Top 10 HTC HD2 Accessories

The HTC HD2 is the replacement for the original HTC Touch HD. It’s changed considerably compared to the Touch HD, so if you’re upgrading from one to the other, most of your existing accessories aren’t going to work with the HD2. Although the handset has put on a bit of weight, it’s mostly for the better as the screen is now a massive 4.3″ compared to the impressive 3.8″ screen on the original Touch HD.

Most of the other changes are on the inside, for example it now has a much faster 1ghz processor making it almost twice as powerful as the Touch HD. One of the most significant changes though, is that the HD2 uses the new (now standard) micro USB charger so the chances are that any chargers, data cables and headphones you might already have won’t work.

If you’ve got the HD2, you’re going to want to make the most of all of it’s features, and to do that you’ll need to invest in a few extra accessories such as cases, memory cards or Bluetooth Headphones – so to help you find the best ones I’ve compiled my list of the top 10 accessories for the HTC HD2.

1. HTC HD2 Screen Protector

The last thing that you’re going to want to do to that gorgeous 4.3? touch screen is scratch it. These screen protectors from HTC are a great way to keep your screen looking like new. They’re resistant to scratches, dents and fingerprints and can be removed easily without leaving any sticky residue behind.

2. HTC HD2 Leather Pouch PO S511

The HD2 is a smart looking phone that needs a smart looking case. The S511 has been designed specifically for the HD2. It’s a flip style case that has cut outs for your charger and handsfree/headphones. It’s made from a high quality leather with coloured stitching and a soft lining that helps to keep your screen fingerprint free. The front of the case has been toughened to give your screen extra protection against crush and impact damage.

3. HTC HD2 Car Charger

As with all touchscreen smart phones, the HD2 is a power hungry device – mainly because of the huge screen and powerful processor, so a car charger is a worthwhile investment. The genuine HTC Car charger will work in both 12v and 24v vehicles (Cars, Lorries and Trucks). It has a Micro USB connection and will work with all Micro USB devices, but it won’t work with older HTC handsets.

4. SanDisk 16GB Micro SDHC Memory Card for HD2

Despite it’s large screen and powerful processor, the internal memory of the HD is surprisingly small. A large memory card will almost certainly be your first accessory you buy for your new phone . The SanDisk 16 GB memory card will allow you to store over 6000 high quality photos, 3000 songs or 80 hours of video. A 16GB card is the largest memory card that is currently available.

5. Etymotic ER6i Earphones

Etymotic ER6i Isolator Earphones are designed for use with high quality portable audio  players. They providing greater sound output and enhanced bass and will let you hear things in your music that you’ve never heard before. The earphones have changeable tips, so finding a comfortable fit shouldn’t be a problem. I find that the triple flanged ear tips shown below are the most comfortable set and they cut out pretty much all background noise leaving you to enjoy your music without distractions.

6. Jawbone Prime Bluetooth Headset

Jawbone headsets are great. They were among the first to introduce noise cancelling technology, and since their launch a couple of years ago, many other manufacturers have been trying to match them. The latest headset from Jawbone is the Prime – at first glance it’s very similar to the previous 2 models, but is actually quite a bit smaller. The technology inside it has changed too. You no longer need to have a sensor pressed against your cheek to pick up vibrations, and it now has a 2nd microphone to help eliminate background noise. The Prime is also a multipoint headset (what is multipoint) so you can use it with two phones at the same time.

7. Jabra Halo Stereo Headphones

The Jabra Halo Stereo Bluetooth Headset is the latest stereo headset to be released, and to be honest its probably the best one yet. It has incredibly simple controls – a touch sensitive slider on the right ear lets you adjust the volume by sliding your finger up or down, where as a double tap will skip the track. One multi use button lets you play/pause your music as well as answer/end calls and activate voice dialling. When they’re not in use, the headphones fold away so as not to take up too much space and to reduce the chance of them getting damaged. If you want to know more, take a look at my Jabra Halo hands on review.

8. HTC HD2 Car Upgrade Kit

The HTC Car Pack for the HTC HD has been given an overhaul and is now a much smarter way to use your phone safely inthe car. The upgrade kit includes an adjustable holder and genuine HTC C200 car charger. The holder allows you to use the phone in both portrait and landscape modes and the charger will stop charging once the battery is full.

9. Jabra Cruiser Bluetooth Speakerphone

The Jabra SP700 has been a favourite of mine for a while, but it did fall short on a couple of features – namely noise cancelling and music playback controls. Thankfully, Jabra have just released the Cruiser, a small, slim portable car kit that adds both of these features to an already fantastic car kit. The Jabra Cruiser is a Bluetooth Car Kit that simply clips to the sun visor of your car and pairs to your HTC HD using Bluetooth.  The Cruiser supports both the A2DP and AVRCP profiles, so as well as being able to stream your music to it over Bluetooth for playback either through the built in speaker or through your car stereo using it’s built in FM Transmitter, you can now play/pause/track skip without having to touch your phone . The Jabra Cruiser will also  play your phone calls through your car stereo speakers for improved clarity. The dual microphones in the cruiser work together to cut out background noise, making this a perfect choice for any one who spends a lot of time driving on motorways or noisy roads.

10. Parrot MKI9100 Bluetooth Car Kit for HTC HD2

Parrot have always made fantastic car kits and the MKi range are no exception. There are three options available, the MKi9000, MKi9100 and the MKi9200. The main differences between them being the display screen that comes with them. I’ve chosen the MKi9100 as the best one for the HTC HD2 as the external screen makes it easier to navigate the car kit menu’s and to see who’s calling you without having to look at your phone. You can play music from your phone through the MKi9100 using Bluetooth or 3.5mm line in. The MKi9100 will synchronise with your phone book automatically and supports phone independent voice dialling. The MKi9100 comes with a small remote that you can attach to your dash or steering wheel to control your music playback and calls. If you’ve got stereo controls built into the steering wheel of your car you can use the optional Parrot Unika to control the MKi9100 car kit with your existing controls instead of the remote. Regular software updates that improve compatibility with HTC phones are available free of charge from the Parrot website.

This isn’t the full range of accessories for the HTC HD2, just some of the ones that I think do a great job of enhancing the phone. If you’ve not seen the accessory here that’s right for you, why not check out our full range of HTC HD2 Accessories.