Reviewing the HTC 8S A260E

The newest entrant in the market of Windows 8 phone is the HTC 8S A260e. The Taiwanese firm has focused on the mid-range Windows phone market which offers fewer products. Major specifications of the handset are its 1 GHz dual-core processor and 512 MB RAM with 4GB of internal storage-which comply with the budget it is offered at.

Build:
Bright colored handsets have become trademark of Windows Phone. HTC 8S is available in two-tone color scheme. The bulk of the phone is in one color while the bottom has another color. These color combinations give a great and distinctive look to the handset which makes it immediately recognizable. The dimensions of the phone are 120.5 X 63 X 10.3 mm and it weighs 113gm. The curved edges of the phone make it look slightly slimmer and sleeker. The rubbery, polycarbonate finish makes it easy to hold and feels comfortable in the hand.

The frontal part of the phone has a 4-inch screen, HTC logo, speaker and three soft touch buttons: home, back and search. There is a 3.5mm headphone jack and a power button on the top. At the bottom edge there is microUSB port which can be used for multiple purposes. The right side of the phone houses the volume rocker and a dedicated camera button.

Back-cover of 8S is non-removable and it covers the 1,700 mAh battery. One advantage of this phone is that the microSD card slot has been placed beneath a small removable strip in the phone, which makes it convenient to swap the memory card without turning the phone off.

Performance:
Windows 8 OS is simpler, glossier, intuitive and elegant. HTC 8S has an upgraded version of Windows 8, the USP of which is the inclusion of Live Tiles on the home screen. No major customization features are available for the home screen however the widgets make many tasks easier for the user. The whole interface is very attractive and useful. It lacks any kind of help or prompt but most things are very simple to work out. Navigating through HTC Windows Phone is impressively smooth. Given the mid-range price and specs, the powerful interface is impressive.

Messaging
HTC 8S is a messaging powerhouse. This phone makes an impression with its in-depth integration of social networks. The keyboard is fairly good and can be used in either of portrait or landscape modes. There is a smiley face button on the keyboard which brings up a fairly large list of emoticons. Voice typing feature is also available which works pretty well.

Conclusion:
HTC 8S A260e has a stylish design, good social network integration and is good for messaging. However, the users might encounter problems as it has a non-removable battery and no smart dialing.

Read Top 5 smartphones to release in 2015