Htc windows phone 8s red. Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device

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 quite a 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 space bar.

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.

Introduction

The new line of Windows Phone devices from HTC so far consists of two smartphones – the top-end HTC 8X and the simpler HTC 8S. And if everything is ambivalent with the older model, including due to the high cost and competition with the Nokia Lumia 920, then the younger device, HTC 8S, feels much more confident in the market. There are several reasons for this, but the main one is the balance of the smartphone both in terms of characteristics and price. For once, a device from HTC has an adequate price already at the start, and this is undoubtedly pleasing.

Contents of delivery:

• Smartphone
• Non-removable battery (1700 mAh)
• Charging block
• USB-microUSB cable
• Wired stereo headset

Design

In terms of body shape and materials, HTC 8S resembles the older model, 8X. Here, the tactile sensation is similar to smooth matte plastic (polycarbonate), sharp corners, a strict shape and a back, due to which the device fits perfectly in the hand. In Russia, the smartphone is available in four color options: black and white, blue, gray-yellow and red. Each color is a set of two colors, the main part of the body is one color, the lid in the lower area, under which the microSD and microSIM slots are hidden, is another.

In my opinion, from a design point of view, the HTC 8S was definitely a success. The smartphone looks unusual, attractive, not boring, although it has a very simple body shape. In general, new devices from HTC and Nokia based on WP turn out to be surprisingly interesting and attractive in terms of design, which I cannot say about Android smartphones.

The case is practical, marks and fingerprints on it are almost invisible, except for the display surface, which is really very easily soiled.

There are no complaints about the assembly, the removable cover in the lower area of ​​the device, under which the slots for a memory card and microSIM are hidden, is securely attached, there is no play in this element.

Dimensions

The 8S is smaller in size than the older model (8X), the smartphone is not as tall and a little narrower, it fits perfectly in the hand. In my opinion, in terms of dimensions, the HTC 8S is an almost ideal “touchscreen” device, moderately compact, but at the same time with a diagonal screen that is easy to operate with your fingers.

• Apple iPhone 4S– 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm, 140 g
• Apple iPhone 5– 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm, 112 g
• HTC Windows Phone 8X– 132.4 x 66.2 x 10.1 mm, 130 g
• HTC Windows Phone 8S– 120.5 x 63 x 10.3 mm, 113 g

Controls

As in smartphones based on Windows Phone 7 and 7.5, the new devices have a standard set of controls and keys; this is a Microsoft requirement, and manufacturers can neglect it only in exceptional cases (there were several examples, but nothing more). The main control element is the screen and a panel of three touch keys below it. The block of buttons under the screen has a white backlight; it turns on only if you are working in low light. On the left is the “Back” key to go back one screen; when you hold this button, the ribbon of running applications is called up for convenient switching between them. In the center is the Windows flag to return to the main screen and call up voice control (hold the button). On the right is the global search key; when you press or hold it, one action occurs - launching the Yandex search window.

The touch keys are comfortable, large, you can’t miss them or accidentally press an adjacent button, the backlighting of the buttons is high-quality and bright. Each time you touch any of the touch keys, the device vibrates slightly.

The screen off button is located on the top edge, on the right. It is flush with the body; pressing it blindly is not very convenient, because it is difficult to find the key. When you hold down the key, a screen appears; by pulling it, you can turn off the smartphone. In addition to the power button, at the top end there is a 3.5 mm jack for connecting a headset or headphones. At the bottom there is a microUSB connector for charging and connecting the smartphone to a computer, as well as a microphone hole.

The volume key is located on the top right edge, flush with the body. Pressing it by touch is not entirely comfortable, but you can get used to it. At the bottom of the right edge there is a camera button, a short press of it launches the camera, a light touch – focusing, pressing all the way – shooting.

On the front side, in the upper part, there is a speaker covered with a mesh. There is also an indicator light, a light sensor and a proximity sensor. The indicator light turns red when connected to a computer and charging, flashes red when the battery level is low. There is no indication of missed events.

Screen

The HTC 8S has a 4" diagonal S-LCD touch display with a resolution of 800x480 pixels (233ppi). The screen displays up to 16 million colors. The protective coating of the display is Gorilla Glass 2.

The screen is not bad, with moderate brightness, calm color reproduction, I can’t say more about it. This ordinary WVGA display, when compared with the HD screens of flagships, can find many disadvantages, but in its price category it looks adequate. The viewing angles of the display are maximum, the display response to finger touches is excellent.

Camera

The smartphone is equipped with a 5 MP camera with autofocus and flash. The latter can be used as a flashlight if you download one of the flashlight programs from the Marketplace.

There is no point in talking in detail about the quality of pictures and videos taken with a 5 MP module; you can evaluate the pictures and videos yourself using the examples below. The video camera records in 720p resolution and has tracking autofocus.

Autonomous operation

The smartphone uses a non-removable Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 1700 mAh. My sample HTC Windows Phone 8S worked on average for two days with the following load: music 2-4 hours per day, push-mail for the main mailbox (Gmail), Internet via Wi-Fi and EDGE/HSDPA (about an hour), 40- 60 minutes of calls, as well as sending and receiving about 10-20 text messages. Screen brightness is set to automatic. For a smartphone in the mid-price category, the performance is quite good.

Performance

The smartphone is built on the Qualcomm MSM8227 platform with a 1 GHz dual-core processor. The device has 522 MB of RAM and 4 GB of internal memory for data storage, in addition to a slot for a microSD card. There are no complaints about the speed of the HTC 8S, the device literally flies, there is not even the slightest slowdown or delay in the operation and animation of the system. Excellent operating speed and smooth interface are still one of the serious advantages of Windows Phone 8 and any device based on this OS over Android, for example.

Interfaces

The smartphone operates in GSM (850/900/1800/1900) and UMTS (900/2100) networks; both high-speed data transfer standards are supported - EDGE and HSDPA. Enabling and disabling different communication modules occurs through the settings menu; you can also download one of the programs from the Marketplace to quickly enable and disable these modules.

Built-in module Bluetooth 3.1+EDR. Most common profiles are supported, including A2DP.

Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n). I did not notice any problems in the operation of the Wi-Fi module while testing the smartphone.

Wi-Fi router. The device has a function for “sharing” 2G/3G Internet connection via Wi-Fi. In the wireless interfaces menu, the “Internet Sharing” option is enabled and its settings are opened, where the user is asked to select a network name and password.

Navigation

The HTC 8S uses the same navigation program as the older smartphone, the HTC 8X. These are maps with support for offline navigation, that is, maps of any region of the world or city can be easily loaded into the device’s memory and then used without the need to connect to the Internet. Moreover, you don’t have to pay to download maps; the cost of the program is already included in the price of the smartphone. The map displays the outlines of houses, building numbers, buildings and structures, courtyard passages, you can enable a hybrid mode with traffic jams shown. There is a database of POIs (points of interest).

Characteristic features of HTC smartphones

The first feature is a set of “politeness sensors” settings; in Android smartphones they were called “etiquette”. This includes three functions: automatic reduction of the ringer volume when you pick up the smartphone; automatic increase in ringer volume if you put your smartphone in your pocket or bag (backpack); as well as turning off the call when turning the smartphone screen down.

The second is a proprietary lock screen with weather display.

The third is several proprietary applications, including an HTC hub with weather, stock prices and news, as well as a flashlight program, a utility for converting units and applying effects to photos. The hub can be pulled out onto the desktop and stretched to the full width of the screen; it displays the time, temperature, weather conditions (rain, wind, etc.) and the city.

The fourth is Beats Audio. A specific player settings mode for better sound when paired with Beats headphones.

Conclusion

During testing, I had no complaints about the call quality in my HTC 8S sample. The volume of the speaker and ringing speaker in the smartphone is average; in most conditions it is enough, but, alas, there is no reserve. The vibration alert is slightly stronger than average and is noticeable in most situations.

The smartphone is already on sale in Russia at an average price of 13,000-14,000 rubles per PCT device. The “gray” 8S can be found a little cheaper, but the difference in price is minimal, about 500 rubles. A competitor for this model can be called the Nokia Lumia 800; this smartphone is also sold online for 14,000 rubles, has similar characteristics, and in some ways even wins (8 MP camera). HTC 8S, of course, still has a more recent version of the system, which will not be available for the Lumia 800, but in general the devices are comparable.

While smartphones based on Windows Phone exist outside the market and categories, and the share of WP is very small, and there are not so many new devices, it is difficult to evaluate devices based on this system objectively. For example, 14,000 rubles for a WVGA screen and a 5 MP camera - is it a lot or a little? Is two days of work at an average load a lot or a little? Personally, I liked the HTC Windows Phone 8S, and I can even explain my love for the device - I initially tried to remove any analogies with Android and iOS from my mind. Otherwise, the smartphone would not have a chance, because in the category of 14,000-15,000 rubles, the Android gray market is ready to offer many tempting options, from LG Optimus 4X to HTC One S and other devices with similar characteristics.

The HTC Windows Phone 8S smartphone captivates, first of all, with its design, secondly, with its excellent dimensions, and thirdly, with its highest operating speed, which is still a rarity for mid-priced Android devices, while in Windows Phone even state employees fly in terms of speed work. If you want something new or just need a good-quality, beautiful, unusual device for making calls, you should take a closer look at the HTC Windows Phone 8S; this smartphone may surprise you.

Description:

• Class: smartphone
• Form factor: monoblock
• Case materials: polycarbonate (matte plastic with soft-touch coating)
• Operating system: Windows Phone 8
• Network: GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS/HSDPA 900/2100
• Processor: dual-core 1 GHz (Qualcomm MSM8227)
• RAM: 512 MB
• Storage memory: 4 GB + microSD
• Screen: capacitive, S-LCD, 4”, 800x480 pixels (WVGA), automatic backlight level adjustment
• Camera: 5 MP with autofocus, video recorded at 720pp, LED flash (works as a flashlight)
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth 3.1+EDR (A2DP), microUSB connector (USB 2.0) for charging/synchronization, 3.5 mm for headset
• Navigation: GPS + Glonass
• Additionally: accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor
• Battery: non-removable Li-Ion with a capacity of 1700 mAh
• Dimensions: 120.5 x 63 x 10.3 mm
• Weight: 113 g.

Top Windows Phone 8 according to HTC

On the Russian Microsoft website there is a “Windows Phone” section dedicated to phones based on the company’s operating system. It doesn't say anything about the OS version - that means any version. However, even for a specific “show all phones” selection, you will only see those devices that are based on the new, eighth version of the Windows Phone operating system. There are no phones running Windows Phone 7 there - they were obviously simply crossed out of the lists, just as they were erased from the memory of all those users who at one time spent money on purchasing new products on the “promising platform” Windows Phone 7 (and, later, 7.5). I don’t think that these users easily erased from their memory the trick that was played on them, but that’s not the point now.

Another thing is curious: when you see all the names of phones at the same time on one page, what catches your eye is the defiant difference that the Taiwanese NTS gave to the name of its product. Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung ATIV S and... Windows Phone 8X by HTC. Do you feel the difference? HTC's Windows Phone 8X is nothing more, nothing less. It’s a rare case when the company name is hidden somewhere at the very end. Obviously, NTS marketers are reasonably counting on the fact that colloquially this long name will turn into simply Windows Phone 8X, or even 8X, and will automatically become synonymous in people’s minds with the main phone on the Microsoft platform. Are they hinting to us that it is HTC smartphones that are the “true” Windows Phone? We took a sample of Windows Phone 8X by HTC for testing, but I must warn you right away: this device is not intended for sale (it says “not for resale” on it). This is a test sample that arrived at our editorial office without a box and, accordingly. without a set of accessories. Consequently, we cannot be responsible for the fact that the described bugs will necessarily be present in copies purchased in stores, but we will still mention them.

Smartphone characteristics

• SoC Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4, 1.5 GHz, dual core
• Operating system Windows Phone 8
• Display Super-LCD2, 4.3″, 1280×720, capacitive, multi-touch
• Random access memory (RAM) 1 GB,
• Built-in 16 GB flash memory
• GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
• UMTS HSPA/WCDMA 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, (2.6 GHz and 5 GHz), Wi-Fi hotspot
• Bluetooth 2.1, NFC
• Main camera 8 MP, autofocus, LED flash
• Front camera 2.1 MP, fixed. focus
• Lithium-ion battery 1800 mAh
• Dimensions 132.3 x 66.2 x 10.1 mm
• Weight 130 g

	Windows Phone 8X by HTC	Nokia Lumia 920	Samsung ATIV S	Windows Phone 8S by HTC
Screen	4.3″, S-LCD2, 342 ppi	4.5″, IPS, 332 ppi	4.8″, AMOLED, 306 ppi	4″, S-LCD2, 233 ppi
Permission	1280×720	1280×768	1280×720	800×480
SoC		Qualcomm S4 Plus MSM8960 @1.5 GHz (2 cores, ARMv7 Krait)	Qualcomm S4 Plus MSM8960 @1.5 GHz (2 cores, ARMv7 Krait)	Qualcomm S4 Plus MSM8960 @1 GHz (2 cores, ARMv7 Krait)
RAM	1 GB	1 GB	1 GB	512 MB
Flash memory	16 GB	32 GB	16—32 GB	4 GB
Memory card support	No	No	microSD	microSD
operating system	WP8	WP8	WP8	WP8
Battery	non-removable, 1800 mAh	non-removable, 2000 mAh	2300 mAh	1700 mAh
Cameras	rear 8 MP; front 2.1 MP	rear 8 MP; front 1.3 MP	rear 8 MP; front 1.9 MP	rear 5 MP;
Dimensions	132×66×10.1 mm, 130 g	130×71×10.7 mm, 185 g	137×71×8.7 mm, 135 g	121×63×10.3 mm, 113 g

Appearance and ease of use

Windows Phone 8X by HTC arrived at our editorial office, as already mentioned, without packaging and a set of accessories, so let's move on to the description of the smartphone. Its appearance is quite unusual for HTC, and it's not just the complete absence of metal in the materials. Its very shape, especially the design of the front part, is not at all similar to all the previous familiar shapes of smartphones from this company. The front panel is more reminiscent of Nokia Lumia, the same Lumia 920, for example. The speaker grille has been slightly modified, but otherwise everything is almost identical: the same convex display glass with streamlined edges, the same thin frames seamlessly fused with this glass, the same block of three touch buttons under the screen.

As for the buttons under the screen, their purpose is familiar and familiar: “Back”, “Home” and “Search”. Moreover, the return key to the main menu is made in the form of a new Windows logo - a window in perspective, and not a window “fluttering” in the wind, as before. If you hold down the “Back” key, a selection of open applications will appear, and if you hold the “house” button longer, the voice control menu for the phone will open.

The said speaker grille is made of the same colored plastic as the body itself, and on the strict dark glass this colorful and rather large plastic spot with holes looks ridiculous, and somehow even cheapens the entire device. However, this is quite consistent with the general message of Microsoft with their assorted tiles of the new Windows 8 interface and advertising youth, quickly and deftly managing their rainbow-colored Windows phones.

By the way, regarding colors: the smartphone is available in four different color options: blue, black, yellow and orange. At least that's what it says on the HTC website. But in our market you can officially find smartphones in only two colors: blue (California Blue) and black (Graphite Black). They apparently decided not to import cheerful colors into “gloomy” Russia for now, deciding that they would not be in demand. Although numerous user forums cry out to the contrary. People want to add color to their lives, and that's okay.

This multi-colored plastic is polycarbonate with a matte outer coating, endowed with a soft-touch effect. The coating is pleasantly velvety to the touch, does not slip and is perfectly held in the fingers, does not give a glossy sheen and is not too easily soiled. There are no fingerprints left on such a coating, but any lines drawn by anything, even a fingernail, will be visible on it. If you rub it well, the line can be leveled, but in principle, the coating is still subject to wear, and over time it may lose its presentation.

The entire body is made of this plastic, with the exception, of course, of the screen. The case is monolithic, completely non-separable, so there is no back cover here. It is impossible to reach the battery yourself, and the SIM card is inserted into a slot on the side of the device. The slot is equipped with a metal slide that is removed by pressing a paper clip into a small hole. Not the most convenient way, which exactly copies the design of the Apple iPhone.

By the way, this photo clearly shows what I was talking about: the whitish spots in the area of ​​the slot opening are not dust, but abrasions that appear on the plastic that wears out over time.

The one-piece body itself, by the way, is not as monolithic as it seems: when you compress the sidewalls, you can clearly hear a creaking sound in the places where the plastic frames come into contact with the glass of the screen. In general, I personally didn’t really like the way Windows Phone 8X by HTC fits in my hand: for some reason the side edges were “sharpened” to such an extent that they have a very small area of ​​contact with the hand and literally cut into the palm. Although the dimensions themselves are very good: the phone is not big, like the Nokia Lumia 920, but not small either. In addition, it compares favorably with the Lumia 920 in its low weight (130 grams versus 185!), which makes it suitable for long-term work while suspended, for example, in public transport. By the way, unlike Nokia, it is convenient to use the fingers of one hand, because the finger reaches all corners of the screen.

But the hardware buttons are completely inconvenient to operate with the fingers of one hand. The power key is located at the top: to reach it, you need to fully extend your index finger, which is not as convenient as pressing the button on the side. Most of the most popular smartphones have long had a lock key not on the top, but on the side, and I would like to see this finally catch on. The location at the top end has another big disadvantage: since the button is not placed in the middle, but always on one edge, it becomes completely inconvenient to reach it without using a second hand for either a right- or left-handed person. The location of the power key on the side does not in any way affect which hand the owner prefers to operate the phone with; everything can be handled with one hand.

In addition, this key, like the others, does not protrude from the body at all; it is built flush with the surface, so it is absolutely impossible to feel it blindly. A completely ridiculous and unjustified step on the part of the developer. On top of that, the keys are also quite hard. I'm not even talking about the lack of identification icons, but HTC never had them on its buttons.

When you press the power key, the screen locks/unlocks, and if you hold it longer, a menu will appear at the top to completely turn off the phone. A completely inconvenient single-tasking function after the familiar menu of Android smartphones, where you can not only turn it off, but also reboot it and turn on Airplane mode. There is no such thing here - just a complete shutdown of the device, and nothing more.

The remaining two keys are located on the right side, next to the SIM card slot. These are the volume rocker and the camera button - both are equally inconvenient to press quickly: they are hard and do not protrude from the body at all.

The only communication connector here is a universal Micro-USB, it is located at the bottom end and is not covered by anything. Next to it is a microphone hole. At the top there is another connector, also universal - a 3.5 mm audio jack for headphones.

The camera window is located on the back surface as standard; it is slightly recessed inside the protective metal ring, which, obviously, will not allow it to be scratched over time. Nearby you can see the flash diode, and below are the same as on the front panel, numerous round holes in the plastic that form the speaker grille, and the proud Beats Audio badge.

Screen

Windows Phone 8X by HTC is equipped with a Super-LCD2 liquid crystal display with scratch-resistant protective glass - Gorilla Glass 2. In numbers, the physical parameters of the screen are as follows: diagonal - 109 mm (4.3 inches), resolution - HD (1280× 720 pixels), PPI pixel density is 342 ppi. This is a very high figure: the screen of Windows Phone 8X by HTC is currently one of the best in terms of pixel density.

The screen is sensitive to finger touches and can be controlled by multi-touch gestures, but, of course, we did not find any special tests for the number of simultaneous touches. There is a proximity sensor that blocks the display when you bring the smartphone to your ear - everything is standard. In the settings you can adjust the brightness level manually or set automatic adjustment. You won’t find the usual slider here - there are only three brightness levels set by the developers, plus a virtual button to turn on the machine. In principle, I liked how the automatic adjustment of the display brightness level works - the screen has such an excessive supply of brightness that it is practically never dark.

Alexey Kudryavtsev, editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections, will tell you more about the Windows Phone 8X by HTC screen. Here is his expert opinion.

The front surface of the screen is covered with a glass plate with a mirror-smooth, scratch-resistant surface. Judging by the reflection of bright light sources, there is a very effective anti-glare filter that reduces the brightness of reflected objects. There is a special oleophobic coating on the outer surface of the screen, which to some extent prevents the appearance of fingerprints and makes them easier to remove.

With manual brightness control, its maximum value was 290 cd/m², the average was 108 cd/m², and the minimum was 40 cd/m². As a result, even at maximum brightness in bright daylight, the smartphone will not be very comfortable to use, but minimum brightness will ensure that there is no eye strain when working with the device in complete darkness. Brightness is set by selecting one of the items - high, medium and low - in the corresponding section of the settings menu. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor (apparently it is located above the speaker). When this mode is turned on, the brightness increases as ambient light increases, but the screen brightness does not decrease when the ambient light intensity decreases. However, if the smartphone is put into standby mode and turned back on, the brightness will be set in accordance with the current level of ambient light. In complete darkness, the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 16 cd/m², then as the ambient light level increases, the brightness increases, but its increase stops at the level corresponding to the selected brightness level - at 40, 108 and 290 cd/m². There is no brightness modulation, so the backlight flickering is not visible at lower brightness.

The HTC 8X appears to use an IPS matrix, although the manufacturer claims a “Super LCD 2” type. In any case, a visual examination reveals the characteristic features of IPS: the screen has very good viewing angles without inverting shades and without significant color shifts even with large deviations of the view from perpendicular to the screen, however, when deviating diagonally, the black field is noticeably brightened, although it remains close to a neutral gray color. When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of black and white fields is very good. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 23.2 ms (14.5 ms on + 8.7 ms off), the transition between halftones 25% and 75% (according to the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 33 ,8 ms. A gamma curve constructed using 32 points did not reveal any blockage in either the highlights or the shadows. The exponent of the approximating power function turned out to be 1.92, which is slightly less than the standard value of 2.2, but not so much that the overall brightness of the images differed greatly from natural. In this case, the real gamma curve practically coincides with the power-law dependence:

The contrast is good - 660:1. The color gamut is actually equal to sRGB:

The spectra show that the matrix filters moderately mix the components with each other:

The color temperature is relatively high, about 8000 K, but again, not so high that the shades go too blue. A positive role is played by the fact that the color temperature changes little over the entire significant part of the gray scale (the range close to black can be ignored, since color rendering in it is not so important, and the error in measuring color characteristics is high):

The deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is relatively large, although less than 10, which is quite acceptable for a consumer device:

In summary, sRGB coverage is the biggest plus of this screen, and the not very high maximum brightness value, partly compensated by the presence of an anti-glare filter, is the biggest, but not critical, drawback. In all other respects, the characteristics of the HTC 8X screen correspond to the typical screen of a modern mobile device with an IPS matrix.

Sound

The sound of the external speaker is quite loud, pleasant and aesthetically complete, because the sound contains a wide range of frequencies, including bass. At the maximum level, the speaker does not choke or wheeze. If you put the phone on a table, the sound is practically not muffled by the surface. By the way, regarding muting: in a smartphone you can instantly mute the sound of an incoming signal if you turn the phone screen down. This is one of the features of NTS smartphones, which the company has been implementing in its solutions for a very long time. A set of such unique NTS settings (they will not necessarily appear in WP smartphones from other manufacturers; and, on the contrary, they are present in some smartphones from other manufacturers based on other OSes) is called here the “politeness sensor”. In addition to the mentioned revolution, the device can be given a couple more reactions: when you take the phone in your hand, it will mute the sound, and vice versa - increase it if you put the smartphone in a bag or pocket.

Setting a ringtone is now not as difficult as it was in Windows Phone 7. Now, when connecting to a computer, you can simply drop the file into a folder through a standard file manager (Explorer), and then select it through the settings menu.

The earpiece is unremarkable: the sound is clear enough, but not too loud. During a call, changing the volume is very inconvenient due to the impossibility of finding the volume key, so I personally selected the optimal level and did not touch it again. The interlocutor himself hears you clearly and clearly during a conversation (this was tested), so everything is in order with the microphone and its sensitivity.

The standard audio player has few settings, if not ascetic. I didn’t find any equalizers there, but there is the possibility of using proprietary Beats Audio technology. Back in August 2011, HTC acquired a controlling stake in this company, so the corresponding technology for improving and processing sound, as well as the logo of this brand, have become an integral part of the top products of the Taiwanese company. However, this technology, it is worth noting, only works with connected headphones. The presence of a Beats Audio amplifier is, again, one of the distinctive features of HTC smartphones, and it cannot be found in other smartphones based on the Windows Phone 8 platform. And finally, it is worth mentioning that even with the screen locked, the phone allows you to control the audio player: the corresponding screen appears on top of the screen saver menu, but there is nothing unique about it.

Camera

Windows Phone 8X by HTC is equipped with two digital camera modules, and this time HTC decided to especially stand out with the front camera. It was equipped with a module with a resolution of 2.1 megapixels and a wide-angle lens with an aperture number of F2.0. This camera can even record video in 1080p resolution. Obviously, this is necessary in order to film your talking face, because for video filming everything else, it’s probably better to use standard methods and the rear camera. Although, perhaps, users will find special meaning in this over time.

The main camera, like the front camera, is controlled by a special HTC ImageChip - the company always focuses on it, and a lot was said about this when the first phones with such a chip were presented. This image processor, coupled with the ImageSense toolkit in NTS Android smartphones, was responsible not only for image processing, but also for reducing pre-shoot time. Now we have checked all this in the new NTS smartphone on the Windows Phone system: the first frame is not taken instantly, but quite quickly, but there is no activation of the camera from a locked state in this device. That is, unlike the latest NTS Android smartphones, here you cannot instantly activate the camera by pressing a hardware key on the side - you must first unlock the screen. I didn’t see another very convenient feature here - taking photos while recording video.

The factory settings of the main (rear) camera are traditionally set to shooting with a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9 (6 MP resolution). The pictures come out with a size of 3264×1836.

In order to achieve maximum resolution, you should manually change the shooting mode in the settings to 8 megapixel resolution with an aspect ratio of 4:3. The resulting images are 3264×2448 pixels in size; examples of images can be viewed in detail by clicking on the thumbnails below.

The back-illuminated sensor (BSI) should improve low-light photography, but I wasn't too happy with how HTC's Windows Phone 8X camera handled it in the dark.

And a few more photos taken with maximum settings are available by clicking on the thumbnails.

The Windows Phone 8X by HTC camera shoots video with a maximum HD resolution of 1080p. Below are several videos shot at maximum settings, as well as at 720p resolution for comparison. Video is saved in MP4 format (video - MPEG-4 AVC [email protected], sound - AAC LC). Factory settings are initially set to shooting at maximum resolution.

• Video No. 1 (40.1 MB, 1920×1080)
• Video No. 2 (53.4 MB, 1920×1080)

• Video No. 3 (22.3 MB, 1280×720)
• Video No. 4 (16.6 MB, 1280×720)

Software and telephone part

As a software platform, Windows Phone 8X by HTC uses the latest Microsoft system - Windows Phone 8, which replaced Windows Phone 7 (7.5), and even earlier the now forgotten Windows Mobile. Users, accustomed in recent years to the variety of capabilities of the Android OS, noted the closed nature of the seventh version of Windows Phone, which was very similar in this way to the iOS infrastructure created by Apple. Now, with the advent of Windows Phone 8, the system is gradually beginning to “open up” to the user. A big step forward was the elimination of the need for mandatory synchronization through the Zune program. Now you can connect Windows Phone to your computer directly and easily distribute files with any extension through a regular folder explorer.

You can also create any folders in the Windows Phone 8 file system with your own hands - another thing is that not every file will be subsequently read by the phone system itself.

But this is already a matter of software, both its own (Microsoft) and third-party, which is not yet striking in its diversity. In the company's application store (and programs on Windows Phone can only be installed from it) you cannot yet find such a variety that is available to Android and Apple iOS users. But with the capabilities of Microsoft and their disruptive pressure, there is little doubt that soon the number of software for Windows Phone will begin to grow by leaps and bounds. By the way, NTS has installed its own section in the application store, but it still looks sad with as many as five programs.

For now, let's turn to the Windows Phone system itself: its unusual interface impresses many with its fresh look at seemingly ordinary things. Tiles of the start screen, huge fonts extending beyond the boundaries of one screen, horizontal layout of screens - all this turned out to be not quite familiar. Users also liked the speed with which the interface of the new OS works—how screens flip and programs open. By the way, it is worth noting that in terms of the interface, Microsoft has taken a very tough position: third-party shells cannot be built into Windows Phones, just as it is impossible to turn off the tiled interface in the large Windows 8 without hacking. It is clear that with such violent methods the company is trying to “addict” users to these tiles as soon as possible, but I would still like to have more freedom and democracy in this matter. I personally don’t like these tiles at all, but within the Microsoft OS I have absolutely no choice.

When it comes to tiles, the following should be said about them: now their size can be changed by the user himself. When you long press on such a tile, an additional menu appears in which you can stretch or shrink it. That is, now the user is free not only to create any tiles for the desktop with his own hands, but also to give them a size from a small square to a large rectangle. It’s hard to say whether this is a breakthrough or not, but I personally have always liked the symmetry in iOS, its uniformity of shapes and sizes of squares, and I didn’t like the randomness of the assorted Android icons. On the other hand, it should be taken into account that tiles in Windows Mobile are interactive, and they can display information such as weather that is updated over time. Some information may not fit in a regular-sized square, then it will be convenient to stretch such a tile wider. However, it should be taken into account that not all icons will be displayed beautifully when stretched - some images that were not optimized by the developers for a different resolution may become pixelated and loose.

We will not describe in detail the capabilities of this operating system in each review of the new Windows Phone - instead, we will create a separate full-fledged material describing Windows Phone 8 and its capabilities, especially since Microsoft has issued a very strict set of rules for device developers, leaving them with very little places for creativity. Manufacturers of Windows Phone smartphones have little to stand out, so they all look like twins for now. Even the SoC is still being selected from a single manufacturer. Therefore, in our reviews we will try to highlight those features that are unique to phones of a certain brand. Nokia is lucky in this sense: they can stand out because they have their own mapping system, which has already grown to a whole set of applications, from navigation to augmented reality. By the way, it is worth noting that this NTS smartphone also uses Nokia cards, which is good news. The free service allows you to use any maps of the world offline; you just need to download them to your phone’s memory in advance. Unlike Nokia smartphones, there is no voice navigation - only offline maps, but it's better than nothing.

However, there are some inconvenient little things everywhere that seem to be simply annoying flaws of the developers. For example, the lock screen is interactive; it displays not only the audio player, but also calendar entries, which is convenient. But for some reason they forgot to turn on the display of the remaining battery charge as a percentage - I didn’t find this option at all. In this case, the usual visual charge indicator in the top status line is displayed for only a couple of seconds, and then disappears - you need to call this line again with a pulling gesture from above. This is inconvenient: we are used to having all the vital indications always in front of our eyes, be it an Android smartphone, an iPhone, an old push-button phone, or even an ordinary e-reader. There is no such convenient drop-down system menu (notification panel) as in the Android OS, there is only a non-interactive small line, and even that immediately disappears.

Or here’s another example: something is written in the calendar cells, but can you read it? But in the gallery, just a giant text constantly looms right on top of the photo, which against the background of the screenshot of the system gave such a stunning effect. And in general, these huge fonts with lines extending beyond the screen seem to be a dubious achievement of designers, if not a mockery - no matter what Microsoft marketers say.

But there are also undoubted amenities, and even interesting finds: for example, a special section called “Children’s room”. Its essence is simple: here you can set in the settings access only to those applications and services that you can entrust to your children, and after that let them play with the smartphone in peace. I often hear from friends who are intently rummaging through their smartphones something like: “Well, I let my child play, and he cheated me on something.” With the advent of this setting, life will clearly become easier for such people.

There is also a free pre-installed dictionary-translator here, which will certainly save time searching for it in the store. I remember how long it took me to choose a dictionary for the iPhone, and then I switched to Android, and everything started all over again. I still don't understand whether the dictionary is included as standard in the OS or whether HTC only pre-installs it on its smartphones, but it was still a very pleasant discovery.

The device supports NFC technology, a short-range wireless high-frequency communication technology that makes it possible to exchange data between devices located at a distance of about 10 centimeters. This technology is aimed primarily at use in mobile phones and payment terminals, and in some countries it is already being widely used for contactless payments, paying for public transport, or even personal identification. In our country, NFC has not yet become widespread, but one of the applications is already being offered by the domestic cellular operator MTS, which has organized NFC support for making contactless payments. The Mobile Wallet kit includes a special MTS SIM card with MasterCard PayPass technology, linked to an MTS Money bank card. In addition, the kit comes with an NFC antenna, which must be placed in the SIM card slot. That is, for such contactless payments, in any case, just a smartphone is not enough - you also need to obtain and insert a new special SIM card into it, and also open a corresponding account at MTS Bank. But in the case of a phone that supports NFC technology, you won’t also have to install an antenna - but this is not so simple, and in iPhones and the like, where the SIM card is pushed into the body through a slot, it simply won’t be possible to install it.

In smartphones based on Windows Phone 8, NFC can be used to transfer various data between phones - for example, links in the browser or photos - if such capabilities are provided by the developer of the specific software.

Windows Phone 8X by HTC copes with telephone functions at the level of modern devices - no worse and no better. During testing, the smartphone did not lose the network, as far as I noticed, but spontaneous shutdowns and reboots were my regular guests. I don’t know if this is a problem only with the test sample, but I heard that early users of the Nokia Lumia 920 complained of a similar problem.

The interface of the telephone part is quite convenient, intuitive, the keys, numbers and letters are clearly drawn, typing on the virtual keyboard is quite comfortable. The ringing bell is quite loud, but the vibration alert raises concerns: it is quite weak, and besides, it only works for a few seconds, and I have not found where this could be reconfigured.

And finally, I would like to draw the attention of users, especially those accustomed to the Android system, that to fully use Windows Phone you will need to create a hotmail.com account, just like you need a GMail account on Android.

Performance

The hardware platform of Windows Phone 8X by HTC, like all Windows Phone 8 produced, is based on a system on a Qualcomm chip. Here it is SoC Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4, with a central dual-core processor operating at 1.5 GHz (ARMv7 Krait). There is 1 GB of random access memory (RAM), and the storage available to the user for uploading their own files is approximately 14.5 GB. It is impossible to increase the available volume, since the smartphone simply did not provide slots for microSD memory cards. I don’t want to rekindle the endless debate on the ethics of the developers’ ban on memory expansion: personally, this volume is frankly not enough for me, and I will never buy myself such a smartphone, if only for this reason alone. However, other users may not find this problem so critical.

Further on, the performance section is still empty, because there are no representative benchmarks in the online application store yet, and those that have been found produce some strange results, reporting maximum performance that is hitting the ceiling.

I would just like to note that watching movies on a smartphone is quite possible due to pre-installed decoders, a powerful SoC that can easily handle 1080p resolution, and a screen that is excellent in resolution and especially in pixel density.

Battery life

It is generally accepted that the Windows Phone system is less energy-intensive than Android, but this device does not have a very large battery (1800 mAh). Therefore, I did not get the impression that Windows Phone 8X by HTC, in terms of battery life, is in any way ahead of its Android rivals. The same day of operation in normal mode: checking mail, SMS, calls, automatic synchronization of accounts via Wi-Fi and 3G, as well as Internet surfing and downloading several applications from the online store.

It was not possible to check the operating time of Windows Phone 8X by HTC in certain modes of continuous operation due to the mentioned problem with frequent shutdown and reboot of the device. All tests (reading, watching videos, games) failed for obvious reasons. The time to fully charge the battery of Windows Phone 8X by HTC is about 2 hours 15 minutes.

Prices

The average retail price of the device in Moscow in rubles at the time of reading the article can be found by moving the mouse to the price tag.

Bottom line

Currently, the official price for Windows Phone 8X by HTC in our market ranges from 21 to 23 thousand rubles. This is higher than the price of any other NTS smartphone, not counting the most powerful new product HTC One X+ - but Windows Phone 8X cannot compare with this powerful device either in screen size, or in hardware, or even in battery capacity. The described phone does not represent anything special in terms of its characteristics today, and such a high price is dictated, obviously, only by the novelty of the Windows Phone platform. As for the players in this sector, the main and almost the only competitor so far is, of course, the Nokia Lumia 920. If we compare the characteristics of both devices head-on, the NTS smartphone loses in literally all respects. At the same time, the price of the Lumia 920 is only one and a half to two thousand higher. For those who really want to quickly get acquainted with the new platform and purchase a top-end Windows Phone, the balance of choice will most likely tip towards the Nokia device. This one has a better and larger screen, camera, and battery. Windows Phone 8X by HTC will most likely appeal to those who dislike the large spade-shaped shapes in pocket communicators. In addition, the Nokia Lumia 920 has one more drawback - its unusually large weight for a smartphone is 185 grams. Yes, only Nokia can make such phones, regardless of the state of affairs. For those who do not find the weight and dimensions of the Lumia 920 unacceptable, this device will most likely be the most suitable option at the moment. However, everything could change if the price of Windows Phone 8X by HTC drops significantly in the very near future.

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.

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 durability. 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.