The latest HD2 from HTC is taking the world by storm but does it has the muscle to topple the current undisputed champion in the market , the iPhone.  No phone has so far come near to the success and popularity of the iPhone.    Read on to find out!

International Business Times has come out with a very interesting punch-by-punch commentary on the FIGHT OF THE CENTURY between the HTC HD2 and the iPHONE 3GS:

1. Size and Weight: 
   The HD2 measures 4.74×2.64×0.43inches (120.5×67x11mm) (LxBxD) and weighs 157gm (5.54ounces) whereas the iPhone 3GS measures 4.5×2.4×0.48inches (115.5×62.1×12.3mm) (LxBxD) and weighs 135gm (4.8ounces).
   • Winner:  Tie. There is not much difference between the form factor of the two smartphones except for the fact that the HD2 is slightly, but unnoticeably, heavier and bigger because of the bigger touchscreen it accommodates.
2. Display: 
   The HD2 boasts of a whopping 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen with 480×800 pixel resolution display while the iPhone has a 3.5-inch touchscreen with 480×320 pixel resolution display.
   • Winner:  The HD2. The HD2 sports a whopping 4.3-inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen with 480×800 resolution display (larger than the one featured by its predecessor HTC Touch HD, which itself boasted of a generously-sized display). In other words, things like web browsing or watching YouTube videos are, not surprisingly, more enjoyable on the HD2 than what one could expect from iPhone’s smaller 3.5-inch capacitive multitouch screen with 320×480 resolution display.
3. Camera and video recording: 
   The HD2 boasts of 5-megapixel camera with autofocus, LED flash and video recording (@30 fps) while the iPhone boasts of a 3.15-megapixel camera with autofocus and video recording (@30fps).
   • Winner:  The HD2. On paper, the HD2’s camera looks far superior to the iPhone, especially because the latter’s camera is not accompanied by a flash. However, the video recording quality of both are similar.
4. Connectivity and Wireless: 
   Both the phones are quadband and GSM-based. Both the phones boast of 3G, WiFi, EDGE, GPRS, Bluetooth and MicroUSB port and both lack infrared port.
   • Winner:  Tie. There’s nothing to differentiate the two phones as far as connectivity and wireless features are concerned.
5. OS: 
   The HD2 runs on the latest Windows Mobile 6.5 platform whereas the iPhone runs on the proprietary iPhone OS 3.0.
   • Winner:  The iPhone. The biggest drawback of the HD2 is simply its OS – Windows Mobile 6.5 browser.
   • The HD2 has no “real” multitouch feature though it boasts of being the first Windows Mobile-based device to do away with a stylus for navigation and control. One still needs to use a stylus for certain application, such as Windows Media Player. This is rather, unfortunate, considering that Windows Mobile 6.5 release was meant to be a move-away from the use of the stylus and toward more touch-friendly icons and buttons.
   • In fact, there isn’t really much more to Windows Mobile 6.5. It’s really just the same old Windows Mobile 6.1 with a smoother interface, touch-based navigation and some updated programs. Perhaps that’s why Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer recently referred to the OS as a “stop-gap.”
   • On the other hand, the iPhone OS 3.0 allows you to experience full multitouch and gestures.
6. Processor: 
   The HD2 runs on the ultra-powerful Qualcomm 1Ghz Snapdragon processor while the iPhone is powered by ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz processor. Both also have dedicated graphics that allows one to enjoy games.
   • Winner:  The HD2. Thanks to a faster processor (almost two times faster than the iPhone’s processor), not only do apps open faster in the HD2, they respond faster, too. The application switching lag, update downtime and the occasional freeze noticeable in the iPhone are absent in the HD2. Moving around from one complicated webpage to the next also feels downright breezy, not cumbersome in the HD2.
7. Browser: 
   The HD2 offers a choice of two built-in web browsers – the speedy Opera Mobile as its default choice and the Internet Explorer. On the other hand, iPhone comes with Safari browser.
   • Winner:  The HD2. The HD2 can support Flash-based web pages, thanks to Internet Explorer, unlike the iPhone. In other words, with the HD2, you can see Flash-heavy websites like Hulu and Webkinz and view rich web content as their designers intended.
8. Music and Video: 
   Both the smartphones support multiple audio and video playback formats.
   • Winner:  The HD2. Though the music players in both the smartphones are comparable yet the HD2 scores in video playback department as, thanks to its larger display, watching videos are more enjoyable than it is on the iPhone.
9. Keyboard: 
   Both the HD2 and the iPhone have onscreen virtual keyboard.
   • Winner:  The HD2. Auto-correction and predictive entry feature in both the smartphones make typing a breeze. However, due to its larger touchscreen, the onscreen keys on the HD2 is slightly bigger and easier to type than on the iPhone. In fact, on a screen this big, the keyboard is huge, even in portrait orientation.
10. Storage and Memory: 
    The HD2 has 448MB onboard flash memory and microSD card slot (capable of holding up to 32GB). On the other hand, the iPhone comes with 256MB onboard flash memory and a choice of 16GB or 32GB internal storage.
    • Winner:  The HD2. At a time when nearly all smartphones come with microSD card slot, the lack of one in the iPhone makes it so ‘un-cool.’
11. Miscellaneous: 
    Both the phones boast of features like accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, GPS and digital compass.Both the phones are also loaded with GPS, Google Maps and support Geo-tagging.

    And, both the phones come with services like phone tracking, remote data backup, remote data wipe and restore (the HD2 calls it MyPhone while iPhone calls it MobileMe).

    But what differentiates the HD2 from the iPhone is its HTC Sense UI, which makes multitasking possible (unlike the iPhone).

    HTC Sense UI, which is based on the principles: “Make it mine,” “Stay Close” and “Discover the Unexpected,” allows you to create his own environment, to conveniently communicate with contacts through multiple channels, while the innovative features make the difference between local phone and online disappear. HTC Sense slightly resembles the TouchFlo which we have seen on other models, but HTC Sense, which lets you create personal widgets and screens for your own personalization and is capable of multitasking, takes things just that little bit further.

    Thanks to HTC Sense, the smartphone can also synchronises contacts, posts, feeds, messages, e-mails, photos and more – from sources such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube – and automatically streams them all to the homescreen, allowing you to access data more easily.

    On the other hand, the iPhone, thanks to the OS 3.0 software update, has many cool features including a landscape keyboard for all core apps; an innovative and useful implementation of cut, copy, and paste; push notifications, an improved call log that shows details like the time and length of a call; a spotlight search for searching apps, e-mail (subjects and to/from lines), music, and more; shake to shuffle; voice memos; Nike+ support and support for MMS and tethering.

    The iPhone users also have access to the legendary iPhone App Store where over 90,000 apps are available for download for free or a small cost.

    • Winner:  Tie. The HTC Sense UI and its multitasking capability makes the HD2 a compelling buy. The HD2 also has FM Radio unlike the iPhone and supports java games and applications which the iPhone can’t. Yet, no app store compares to the iPhone App Store (not even the Windows Marketplace).
12. Power and Battery: 
    The HD2 is powered by an interchangeable 1230mAh Li-Ion battery that has enough juice to power the phone up to 380 minutes (talk time) and up to 490 hours (standby time). On the other hand, the iPhone has a built-in Li-Ion battery that promises up to 720 minutes (talk time) and up to 300 hours (standby time).
    • Winner:  The HD2. Though the HD2 scores in terms of standby time, yet the iPhone scores in terms of talk time, at least on paper. However, one major letdown is the iPhone’s built-in battery. Call me biased, but in this department, any smartphone that comes with interchangeable battery will score over the iPhone (I wouldn’t like to get caught in a tight spot with my phone dying on me). And the HD2 is no exception despite the iPhone battery boasting of longer talk time. One wonders why Steve Jobs still hasn’t introduced interchangeable batteries for the iPhone.
13. Pricing: 
    As the iPhone 3GS as well as the HD2 are yet to be released in India, the price of both the smartphones are still unknown.
    • Winner:  A tie. Both the smartphones are expected to command a steep price, though possibly, the iPhone may cost a few grands more since it commands a brand premium.

Final Verdict:  The HD2 wins the shootout 7-1. Finally, HTC is regaining its reputation as a leading mobile device manufacturer and giving users something to be excited about again.