HTC Desire HD

Big-screen Android smartphone

Assault on battery

The specification of the 8Mp - or 6.37Mp if you shoot in 5:3 rather than 4:3 - camera is impressive but it flatters to deceive somewhat. Yes, you can record 720p/25fps video but only as 3GP not H.264 and the end results are no more than adequate.

Still images don't fare much better and are no real advance on many lesser 5Mp Android phones, though there are lots of handy shooting options and effects to jazz up your Facebook mobile uploads.

The HD's two LED lights are better than one when it comes to low-light photography - and make a handy torch - but a single Xenon flash would be better yet. And on a phone of this stature a front-facing video camera wouldn't have gone amiss either.

Sample Shots

Click for a full-resolution crop

Click for a full-resolution crop

Click for a full-resolution crop