HTC One SV

Overview

Value for Money Android ICS Smartphone

HTC One SV Design and Build Quality

Weighing in at a lightweight 122 g, the HTC One SV has a 4.3 inch LCD2 capacitive touch screen and dimensions of 128 x 66.9 x 9.2 mm. However, the 480 x 800 pixel display and the curiously thin, tapering sides make it slightly clumsy to hold.

User Interface and Comfort to Use HTC One SV

The One SV runs HTC’s Sense UI version 4.1 layered over an Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. The Dual-core 1.2 GHz processor and 1GB RAM provide quick response for even the most resource-intensive apps. While the Sense interface is clean, intuitive and uncluttered, the decision to bundle a new phone with a slightly dated Android release is curious.

Telephony and Phonebook

The phone offers an unlimited storage capacity for contacts, and searching is simple and fast. The call quality is clear, with no dropping of calls and a sound enhancement feature for noisy environments.

Messaging and Emails

The phone has unlimited message storage, and conversations can be accessed in threaded view. Composing messages is simple and features predictive input, with an on-screen keyboard that is fairly responsive and comfortable to use. There is support for MMS and push email as well.

Gallery, Photo Viewer and Video Player

The HTC One SV supports many of the popular photo and video formats, including MP4, H.263, H.264 and WMV. However, the large screen and low resolution means that there is significant pixilation of photos and video viewing in high definition is not available.

HTC One SV Music Player and FM radio

The integration of HTC’s Beats audio enhancements provides superlative audio performance from both the included headphones and the external speaker.

HTC One SV Camera and Image Quality

The 5-megapixel camera takes decent shots with natural lighting, with good color and the ability to take macro shots. Its indoor and low-light capability is poor, with images taken indoors or at night appearing slightly grainy.

HTC One SV Video Camera and Video Quality

The video camera captures good amounts of detail, but the auto focus is not perfect and the digital zoom provides for poor resolution recordings.

HTC One SV Connectivity Options

Connectivity options on the HTC One SV are fairly extensive, with dual-band Wi-Fi, DLNA and Wi-Fi hotspot features. In addition, there is Bluetooth, NFC and a microUSB connection available.

Organizer and Other Utility Tools

The One SV ships with standard productivity apps such as a document viewer, calculator, calendar, task manager and organizer, as well as a voice memo function.

HTC One SV Web Browser and Applications

The HTC One SV is bundled with the stock Web Kit browser, and internet access is fast, thanks to the 4G network capability. The low resolution produces noticeable pixilation, however, and text is not as crisp as on the other HTC One range smartphones.

Google Maps and GPS

The phone has Google Maps pre-installed, with A-GPS support and GLONASS for higher accuracy.

Value for Money

The One SV is available at a price of approximately Rs. 20,000 (may vary) in India, which represents good value for users seeking an Android phone with higher-end specifications but operating on a budget.

Verdict

The HTC One SV is a mid-range phone that provides adequate performance without necessarily breaking any new ground. The Android Ice Cream Sandwich that comes preinstalled will be a bit of a let-down to some users, but the surprisingly quick-loading camera is a pleasing addition to this budget smartphone.