The situation has improved in the last six months and we have started seeing some decent Android phones that are also affordable. Yet, there is no one winner in this market. The slot for the best phone under Rs 20,000 is still open. And this is the slot that HTC is targeting with 8S, the company's affordable Windows Phone 8 device.
Does it succeed? Yes, but partly. HTC 8S is a very good device at its price and is a worthy choice over many Android phones that dot the market. But it is not without its compromises. Read on to know more...
Bright colours, good design, fast performance
Just like the 8X, the flagship Windows phone from HTC, the 8S has a smart and colourful personality. The design language is also similar. The 8S too has tapered edges, albeit a bit thicker compared to those on the more expensive phone. Interestingly, this gives the 8S a more balanced design and makes it a better fit in the hand.
Other than the difference in thickness, the 8S and the 8X differ in the quality of build material. The body of the 8S has a more plastic feel, though not in a cheap way. The only complain that we have in terms of design is the difficult-to-open cover on the bottom of the phone where SIM and microSD card slots are placed.
Even by its high design standards, HTC has done a splendid job with the 8S. The funky colours - in India the device is available in red and blue - go well with the bright and vibrant Windows Phone 8 user interface.
Despite its relatively small size -- something that also makes it pocketable and easy fit in hands - the 8S packs in some serious hardware. It is powered by a dual-core processor running at 1Ghz and 512MB RAM. The graphics are handled by Adreno 305, which is a very capable chip. The phone has 4GB internal storage along with support for a micro SD card of up to 32GB. The primary camera can shoot pictures in 5 mega pixels. The 4-inch screen sports a resolution of 800x480 pixels.
The combination of good hardware, a bright and accurate screen, and the fluid interface of Windows Phone 8 operating software makes HTC 8S a fast phone. This gives it an advantage compared to similarly-priced Android phones, which seem slow or suffer from lag during use.
In our use, we found HTC 8S to be a very capable phone. Call quality was clear and web browsing was smooth. The camera isn't the best we have seen in a mid-range phone but it produces decent shots that are usable on websites like Facebook and Twitter. However, videos that are shot in 720P resolution are below average in quality. The phone battery lasts around 15 hours on single charge when phone used primarily for making calls, some browsing, emails and social networking.
So what are the compromises?
Despite all that is good in HTC 8S, the device has its limitations. The Windows Phone 8, which powers the device, is its strength as well as its weakness.
We have written about the operating system earlier but here is a quick summary. Windows Phone 8 is fast, intuitive and beautiful but it is not as functional or flexible as Android. The OS lacks a proper notification centre and proper multitasking. While some users may not mind it, people who use their smartphones to keep in touch with the real-time world through services like Twitter will find the experience lacking. Lack of apps for Windows Phone devices is another problem. It is particularly an issue if your digital life revolves around Google services like Youtube, Gmail, Google Maps and Google Talk. There are some third-party apps that access into these services but the experience is inferior compared to what Android, which is made by Google, offers.
The last compromise that users will have to make with HTC 8S is lack of video chat. The phone doesn't have a front camera so you can't video chat with your friends or family members with it.
Good phone for the price
If you are out in the market hunting for a smartphone for less than Rs 20,000 HTC 8S should be on your shortlist. But before you pick it make sure that you do not mind what it lacks. Apps are not as plentiful as what Android phones have, experience with Google services is poor and if you are a heavy Twitter users, this is not the device for you. Similarly, you cannot make video calls with it.
But if these limitations are not a deal-breaker for you, 8S is a good choice. It is not in the league of expensive Android phones or iPhone but it doesn't have to be. At a price of Rs 19,260 it is a solid device that is better than similarly-priced Android phones because of its fast performance, very good screen and a great design.
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