Review: HTC Tattoo

Where we had problems was with text entry. The screen technology is resistive rather than capacitive, which is not a great start. The accelerometer means that you can turn the Tattoo in your hand to get a wide screen QWERTY keyboard when writing texts or emails. That’s great, but even in wide mode the keyboard is a little cramped.

In tall mode QWERTY is too small to be usable by all but those with the teeniest hands.

So you are left with either a phone keypad or a compact QWERTY which for the most part puts two letters onto a single key. None of the options available is entirely satisfactory, and those keen on texting or mobile email might do well to try before they buy to see if they can live with what’s on offer.

The other disappointing feature is the camera. The resolution on paper is disappointing, and in use it produces passable shots but probably not photos you’ll want to keep long term.

The Tattoo is relatively inexpensive, so some of the issues we encountered are perhaps to be expected, yet it is not so cheap that it stands out as an obvious bargain.

As a result is risks falling between two stools – the obviously superior HTC Hero can now be found online for not much more than £50 over the current price of the Tattoo, while the T-Mobile Pulse at £100 less is better suited to the curious user looking to try Android for the first time.

Price: £280
Web: www.htc.com

Essential Verdict
Performance: 6/10
Design: 8/10
Features: 8/10
Value for Money: 6/10
Overall score: 7/10

Written by Sandra Vogel. Originally published in Smartphone Essentials magazine.

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