How about a game?

[TxGoat]

Lets see if you can pick which is the Rezound and which is the Thunderbolt. Before you look at the pictures, keep in mind that this is with my company provided iPhone so the pics aren't going to look exactly great. Also, I turned off all lighting so that each display could be judged on its own merits so no one claims there was extra light with one over the other.

One thing I thought was funny, I was streaming both live from each device but using wifi from one device to stream to the other device. Even on 3G, no real hiccup. Once a few guesses have been posted, I'll reveal which is which....and maybe take pics of other 720p Youtube content.

 

[Teegunn]

I'm "guessing" the brighter display "should" be the Rezound - also the brighter pic looks to be in HD. However..... I will say that the brighter display is actually the Tbolt gauging from the gist of what you have said in this and other threads. Correct?

 

[TxGoat]

I'm "guessing" the brighter display "should" be the Rezound - also the brighter pic looks to be in HD. However..... I will say that the brighter display is actually the Tbolt gauging from the gist of what you have said in this and other threads. Correct?

lol, sigh....No one wanted to play...

Here are both phones with the dead giveaway....

 

[Teegunn]

Red soft buttons.... and a dimmer looking screen on the Rezound, just as I guessed. Huh.

 

[TxGoat]

Red soft buttons.... and a dimmer looking screen on the Rezound, just as I guessed. Huh.

The dimmer screen was a little bit of a disappointment, but as was the lack of a sharper image. I was hoping to get blown away coming from the Thunderbolt. Oh well.

 

[kishin14]

If your point is that your T-Bolt is brighter than the rezound then okay, point well taken. I could say the same thing about my D3 and DX. At max brightness, both are brighter than my rezound at max brightness. Some phones are just brighter than others. However, I rarely used either of my prior phones anywhere near their max brightness level. In fact, my D3's max brightness was so bright that it made blacks look horribly gray in vids if set too high. I think the rezound is plenty bright.

If, however, you're also suggesting that the two devices somehow seem to have similar looking picture quality, I whole heartily disagree. First, youtube vids, even HQ ones are probably not the best example to use to compare screen quality. I don't even think they're true HD, just higher quality as the HQ suggests. The bit rates are also pretty poor.

I also did resolution comparisons using the rezound, D3 and my wife's DX (my first phone). And I can tell you without hesitation, that the rezound had by far the best picture quality of the three. I used my 720p rips of Captain America and LOTR and played them using hardware decoding with MX Player (a really good video player that's free in the market). Really, no contest at all. These HD rips looked so good on the rezound. This is not to say they didn't look good on the DX and D3. But the rezound's picture quality during playback was simply on another level.

However, I realize that not everyone will see things the way I do (pun intended). For example, even though my wife admits the rezound's picture quality of the films were crispier, smoother and just plain better, she also said that the picture quality of the DX was also very good and probably wouldn't notice the difference if I did not place them side-by-side.

For me, however, I totally notice the better screen and think it was well worth the upgrade.

Edit: I assure you that if you compare true 720p quality videos between the two devices, you will be blown away.

 

[Teegunn]

The dimmer screen was a little bit of a disappointment, but as was the lack of a sharper image. I was hoping to get blown away coming from the Thunderbolt. Oh well.

I would say that one would need true HD format to really make the HD display shine. I know when I saw the rezound in person today that the HD screen was noticeably sharper for sure. Not that the RAZR looked pixelated, just that the Rezound was definitely sharper side by side. I still liked the great brightness of my DX2 compared to either however.

 

[TxGoat]

If your point is that your T-Bolt is brighter than the rezound then okay, point well taken. I could say the same thing about my D3 and DX. At max brightness, both are brighter than my rezound at max brightness. Some phones are just brighter than others. However, I rarely used either of my prior phones anywhere near their max brightness level. In fact, my D3's max brightness was so bright that it made blacks look horribly gray in vids if set too high. I think the rezound is plenty bright.

If, however, you're also suggesting that the two devices somehow seem to have similar looking picture quality, I whole heartily disagree. First, youtube vids, even HQ ones are probably not the best example to use to compare screen quality. I don't even think they're true HD, just higher quality as the HQ suggests. The bit rates are also pretty poor.

I also did resolution comparisons using the rezound, D3 and my wife's DX (my first phone). And I can tell you without hesitation, that the rezound had by far the best picture quality of the three. I used my 720p rips of Captain America and LOTR and played them using hardware decoding with MX Player (a really good video player that's free in the market). Really, no contest at all. These HD rips looked so good on the rezound. This is not to say they didn't look good on the DX and D3. But the rezound's picture quality during playback was simply on another level.

However, I realize that not everyone will see things the way I do (pun intended). For example, even though my wife admits the rezound's picture quality of the films were crispier, smoother and just plain better, she also said that the picture quality of the DX was also very good and probably wouldn't notice the difference if I did not place them side-by-side.

For me, however, I totally notice the better screen and think it was well worth the upgrade.

Edit: I assure you that if you compare true 720p quality videos between the two devices, you will be blown away.

How old are the D3 and the DX? The Thunderbolt isn't a year old yet and to be quite honest I wasn't expecting the Rezound to be significantly better than a phone that's only been out since this past March, but I was hoping it would be a little more noticeably better.

 

[kishin14]

If you really want to compare apples to apples then copy the sample 720p vid titled EllieGoulding that comes with the rezound onto your T-Bolt and view it side by side against the rezound. If you honestly don't see a clear different, then you shouldn't bother getting the rezound -- at least not for the better screen. It just won't be worth it for you.

 

[TxGoat]

If you really want to compare apples to apples then copy the sample 720p vid titled EllieGoulding that comes with the rezound onto your T-Bolt and view it side by side against the rezound. If you honestly don't see a clear different, then you shouldn't bother getting the rezound -- at least not for the better screen. It just won't be worth it for you.

Trust me, if my Thunderbolt wasn't problematic and Verizon could get me a decent refurb, I'd still be with the Thunderbolt. As it stands now, my Thunderbolt's screen still goes black from time to time and I have to remove the back plate and the battery to get the screen back up.

 

[kishin14]

How old are the D3 and the DX? The Thunderbolt isn't a year old yet and to be quite honest I wasn't expecting the Rezound to be significantly better than a phone that's only been out since this past March, but I was hoping it would be a little more noticeably better.

The DX launch July 2010, the D3, July of this year. And like I said, watch the sample video from the rezound on your bolt and let me know what you think. That will be just about the truest comparison you can make.

 

[TxGoat]

The DX launch July 2010, the D3, July of this year. And like I said, watch the sample video from the rezound on your bolt and let me know what you think. That will be just about the truest comparison you can make.

Let me see if I can pull that video out. I hope it's on the SD card. Trust me, I want the Rezound's screen to blow the Thunderbolt's out of the water because since Verizon forced me to re-sign another 2 year agreement instead of swapping out my Thunderbolt, I want a phone that's going to last me for the length of my contract.

 

[kishin14]

Let me see if I can pull that video out. I hope it's on the SD card. Trust me, I want the Rezound's screen to blow the Thunderbolt's out of the water because since Verizon forced me to re-sign another 2 year agreement instead of swapping out my Thunderbolt, I want a phone that's going to last me for the length of my contract.

I'm pretty sure its in the video folder in the sdcard.

 

[TxGoat]

I'm pretty sure its in the video folder in the sdcard.

Done, took a little while. I couldn't find a spare micro SD so I used my old Touch Pro 2 which takes crappy video. There's a small improvement in resolution (nothing OMG IMO) but the Thunderbolt is definitely brighter. Oh and no snooping through my video library looking for my stash of midget clown porn, Youtube took those down.


Oh and the Thunderbolt changed the video to its native resolution (since it's not 720p) which it does cut off part of the video trying to squeeze in as much as it can with its hardware.


Rezound and Thunderbolt video comparison 720p content - YouTube

 

[kishin14]

Then like I said earlier, maybe this phone is not for you. I think its a pretty major improvement and I'm not the kind of person to take these things lightly. I'm also not sure if anything on the horizon will blow you away screen wise if the rezound doesn't. After all, the GNex will have the same resolution but at a lower density. And it probably won't be crisper or brighter since its super amoled pentile matrix. Colors will pop more and should have better contrast but if brightness is your thing, you'll probably have to wait for something else to come out.

 

[TxGoat]

Then like I said earlier, maybe this phone is not for you. I think its a pretty major improvement and I'm not the kind of person to take these things lightly. I'm also not sure if anything on the horizon will blow you away screen wise if the rezound doesn't. After all, the GNex will have the same resolution but at a lower density. And it probably won't be crisper or brighter since its super amoled pentile matrix. Colors will pop more and should have better contrast but if brightness is your thing, you'll probably have to wait for something else to come out.

I'm actually trying to be objective for people that want to leave their Thunderbolt for this phone. The only reason I jumped on it was because as I mentioned earlier, my Thunderbolt's screen is going out and Verizon sent me 6+ bad refurbs. I actually thought about taking their offer for an early upgrade because I didn't think the Rezound was going to be so much better than the Thunderbolt. It's a better phone, but it's also an extra $300 out of my pocket for an upgrade. I'm not knocking the Rezound, I'm just trying to be objective.

 

[kishin14]

I'm actually trying to be objective for people that want to leave their Thunderbolt for this phone. The only reason I jumped on it was because as I mentioned earlier, my Thunderbolt's screen is going out and Verizon sent me 6+ bad refurbs. I actually thought about taking their offer for an early upgrade because I didn't think the Rezound was going to be so much better than the Thunderbolt. It's a better phone, but it's also an extra $300 out of my pocket for an upgrade. I'm not knocking the Rezound, I'm just trying to be objective.

Actually you're not being objective. You're being subjective. You're giving your opinion. If you really want to give objective advice then tell anyone with a tbolt to go to a Verizon store and see the phone in person. That is the only true way to know for sure how much better it is or isn't for them.

Anyway, I think I'm done playing you're game. No offense. Good night.

 

[TxGoat]

Actually you're not being objective. You're being subjective. You're giving your opinion. If you really want to give objective advice then tell anyone with a tbolt to go to a Verizon store and see the phone in person. That is the only true way to know for sure how much better it is or isn't for them.

Anyway, I think I'm done playing you're game. No offense. Good night.

No, subjective would be if I bought a Razr and claimed the Razr completely blew the Rezound's screen away because I felt bias against HTC because of how poorly my Thunderbolt performed for me. Objective is me saying, "The Rezound has a slightly better picture than the Thunderbolt, but the Thunderbolt is brighter". If you look at the actual specs then I still don't see why you think my claims are outlandish.

Thunderbolt 480 x 800

Rezound 720 x 1280

and then lets not forget that we're talking about a 4.3" screen. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice display, but I'm not blown away by it. HTC isn't your employer is it? Because you seem to be really taking my opinion to heart. Maybe some sleep will do you good.

 

[kishin14]

No, subjective would be if I bought a Razr and claimed the Razr completely blew the Rezound's screen away because I felt bias against HTC because of how poorly my Thunderbolt performed for me. Objective is me saying, "The Rezound has a slightly better picture than the Thunderbolt, but the Thunderbolt is brighter". If you look at the actual specs then I still don't see why you think my claims are outlandish.

Thunderbolt 480 x 800

Rezound 720 x 1280

and then lets not forget that we're talking about a 4.3" screen. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice display, but I'm not blown away by it. HTC isn't your employer is it? Because you seem to be really taking my opinion to heart. Maybe some sleep will do you good.

Okay, I'll respond one more time because I hate it when people put words in my mouth. I never said that your claims were outlandish. Not once. I didn't even allude to it. What I said was that I saw a clear difference and supported this opinion with my own testing, just like you. I also clearly stated that others (including my wife and obviously you) have different opinions and that if you didn't agree then maybe this phone isn't for you.

I did say that if you compared a true 720p vid you would be blown away. Obviously, you weren't. So call me guilty of being presumptuous. I'm okay with that. But like I said, please don't put words in my mouth.

And saying that I work for HTC only implies that you're the one who can't understand why I like the screen so much, not that I can't understand why you're not blown away by it. I'm not trying to get you the keep the phone. Frankly, I couldn't care less if you do or don't. But I sincerely do hope you find the phone you're looking for as I want everyone to be as happy with their android device as I currently am with my rezound.

Btw, I don't get why you would display the specs to make your point more valid. Are you saying that 384,000 pixels (480x800) is only a little worse than 921,600 pixels (720x1280)? If anything, the specs show that there is a huge difference in resolution. Whether you care or not is a different matter, but on paper, there's simply no contest.

 

[rushmore]

Done, took a little while. I couldn't find a spare micro SD so I used my old Touch Pro 2 which takes crappy video. There's a small improvement in resolution (nothing OMG IMO) but the Thunderbolt is definitely brighter. Oh and no snooping through my video library looking for my stash of midget clown porn, Youtube took those down.


Oh and the Thunderbolt changed the video to its native resolution (since it's not 720p) which it does cut off part of the video trying to squeeze in as much as it can with its hardware.


Rezound and Thunderbolt video comparison 720p content - YouTube

More depth in the Rezound pic from my view. Everything is relative though, since everybody's display viewing this needs to be same settings to have a true comparison.

I have compared the devices and find the detail, sharpness and actual color dpeth to be better on the Rezound than the TB, but both displays IMO blow the funky looking Razr away.

added:

Again, just review the same web pages on the TB and Rezound.

 

[TxGoat]

More depth in the Rezound pic from my view. Everything is relative though, since everybody's display viewing this needs to be same settings to have a true comparison.

I have compared the devices and find the detail, sharpness and actual color dpeth to be better on the Rezound than the TB, but both displays IMO blow the funky looking Razr away.

added:

Again, just review the same web pages on the TB and Rezound.

There's an improvement definitely in detail. you can see how the TB tries to pull all the lines in but still crops out part of the image. As far as the brightness, I'm not sure if I'd rather have it darker or brighter as you can see some of the white bleeds into the colors on the Thunderbolt, although that probably mostly due to the Touch Pro 2's video taking ability. I do wish both phones had a touch more color though, just a tad bit. It's definitely a solid screen. I guess I was really excited to see if there would be greater improvement in this over the Thunderbolt. There's improvement, but I think it's fair to say that the Thunderbolt isn't a slouch even though it's dated (7 months dated....sheesh!)