HTC Desire S: For those who desire 'Perfection'. Review on HTC Desire S

The hunt for a premium android operated smartphone

With a wide array of brands available in the Android operated phone market eg. Samsung, Sony Xperia, LG, HTC etc I finally zeroed in on the HTC Desire S after weeks of thorough research and analysis. I had devoted a lot of time in studying and researching on various android phones available in the market through online reviews & word of mouth testimonials. Mentioned below are take aways of my experience with the handset over the past two months.

==1) Overall Performance ==

a) The touch phone experience: Equipped with the Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread software and a 1 GHZ processor, the touch experience is extremely smooth and responsive in the HTC Desire S.  The qwerty android key board is a bit of a task, however the keys are well spaced and pretty large if you have big fingers. The high end model offers a pinch to zoom or unzoom option, and also an easy copy paste feature for selection of text used in emails / sms / on the internet. Gaming on the device is flawless with Speed Car and Racing Moto running really smooth without freezing. The HTC sense 3.0 UI makes the cell very responsive and there are customized applications available e.g Facebook for HTC Sense.

b) The Battery life of the HTC Desire S: is superior as compared to other smart phones available in the market as the phone stocks a 1450 MAH Battery and can last for exactly a day with moderate data usage, games and music.  However if you are a big time internet whiz, game lover or have a passion for music  there are chances that you might have to recharge the phone probably twice in a day or perhaps the battery life will reach its bare minimum during late hours of the evening.

c) Camera (5 Megapixel) performance: Is very good and to the likes of a Sony Xperia. The HTC Desire S comes with a 5 Megapixel camera complimented with a Autofocus and LED Flash. The device also possess a VGA front camera for video calling / Skype.  The picture or image / video clarity is worth every penny and you will have no hang ups what so ever .

d)== Messaging and Push email:== of the HTC Desire S is pretty decent. The SMS is systematically organized in a thread format so you do not have to go back and forth to find previously sent or received SMSs. The push email interface is good and quiet receptive however there are times when you have to referesh your inbox to pull in new E-Mails. There are a few limitations in terms of number of email inboxes that can be set up as it persists in every android handset. This can be countered by downloading the K-9 software available in the android market. The E-Mail function provided by HTC Desire S is not comparable to the likes of a Blackberry which rules in push E-Mail functionality.

e) Sound /Video and voice clarity: The speaker sound and the ringtones of the HTC Desire S is excellent, however the speaker is placed on the hind next to the camera. So there are times if your phone is placed screen facing up the ringtone might not be audible to a good extent. It is important to note that the sound clarity through speaker is obviously not as perfect as a Sony which dominates the function. Sound clarity through the handsfree is much better if compared. The video clarity for MPEG, MP4 etc is sharp and runs smoothly at 30 Frames Per Second (FPS).

f) ==Themes, Widgets and shortcuts ==are excellent with the phone and the same can be tailored as per your requirements. The handset offers some very neat looking widgets for email, sms, calendar, facebook and twitter. The in-built themes provided by HTC as well as skins are by far the best in the market.

==2) Design and aesthetics ==The HTC Desire S boasts of a gorilla glass that is scratch resistant. However it is recommended you use a screen-guard to avoid the screen from getting smudgy. The HTC Desire comes with a solid semi-alloy body that is aesthetically appealing and best in its class in design. In terms of design dynamics that include sharper edges, the Desire S is a class apart and more elegant than any of the Samsung Galaxy and Google android phones. The grip factor of the phone is however not the best. The Desire S also sports a LED Notification light that indicates battery life, missed call alerts etc. This is a important feature missing in android phones launched by Samsung and LG.

*3)== Internet Browsing and Android Market ==

a) Internet browsing is very smooth on the HTC Desire S through advanced GPRS is pretty neat. However it is smoother off-course if you are using Wi-fi for or 3G for browsing. The Desire S also provides an option for multiple windows when your surfing which can be easily accessed through pinch to zoom. Kinetic scrolling is hassle less with the handset.

b) The Android Market market offers you a host (thousands) of utility and entertainment softwares. It is almost like a google where you think about a feature that could enhance your userfriendliness or other add ons just for fun and you’v got it. Most of these softwares are not just free but also virus protected.

==4) Accessories: ==The HTC Desire S comes with high quality hand-free and a charger-cum USB chord. The type of charger where the wire can be detached to use it as a data cable. The only let down with the accessory bit is that HTC do not provide a scratch guard and a external memory card within the box and you will have to purchase on separately. The company should provide a jelly case or pouch with the phone considering the premium price point.

My perception and final take on the HTC Desire S

*I would conclude that the HTC Desire can be compared to an 'O'General amongst android operated devices. In a nutshell, I can strongly recommend the HTC Desire S to anyone looking for a premium android for within the sub 25k range. The device offers you true value for money at a retail price of Rs. 23500 / - (with one year warranty and bill) as of December 2011, and is available on Flikpart at 22, 500. All though there were many friends and colleagues who questioned me on why I opted for HTC Desire S and not Samsung Galaxy series, you will realize the difference in the build quality and features only once you use an HTC Device. HTC  for sure epitomizes preimumness and the handset maker has not cut any corners in terms of functionality or quality for the HTC Desire S.

Buy an HTC Desire S if:

-- You'v got the potential to splurge on a high-tech android device and upgrading from an entry level model

-- You have a budget within a 25k INR and looking for a phone that offers true value for money

-- You aspire to own a stylish smart phone for SMS/Calls , Camera, Music, Gaming and Browsing et all

Do not buy the phone if:

-- Your new to the android world and unsure about the touch and feel of an Android device

-- Your scouting for a hardcore business oriented device / stick to blackberry