The Tech Page reviewed HTC’s Windows 8X phone back in November, and we suggested that the new phone was designed well enough to compete effectively against both Android and Apple. Now, HTC has released a low-end version, the 8S, in a bid to attract more attention from cost conscious consumers.

 

While it may not measure up to its big brother, the 8S still manages to pleasantly surprise with some impressive features.

 

 

 

 

 

Pros

Colourful design

Micro SD card slot

Superb social networking integration

 

Cons

Relatively weak battery

No smart dialing

Low internal memory (4GB)

 

 

 

 

Specs

 

 

 

 

The Windows 8S features a 4-inch super LCD touch screen but disappointingly, it does not feature Gorilla Glass 2, which is the latest in display screen technology. The top edge of the phone features the 3.5mm audio jack and the power/standby button. The bottom edge features the micro USB port and microphone. Meanwhile the right edge of the phone features the volume control button and a dedicated camera button.

 

The left edge does not feature any buttons or ports. The front side features three soft keys for navigation. The 8S does not feature revolutionary dimensions - 120.5 x 63 x 10.28 mm - and is hardly the thinnest phone on the market but looks sleeker than it really is due to its curved design.

 

In addition, the 8S only weighs 113g, which is quite decent for a phone of its class. The phone is also made entirely of a premium plastic and while it may be less attractive (depending on your tastes) than polished metal or glass, the quality feels just as good. The phone is available in four different colours: blue, red, grey and black.

 

 

Underneath the hood, the 8S features a now-standard 1Ghz dual core processor with 512 MB RAM. The 8S comes with a paltry 4GB worth of internal memory but it does feature a MicroSD card slot, which I assume would be more of an essential rather than a luxury. The 8S also comes with a free 7GB Skydrive Account.

 

The 8S only features one camera and it is pretty standard, featuring 5MP with autofocus and LED flash. Like most other HTC cameras it also features F2.8 aperture and 35mm lens and 720p video recording capability. Personally I feel that given the amount of technology that has been devoted towards even the low-end variants of the HTC One class, the camera could have featured a few extra capabilities to set it apart from the rest. 

 

 

 

As for Audio, the HTC 8S features an integrated Beats Audio System and while I’m not particularly impressed with Beats in general, this is something that will appeal to many users. The 1700 mAh battery could be better but this does not mean it is entirely useless either because keep in mind that the Galaxy S2 also features a similar battery.

 

You can also expect the standard sensors and connectivity systems including GPS (and GLONASS - The Russian version of the GPS), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.1, G-sensor, ambient light sensor and proximity sensor.

 

 

 

Interface and features

 

 

 

 

The 8S features a very interesting Windows 8 interface. Unlike Android or iOS, it features a single home screen with “tiles” representing apps. Some of these apps are live, so for example the contact list, gallery, calendar and other similar apps, generally feature mini-slideshows. Customisation options are limited to the color scheme, size and position of the tiles. Due to the lack of widgets and other options, you can’t expect a lot of unique customisation. 

 

The status bar on top permanently features the time and tapping it provides more information on the system. Settings and shortcuts are accessible through the home screen. Being a Windows phone it also features popular Windows apps like One Note, and other standard apps such as alarm, calculator, calendar, etc. 

 

However, keep in mind that this does not feature Google’s Maps app, instead Microsoft has its own mapping app - Bing Maps - which is not nearly as good (lacking some of the bells and whistles found in Google’s Android). More importantly, when using Bing Maps for Colombo, users will notice missing transit and building information but I guess it is still usable for basic navigation.

 

Apart from Maps, another serious gripe with the HTC 8S is the lack of smart dialing. Personally, I have got so used to smart dialing, I assumed it was a standard feature. However, dialling a number does not generate a list of contacts to choose from.

 

 

 

Verdict

 

Overall, the HTC Windows 8S is still a decent phone. It is stylish, colourful and feels like a premium device. While the hardware isn’t mind-blowing, it is still quite decent for a mid-range device.

 

However, it’s strenght - Windows apps - is also its weakness because despite the fact that it brings in superb apps such as One Note and Windows synchronization features, it also involves things like Bing Maps and Windows explorer. This is an excellent choice for someone looking for a standard smartphone without having to spend a lot of money. 

 

 

 

 

 

By Navam Niles