The HTC Cavalier S630 is the supposed successor to the <a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/smart-phones/t-mobile-dash-aka/4505-6452_7-32088045.html">T-Mobile Dash</a>, and though it's yet to be officially announced by HTC or a U.S. carrier, we scored an unlocked version of the Windows Mobile smart phone. Here is our hands-on look at the Cavalier.
Underneath the hood, the Cavalier is a more powerful machine. It now has a faster processor (400MHz versus 200MHz), adds 3G support, and runs the latest Windows Mobile 6 operating system out of the box.
The HTC Cavalier S630 sports a boxier design than its predecessor, the T-Mobile Dash. Frankly, we're slightly partial to the Dash's sleeker design, but we know it's not all about looks. Check out the next slide to see what we mean.
Armed with push e-mail capabilities and the full Microsoft Office Mobile Suite, mobile professionals will be able to keep in touch with the office and be more productive on the road. The smart phone also has integrated Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and UMTS/HSDPA support, so you'll be well connected with the Cavalier.
And we don't necessarily mean that in the best way. Though the HTC S630 seems to have a soft-touch finish, we found the smart phone to be a bit slippery.
The HTC Cavalier S630 is easy to use one-handed, but not so friendly for the left-handed users out there. The placement of the Joggr strip on the right side makes it quite awkward for lefties, as Webware editor and lefty Josh Lowensohn pointed out.
On paper, the HTC Cavalier S630 shares the same dimensions as the T-Mobile Dash, measuring 4.4 inches tall by 2.5 inches wide by 0.5 inch thick and 4.2 ounces. However, we couldn't help but think that the Cavalier was slightly thicker than its predecessor. Unfortunately, we didn't have a T-Mobile Dash in-house for a comparison shot. Here is the Cavalier next to the slightly smaller RIM BlackBerry Curve (4.2 inches high by 2.4 inches wide by 0.6 inch thick and 3.9 ounces).
The Cavalier's full QWERTY keyboard isn't that much different from its predecessor's. The number keys are now highlighted in green instead of silver, and there's more spacing between the buttons on the bottom row. However, the keys are still pretty small with very little spacing, so take care.
The HTC S630 sports a 2-megapixel camera and self-portrait mirror on the back, but once again, it lacks a flash. Picture quality was sharp, but the color and tone were off. You can also use the camera to record video.
On the right side of the smart phone, you'll find a touch-sensitive "Joggr" strip that you can use for adjusting the call volume and scrolling through items. There are also two buttons that you can double-click to go back to the previous item or launch Messages. The control was more responsive than the volume touch strip on the T-Mobile Dash; in fact, it was almost too responsive and sensitive.
The S630 has 128MB built-in ROM and 64MB of RAM, but for bigger files like music and video, use a microSD card. The expansion slot is located on the left spine between the power button and voice recorder/recognition activation key.
