Htc windows phone 8s red. The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers

If Microsoft shows Windows 8 on every corner and makes every effort so that by the time of the announcement everyone knows about it and, moreover, everyone has time to try it, then Windows Phone 8 has a different fate - it is hidden from prying eyes.

Not exactly thoroughly: Samsung showed the first phone running Windows Phone 8 at IFA 2012, although not allowing it to be turned on, and a week later at a joint press conference Nokia and Microsoft demonstrated both the new Lumia and the operating system itself. However, it will be released along with the phones only at the end of October, and they won’t let you twirl them in your hands, and most importantly, take pictures of the interface yet. HTC doesn’t indulge much more either: you can look at smartphones, you can even hold them in your hands and look at the lock screen, but beyond that, no, no. So let's talk about the devices themselves, and we'll sing a song about WP8 another time.

In total, at the start of Windows Phone 8 sales, HTC will have two smartphones based on it: the flagship HTC Windows Phone 8X and a younger device, the HTC Windows Phone 8S. If you suddenly remembered the HTC One line and imagined One X and One S, then we hasten to disappoint you: the devices look completely different both inside and out, even their sizes are completely different.

The reason is simple - Microsoft does not allow manufacturers to be arbitrary: there are strict restrictions on both hardware and software tuning. So HTC tried its best and decided to use three strengths: design, camera and sound.

Specifications

⇡ HTC Windows Phone 8X

Let's start with the flagship - HTC Windows Phone 8X (we hope they will come up with a shorter name for it). Windows Phone 8X is a smartphone with a screen diagonal of 4.3 inches (and why do we, in Russia and Europe, with our metric system, measure diagonals in inches?). A little unusual for modern times flagship smartphone, but company representatives explain that, according to their calculations, users of feature phones will mainly migrate to WP8, and they do not need a large diagonal.

But the screen resolution is quite decent - 720x1280 pixels, which gives a density of 341 pixels per inch (hello, Retina). It is made using SuperLCD technology (read: IPS) and is protected by slightly convex Gorilla Glass 2. The smartphone body is made of polycarbonate. Convex screen, colored polycarbonate - doesn’t remind you of anything? However, HTC's new WP8 flagship resembles Nokia Lumia only from afar.

HTC had previously loved the so-called “industrial design”, but until recently all devices were black and gray, white, or - very rarely - uniformly red. It was decided to change the concept - they say, the user craves bright, contrasting things. So, for example, Windows Phone X will be supplied to the market in three colors - dark blue, light green and classic black. Blue looks, in our opinion, very nice.

The smartphone body is non-separable, and therefore leaves the impression of solidity and strength. There is no slot for MicroSD cards, which Microsoft has finally recognized as necessary, in the flagship device; there is only a slot for MicroSIM on the left side. Fortunately, we haven’t decided to master NanoSIM yet. The HTC Windows Phone 8X weighs 130 grams - just right: not heavy, but nevertheless you feel that there is something in your hands. The designers did a great job: visually the smartphone seems quite thin - about 8-8.5 mm, while its actual thickness in the thickest part is 10.1 mm. All thanks to the convex back of the case and the overall smoothness of the lines.

Windows Phone 8X also feels exceptionally pleasant to the touch. The set of keys is minimal - dictated by the same Microsoft: three touch buttons on the front side, a power button on top, volume control and a camera button (mandatory for WP8 devices) on the right side. But everything is in its place and can be pressed clearly.

From the point of view of hardware, there is nothing particularly remarkable in the HTC Windows Phone 8X, again because Microsoft keeps all manufacturers under a tight rein. So the hardware of the smartphone can be described in just a few words: dual-core Qualcomm S4 processor with a frequency of 1.5 GHz, 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB storage, NFC module. Naturally, Bluetooth (for some reason the prehistoric version 2.1 is declared, although there cannot be anything other than 4.0), GLONASS/GPS, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, but no LTE. The choice of a simple configuration is just as simple and can be explained: Windows Phone 8 is not as demanding on hardware as Android, and Microsoft does not yet allow manufacturers to install quad-core processors in devices. And he does the right thing: the interface in the device does not slow down at all, and modern dual-core Qualcomm ones are very kind and gentle on the battery. By the way, the capacity of the latter (as you guessed, non-removable) here is 1800 mAh, which theoretically should be enough for a day of working with the device without any problems. The small amount of built-in memory in HTC is justified by the deep integration of Windows Phone 8 with Microsoft SkyDrive - each user gets 7 GB of cloud storage for free.

Windows Phone 8X has two cameras: an 8-megapixel rear camera - the same as in the HTC One X - and a 2.1-megapixel front camera. Both are equipped with fairly fast F/2.0 optics, and both take pictures almost instantly. Both record videos at 1080p resolution. Pressing the camera's hardware button activates it in about a second and a half - faster than in many point-and-shoot cameras. This, as well as instant snapshot creation, is achieved thanks to a hardware solution called HTC ImageChip - a proprietary HTC feature that came from the One family. Indeed, Taiwanese WP8 smartphones should be at least somewhat different from the rest. HTC simply calls the rear camera good, but boasts about the front camera: they say, no one else has one like it.

It's easier with sound. In short, it's Beats. The phone has a built-in special software profile, specially adapted specifically for this family of headphones, which is activated when a plug from any Beats is inserted into the phone. This is implemented, by the way, simply and beautifully: the phone only determines the resistance, which is, so to speak, unique for Beats headphones, and for other manufacturers as well. True, if Chinese craftsmen make a really high-quality Beats counterfeit with the same resistance, the device will not notice the difference. There is, however, one point: as it turns out, Beats headphones will not be included with the phone: they say, people want freedom of choice. A little strange decision, but it has its right to exist.

To be honest, we are skeptical about all kinds of software “improvers,” but two separate amplifiers - one for headphones and one for a music speaker - are a different story. The sound is really pleasing both on the audio output and - I can’t believe it, but it’s true - through the speaker. By ear, it is no worse than what the acoustics of many laptops produce. HTC did their best here.

⇡ HTC Windows Phone 8S

The second device in the starting line is simpler and cheaper: Windows Phone 8S is equipped with a 4-inch diagonal SuperLCD screen with WVGA resolution (480x800). The younger devices on WP7 from HTC received 3.7-inch displays, but now they have decided to increase them a little. True, the model name ends with S, and, as you remember, One S is in the middle of the lineup, so perhaps over time a Windows Phone 8V will appear - even smaller. But these are just our predictions. Flat glass Gorilla Glass of the first generation was chosen as protection for the screen - apparently, it is now cheaper than Gorilla Glass 2.

Windows Phone 8S weighs a little less - 117 grams and, according to subjective feelings, it feels slightly better in the hand than WP 8X, but not due to the reduced weight, but thanks to slightly more smoothly rounded edges. Although here my colleague from a friendly publication and I had different opinions: the elder one fit into his hand like a glove. But the same visual deception works with both: WP 8S, like WP 8X, also does not seem plump, while it is even slightly thicker - 10.28 mm.

The WP 8S looks brighter than its older brother, mainly due to its two-tone design. Most of the body is painted in one, not too flashy color, while the stripe at the bottom - on the contrary - is as bright as possible, in a rich shade. We managed to get acquainted with, perhaps, the most flashy device - it was light gray on top and acid yellow below. There will be three more color combinations, but they are all a little quieter.

The set of buttons and their location on the HTC Windows Phone 8S are exactly the same as on the older model - thanks, Microsoft. And the slot for the MicroSIM card is now so easy to see: it has moved under the removable bottom cover, where there is also a slot for memory cards along with it.

The hardware in the younger smartphone corresponds to its positioning: the processor is also dual-core, also Qualcomm S4, but with a frequency reduced to a gigahertz. We suspect that it is also slightly different architecturally, and the graphics in the younger one are most likely different, although HTC has not yet spoken much about this. The RAM has become two times less - 512 MB, the data space has decreased four times - in total, the smartphone has 4 GB, how much is available to the user - it’s better not to think about it. MicroSD cards save the day, which the older one so lacks. Next is the same set of Bluetooth (again stated as 2.1 instead of 4.0), Wi-Fi, GLONASS/GPS - and again without LTE, but there is nothing surprising here. True, NFC was also cut off in the younger one, just in case. Despite the significantly lower screen resolution and equally significantly weaker hardware, the battery capacity has remained almost unchanged - 1700 mAh (versus 1800 mAh for the older device). So WP 8S should live for a long time.

To separate the models further from each other, Windows Phone 8S was deprived of its flagship camera - there is only 5 megapixels, F / 2.8, video is recorded only in 720p, but the camera still turns on quickly, and takes pictures just as instantly. The smartphone has been completely rid of the front camera - but in vain, video calls on Skype are becoming more and more firmly established in our lives. Thank you, at least they left the flash: a flashlight is one of the most important functions of a real smartphone. But both phones have a whole set of applications for working with the camera, including a certain analogue of Instagram - the main service of hipsters of all times has not yet been adapted for Windows Phone 8.

When you buy an HTC device from Beats, there is no escape; you will get a special sound profile along with Windows Phone 8S, but you won’t get the headphones themselves. However, it does not have two amplifiers, as in the WP 8X, so the sound may be worse than in the flagship.

To further distinguish their phones from the rest, HTC played a little with the design - just as much as the harsh Microsoft allows. Thus, the color of the Metro tile in each device is matched to the color of the phone itself, although the user is free to set absolutely any of the available shades in the settings after purchase. The lock screen is taken from the HTC One family: those same rich green hills, bathed in an equally rich yellow light. In general, they managed to make the phones at least a little personalized and recognizable. For example, let’s compare them with the others:

HTC strives to bring both devices to the market as quickly as possible - so much so that company representatives talk about the appearance of the older smartphone on store shelves in early November, and the younger one two to three weeks later, while WP8 will officially be released only at the end of October. It is stated that almost every European operator has agreed with HTC to launch at least one of the two models, so the Taiwanese predict a very rosy future for their products.

⇡ Conclusion

In general, both devices look good: HTC has moved away from boring shades of gray and design with a slight Asian flavor - the new smartphones look more like either American or European. If we ignore the design, which, perhaps, plays the main role in the HTC family of Windows Phone 8 phones, the older device - Windows Phone 8X - is interesting with really high-quality sound and a fast camera, while the younger one - Windows Phone 8S - simply leaves the general pleasant impressions, although it cannot boast of any outstanding characteristics. This is where that indescribable look and feel plays a role, which is so difficult to express in words and on which your emotions when using the gadget so strongly depend. All you have to do is not go wrong with the price tag - and both will find their buyer.

In conclusion, we asked Phil Blair from HTC, who presented the new products to us, whether he himself believed in the bright future of Windows Phone 8. And we did not hear the standard “yes, of course.” Phil really believes in the success of the new system, but also because he considers WP7 a failure and says that Microsoft simply cannot afford to fail again. The corporation must make every effort to ensure that Windows Phone 8 gets its share of the market. But why then is the system not brought to the people like desktop Windows 8? But there is no answer to this.

Most smartphones from the Taiwanese company HTC run Android OS. However, the manufacturer does not stop experimenting, so the model range is replenished with other devices. For example, in 2012, a gadget running on Windows Phone was released - HTC 8S. As you might have guessed, this is exactly what we will talk about in this article.

Why was this decision made? The fact is that the manufacturer is trying with all its might to expand the audience of potential buyers. In addition to experimenting with the operating system, the company is making every effort to create a device with balanced characteristics. Did he manage to do it? Let's figure it out together.

Contents of delivery

It is worth noting that the appearance of the HTC 8S phone itself has undergone significant changes, however, when choosing the design of the packaging box, the manufacturer chose to remain true to its traditions. So, the buyer still has the same white case with streamlined edges. It is devoid of any images. Information data is presented on a paper cover. On the front side there is an image of a smartphone. Under it, the manufacturer presented not only its corporate logo, but also the name of the operating system.

Unfortunately, a modern user cannot be surprised by a set of components. It's more than standard. In addition to the smartphone itself, the box contains a charger in the form of a power adapter and a detachable cable. The latter is equipped with a microUSB plug. Since the manufacturer presented its gadget in the middle segment, it equipped it with a wired stereo headset. However, it is the most common, corresponding to the entry level.

Appearance

Describing the appearance of the HTC 8S Window Phone smartphone, it is worth noting that it is radically different from previously presented models. Its body is made of polycarbonate. The manufacturer gave preference to a strict design. The corners in the body are sharp, but there are smooth transitions on the side edges. Thanks to them, the phone fits comfortably in your hand. The front panel is protected by tempered glass. The assortment includes several color solutions. They all look quite interesting. The range includes gray with a yellow bottom, orange, black with blue and black with white.

As for the dimensions, they are compact - 120 × 63 × 10.2 mm. The only thing is that some users have complaints about the thickness. It's quite big. However, the smooth transitions of the back cover visually reduce it.

The front panel of the HTC 8S smartphone is painted in two colors. The main part is done in black. Represents a screen frame. It is worth noting that it is quite thick. At the top there is a speaker slot, light and proximity sensors. Below the screen there is a control panel. The peculiarity of this model lies precisely in the fact that it differs in color from the main body. Can be blue, white, yellow and orange. According to users, it looks quite original. As for the content of the control panel, it is typical for devices running on Windows Phone. HTC 8S has three keys. On the left side there is an arrow responsible for the back function, in the middle there is a Windows icon that plays the role of home or start, and on the right side there is “Search”.

In reviews, most users say there is no oleophobic coating. The fact is that in just a few seconds the front panel of the phone is covered with numerous fingerprints.

The remaining controls are located on the right side of the device. It has a volume rocker and a standalone camera launch button. By the way, we note that the left one is completely empty. In order to turn on or block the device, you must press the button located on the top end. On the opposite side of it there is a headphone jack. The charger socket and microphone hole are located at the bottom.

The body of this model itself is non-separable. However, the lower part is removable. Under this cover are hidden slots for SIM and memory cards.

By and large, reviews from users praise the appearance of this phone. The only criticism concerned the lock key. The fact is that it does not protrude enough beyond the body, so it is quite difficult to find it by touch.

HTC 8S: screen characteristics

In this model, the manufacturer installed a display made using Super LCD technology. Its size is 4 inches. The resolution is quite high - 840 × 480 pixels. Due to the fact that the pixel density is 233 ppi, the image on the screen is not divided into squares. Color rendition is not bad. In total, the screen can display up to 16 million colors. An indisputable advantage is that the manufacturer protected the display with high-quality Gorilla Glass. This model has the second generation installed. Glass copes with its tasks perfectly. During operation, scratches do not appear on the screen. But the absence of an oleophobic layer caused a lot of inconvenience to customers. In their reviews they say that the screen constantly has to be wiped.

By and large, user impressions are positive. The brightness of the device is moderate; some inconvenience may occur when working in the sun. The viewing angles are maximum, the sensor is responsive, color rendering is calm.

Camera

HTC 8S only has one camera. Its resolution is 5 megapixels. The manufacturer has additionally equipped it with a flash, so you can take pictures in low light. Users also consider the presence of autofocus to be an advantage. In the menu you can choose the image resolution yourself. The minimum is 640 × 480 px, the maximum is 2592 × 1940 px. There are also separate settings for photo mode and video. The latter records videos in 720p resolution by default.

In reviews, users say that the camera copes with its tasks quite well. Especially when you consider the segment in which the smartphone is presented. The color saturation is a little lacking. Contrast is at an optimal level. This quality can be achieved when shooting during the day. But in the evening the noise, fuzziness, and blurriness of distant objects are clearly visible in the frames.

Autonomy

HTC 8S has a non-removable battery. Its resource is 1700 milliamps per hour. According to the manufacturer, the battery is made using lithium-polymer technology. This suggests that he is not afraid of overcharging. However, many users are scared that the manufacturer used a non-removable battery. The fact is that these elements have their own expiration date. Most often they are able to work for an average of three years. Therefore, if the battery fails, it will not be possible to replace it with a new one.

But as for the battery life, in their reviews users claim that under average load you can count on approximately 2 days. To save battery, it is recommended to activate automatic brightness adjustment.

Reviews about the hardware platform

By modern standards, the technical equipment of the HTC 8S Windows Phone can hardly be called powerful. The platform is built on the MSM8227 processor. It was produced by the well-known company Qualcomm. This chip is based on two computing modules. When the load increases, they are capable of delivering a frequency of 1000 megahertz. The chip is manufactured using a 28nm process technology. The system size is 32 bits. This smartphone model is also equipped with a graphics accelerator. The Adreno 305 video card works in tandem with the central processor. Its characteristics are quite sufficient to run videos and games on the gadget.

System memory complements the characteristics of the hardware platform. There is only 522 MB installed in the device. Unfortunately, this is not enough to handle resource-intensive applications. However, in reviews, owners say that the phone system works without freezing. Any user action is performed very quickly. But according to many, this is an advantage not of the hardware platform, but of the Windows Phone operating system.

HTC 8S: memory

The developers have integrated 4 GB of built-in storage into the smartphone. Naturally, it will not be enough for full-fledged work. Therefore, there is a way to expand the memory by installing an external drive. Using it, the user has access to 32 GB of storage. The ability to hot-swappable memory cards is also considered an indisputable advantage.

Software

As mentioned above, the HTC 8S phone runs on Windows Phone 8. In most reviews, users talk about the advantages of this operating system. For example, many liked the organization of the workspace. It is presented in the form of two panels. The first contains shortcuts in the form of tiles, the second contains a list of all available programs in the device.

In the eighth version, users now have the opportunity to display tiles of different sizes on the main screen. For example, if you use small ones, then 4 pieces fit in one line, 2 medium ones and, accordingly, one large one. If desired, the owner can change the background design and choose different colors for the tiles. As for the latter, there are quite a few of them.

The reviews also discuss users and the appearance of the lock screen. The firmware in HTC 8S is adapted for this device. Thanks to this, the screen turned out to be as informative as possible. First of all, many users highlighted the advantage of being able to install any picture. Moreover, the device even supports animated images. In addition to the time and date, the lock screen displays the signal strength, connected Internet connection, battery status and wireless module icons. There is also a music control panel at the top. In order to activate it, you need to press the volume rocker.

The disadvantages of this operating system include one point. Unfortunately, the status bar is not permanently displayed on the screen. In order, for example, to check the battery charge level, you need to manually lower it. Users believe that the developers did not pay due attention to this point.

Interfaces

This phone model only works with one SIM card. Its format is micro. As mentioned above, it is installed in a slot under the lower removable cover. The device supports basic communication standards. It also contains wireless modules. You can use Bluetooth 3.1 to transfer data. The speed did not cause any comments from users. An indisputable advantage, according to the owners, is the presence of a Wi-Fi module. Through it you can connect to the Internet. It works without problems, the signal is stable. In addition, this smartphone has a function that allows you to distribute the Internet to other devices.

Peculiarities

The HTC 8S includes some features that are not used in other similar devices. First of all, in the reviews, the owners highlighted a mechanism called “politeness sensors.” What is its essence? This option has three purposes:

• Reducing the volume for an incoming call after the user has picked up the device.
• Automatically mutes your device when you turn it face down.
• Increases the ringer volume when the phone is placed in a bag or pocket.

Another feature worth highlighting is the installation of a weather widget on the lock screen. The picture is animated; when there is an active Internet connection, the data changes automatically.

It is also worth noting that this phone uses proprietary firmware from a Taiwanese manufacturer. It is maximally filled with useful functions. These include a photo editor with effects, a flashlight utility, news, unit conversion, and more.

Let's sum it up

By studying reviews from owners, you can make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of the HTC 8S model. Let's start with the cons. These include the lack of a selfie camera and oleophobic coating. Also, according to many, the battery life could be significantly longer.

In a gadget worth about 13,000 rubles. (at the time of sales start) there are also advantages. First of all, users include compact dimensions, if you do not take into account the thickness of the case. The quality of the materials was also admired, in particular the plastic with Soft-Touch coating, which prevents the accumulation of fingerprints. The screen resolution is certainly high for a mid-price gadget. There was a lot of positive feedback regarding the smooth operation of the system.

). What the Taiwanese manufacturer prepared in 8S. First, let's look at the appearance.

And so, we take the phone out of the box and the device itself immediately catches our eye. Having looked at it more closely, we will immediately be confused. This has already happened somewhere. The Sony Xperia U comes to mind. Indeed, the designs of the devices are similar, but the Xperia U is longer and somehow curved, while the 8S is strictly flat and the plastic, glossy insert contains phone control buttons, and not just a brand name.

The entire phone is made of soft-touch plastic. The 8S is made very well. It is comfortable to hold, and thanks to the matte surface of the back panel, you are not afraid of accidentally dropping the phone. Although the HTC 8S is positioned as a budget model, the material from which the phone is made seems far from cheap.

The Taiwanese company HTC installed a 4-inch diagonal screen with a resolution of 800x480 in the 8S Super LCD. This resolution was installed on smartphones running . The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass. Thanks to the built-in light sensor, the phone's brightness will automatically adjust to the environment. For example, if you use the phone in a dark room, then in order not to hurt your eyes, the phone will lower the screen brightness lower. And vice versa if you are in the sun.

You won’t be able to determine the budget of a device by eye; to do this, you need to look deeper. A dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon with a frequency of 1 GHz is installed here. The first manifestation of budgeting. Other devices have more powerful processors. The biggest disappointment was the amount of memory. There is only 4GB of built-in and 512MB of RAM. But fortunately, the phone has a microSD card slot that supports cards up to 64GB of memory. Plus, the Microsoft cloud service allows you to expand it by another 7GB. Also, the phone does not support LTE networks and NFC chip.

The phone has a built-in Beats Audio sound system, which is often found on HTC phones. But unfortunately, here the improvement in sound quality comes through hardware enhancement. There is no built-in amplifier like the HTC 8X.

Enough about the bad stuff. HTC 8S boasts a built-in GPS and GLONASS sensor. The Bluetooth module is outdated – 2.1+EDR. You can listen to your favorite music through 3.5 mm. audio output

A 5-megapixel camera will help you capture the beautiful landscape, family and friends. It's worth facing the truth. A five-megapixel matrix will not surprise anyone now. But for a budget device this is a good, average indicator. What's great is that these 5 megapixels shoot HD 720p video. After removing this or that application, you can edit, add effects or crop it in a standard photo editor. Fans of video chat will be disappointed as there is no built-in front-facing webcam. Another sad manifestation of budgeting.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Main camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

The ratio of devices based on the Android operating system and Windows Phone at HTC is approximately 5:1. Despite this, the company pays special attention to each WP smartphone. Just recently the flagship smartphone HTC 8X appeared on store shelves, but today it’s time to consider a more affordable model – the HTC 8S. It has less impressive characteristics, but will appeal to those who prefer compact and lightweight devices.

Design and ergonomics

The smartphone is made in a similar style. Ends rounded to the back, soft-touch plastic and tempered glass. Like the older model, HTC 8S will go on sale in several colors. In our case, the smartphone is black with a white insert at the bottom of the body. There will also be black-blue, gray-yellow and orange options.

The smartphone body is relatively compact, its dimensions are 120x63x10.2 mm. Such miniature dimensions will appeal to fragile girls. For those who are accustomed to modern devices with 4.3-4.8” screens, the HTC 8S will most likely seem like a toy.
The tempered glass on the front panel is painted in two colors. The main part, under which the proximity and light sensors, the speaker slot and the display itself are hidden, is black. The lower part hides three touch keys – “Back”, “Home” or “Start” and “Search” and is painted white. The protective glass does not have an oleophobic coating, so fingerprints are clearly visible on it.
Traditionally for Windows Phone smartphones, the left side is empty. The volume control and camera launch keys are located on the right side, the power button is on top. To the left of it is a headphone jack. The connector for connecting a USB cable is at the bottom, to the left of it is a hole for a spoken microphone.
With the exception of the power key, the buttons are easy to use. The power key does not protrude from the body, which is why you have to press it at random.

The back side is made of plastic with soft-touch coating. At its top there is a 5 MP camera lens, on the right there is a flash. At the very bottom there are speaker holes and the Beats audio logo. To access the SIM and memory card slots, you need to remove the bottom of the panel. Thanks to this compromise, the body turned out to be solid, without creaks or play of parts.

Operating system and hardware platform

The smartphone runs on the latest version of the Windows Phone 8 operating system. Among the features of this particular device, it is worth noting the presence of such applications as “Photo Enhancement” and “Hotspot”. The first is designed for photo processing and has several preset filters in its arsenal. The second allows you to distribute the Internet to other devices.

Like all WP8 smartphones, HTC 8S comes with pre-installed free maps that you can use for navigation. The smoothness of the interface has always been one of the advantages of Windows Phone. This smartphone was no exception. Considering the low screen resolution and powerful hardware platform, this is not surprising.
The updated OS now allows you to change the size of tiles on the Desktop and display photos from Facebook or a weather widget on the lock screen. The application store is constantly updated with popular applications, but is still unable to satisfy the needs of users spoiled by other operating systems.

The hardware platform used is the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Play solution - MSM8227 with two Cortex-A9 processor cores with a frequency of 1 GHz, an Adreno 305 graphics chip, 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of disk space. There is support for memory cards. Of the 4 GB, less than 2 GB are available to the user. The second half is taken up by system storage (1.92 GB). It is unknown why, but when we changed the default storage to a memory card, we were unable to save photos, record videos or download applications; the smartphone constantly complained about lack of space.

The difficulty in playing Full HD video was also surprising. For example, a video in an MKV container played with severe stuttering, while AVI and MP4 videos in 720p resolution ran without problems. On the one hand, it is unlikely that anyone in their right mind would load Full HD video onto a memory card; moreover, films in this quality usually take up more than 4 GB, and the system is not capable of digesting files of such size. On the other hand, having such a powerful system-on-chip, it is at least strange to encounter such restrictions. But here it is worth remembering that before the advent of Windows Phone 8, users were even more limited, since in order to copy files they had to use the Zune application, which automatically converted all files into a system-friendly device.

Like all recent HTC smartphones, including those based on Android, there is a Beats audio logo on the case, and in the settings there is a separate slider that activates Beats sound. With this add-on, the sound in the headphones becomes louder and deeper. The volume of the conversation and multimedia speakers is average, this characteristic is also true for the vibration alert.
The operating time of the HTC 8S is a day and a half with 5-10 minutes of calls, data synchronization via 3G, and the GPS module turned on. During active use, the smartphone will have to be charged at least once a day.

Display and camera

The device is equipped with a 4-inch Super LCD display with a resolution of 800x480 pixels. The image quality is excellent, this is facilitated by both the absence of an air gap between the matrix and the sensor, and the presence of thin tempered Gorilla Glass. Brightness indicators range from 48 cd/m² to 301 cd/m².
The smartphone has only one camera – 5 MP, capable of recording video in 720p quality. There are many options in the settings that allow you to improve the quality of pictures and videos, which turns out to be quite relevant, since the final result is on the same level as HTC Desire V.

Examples of 5 MP photos taken with an HTC 8S smartphone

Results

This model is the most affordable device running on the Windows Phone 8 operating system. Its closest opponent is the HTC 8X, it has two cameras, a larger diagonal and resolution display, and a better hardware platform. Following it is the “budget” model of Nokia - Lumia 820. It also has two cameras, a 4.3-inch display, a faster processor, replaceable body panels and the ability to control the display with any objects. HTC 8S captivates due to its compactness, light weight, bright body color options and easy-to-use Windows Phone 8 operating system.

Liked
+ Dimensions
+ Housing materials
+ Screen
+ Smooth operation

Did not like
- Working hours
— No oleophobic coating
— Camera quality
— Lack of front camera

Weight (g)	113
Processor (for smartphones)	Qualcomm S4 Play MSM8227, 1 GHz (dual core) + GPU Adreno 305
Memory	RAM 512 MB + 4 GB internal memory
Expansion slot	microSD (up to 32 GB)
Main screen	Super LCD, 4″, 480×800 pixels, 16 million colors, touch, capacitive, multi-touch support, Corning Gorilla Glass
Keyboard type	screen input
Accumulator battery	Li-Ion, 1700 mAh
Communications	USB 2.0 (micro-USB), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (A2DP), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Photography	5 MP, autofocus, face detection in the frame, geotagging
Video shooting	1280x720 pixels, up to 30 fps
Flash	LED
operating system	Windows Phone 8
FM radio	No
Additional features	media player, spatial position sensor (G-sensor), digital compass, media player, proximity sensor, light and proximity sensors, a-GPS module, applications for accessing social networks, SIM card type - microSIM