HTC’s Magic Android smartphone has landed over at our sibling-site Android Community, and so we’ve taken the opportunity to throw together a video unboxing and hands-on gallery.  The Magic takes most of the specs from the T-Mobile G1 and slides them into a far sleeker casing, ideal for single-hand use.

To help with that, HTC preload the Magic with the latest Android OS, version 1.5 ‘Cupcake’.  That brings with it an on-screen keyboard and various media improvements, including easy uploads to YouTube from the new camcorder feature.  First impressions of the Vodafone HTC Magic are very good: build quality is high, the touchscreen is very responsive, and unlike the G1 you really can use this Android smartphone in just one hand.

Our early opinion is that this is the handset to push Android out from being a geek’s phone and into the mainstream.  The vast majority of our Vodafone HTC Magic content will be happening over at Android Community, so now’s the time to head over, grab your free user account and start asking us questions.