Samsung Galaxy Note vs HTC Titan ~ GoAndroid

We compare one of the most talked about Windows Phone 7 up and comers, the HTC Titan, with the next big Android release from Samsung, the Galaxy Note

The battle between Android and Windows Phone 7 is already being furiously fought, but in the next few weeks things are going to hot up even further as Microsoft finally unleash the long awaited 'Mango' update for Windows Phone devices.
One of the first devices to be equipped with this new update will be HTC's Titan – a smartphone aimed at attracting those that crave a little more power from their mobile device.
The good folks at Google aren't likely to be sweating bullets quite yet though, as their good friends over at Samsung have a little surprise up their sleeve, in the form of the Galaxy Note – a dual-core toting Android 2.3 powered beauty.
But which of these new contenders is the one to watch?
Power
Samsung has imbued the Galaxy Note with its hugely powerful Exynos chipset, which consists of a whopping 1.4GHz dual-core chip, a Mali-400MP GPU and fairly future-proof 1GB RAM, making it a contender for the title of 'world's most powerful smartphone'.
HTC's Titan isn't any slouch though and the device packs a pretty hefty punch of its own thanks to its 1.5GHz Scorpion CPU and Adreno 205 GPU. But even with decent specs like these it won't make a dent in the Galaxy Note's armour, and this deficit is exacerbated by the 512MB RAM included.
It will be the most powerful Windows Phone 7 device on the market though, so not all is lost!
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Note
Display
The HTC Titan is fitted with a 4.7-inch S-LCD display which operates at a resolution of 480 x 800 and offers up a pixel density of 199ppi.
The quality of the display can't really be called into question, as it's of a generally high standard but the size may put some folk off.
The Samsung Galaxy Note boasts an enormous 5.3-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen which features a resolution of 800 x 1280 and a pixel density of 285ppi, which is only a hop behind the mighty iPhone 4.
Another bonus of the Galaxy Note is that its screen is covered with Gorilla Glass, so you won't have to wince every time you hear it hit some shrapnel in your pocket!
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Note
Camera
Both of our contenders are more than amply equipped in the photographic department.
The HTC Titan comes with an 8-megapixel primary, which features LED flash, autofocus, geo-tagging and 720P video capture and a decent 1.3-megapixel secondary for video calling.
The Samsung Galaxy Note comes with an 8-megapixel snapper too, though Samsung has given this device a few extra moves to help it on its way, including autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection and the oh-so important image stabilisation.
In the spirit of one-upmanship the Galaxy Note also offers a 2-megapixel secondary camera and the ability to capture video at 1080P.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Note
Software
As we mentioned earlier, the HTC Titan is going to be among the first devices to offer the highly anticipated 'Mango' update to Windows Phone 7 and this gives the device a great edge over the competition.
Highlights of the update include improved multi-tasking and social networking integration, hands-free messaging, unified inbox and Internet Explorer 9 among many others.
The platform itself is still as easy to use and pleasing to regard as ever, the amount of apps on offer in the Windows Marketplace is expanding daily and the quality is rising across the board. Also the Titan's extra power will give it some extra zip as well, making the device the benchmark Windows Phone experience.
The Samsung Galaxy Note features version 2.3 of Google's Android platform which means safety, security and speed, as well as access to the countless apps and games available on the Android Market.
The Galaxy Note also benefits from Samsung's own TouchWiz 4.0 overlay, which gives users access to new widgets, increased social networking integration and some new apps and games.
Another point worth noting is that Samsung has given the device support for pretty much every audio and video format there is, so you can make use of that lush 5.3-inch screen with some HD content.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Note
Form & Build
HTC Titan - 131.5 x 70.7 x 9.9 mm, 160 g
Samsung Galaxy Note - 146.9 x 83 x 9.7 mm, 178 g
Neither of these devices is particularly pocket friendly, but that 5.3-inch display makes the Galaxy Note a particularly awkward device to carry in the pocket, and even to use for those with small hands.
The construction will be vintage Samsung: lightweight, advanced plastics well moulded into a device that costs a lot but feels like a toy from the front of a CBeebies magazine.
The Titan is every bit the HTC though, with metal and plastic in use and rock-solid construction. We hope it doesn't suffer from the dreaded death-grip which plagued the Desire S and Sensation though, because that's a real passion killer.
Winner - HTC Titan
HTC's Titan has fought bravely but didn't have enough in its locker to overcome the powerful Samsung Galaxy Note.
It mustn't be all doom and gloom though. For those that want to experience Microsoft's platform as the developer intended, the Titan is the obvious choice. It's a powerful, robust and good looking package which raises the Windows Phone 7 bar nicely, and we can't wait to see what devices follow in its foot-steps.
The Samsung Galaxy Note is a stunning, powerful device. If you didn't succumb to the temptation of the Samsung Galaxy S2 and you're in the market for an Android device this should be your go-to smartphone for the time being at least.