By John Chan, CNET Asia
28/08/2007
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/mobilephones/0,39051199,41080115p,00.htm

The Dopod D810 is a hot favorite with Windows Mobile users. It comes up tops in our popular handhelds list frequently, and has appeared in all our monthly top handheld features so far. So, totally ignoring the adage that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", HTC has released an updated version of this PDA-phone in the form of the P3600i. This review focuses on the differences between the old and the new. For background, read the D810 review first if you haven't already.

Design

Aesthetically, what can be said about the D810 can be repeated for the P3600i. It's black, it's compact, and still weighs the same at 150g. Emblazoned across the top left corner and on the battery cover of the P3600i are two HTC logos, the only indications that this device is not the D810. This makes it look exactly like the black HTC P3600, which is the name for the D810 in European markets.

So, like the D810, this PDA-phone has a glossy finish which is prone to oily smudges and fingerprints. Similarly, on its base is a single mini-USB jack, the only connector on the entire device. This means you have to use an adapter to connect an ordinary set of stereo headphones or go wireless with Bluetooth stereo.

Features

Out of the box, the P3600i runs Windows Mobile 6 (WM6) Professional. The D810 started out with Windows Mobile 5.0, but HTC has already provided an upgrade to the latest OS, so there is no difference between the two devices in that aspect.

The most significant change in this model is the use of a 500MHz Samsung processor, up from 400MHz. Now the D810 was no slouch in performance, but the faster processor does make a difference. The P3600i feels very responsive to screen taps, and we hardly experienced any slowdowns even with multiple applications running in the background.

The other internal upgrade over the D810 is the doubling of the flash memory to 256MB from 128MB. This gives more space for data storage and applications. Unfortunately, the RAM size remains the same at 64MB. Having more RAM will improve performance as this is where application data is stored temporarily when programs are running. On the flipside, note that more RAM will consume more power, so doubling it to 128MB will significantly affect the device's battery life.

Connectivity options remain the same with HSDPA, GPS for navigation, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. And like the D810, no GPS maps are bundled with the P3600i, so factor that into the cost when making a purchasing decision.

Performance

Even with the improved processor, we did not experience a drop in battery life. It still managed to go for over two days on a single charge using its 1,500mAh battery. The rated talktime for the P3600i is 5 hours for GSM and 4 hours for WCDMA.

Conclusion

The main things we didn't like about the D810 were the lack of maps and an audio jack. These are not addressed in the P3600i. The faster processor and increased flash memory do not warrant an upgrade for someone already using a D810. But for those looking for a new compact PDA-phone, this is one that will satisfy almost all feature needs.

The P3600i will go on sale at the end of August in Singapore, with the rest of the region to follow shortly. It is a replacement model for the D810, which will no longer be shipped by HTC, though you might still find unsold stock in stores. It retails for S$1228, S$70 less than the D810 at launch.