O2 Xda Zinc Full Review

MAIN TEST RESULTS

The score of 1% in “Directory list of 2000 files” looks a bit odd, but remember that benchmarks are just benchmarks.

(For reference, the iPaq 3650 uses a 206 MHz Intel StrongARM Processor, 32 MB of RAM, 16 MB of ROM, and a 12-bit (4096 colour) Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) Display.)

CAMERA SAMPLE PHOTOS

• Taken with O2 Xda Zinc
• 2.0 megapixels (1600 x 1200)
• Pictures have not been resized or edited
• All other camera settings at default

Indoor (click to enlarge)

Indoor (click to enlarge)

Night shot (click to enlarge)

As is the case with most other PDA cameras, it is at its best when taking shots in daylight. For indoor situations the LED light helps somewhat.

THE (UGLY) VERDICT

The O2 Xda Zinc is a worthy effort from O2. Its keyboard, while not nearly as good as the 838Pro’s, still is great to type on for those longer-than-usual emails and documents (with one exception – see below). XT9 is absolutely fantastic in its flexibility and predictive power and will likely be unmatched by anything in the foreseeable future. You are also getting a rich bundle of O2-branded and third party applications including O2 Plus and SMS Plus, CodeWallet Pro, Cyberon Voice Commander, GPRS Monitor, Jeyo’s Mobile Extender 2.0 and SMS Backup, and WorldMate 2006.

In addition, a “full-length” stylus is a joy to use, and the Zinc has that rare to find 2.5mm audio jack.  Finally, rubber grips on the back to protect the self-portrait mirror and camera are a nice touch — though this is offset by the egregiously protruding camera on the front of the unit. It may as well have been shipped “pre-scratched!”

HOWEVER, I have experienced simply too many stability issues that some in the forums have complained about with regards to O2 devices. Keep in mind that this device was reviewed with the shipment ROM WWE_RC3070110. (Wait a second – doesn’t RC usually mean Release Candidate?) I am entirely confident that O2 can rectify some of the following issues with subsequent ROM updates:

• Unexplainable crashes/freezes, resulting in frustrating soft resets
• Character shift on keyboard is very slow: Shift+T reacts more convincingly than Chr+T (which gives you ’5′)
• During testing, I experienced a less-than-smooth 3G video calling experience. Picture was sometimes unlear (with full phone reception), or worse, the machine would hang and lock up
• Does anyone miss the “metal, high-pitched” sound from the O2 Mini when it first shipped? If so, then you will be glad to know that the sound has made a comeback! I had to do a double take several times to make sure I wasn’t using a Mini.
• No scroll wheel, and no “OK” button by default – the latter can of course be customized, but then you lose the Messaging key. This of course points to another problem: the lack of hardware buttons on the Zinc. But they do have that handy dedicated keylock button…
• Bluetooth voice quality when paired with my Samsung WEP410 is noticeably worse than 838Pro. More hisses at close range and less distance allowed before static set in.
• Phone application does not respond to hardware keyboard letters. You need to dial using the numbers which reside on the top row (’1′ = Chr+Q, ’5′ = Chr+T… which is a real PITA because of the slow Chr-key response time as noted above).

Strictly comparing the Zinc and the 838Pro, I cannot think of any reason in favor of the Zinc other than the bundled applications (unless you count the splendid packaging as a valid reason). If this is O2′s answer to the HTC Hermes, then I hope O2 has stronger products lined up in 2007. As a final kick in the teeth, there is no HSDPA, further driving its value down versus comparable products in the market.