice for the additional real estate and improved resolution.  While the Touch Pro2 is heavier, longer and wider than the original it manages to register slightly slimmer at 0.66 inches thick.

Processor / Memory

Unfortunately the Touch Pro2 maintains the same processing speed, ROM and RAM as its predecessor.  In my opinion this is a huge disadvantage to the device since we were expecting a considerable performance boost and not simply an updated operating system.

Display

They say presentation is key and the Touch Pro2 proves this statement within seconds of holding the device in your hand.  The boost in screen size and resolution is impressive and really becomes apparent when you browse the web using Opera Mobile.  This is one of three primary reasons I would consider when upgrading to the Touch Pro2.

Connectivity and Battery

The Touch Pro2 follows the Touch Pro in every aspect of connectivity.  You are getting a world class business device capable of browsing GSM networks across the globe.  If a mobile network is not available you can always enable WiFi and browse the web so regardless of the situation there is a way to get online.  When it comes to the battery, the Touch Pro2 features the larger 1500 mAh battery delivering a slight boost in talk time and a tremendous increase in standby time.  Battery life is precious in the world of smartphones and that’s why the battery is the second reason I would consider when upgrading to the Touch Pro2.

Camera

The camera remains unchanged at 3.2-megapixel and unfortunately the Touch Pro2 dropped the flash light.  The end result is a crippled camera that is limited to well lit situations.  However at 3.2-megapixel you are not even close to approaching the image quality of top-end camera phones like the N86, so generally speaking as a business device 3.2-megapixel will suffice.

Input Methods / OS

Both the Touch Pro2 and Touch Pro feature 5-row QWERTY keyboards.  Personally I find the Touch Pro keyboard layout to be better since it offers a dedicated top row for number keys.  The Touch Pro2 on the other hand packs the number keys into alternate buttons across the right side of the keyboard.

The big change and the final reason I would consider when upgrading to the Touch Pro2 is Windows Mobile 6.5.  Despite the delayed release and ultimately rather minor changes, Windows Mobile 6.5 does deliver improved performance on both the core components of the OS as well as TouchFLO 3D.  In many situations where I found the Touch Pro lagging and almost coming to a standstill, I have no had those same experiences on the Touch Pro2.

Final Thoughts

Overall the Touch Pro2 delivers better battery life, improved performance and a much larger higher-resolution screen.  While the Touch Pro features a dedicated row of number keys and a flashlight function for the camera, the Touch Pro2 features one of the best speakerphones I’ve ever had a chance to use.  In general Windows Mobile devices are not known for having superior audio clarity and speakerphone performance has trailed behind the competition.  The Touch Pro2 has raised the bar in that regard and if you are currently using the Touch Pro I would highly consider upgrading your device if you can find a deal.  I would not consider upgrading if you will be paying full price since there are several other Windows Mobile devices coming from HTC in 2010, including the 1GHz HTC HD2.  Since I’ve had a chance to use the HD2 I can tell you that the Touch Pro2 is far behind in terms of Windows Mobile 6.5 performance.