HTC Mogul Cell Phone Review - Tour & Design
Front Closed
From the front the HTC Mogul is dominated by a large 2.8" QVGA (240 x 320 pixel) display. Above the screen is the Sprint logo, two indicator LEDs and two shortcut buttons, assigned to messaging and Internet Explorer by default. Below the screen are the phone's main controls. A round directional pad is flanked by two soft keys, Start and OK keys. To the left and right of these buttons are the send and end buttons, respectively.
Front Open
When you open the phone by shoving the screen to the left you reveal the large QWERTY keyboard and the screen's orientation shifts to landscape. The keyboard is similar to that found on other HTC slider phones, including the T-Mobile Wing and AT&T 8525. There are indicators for caps and fn at the top, as well as two soft keys to access the on screen functions. To find out how usable the keypad is check out our hardware section.
Left
On the left of the Mogul are several function keys. At the top is a scroll wheel, with an OK button just below it. Below these is a button that activates voice dialing with a single press and opens a voice note with a long press. Near the bottom of the left side is a switch that turns Wi-Fi on and off. This is a nice extra button that we have not seen on HTC phones in the past.
Top
The top of the MTC Mogul is devoid of buttons or features.
Bottom
The bottom of the Mogul houses the phone's ports. Slightly offset from center is a slot for the Micro SD card. To the left of this slot is the infrared window and just below it is the Mini USB port. You will also see the housing for the stylus on the right side of the bottom.
Right
There are three buttons on the right side of the port. Near the top is the power button and just below it a button that launches the comm manager for turning the various radios and data functions on and off. Near the bottom of the right side is a dedicated camera key that both launches the camera and acts as a shutter button while the camera is active.
Back
The back of the phone is taken up almost in its entirety by the battery cover with the release switch at the bottom. Near the top you will see a slot for the speakerphone with an external antenna port to the right of it. At the upper left is the housing for the 2 megapixel camera along with an LED flash.
Battery Out
When you remove the battery cover on the Mogul you reveal the large 1500 mAh battery. There is no SIM slot as this is a CDMA phone.
In the Box (7.5)
The Mogul ships with a good selection of accessories. There are manuals and a software CD with a trial version of Outlook 2007 and synchronization software. There is a stereo headset with microphone for calls, charger, USB cable, carrying case, and an adaptor that allows you to plug in a Mini USB cable and 2.5mm headset adaptor at the same time. We were also pleased to see a 512 MB Micro SD card included. Although not big enough for serious multimedia users it will get you started.
Handling (5.0)
The HTC Mogul measures 4.3" x 2.3" x .7" and weighs in at 5.8 ounces. It's definitely a big phone, but rounded edges let it fit comfortably into the palm of your hand. It's weight will make it uncomfortable to hold up to your head for an extended period of time. For long calls you're probably better off making use of the included stereo headset. The back of the phone is textured for a better grip, but most of the phone is still made of slick plastic. Nothing like the soft touch paint that's found on devices like the Treo 750 or T-Mobile Dash.
Portability (4.0)
The HTC Mogul's size and weight mean it will bulge in any pocket. If you're wearing tight jeans forget about it. It will fit into most bags, but again it takes up much more room than a regular cell phone. Those who don't mind looking geeky are probably best off using the included belt case.
Aesthetics (4.0)
The Mogul is not a particularly attractive device. It has a certain professional charm, but the grey plastic and plethora of buttons don't contribute to any kind of "sexiness". It's certainly not as pretty as other Windows Mobile devices like the Treo 750 or T-Mobile Dash. If you're looking for a fashion phone you'd better look elsewhere.
Durability (6.0)
The Mogul is constructed of plastic to keep weight down. We fear that the plastic will scratch easily, and are further concerned about the large screen; throw this in your pocket with your keys and the exposed screen could be easily scratched. You probably want to throw a screen protector on it as quickly as possible. We are always concerned about moving parts and the Mogul's slide out keyboard is not exception. It's spring loaded and you don't get the scraping sounds you heard on previous HTC sliding keyboards, but on the other hand springs can loose their springiness over time, which might affect the slide out keyboard. The device does feel solid, which quiets a few of our fears, but the plastic case, slide out mechanism and exposed keyboard are concerns for long term durability.
