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HTC Hero vs. iPhone 3GS

A lot of people have been asking how the HTC Hero compares with the Apple iPhone 3GS. We shot both smartphones for a side by side comparison.

We’re pitting an iPhone 3GS 16GB with an HTC Hero and a 16GB microSD card. I borrowed the 3GS from @tjmanotoc for the photo comparison here (forgive the worn out Invisible Shield on the 3GS).

Now that we got that out of the way, the price of a prepaid 16GB iPhone 3GS is Php38,850 with Globe and the HTC Hero with 16GB microSD card is Php37,799 (Php33,999 + Php3,800).

The 3GS has a bigger screen at 3.5″ compared to the Hero’s 3.2 although both have the same resolution of 320×480 pixels. The 3GS has a faster processor — ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz vs. Qualcomm MSM 7200A 528 MHz for the Hero. Both have WiFi b/g, Bluetooth, GPS and 3G/HSDPA with the same speed rating but the Hero also supports HSUPA 2.0 Mbps.

The Hero has some edge over the 3GS — a 5MP camera vs. 3.15MP; 288MB RAM vs. 256MB; and the Hero also has 512MB ROM. While both the Hero and iPhone 3GS weigh the same at 135 grams, the former is a bit thicker 14.4mm compared to the iPhone at 12.3mm.

Of course, the 1350 mAh Li-Ion battery of the Hero is removable and user-replaceable unlike that of the iPhone. And did I mention the Hero can do multi-tasking while the iPhone cannot?

The Hero also comes in a variety of colors — Black, White (with Teflon coating), Brown, Graphite and Pink. The iPhone only has Black and White.

It’s really a close fight between the two with features and functionalities almost dead even. That includes a huge collection of apps for both the iTunes Store and the Android Marketplace.

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Avatar for Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

57 Responses

  1. Avatar for hardrive28 hardrive28 says:

    iphone pa din me..
    un ang gamit ko eh.
    hehe! :)

  2. Avatar for barat barat says:

    yeah too expensive talaga sa pinas. olats d2 satin kahit kelan. dapat magpasakop na lang sa bansa ng kano. mas madali pa mag punta sa bansa nila pag nagkataon.

  3. Avatar for rex rex says:

    too expensive

  4. Avatar for Droid Eris Droid Eris says:

    I’ve had my droid since december but had to get a alternative because the software program ruined my cellphone when it up to date itself. So for sure having troubles & found this wonderful web site lol i do have a questio tho…my ram storage is gettin smaller & smaller..is there nethin i can do to help get sum back?

  5. Avatar for Chris Chris says:

    Hay guys, any HTC Hero users here in Globe managed to get the MMS working?

    I have connection to internet but not mms…

  6. Avatar for Rodel Rodel says:

    @ Andrew Mercado: btw, my email add is cyber_ange****@****.*** in case my suggestion ka for iPhone3GS fring app…thanks though

  7. Avatar for Rodel Rodel says:

    @ Andrew Mercado: kakabili ko lang iPhone 3Gs 32GB dito sa Riyadh dude and i’m still familiarizing its features…heard about the fring application and its wonders on making unlimited video calls for free…di kasi ako tech-savvy eh, pwede pa-turo sa u?…san ka dito sa KSA?

  8. Avatar for Rodel Rodel says:

    just got my iPhone 3Gs 32GB and i must say it’s a winner compared with the HTC Hero…have seen Hero and actually checked its features…i think my iPhone is more user-friendly…i’m happy with my iPhone and its 172 applications…un nga lang medyo gastos sa internet esp if wala ka na sa wi-fi area talagang magbabawas sya ng load if naka-On ang 3G…hehehehe
    iPhone rocks

  9. Avatar for Sunofa Sunofa says:

    Sana may program sa hero like installous… Siguro it’s much safer to carry iPhones kasi sa labas minsan mapapagkamalang china clone, ang hero hindi sikat dito clones… Hahaha

  10. Avatar for Ben Davis Ben Davis says:

    Sorry iphone users, please don’t comment about the Hero until you experience it… The Hero is a better phone for several reasons… The Android Market is much user friendly… You can add any app with just one click.

    The camera is better. The internet and Youtube is much easier and faster. the calendar is much better… The applications are more organized.

    Facebook, twitter, and flickr are all synced with phone contacts. so you could just go to your phone contacts and wee the status of anyone’s profile, as well as their photo album. And this is not including the facebook application that you all have to install.. While you are talking on your phone, you can install applications. You could browse the internet, while recieving textmessages… google talk, yahoo messages, facebook messages all come to your phone in the form of texts… so it is easy to keep track of everything… you could always drag the top bar down when there are flashing alerts.. so that you can view everything that is happening on your phonw… the HTC Hero is not slow at all…

    People just need to be sure to install the Advanced Task Manager, so that you will know everything that is open on your phone. eliminate the tasks that you are no longer using. the battery on the Hero is also easier to manage…

    The only thing the iphone have over the Hero is that it’s sexier looking… and that more people have them because they have been out longer… and people hate to admit that there is a better phone that was never over a $1,000.00 to pay for….

  11. Avatar for Sunofa Sunofa says:

    I was in greenhills yesterday and have yet to see this phone, magic lang nakita ko… i hope na meron sa mga sm nito para mapaglaruan

  12. Avatar for geo77 geo77 says:

    I’m also selling a bnew motorola milestone for Php37,000… 0918-9123980

  13. Avatar for geo77 geo77 says:

    Hi guys! I’m selling a bnew white (teflon coated) HTC Hero for Php28,500.. Send me a message if interested 0918-9123980

  14. Avatar for john john says:

    So meron 2nd hand sa ghills? haha makapunta nga.. magkano naman kaya? hirap makahanap ng hero eh.

    @topic, i sold my 3gs for the reason that i dont like itunes.. imagine:
    -you cant delete photos
    -you cant arrange photos
    -you cant delete musics
    -you cant transfer files via bluetooth
    -and a lot more limitations dahil sa ITUNES!

    any way, i love the apps so i bought an itouch, and now im looking for a HERO…

  15. Avatar for Essays.ph Essays.ph says:

    Pag nasira iPhone nyo, good luck sa service!

  16. Avatar for ryan ryan says:

    @patrick.. hmm you can try to check 2nd hand units in ghills tiangge to feel how the device responds. I always check new units that way :D

  17. Avatar for Patrick Oliveros Patrick Oliveros says:

    Does anyone know where I can test the Hero prior making a purchase? The HTC concept store doesn’t allow me to do so.

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