HTC One S review

This 4.3in Android Ice Cream Sandwich handset comes with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and lightweight chassis, but it's the all-day battery life which is the outstanding feature.

Internet

HTC One S - read feature

HTC One S - read feature

HTC S - full website

HTC S - full website

The on-screen keyboard is another great feature. This comes with well-spaced letters and an auto correction feature that is unlikely to leave you as red-faced as the one found on the iPhone 4S.

Camera

The 8-megapixel snapper on the One S incorporates HTC's newly designed image processing chip and also features a BSI sensor to take better images in low lighting. Picture quality in low-light conditions was impressive, with the extra light captured by the sensor brightening images.

HTC One S - picture

HTC One S - picture

You can take multiple shots by holding down the camera button, a useful feature to capture fast moving images. Although some shots can be blurry it is possible to pick the best images and then delete the others. It is also possible to take photos whilst recording in 1080p.

Overall

Android 4.0 works well with Sense 4.0 and the battery life will hang on through the day even for demanding business users.

The SIM free price of 415 still represents a significant investment. Operators are offering the handset for free from 26 per month on a two year contract, which is makes it a better proposition than the iPhone 4S.

ITPRO Recommended award

Verdict

The One S is the best 4.3in Android device on the market when it comes to features, battery life and design. HTC Sense is simply the best pre-installed overlay available from a manufacturer.

OS: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with HTC Sense 4

Processor: Qualcomm MSM8260A Snapdragon(1.5GHz)

Storage: 1GB RAM; 16GB internal

Screen: 4.3in (540 x 960) Super AMOLED

Connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, DLNA, micro-USB, DLNA, 3.5mm headphone socket

Other: Gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, digital compass, Beats Audio

Bands: GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz; UMTS HSPA 850/900/2100 MHz

Camera: 8MP rear with LED flash and autofocus; VGA front

Battery: 1650mAh

Size: 130 x 65 x 7.8 mm

Weight: 119.5g

Khidr Suleman is the Technical Editor at IT Pro, a role he has fulfilled since March 2012. He is responsible for the reviews section on the site  - so get in touch if you have a product you think might be of interest to the business world. He also covers the hardware and operating systems beats. Prior to joining IT Pro, Khidr worked as a reporter at Incisive Media. He studied law at the University of Reading and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism and Online Writing at PMA Training.