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	HTC Windows Phone 8S
Screen	SuperLCD 2, 4.3 inches, 720x1280, capacitive, protected by Gorilla Glass 2	SuperLCD, 4.0 inches, 480x800, capacitive, protected by Gorilla Glass
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, 2x1.5 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, 2x1 GHz
Memory	1 GB RAM, 16 GB permanent	512 MB RAM, 4 GB permanent storage + microSD slot
Wireless network	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n; GPS/GLONASS; Bluetooth	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n; GPS/GLONASS; Bluetooth
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, digital compass	Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor
Camera	Main: 8 MP/video 1080p; Front 2.1 MP/video 1080p	5 MP/video 720p
Battery	Non-removable, 1800 mAh	Non-removable, 1700 mAh
Additionally	Polycarbonate housing, NFC	Polycarbonate body
Dimensions, mm	132.35x66.2x10.12	120.5x63x10.28
Weight, g	130	113

⇡ 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.

The latest generation of HTC Windows Phone smartphones, in addition to balanced functionality, boasts an extremely attractive design. The rubberized plastic body captivates everyone without exception. So the HTC 8S, which we tested, was remembered for its bright and fresh appearance. And all this for 10,000 rubles.

This time I got my hands on the most affordable smartphone on Windows Phone 8 from HTC. The model is called HTC Windows Phone 8S. What comes to the fore in this gadget is not so much functionality as appearance and the sensations that you experience when you pick up the device. Thanks to the rubberized plastic, you don’t want to let go of the phone. It is amazing.

In technical terms, the HTC 8S is a typical average: 4-inch touch screen, dual-core 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, 4 GB of flash memory + microSD support, 5 megapixel camera, etc.

It remains to be seen how it works and whether the new product is worth attention.

Dimensions. Contents of delivery

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In fact, the new HTC 8S turned out to be a fairly compact device. It doesn't look thick or bulky. This is the perfect size. Dimensions are 120.5 x 63 x 10.3 mm, and the weight, 113 grams, does not feel excessive. Thanks to the rubberized plastic on the back, the smartphone does not tend to slip out of your hands. In addition, this velvety coating is very pleasant to the touch.

The smartphone package includes:

• Smartphone HTC Windows Phone 8S
• USB Charger Adapter
• Interface cable miniUSB connector
• Stereo headset
• Instructions

Design, construction

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The appearance of the HTC 8S is bright and memorable. The model is a parallelepiped with slightly rounded corners and streamlined shapes. The front of the device is glossy, and the back is rubberized plastic. The smartphone comes in orange, blue-black, gray-yellow and black-white colors. I received the blue version for testing. It looks original and neat.

Particular emphasis is placed on the bell speaker above the screen. It is painted in a bright, in my case, bright blue color. In addition, a light indicator is hidden in the speaker (it lights up when there is a missed call or when the battery is charging). The lower part of the device differs from the main tone of the body.

On the front of the communicator, in addition to the speaker, you can see an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, and a light sensor.

Most of the front side of the smartphone is occupied by a 4-inch screen. Below the display there are three touch control buttons: “Back”, “Windows” (“Home”) and “Search”.

The volume rocker is located on the right side, with the camera key below. At the top end there is a button to turn on/off and lock the screen. You can also find a hole for connecting a 3.5 mm headset. There are no controls on the left.

The connector for connecting an interface cable and a microUSB charger is located at the bottom end.

On the reverse side there is a 5 megapixel camera eye with autofocus and an LED flash. At the bottom you can see the speaker holes for external calls. The built-in speaker has average volume reserves. In most cases, it is clearly audible so as not to miss a call in a noisy room.

The battery in HTC 8S is non-removable. Slots for microSD and microSIM memory cards are located under a small cover on the rear end. It comes off quite easily.

The build quality of the HTC 8S is excellent. There are no questions about execution. The model is assembled at a factory in China.

Graphics capabilities

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The HTC 8S uses a 4-inch touch screen made using capacitive technology. This is Super-LCD. The display sensitivity is high; a light touch is enough to register. There is support for multi-touch technology. The display resolution is 480x800, it displays 262 thousand colors. Thanks to the G-sensor (accelerometer), the screen can automatically change its orientation. The display is protected by durable Gorilla Glass. As practice shows, it successfully prevents scratches during smartphone use.

The screen has good color reproduction, brightness, contrast and viewing angles. The brightness of the backlight is adjusted automatically. The display fades in the sun, but all information is clearly readable.

After a long test, I can say that the screen here is average. One feels that it is not the most technologically advanced, but it fully corresponds to the price category of devices up to 10,000 rubles.

Keyboard and information input

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As noted earlier, the HTC 8S has three touch buttons: Back, Windows and Search. The rest of the control is carried out via the touch screen. At the same time, you will not find keys for accepting and hanging up calls. You can only accept or reject a call using the touch display. This is implemented quite simply and intuitively.

Text typing is carried out using the on-screen QWERTY keyboard. It is quite convenient even in portrait display orientation - and all this is thanks to the large screen.

In general, you can enter text in several ways: using a QWERTY keyboard in horizontal or vertical layout. To type a special character, just press the “&123” button. To switch the layout from English to Russian, there is a dedicated “ENU” or “RU” key to the right of the spacebar.

Interface and navigation. Functionality

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HTC 8S runs Microsoft's new Windows Phone 8 operating system. In the future, it can be updated via the Internet to newer versions.

Among the innovations of the new OS, it is worth noting the appearance on the lock screen of weather, a large clock, notifications, as well as “live applications”, for example, Facebook - photos and statuses are shown, depending on how you configure these very live applications.

As for the user interface of the smartphone, everything is standard. The desktop is presented in the form of a scrollable vertical column of squares and rectangles, the so-called tiles, displaying functions, messages and program icons. This can be either a shortcut to a specific application, or a link to a person from your contact list, to a photo, to a web page or service. Unlike Windows Phone 7, here the tile sizes can be changed. Up to four icons can be placed on one line.

You can set a separate page as a tile on your desktop. If you try to scroll the screen from right to left with your finger or click on the arrow at the bottom of the display, a list of installed programs will open. They are not divided into directories, but are displayed in a long alphabetical list. To add new tiles to the main screen, just hold your finger on the corresponding icon for 3-4 seconds - a context menu with a choice of actions will appear.

The overall style of switching between applications is reminiscent of flipping pages, and it all happens almost instantly. The speed of the interfaces is high, and the effects are quite appropriate; you have to do something to hook the audience.

In Windows Phone 8, the developers tried to take into account the comments and changed the appearance of programs running in the background. So, by holding the “Back” button you can access the list of running applications. If they support multitasking, then when you click on the thumbnail, the program will launch in the same form in which you left it. This way you can work with almost all applications.

Telephone features

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First of all, these include “Phone”, “Contacts”, “Messages”.

The Contacts hub provides data with detailed information about phone numbers and subscribers. A record can have two dozen fields, be it last name, first name, patronymic, mobile number, home phone number, email address, date of birth or anniversary, social network accounts, microblogging services, etc. The search in contacts occurs immediately across all fields of the client, that is, you can dial the number, first name, last name, etc.

I would also note the close integration of the Messages hub with social services. All correspondence with a specific person is displayed as a dialogue. It makes no difference how the next message is sent or received - via SMS or chat on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Photos in your phone's address book are synchronized in the same way. They are taken from social networks.

Dialing a number can be pulled out into the squares screen, or you can use the “Phone” hub for this. Using calling services is intuitive and understandable. From experience, I really didn’t like it when to answer a call you need to make two movements, not one: the first is to unlock the screen, and the second is to answer directly.

Internet and Microsoft services

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The standard package includes the Internet Explorer 10 browser with support for HTML5, Canvas and hardware acceleration, as in the desktop version of the Internet browser. The browser works quickly and without glitches. Among the features: the address bar is located at the bottom of the screen and is much more convenient to reach if you operate the device with one hand. The IE10 browser loads pages very quickly and supports modern operating algorithms, which is what a progressive browser should do.

Access to Microsoft online services (music, games, office, mail, etc.) is provided using Live ID. At the same time, with a Russian account, as it turned out, you cannot use everything that is in the Marketplace store. Only applications for Russia and the CIS are available.

Windows Phone 8 offers a number of cloud-based features. The OS has a new Office 365 office suite built into it. There is basic support for basic programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) out of the box; you can create and edit documents right on your phone, without the need to install a paid package.

Multimedia capabilities

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HTC is positioning the 8S as a convenient multimedia tool. Among other things, the manufacturer focuses on high quality sound. This is indicated by the Beats Audio marking on the device's body. In headphones, the device really sounds very, very decent. The device can be used as a good player. However, it is better to replace your original headset with something more decent.

There is a special section for playing music and videos. This also includes podcasts, but there is no radio in this model. The Music section will offer a list of files, which are ordered by name depending on the selected criterion. The following options are offered: artists, albums, compositions, playlists, genres. If you click on one of the letters, you can use the quick search function among the data.

When a song is played, the file's cover art appears on the screen. At the top there are three standard player control keys. Below is information about the artist, album and track title.

As for video, HTC 8S supports .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, m4v, asf, .wmv. The player interface is simple and ascetic. The screen displays the duration of the video and the time since the start of its playback. There are three player control keys, as well as a scroll bar that helps you quickly move through the movie.

Installing new programs

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New programs and other applications can be downloaded for free and installed from the Marketplace via the Internet directly from your phone. There are currently over 200,000 apps in the Marketplace. The appearance of the program is intuitive, there is a search for applications by category. They, in turn, are divided into “Programs” and “Games”. Within each section there is also a breakdown into categories.

Over the past year, the number of programs and games for smartphones on WP has increased significantly, and prices for paid content have decreased. Thus, among the most popular and in demand in the Marketplace there are free clients of the social networks VKontakte, Facebook, Skype, Twitter, Foursquare, the Opera browser, navigation and much more.

Photographic Opportunities

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HTC 8S has a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash, which can also be used as a flashlight.

The screen acts as a viewfinder. On the right is a button for switching between photo and video shooting modes. Below is the digital zoom key. The last button is responsible for the settings menu. On the left you can see a small part of the previously taken frame. From here you can go directly to the gallery if you click on this picture.

Different resolutions for images are supported: 5MP (2592x1944 pixels), 4MP (2592x1556 pixels), 3MP (2048x1536 pixels), 2MP (1600x1200 pixels), 1280x960 pixels, 640x480 pixels.

It is worth noting that the smartphone camera allows you to get high-quality images only in natural lighting conditions. When you need to take a photograph in limited lighting conditions, using a flash leads to overexposure of the frame, and refusing it significantly reduces sharpness.

The device can record video in H.263/MPEG4 format with a resolution of 1280x720, 800x480, 640x480, 320x240 at a speed of 30 frames per second. Videos are of good quality, moving objects are not blurred.

Performance and memory

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HTC 8S runs on the fourth generation Qualcomm Snapdragon platform: dual-core 1.5 GHz MSM8960 Krait processor, Adreno 225 graphics core. The chipset is made using 28 nm technology. The amount of RAM is 512 MB.

The speed of the interfaces, as well as the loading of programs and utilities, fully corresponds to the requirements of the time. Everything works quickly and smoothly, and special design effects enhance the experience.

4 GB of internal memory are allocated for data storage. You can expand this volume using memory cards. In addition, each smartphone owner is offered a virtual flash drive on the SkyDrive service.

Communication capabilities

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You can connect to another computer or the Internet via Wi-Fi or a USB interface cable [version 2.0].

HTC 8S supports Bluetooth 3.1 wireless accessories and headsets with EDR and A2DP, including wireless stereo headsets.

In addition to supporting packet data transfer using GPRS and EDGE technologies (850/900/1800/1900), the smartphone supports 3G (WCDMA 900/2100). The device can be used as a modem. The maximum data transfer speed will be up to 14?4 Mbit/s on a 3G network.

Our review today is of the HTC 8S smartphone. According to some Russian marketers, the manufacturer of the device expects to win the sympathy of buyers in the middle price segment. The main arguments: the balanced characteristics of the device, as well as the traditionally high quality for the brand.

In addition, Microsoft, which released the OS under which this phone runs, is trying very hard to prove its worth in the competition with Android and iOS platforms. According to some experts, HTC 8S is a smartphone designed to combine two marketing principles: a recognizable prestigious brand and an affordable price. To what extent does the device correspond to this thesis?

What's included

The retail package for the gadget is quite standard. The box contains the smartphone itself (equipped with a non-removable battery with a capacity of 1.7 thousand mAh), a charger, a cable for connecting the device to a PC via USB, as well as a stereo headset (regular, wired).

Appearance

The body of the product is made of polycarbonate, pleasant to the touch, its shape is very strict, the corners are sharp. The gadget fits perfectly in the user's hand. The smartphone is supplied to the Russian market in four possible colors: black and white, gray (with elements of yellow), blue, and red.

Experts who have tested the device praise its successful design (while noting the fact that this characteristic also applies to most other HTC devices). Experts note that the case materials resist external contamination well. The build quality of the device is assessed as high. There are no backlashes.

The dimensions of the HTC 8S phone are neither large nor small. The length of the device is 120.5 mm, width - 63, thickness - 10.3. This, by the way, is very similar to the similar parameters of the prestigious iPhone 5 (123.8 x 58.6 mm). Many experts note that both devices are united by the thoughtfulness and elegance of the proportions of the various elements of the body.

Control

Just like many other smartphones running Windows Phone OS, the device is configured with a control mechanism in accordance with Microsoft standards. Deviations from them can be made in the most exceptional cases. The main control elements of the device are the screen and three touch buttons located under it. There are also additional tools. These include a block of keys located under the display (with white backlight), which can be used in low-light conditions.

On the left side of the case there is a “Back” button (and if you hold it, a list of running applications will appear on the screen). In the center there is a proprietary Microsoft Windows "flag" (performs the function of returning to the main menu, as well as calling the voice control system - if held for a long time). On the right is the search engine launch button.

Experts note a high level of comfort in using touch buttons. You can confidently work with your smartphone without fear of missing the key or hitting the right key. There is a high brightness of the backlight under the touch buttons.

At the top end of the phone there is a key to turn off the display. Conveniently, it is difficult to press it accidentally, since it is located on the same level with the body. If you hold this button, a window will appear with which you can turn off the power to the device. There is an audio jack next to the key. At the bottom end of the phone there is a micro-USB slot and a microphone.

On the right side of the case there is a button that regulates the volume level. Just below it is the key to turn on the smartphone camera (short but confident press), focus it (light, barely noticeable touch) or release the shutter (long, confident press).

In the front part of the case, on top, there is a voice speaker. It is covered with a neat mesh. Next to it is a light sensor, a motion (proximity) sensor, and an indicator that changes color with different user actions. For example, if the smartphone is connected to a PC or charger, it will flash red.

Now we are waiting for the next point in the HTC 8S review - characteristics.

Display

The smartphone is equipped with a technological S-LCD display. Diagonal - 4 inches, resolution is 800 by 480 pixels. The phone screen can display, as is the case with many similar devices, 16 million colors. The display is covered with durable protective glass in version 2.

Experts note the moderate but sufficient brightness of the HTC 8S screen. The response to touching the display surface with your fingers is rated as excellent. Color rendition is characterized by experts as very calm and pleasing to the eye. There are opinions that the picture quality is somewhat inferior to screens made according to HD standards. But there are also counterarguments: the experts who voice them say that for the price category in which the smartphone is sold, this is already great.

Camera

The phone is equipped with a camera with a resolution of 5 megapixels. There is a standard flash (which, if necessary, can be used as a flashlight - although you will have to download a special application for this). The quality of the pictures taken by the camera installed on the HTC 8S phone is assessed by experts as high. Videos can be recorded at a resolution of 720 pixels. There is an autofocus function.

Battery

The HTC 8S phone is equipped with a 1.7 thousand mAh battery. It is not removable. This, according to some experts, can be a significant drawback. It is known that batteries have an "expiration date". Over time, any battery fails. At the same time, other experts believe that this “shelf life” is more than sufficient in terms of the likelihood of replacing the device with a new one - 3-4 years. Therefore, this feature, they believe, can not be considered a disadvantage.

Experts who tested the device note that with average use of the phone, battery life can last about two days until the battery is completely discharged. In music listening mode, the device lasts about 4 hours, when talking - about 60 minutes. There is a module for automatically adjusting screen brightness, designed to save battery power. Experts note that for a phone sold in the mid-price segment, even these rather modest figures can be considered good.

Performance

The smartphone has a dual-core processor running at 1 GHz, 522 MB of RAM, and 4 GB of built-in flash memory. It is possible to connect additional micro-SD modules. It may seem that the above characteristics of the HTC Phone 8S are very modest. Still, today's typical standards (even in the budget segment) are four cores and at least 1 GB of RAM. But experts who tested the device note the highest speed of the gadget.

According to some experts, the phone's performance may be due to the peculiarities of the Windows software platform, which makes it possible to manage the equipment more efficiently than, say, Android. Many users who left reviews about the HTC 8S phone on the Internet confirm the experts’ theses about the unusual performance of the smartphone with relatively modest technical characteristics.

Connection

The smartphone supports the main communication standards used today - GSM, UMTS, 3G. The device has a Bluetooth module version 3.1 (with EDR function). WiFi supported. Experts who decided to review the HTC 8S note that the wireless module works without significant glitches or freezes. You can also activate the WiFi router function on your smartphone and “distribute” the Internet to other devices.

Cartography

The smartphone uses a GPS navigation program that is standard for many HTC devices. Using it, you can download maps and then use them offline when there is no Internet. Interestingly, this function is not formally free. But the corresponding expenses of the smartphone owner are already included in the price of the device. Therefore, the user does not incur any financial costs. The HTC maps used contain fairly detailed drawings of houses and their numbering. There is a mode for indicating the level of traffic jams in the city.

Unusual Features

Having listed the characteristics common to most other smartphones and the HTC 8S, let’s look at several proprietary functions that distinguish the device from its analogues.

The smartphone is equipped with an interesting mechanism called “courtesy sensors”. Its structure is represented by three main functions: reducing the volume of the ringtone (when the owner takes the phone in his hand), increasing it (when placing the device in his pocket), and muting the sound if the device is turned face down. Each option is performed automatically.

The second remarkable feature is that in screen lock mode the user sees nothing more than a weather forecast.

The third interesting mechanism incorporated into the smartphone by the manufacturer is the proprietary HTC shell, which provides the device owner with a lot of useful information in real time. This includes news, stock quotes, detailed forecasts and actual weather conditions.

Experts' summary

The majority of specialists who tested the smartphone did not identify any signs in it that would in any way indicate poor build quality and software operation. Many consider the main advantage of the device to be the fact that the firmware installed on the HTC 8S in the form of a “mobile” version of Windows provides excellent performance. Experts note that the device has every chance of winning the sympathy of Russians due to its affordable price and wide range of functions.

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.

Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	63 mm (millimeters) 6.3 cm (centimeters) 0.21 ft (feet) 2.48 in (inches)
Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	120.5 mm (millimeters) 12.05 cm (centimeters) 0.4 ft (feet) 4.74 in (inches)
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement.	10.3 mm (millimeters) 1.03 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft (feet) 0.41 in (inches)
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	113 g (grams) 0.25 lbs 3.99 oz (ounces)
Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.	78.19 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 4.75 in³ (cubic inches)
Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale.	Grey Red Blue

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.

SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components, such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation.	Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8627
Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor.	28 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.	Krait
Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors.	32 bit
Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.	ARMv7
Level 0 cache (L0) Some processors have L0 (level 0) cache, which is faster to access than L1, L2, L3, etc. The advantage of having such memory is not only higher performance, but also reduced power consumption.	4 kB + 4 kB (kilobytes)
Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works much faster than both system memory and other cache levels. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.	16 kB + 16 kB (kilobytes)
Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1 cache, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing it to cache more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or in RAM memory.	1024 kB (kilobytes) 1 MB (megabytes)
Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel.	2
CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	1000 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is most often used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, etc.	Qualcomm Adreno 305
Amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted.	512 MB (megabytes)
Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.	LPDDR2

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.

Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends.	Super LCD
Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches.	4 in (inches) 101.6 mm (millimeters) 10.16 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate screen width	2.06 in (inches) 52.27 mm (millimeters) 5.23 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate screen height	3.43 in (inches) 87.12 mm (millimeters) 8.71 cm (centimeters)
Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side	1.667:1 5:3
Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail.	480 x 800 pixels
Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on the screen with clearer detail.	233 ppi (pixels per inch) 91 ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device.	60.18% (percent)
Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics.	Capacitive Multi-touch Scratch resistance
	Corning Gorilla Glass

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.

Sensor type Digital cameras use photo sensors to take photographs. The sensor, as well as optics, are one of the main factors in the quality of the camera in a mobile device.	CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor)
Diaphragm Aperture (f-number) is the size of the aperture opening that controls the amount of light reaching the photosensor. A lower f-number means the aperture opening is larger.	f/2.8
Flash type The most common types of flashes in mobile device cameras are LED and xenon flashes. LED flashes produce softer light and, unlike brighter xenon flashes, are also used for video shooting.	LED
Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of mobile device cameras is their resolution, which shows the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in the image.	2592 x 1944 pixels 5.04 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with the device.	1280 x 720 pixels 0.92 MP (megapixels)
Video - frame rate/frames per second. Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at the maximum resolution. Some of the main standard video shooting and playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p.	30fps (frames per second)
Characteristics Information about other software and hardware features related to the main camera and improving its functionality.	Autofocus
	Focal length (35 mm equivalent) - 35 mm

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.

Head SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device near the ear. The maximum value used in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. Mobile devices in the US are regulated by the CTIA, and the FCC conducts tests and sets their SAR values.	0.97 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Body SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest permissible SAR value in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA monitors mobile devices' compliance with this standard.	1.08 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)

2 years ago 0

Windows Phone 8 Gorilla Glass Build quality is amazing Nice material Variety of body colors (I took blue)

2 years ago 0

Stylish design, does not scratch, fits comfortably in the hand. Medium size is very comfortable for me. High quality build. The glass is really strong, the phone was dropped often and did not break (I almost always wear it without a case), there were minimal scratches. And when I finally managed to break the screen, it continued to work as if nothing had happened))

2 years ago 0

Screen, design, “multi-color”, body (Feels very nice in the hand), wp8 can be considered both pros and cons, battery (Smartphone lasts up to 4 days (!!!), when using a player, Twitter + other small applications), hardware. Memory card slot.

2 years ago 0

I bought it about a year ago. So far I'm happy. I like the sound. Gorilla Glass really helps, there are very few scratches. The phone has fallen 100 times and nothing happens. Even with the Internet (not wifi), charging lasts a long time.

2 years ago 0

With two cores it just “flies” I’m glad to have beats audio In the settings you can turn off data transfer (mobile Internet and use Wi-Fi) a huge plus for a phone that is closely connected to the Internet The market is very convenient (no matter what they say, there are a lot of applications, all different , downloads and installs quickly even via wi-fi) Windows 8 is very convenient and understandable The phone itself is very bright and beautiful, fits well in the hand The phone locator function is very useful and easy to use The camera is good

2 years ago 0

Full WP 8, build quality and materials

2 years ago 0

I was very pleased with WP8 with its speed.

2 years ago 0

Not a bad battery. The speed of work compared to android is heaven and earth! Price-quality ratio.

2 years ago 0

Body shape - fits nicely in the hand - soft touch on the back panel (pleasant to hold) - bright screen, rich colors - loud speaker - when listening to music Beats Audio makes itself felt (the quality and volume of the sound changes greatly)

2 years ago 0

Ease of use, user-friendly design, compactness, good screen resolution, built-in office, back cover is less susceptible to scratches, good earpiece, decent camera with autofocus, convenient built-in maps.

2 years ago 0

I live in Moldova, so I can’t download games and applications.
-You cannot disable screen rotation. It bothers me when I'm lying on my stomach or side.
-Touch buttons: return, start, search. They are easy to hit.
-Difficult to remove the micro-SIM card.
-When I install a micro SD 4GB memory card, it is impossible to look into the phone’s files from the computer or copy them. Everything is fine with a 512MB card.
-Updates can only be downloaded via WiFi.
-When using the Internet it gets very hot.
-Inconvenient browser. There is a back button, but no forward button.
-Small phone memory. Of the 4 gigabytes, 2 gigabytes are occupied by the system.
-The battery charge will last for 2 days without active use. With active use, for example the Internet and listening to music, it will last for 2-4 hours.
-N

2 years ago 0

Of 4GB of space, 1.3GB is available
Little pre-installed software (not critical)
The case cannot be found (not critical, we are waiting...)
Lack of front camera

2 years ago 0

VERY little RAM. Applications are loaded only onto the phone; only music, pictures and videos can be loaded onto the memory card. It's inconvenient, even for me, although I use a minimum of applications and don't play games at all. A couple of times the phone malfunctioned because it erased almost all the music from the memory card, so I had to download it again. It crashes from “strong” sites, but this is more of a nitpick). The camera is very “not very good”. The speaker is located inconveniently, if the phone fits tightly to the surface on which it lies, it is almost inaudible, and if you put the phone on a soft surface, such as a sofa, the sound completely disappears in the depths of this very softness.

2 years ago 0

The screen gets dirty, but contrary to the opinions of previous speakers, it cleans well! Closedness of the axis (After three devices in a row on Android is somewhat unusual) I had a blue smartphone - the lower corners got dirty. The “Other” folder, but this is already a jamb of the OS, and not specifically for this smartphone. Lack of some applications.

2 years ago 0

It often lags, freezes, and some applications crash. It happens that it just “loads” for about 30 minutes. And it heats up very quickly.

2 years ago 0

I haven’t found any major flaws yet, but once the phone froze, but it was most likely my fault. The screen gets dirty quickly. In my opinion, the built-in memory is not enough; it would be better if you could configure saving games and applications to the SD card in the settings.

2 years ago 0

power button on top, camera, reliability

2 years ago 0

After 3 months of active use, problems appeared with the hardware sound and power buttons.
The sensor is too sensitive, the search button is constantly accidentally pressed.

2 years ago 0

Not enough built-in memory.

2 years ago 0

Volume control GENERAL for calls, music, applications, etc. (you plug in your headphones, turn on the music, the ringer volume is set to max and you forgot to turn it down, and it hammers into your ears so much that it discourages all desire to listen)
-applications. I found it very inconvenient to use. everyone. even the standard browser is annoying to use.
- confirmation of SMS delivery comes from the operator as a separate message. and if you sent 2/3... messages, then it’s not always clear what got through and what didn’t