The Boy Genius Report: Hands-on with the HTC Excalibur!
Ok fellow geeks, fanboys, nerds, phone fiends, and otherwise generally awesome Engadget readers. Excuse me if my typing is a little off I can't stop shaking. I just got a hands-on with the HTC Excalibur, and in all honesty, people are gonna have to watch out. This is the most responsive, fastest Windows Smartphone I have ever used. Everything was made to perfection. The device is metal and rubberized plastic which gives it a great feel in your hands, and the keys... oh my lord, the keys! They are firm but not hard, softly tactcile but not squishy. The touch bar is incredible: highly responsive and ingenious or, Boy Genius if you will. It also earns the right to be called a Q-killer because it basically kills the Q in size and usability. The EDGE performance is great -- no, it's not 3G, but the built-in Wifi helps make up for it. And the microSD and clear, great-sounding speaker don't hurt none, either. And now the moment you have all been waiting for, I give you
[Click on for pictures of the Excalibur next to the BlackBerry Pearl (8100), BlackBerry 8700, and a Nokia N73. -Ed.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bdswan @ Sep 7th 2006 12:16PM
That's awesome... now go change your pants.
Thanks Boy Genius .
Grant @ Sep 7th 2006 12:31PM
Is this for cingular or Tmobile in the US? Release date???
Scott B @ Sep 7th 2006 1:22PM
Grant, T-Mobile is gonna get it.
Now either the Boy Genius has huge hands or the Excalibur is much smaller than the promo pics project. Very nice either way.
Dan @ Sep 7th 2006 1:48PM
If the device is as responsive as the Boy Genius says it is then maybe I will pick one up for myself. Been looking for a smartphone I can use with texting / typing for documents and for occasional browsing. Didnt wanna go with Verizon though for the Q since I've been hearing nothing but horror stories.
Hope T-mobile picks it up over here soon so I can atleast pay less then compared to unlocked versions.
Mike @ Sep 7th 2006 1:50PM
Looks like a great phone...but what's an "integrated" power button?
Chris @ Sep 7th 2006 2:03PM
No pics next to a Treo?
If I think a Treo is too large am I going to think this is too large?
Joe Mobile @ Sep 7th 2006 2:13PM
How does this kill the Q in size? This puppy is FAT.
DeviceHound @ Sep 7th 2006 2:13PM
Edge? Blah....
Samsung SGH-i600 has everything this one does, plus UMTS and a front mounted cam for video conferencing.
Ryan @ Sep 7th 2006 2:31PM
Do you get regular manicures?
Ben @ Sep 7th 2006 3:45PM
any chance of a CDMA for Verizon version?
edeab220 @ Sep 7th 2006 4:15PM
How does it compare with the Nokia E61?
GideoN @ Sep 7th 2006 5:17PM
Even though it is set for T-Mobile, it seems that Boy Genious has taken it upon himself to insert a Cingular SIM. If you look closely at the SIM, you will notice it and also the main screen states, "Cingular". I want this phone.
Tom Pacyk @ Sep 7th 2006 5:20PM
I don't think you can call this a Q killer until it gets a facelift. That thing looks hideous.
felonious.monk @ Sep 7th 2006 5:50PM
I agree with #13. As good as it's specs are, its look doesn't sell. The TechFaith/Ubiquio on the other hand is far better looking than the Q.
Mitch @ Sep 7th 2006 8:21PM
Hell yeah. Looks like a perfect replacement for my SDA, which will be promptly placed on Ebay the moment this sucker is available from T-Mobile.
Duder @ Sep 7th 2006 10:41PM
How did you get your hands on the phone?
dan @ Sep 7th 2006 11:31PM
I dont see how everyone is bashing it for its looks. I think it looks sexier then the q or samsung i320. With a nice steel/rubberized plastic look and feel this device will definitely be one hard to not love by looks. And if this device performs much better then what the boy genius is saying then I'll definitely pick this up over any black berry.
Dave Zatz @ Sep 7th 2006 11:31PM
Someone give Boy Genius a raise!
Beanie @ Sep 8th 2006 12:32AM
Might as well be EDGE only because HSDPA won't be available everywhere for a while. At least not in Central Florida, i.e., Orlando!
bryan @ Sep 8th 2006 1:51AM
does the phone has push email on it? or is it still every 15 minutes...?
Kent Pribbernow @ Sep 8th 2006 9:11AM
For anyone curious to see how this compares to the Nokia E61, you really need to see this. All I can say is HOLY FREAKIN COW!!!! And I have the E61!!!
http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12284&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=10
This little guy is going to smoke the big boys.
chopps @ Sep 8th 2006 12:07PM
so when is this or anyother of the smartphones coming to Sprint?
TxdoHawk @ Sep 8th 2006 11:53PM
I'm with Ben, are we going to see a CDMA version? I'm essentially stuck with Verizon, and while the Q is tempting, I'd much rather have a smartphone with Wi-Fi.
digifreak wannabe @ Sep 9th 2006 1:29AM
Hmmmm...looks like a darth vader version of the BB 8700. The more you look at it though the sexier it gets I think. Any idea on how much this baby's gonna go for?
T-Will @ Sep 9th 2006 3:42AM
Oh wow, after seeing these comparison shots I think I'm leaning towards this over the Q. Plus hearing that it is extremely responsive and has Wifi are two more pluses.
Any idea when this will be coming to T-Mobile? I was actually considering switching from T-Mobile to Verizon this weekend to get the Q, but I think I better wait a little longer until I can check out the Excalibur. ;-)
Sean @ Sep 9th 2006 5:41PM
Does anyone know the exact physical dimenstions?
How hard will it be to find accessories (i.e. cases, belt clips, charging stands, etc.)?
Willi @ Sep 10th 2006 3:45AM
111,5 x 62,5 x 12,8 mm
130 g
bnycastro @ Sep 11th 2006 10:27PM
great pics geniusboy... thanks for sharing. really excited about this smartphone as well. looking forward to a dopod version as I live in Asia :D
Nick @ Sep 18th 2006 2:09AM
Anyone know what sort of headphone jack it has? Standard or proprietary? Looks like standard, but I wanted to get other opinions. Wisdom of crowds!
noel @ Sep 20th 2006 4:38PM
This i think will be a cingular phone. If you look close you can see a cingular sim card in the phone. This is why i ASSUME that the phone will belong to cingular. According to phonescoop.com, this phone should come out in October.
noel @ Sep 20th 2006 4:39PM
This i think will be a cingular phone. If you look close you can see a cingular sim card in the phone. This is why i ASSUME that the phone will belong to cingular
Matt @ Oct 8th 2006 8:46PM
My friend is a manager at a local T Mobile Store. The people at Cingular told me they have no plans for it, so I may be switching to T mobile to get it. This phone is freakin' BLLLaaaAAAAAAzzzZZZing! Its the nicest phone or PDA for that matter Ive ever held. He let me fool around with it for about 5 minutes. Options galore, feels wonderful.... Its the full package and tiny enough to fit in your pocket.
I cant wait to use my SLINGBOX with this device!
Wi-Fi or Edge I'll be Slinging all the time!!!!!
check out this video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsbMbnBeEfY
Quatre @ Oct 12th 2006 5:19AM
It seems great and all and has wifi which the Q doesn't. and though that touch sensitive volume control is supposedly not very good or responsive its still cool but yeah it was going to be a jog wheel but since it sucked they could only use it for volume. so it has no wheel? i got used to using the wheel to scroll with the Q
bottom line is, that it doesnt' have highspeed data. with plenty of phone and carrier choices now with 3g data why get a smart or ppc phone that doesnt have or is on a carrier that doesnt have high speed data.
they should have made this with hsdpa for cingular then it would have sold more. once tmob has their highspeed data that will be great. in the meantime this phone isn't worth it unless you are stuck on tmob and just going to use wifi all the time.
Ken T @ Nov 2nd 2006 4:12PM
I have the T-Mobile Dash and it rocks. A key feature is the support for stereo bluetooth. I have a Motorola HT-820 stereo bluetooth headset that I use with it. It totally rocks! When you install the headphones, they have headset and stereo headphone support. I am listening to MP3s and the I get a phone call, the music volume lowers and I answer the phone, talk to the caller on my headphones (in both ears!) and when I end the call, the music starts again. Its fast, has micro-sd for 2gb card (4gbs available soon). It has upgraded camera software that has cool new features like time and date stamp. And did I say its faster??
steven vaccaro @ Nov 21st 2006 4:52PM
Is there a device that allows us to broadcast the mp3's on te Excalibur to our car stereo like the ipod has?
tommy mobile @ Apr 8th 2007 6:11PM
I am using the dash aka the exclibur to post this all I can say is d@mn skippy but the only complaint is that tinytube.net doesn't work on this so any onyknow afree windows media streaming guide site contact me @ ebonysouldier@yahoo.com