If the MDA Compact V seems familiar that is because it is essentially the same device as the HTC Touch Diamond2 we reviewed back in June. But is always the case with the MDA range, T-Mobile has put its own stamp on the handset, both in terms of hardware and software.

Specs & info
Price: contract
Operating system: Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro
Processor: Qualcomm 528MHz
Memory: 288MB RAM
Dimensions: 107 x 53 x 13.7mm
Weight: 117g
Display size: 3.2”
Display resolution: 480×800 pixels
Expansion slot: microSD

The brushed metal look of the original has given way to a blander piano black casing, and there’s a slightly more curved feel to the bottom.

Only superficial changes (although we are inclined to say the Diamond2 has more of the high end look); they haven’t done anything significant like add a 3.5 mm headphone jack, for example, leaving you needing the extUSB headphones supplied in the box for your music.

The device is compact with a minimalist design. Four buttons are beneath the screen, as well as a sliding panel that enables you to zoom in and out  of images and web pages in the absence of anything cleverer like the iPhone’s multi-touch. On the rear is a 5MP camera but no flash. The speed of the camera is good, but the quality is only average.

On the software side T-Mobile has tweaked HTC’s TouchFLO UI, adding a Widgets feature. This is the current Big Thing in smartphones but is a half hearted effort here.

Instead of offering live, dynamic widgets that are constantly pulling information from your social networks or instant messaging accounts, the widgets in TouchFLO are merely shortcuts to the widgets function in the Opera Mobile web browser. It works, and there are plenty to choose from, but it is not an integral part of the system in the way we have seen in other devices.

The same can be said of T-Mobile’s other addition to TouchFLO, Mobile TV & Video, which is just a link to their website and encouragement to get you spending money on their services. To be fair, this is probably the only time T-Mobile’s customisations become intrusive.

The device also comes with a trial of the excellent CoPilot Live navigation software.

The remaining features are the same as on the Diamond2. The screen is excellent and very responsive to the touch, Windows Mobile is kept in the background as far as possible as well, while an upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5 will also be available. There’s wi-fi and HSDPA for data, a memory card slot with 2GB card supplied.

Altogether the MDA Compact V is a decent package. T-Mobile has clearly made an effort to differentiate its offering from the HTC/Orange version, although we’d question the practical value it adds. But it is a good smartphone, powerful, relatively easy to use and offering bags of functionality.

Verdict
Performance: 8
Design: 8
Features: 9
Value: 8

Overall: 8/10

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