An HTC Touch for Verizon, the XV6900

Verizon XV6900

Verizon XV6900

Verizon XV6900

Verizon XV6900

The Verizon XV6900 is based on the same HTC Vogue hardware that is the basis for the Sprint Touch by HTC that has been on the market for quite some time. While the original Touch was a GSM device, the XV6900 for Verizon supports the carrier's CDMA EV-DO network, though it still sports the same TouchFLO user interface extensions that make the device finger friendly. This review is based heavily on the review of the Sprint version of the HTC Touch, but has been updated where needed to reflect the numerous changes that have been made for Verizon's version.

Physical Aspects

At 102mm x 60mm x 14mm (4.0" x 2.4" x .6") in size, the new XV6900 for Verizon is 2mm longer than the original GSM device, but still quite small for a smartphone with these capabilities. At 111g (4.0oz), it is also pretty light for a Pocket PC smartphone. By comparison, other HTC PocketPC devices like AT&T's Tilt look like giants next to the XV6900 and weigh 63g (2.2oz) more.

The smooth lines that make up the design of the XV6900's white body, along with its compact dimensions, make the XV6900 one of the most comfortably held Pocket PC devices ever made. The 77mm (3") long stylus is not going to please a lot of people, though, as it is too short to be comfortably used for an extended period of time.

Luckily, the driving force behind the XV6900 is that its large 2.8" (44mm x 57mm), 65k color touchscreen display is finger friendly, meaning that users will be able to get away with using the stylus less than with typical Pocket PC devices. Unlike many stylus compatible touchscreens, the display on the XV6900 is flush mounted to its body, and the touch sensitive surface extends well beyond the limits of its 240x320 pixel resolution. Not only does this make it easier to hit on-screen controls that are located by edges or corners of the display, but it means that the screen can easily be cleaned with a quick swipe on a pants leg. My only complaint with the display is that it can be a bit hard to read in direct sunlight, though running it at maximum brightness level mitigates the problem to some extent.

Beyond the large screen that dominates the XV6900, there is relatively little else to talk about. The small d-pad that is located beneath the screen is well designed and easy to use. It is flanked on either side by very small call control keys that light up green and red. A chrome edge separates the dark front and rear faces of the XV6900. A volume slider is located on the left side, a dedicated camera key with a very nice feel is found on the right. The power key is on the top of the XV6900, and the typical miniUSB power/data/headset port is on the bottom edge. A 2 megapixel camera and self-portrait mirror are located on the back cover. The entire back cover can be removed easily to expose the battery and allow the unique microSD card slot cover on the right edge of the phone to be opened.

While I ran into some problems with the SIM/microSD cover on the original HTC Touch, in that I could not get it back in place without some trimming with a knife, I had no such problems with the Verizon version of the device. I still find the cover a bit difficult to open, but it is at least secure and works properly on this version.

The Verizon XV6900 for Verizon comes with a small case, an extra stylus, and a splitter for charging while using a 2.5mm wired headset at the same time. A power adapter, USB cable, and screen protector are also included in the kit.