Sibling of the quad-core powerhouse that is the HTC One X,
the HTC One V might not boast the groundbreaking array of specs handed
to its market-topping counterpart, but it is a handset that will push
the boundaries of the lower mid-level smartphone sector.
Hosting a
strong collection of innards that push the expectations of the mobile
phone's modest SIM-free price point of £230 in the UK and $350 in the
US, the HTC One V is the Taiwanese manufacturer's answer to the recent
onslaught of boundary blurring mid-range smartphones from the likes of
Samsung and Nokia.
The now standard 5MP rear-mounted camera and 720p HD video recording
are bolstered by a vibrant display, strong design and Beats audio
innards. Although
destined to fall in the shadows of its higher priced, higher specced
namesakes, the HTC One V is an impressive pocket blower in its own
right. It has a largely smooth, fluid and speedy interface paired with
strong hardware and software, which offers an all-round pleasant user
experience in an aesthetically pleasing package.
With certain
hardware limitations an inevitable result of working a smartphone to
such a competitive price point, HTC has ensured users of the One V are
not left wanting more, with the handset coming packaged with 25GB of
free cloud storage for two years, through Dropbox. A
welcome introduction to a handset that boasts just 4GB of internal
storage, the free Dropbox access sees the HTC handset owners handed 23GB
more fee-free storage than standard customers, with the system's easy
to set up and manage features an added boost.
Highlighting the
rampant level of progression within the smartphone sector, the newly
launched lower end HTC One V hosts a near-identical selection of
hardware as the iPhone, rivalling the HTC Desire
with the 5MP camera, 512MB of RAM, 1GHz Qualcomm processor and even the
800 x 480p 3.7-inch display making the jump from the late 2010
must-have smartphone to the 2012 budget offering. Further demonstrating the HTC One V's footing firmly in the modern era of smartphone development, the Samsung Galaxy Ace and Nokia Lumia 710 rival runs on the latest Google operating system, with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich taking pride of place alongside version 4.0 of HTC Sense UI, the brand's much-loved software skin.
Available
on a variety of networks, the HTC One V is a new first smartphone
challenger, with the pocket powerhouse available on a pay as you go
basis for £230 in the UK or $350 in the US, or free on a variety of pay
monthly contracts for as little as £13.50 per month in the UK.
Design and feel
Sporting a unibody design, the HTC One V has a form factor and aesthetic that arcs back to the hugely popular HTC Legend,
with the kinked, curved chinned bottom helping differentiate the
smartphone from its wide range of rivals. This quirk could well see it
become one of the more coveted mobile phones in its price range. Although
sleek and arguably quite sexy in its appearance, the HTC One V's design
and construction isn't without its flaws. The minimalist removable back
plate, which helps to enhance the structural rigidity of the HTC One V,
provides a definite chink in the brushed metal armour.
Leaving a
noticeable seam once slotted into place, it forms a less than
reassuring seal with the compact plastic panel. Although it didn't come
loose during our time with the phone, it is cause for concern and a
feature that failed to offer reassurance and peace of mind. Despite
an aesthetically pleasing kink at the base of the handset - a feature
that helps separate the HTC One V from the mass of featureless black
candybar handsets - the same elbowed design encourages a lower grip on
the phone than normal, which results in a top-heavy feel that leaves it
feeling unbalanced and almost disconcerting in the hand. With a 3.7-inch touchscreen display onboard, the HTC One V is roughly the same size as an iPhone 4S,
with this Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich-filled handset lining up at a
slender 9.2mm thick and a very reasonable and sturdy 115g in weight. Thanks
to its unibody aluminium build, the HTC One V is by far one of the
sturdiest mid-range mobile phones on the market, offering zero flex or
distortion when put under unusually high levels of pressure.
This
feature not only ensures against unwanted damage and breakages, but
also helps distinguish the device as a range leader and sets it apart
from the flimsily plastic-backed Samsung Galaxy offerings. Following
the trend of modern phones, the HTC One V, like its One branded
siblings, features very few physical buttons, with just a
sleep-come-power button featuring alongside a physical volume control.
While the volume toggle does fall within the real estate of a
comfortable grip, HTC has added enough resistance to the button to
ensure that it doesn't become a nuisance and fall victim to irritating
accidental presses.
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