HTC Desire Z vs HTC Desire Eye: A Detailed Throwback Comparison

Nostalgia for older Android phones is real! Today, we're pitting two HTC devices from the mid-2010s against each other: the Desire Z and the Desire Eye. Both offer a glimpse into a different era of smartphone design and technology. Let's see which one holds up better.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The HTC Desire Eye is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 801 chipset, superior camera capabilities (video recording!), and significantly better performance outweigh the Desire Z's simpler design. While the Z has a certain charm, the Eye offers a more modern and usable experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	HTC Desire Z	HTC Desire Eye

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - Asia
4G bands	-	1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - Asia
Speed	HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/21.1(AT&T)/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	HSDPA 850 / 1900 - North America	-

Launch
Announced	2010, September. Released 2010, November	2014, October. Released 2014, November
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	119 x 60.4 x 14.2 mm (4.69 x 2.38 x 0.56 in)	151.7 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm (5.97 x 2.91 x 0.33 in)
Keyboard	QWERTY	-
SIM	Mini-SIM	Nano-SIM
Weight	180 g (6.35 oz)	154 g (5.43 oz)
	Optical trackpad	-

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~252 ppi density)	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~424 ppi density)
Size	3.7 inches, 39.0 cm2 (~54.2% screen-to-body ratio)	5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~66.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	S-LCD	IPS LCD,

Platform
CPU	800 MHz Scorpion	Quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM7230	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (28 nm)
GPU	Adreno 205	Adreno 330
OS	Android 2.2 (Froyo), upgradable to 2.3 (Gingerbread), Sense UI	Android 4.4.4 (KitKat), upgradable to 6.1 (Marshmallow), Sense UI 7

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	1.5GB; 512MB RAM	16GB 2GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Single	5 MP, AF	13 MP, f/2.0, 28mm (wide), AF
Video	720p	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	-	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR
Single	-	13 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide), AF
	No	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	2.1, A2DP	4.0, A2DP, aptX
NFC	-	Yes
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS	GPS, GLONASS
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS	FM radio, RDS
USB	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Browser	HTML, Adobe Flash	-
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	Dedicated search key MP3/WAV/AAC+ player MP4/H.264/DivX/XviD player Voice memo/dial Predictive text input	-

Battery
Charging	-	18W wired, QC2
Stand-by	Up to 430 h (2G) / Up to 430 h (3G)	Up to 538 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 9 h 50 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 40 min (3G)	Up to 20 h (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Ion 1300 mAh battery	Li-Po 2400 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black	Blue, Red, White
Models	-	Desire EYE, M910x, Desire_EYE
Price	About 100 EUR	About 380 EUR
SAR EU	0.86 W/kg (head)	-

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -90.1dB / Crosstalk -90.7dB	Noise -95.6dB / Crosstalk -91.3dB
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 70h
Camera	Photo	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1311 (nominal), 2.815 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 72dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 82dB	Voice 65dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 74dB
Performance	-	Basemark X: 10249

HTC Desire Z

Compact design
Simple Android experience
Potentially easier to repair (due to simpler hardware)

Outdated processor
Limited camera capabilities (no video)
Lower resolution display
Slower performance

HTC Desire Eye

Faster processor (Snapdragon 801)
Video recording capability
Likely better display resolution
QC2 fast charging

Older design
Battery may degrade over time
Limited software updates

Display Comparison

Both phones feature similar contrast ratios (1311 nominal, 2.815 sunlight), suggesting comparable display quality in bright conditions. However, the Desire Eye likely has a slightly larger and higher-resolution display, offering a more immersive viewing experience. The Desire Z's display is likely smaller and lower resolution, typical for its time.

Camera Comparison

The Desire Eye boasts a superior camera system, capable of recording video. The Desire Z is limited to photo capture only. The Desire Eye's hardware is also likely more advanced, resulting in better image quality, especially in low light. While both are dated, the Eye's camera is the clear winner.

Performance

This is where the Desire Eye shines. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 with a quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400 CPU is a significant upgrade over the Desire Z's 800 MHz Scorpion processor. Expect noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user interface on the Desire Eye.

Battery Life

Both phones share an endurance rating of 70h, suggesting comparable battery life under typical usage. However, the Desire Eye's more efficient Snapdragon 801 chipset might provide slightly better real-world battery performance despite potentially having a similar battery capacity.

Buying Guide

The HTC Desire Z might appeal to collectors or those seeking a very basic, compact Android experience. The HTC Desire Eye is a better choice for anyone wanting a more capable phone, even a retro one, with a decent camera and smoother performance for everyday tasks.