Analyzed: HTC One V

A couple of weeks ago, we took a look at HTC's latest top of the line offering, the HTC One X. We also got a chance to review X's little brother, the HTC One V. This is the entry level version of 3 new models that HTC has released under the One banner. We have the S, the V and the top dog, the X. 

The HTC One V features a unique curved chin design that makes it easy to hold and you almost get the feeling of holding a regular phone. Like all One series phones, it packs an impressive list of features including a camera that captures every moment (even in low light) with crisp, vivid, beautiful photos. Plus, you get Beats Audio speakers that allow you to hear authentic, deep sound. The speakers are among the loudest we have heard on smartphones and the base is also very deep (for a phone). If you are tired of the ginormous phones that are coming out in the market, you will be happy to know that all these features come in a package that has a display size of 3.7" (a little larger than the iPhone 4S' 3.5" screen) and weighing in at a petty 115g (among the lightest we have tested). The display is good but not as good as, say a similarly priced Samsung or Nokia. Still considering the screen size, you won't be complaining while watching videos or cycling through your pictures. The other tech specs are as follows:

1. 3.7" screen at a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels
2. Qualcomm single-core 1GHz processor
3. 512MB RAM
4. 4GB internal storage plus up to 32GB via an external microSD card
5. 5MP camera with LED flash
6. Android Version 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
7. 720P HD video recording - also allows photo capture while video recording
8. Battery capacity: 1500mAh
9. Weight: 115g

Based on our testing, we felt the HTC One V was held back by the single-core processor. Every time we tried to run some memory intensive applications or just plain multi-tasking we noticed significant lag in loading apps or just cycling through the menus themselves. This is the only sore point we had when testing the phone. Battery life is pretty average and we got a little under 6 hours with heavy use (gaming, watching videos, browsing). All said, it is not a bad phone for being an an entry-level model. It is a true testament to how far technology has come now that the features included in the One V are considered a entry-level features.

Our Rating: 

The HTC One V is currently on sale in India for around Rs. 17,500 (~$350).

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Analyzed: HTC One X

Move over Samsung, there is a new king in town. And it comes in style. Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the new crowning jewel in the Android empire, the HTC One X. It is no surprise all the reviews thus far for the One X have been positive considering how loaded this phone is. With a 4.7" screen at 1280 x 720 pixels resolution, the display is absolutely beautiful. Photos, games and videos are absolutely beautiful. In this aspect we must mention though, it is hard to pick a clear winner between the One X and the Samsung Galaxy Note. The similarities end there. This phone with the 1.5GHZ quad-core processor, 1GB RAM and 32GB storage (which unfortunately cannot be expanded further) is blindingly fast and super smooth. Add in HTC Sense and Android version 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), and it makes for an unbeatable combination.

The 8MP camera that comes standard on the HTC One X is also a work of art. The software that the camera comes with is quite nifty and includes Instragram like features that can be applied while you take a picture. It also has the Instant Capture and Continuous Shooting feature which HTC say can take up to 99 shots consecutively at 4 frames per second, and we don't doubt them. It is really quick. Gone are the days when you would have to wait for your camera to start up and load before you can snap a quick one. As you can see, thus far the HTC One X is loaded with the top of the line hardware and the speakers are no different. With the Beats Audio built speakers, music and videos sound crystal clear (but it is not the loudest phone we have tested).

We now get to the elephant in the room, battery life. We have always had an issue with the battery life on HTC phones. The HTC Evo 4G we tested was absolutely atrocious in the battery department and it looks like HTC has finally done something about it in the One X. And by something, anything is an improvement. But it is still a disappointment... you get a little over 6 hours if you use the phone intensely (watching movies and games) and about 12 hours with regular use. We wonder why HTC is unable (or unwilling?) to get over this hump. It has been a recurring theme with all their flagship phones. And the next thing is the price point. It is not a cheap phone by any means. Yes it is cheaper than the iPhone 4S, but that's not saying much. We have a feeling a lot of people will think twice before opening their wallet especially considering HTC doesn't command the same brand attention that Apple does.

In closing, we feel the HTC One X is the best Android phone currently in the market. Is it perfect? No. But in this day and age where pushing new products out the door as quickly as possible is the norm, it doesn't surprise us one bit. But it does pack enough firepower to claim the throne for now.

The HTC One X is currently on sale in India for Rs. 37,900 (~$760). You can find them for marginally cheaper prices at online retail stores if you look hard enough.

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Analyzed: HTC Sensation XE

If you have been following our site, you would have seen the review we did on the Sony Xperia S. The next toy to come out of CES and MWC 2012 is the HTC Sensation XE and just like the Sony, it too boasts of several upgrades. Where the Sony is understated and has clean lines, the HTC is bold in its styling and design. You have a dab of red here and there to signify that your phone comes with Beats Audio. The speaker in the front is wider than most phones in the market, and the Beats Audio (which is becoming standard across the top of the line HTC smartphones) inclusion works really well. It is quite loud the speakers on this phone and coupled with the Beats headphones that are included, listening to music or watching a movie is a very immersive experience.

The HTC Sensation XE comes with a 4.3" display but the resolution isn't as good as the Sony Xperia S we tested. The display resolution is pegged at 960 x 540 pixels but the HTC Sense UI makes up for it. Scrolling through all the tabs and applications are a lot smoother compared to the Sony. You also get lesser RAM at 768MB compared to the 1GB that is sort of a defacto standard on smartphones these days. The processor is a 1.5GHz dual core and the HTC also comes with an 8MP camera and dual LED flash. Similar to the Sony, with instant capture, the moment you press the button is the same moment the photo is captured. The HTC Sensation XE weighs in at 151 gms which is slightly higher than the Sony's weight at 144gms. But you won't be able to tell the difference. The HTC is also shorter than the Sony despite having the same screen size. It also comes with the Android operating system (Gingerbread) but we haven't heard when it would get updated to Ice Cream Sandwich yet.

You get the capability to stream your videos and photos to your TV from the phone. This is becoming a standard feature on smartphones these days. Watching videos for some reason looked better on the HTC compared to the Sony. But every gadget seems to have an Achilles heel and in the HTC's case it is the battery. Where the Sony would give you about 8 hours while doing processor intensive tasks, the HTC ran out of juice in just over 5! This isn't the first time this has happened with an HTC phone. Our Evo 4G also faced the same battery issue. Not to mention the multiple times HTC Sense kept crashing on us (also noticed on the Evo 4G). And the phone gets hot, real hot when you push it to the limit. We have read several complaints about this from users and it is surprising HTC has not formally addressed the issue. It is possible they may have been addressed in the other variants HTC now offers, the One series and frankly we can't wait to get our hands on the HTC One X.

Despite being a good phone with some cool features, the downer is the price. We wouldn't recommend purchasing this phone at the current steep price in India of Rs. 32,999 (~$660). For that kind of money you can pick up the Sony Xperia S, the Nokia Lumia 800, the Samsung Galaxy S II or even the Samsung Galaxy Note... all much better phones compared to the HTC.

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Get better deals on the not-so-new gadgets

While buying the latest tablet, MP3 player or Notebook, it may be more prudent to wait for a few months and get it with better software for a lesser price.

While it's difficult to prevent a technophile from buying a gadget soon after its launch, those who want to put their money to better use might find it beneficial to wait. Forget the hype and hoopla because more often than not, doing so helps you bag a much better deal. This is true not just in terms of money but also the goodies that come with the device. Here's a look at how patience can pay.

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Analyzed: HTC Evo 4G

As part of our membership with the Sprint Premier Program, we were given first dibs on the brand new flagship phone Sprint is offering, the HTC Evo 4G. And this phone isn't just the Sprint flagship, it is HTC's as well. With a 4.3" display and the latest Android operating system (ours came with Gingerbread version 2.3) it promises to be an industry leader and a strong competitor to the iPhone.

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