HTC Windows Phone 8S

Overview

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 46 expert reviews

Excellent:

3
Good:

25
Average:

14
Bad:

4

Pros:

MicroSD slot.
Beats Audio.
Stylish design.

Cons:

No NFC.
Non-removable battery.

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Last revision on February 3, 2015

Reviewers Liked

MicroSD slot
Beats Audio
Stylish design
Thoughtful HTC software
Pixel-dense, beautiful display
New homescreen adds versatility
Affordable

Reviewers Didn't Like

No NFC
Non-removable battery
Lacks front-facing camera
App ecosystem remains deficient
Not the best ergonomics for a 4.3-inch phone
Beats Audio and new front-facing camera are superfluous gimmicks
Availability

Expert reviews and ratings

While it won't match pricier smartphones such as the Apple iPhone 5 for outright sharpness and subtlety, the HTC 8S is a decent video-player for a budget handset. That SD card slot is crucial if you want to watch a lot of videos, though – the...

By What Hi-Fi? on December 17, 2013

The HTC 8S is a good all round handset. It doesn't do a terrible job of anything but stylish looks aside it also struggles to stand out. Pretty much every Windows Phone is great for messaging and social networks and this is no exception, while being...

By TechRadar AU on April 22, 2013

Flagship devices garner attention at the top end of the smartphone market, but it's at the budget end where plenty of money is made, so it's no surprise that both HTC and Nokia have released impressive low-end devices.HTC's effort, the Windows Phone 8S,...

By micromart.co.uk on April 15, 2013

Windows Phone 8S by HTC For currently 260 Euros (~$346) HTC brings an entry-level smartphone for smartphone newcomer and switching users to the market with the Windows Phone 8S. In this review we especially liked the case with its solid appearance yet...

By NotebookCheck on April 11, 2013

An excellent handset that loses out to the Nokia Lumia 620 in the budget smartphone stakes by the narrowest of marginsRating: 4Average: 4 (1 vote) The fight is on at the budget end of the Windows Phone 8 market, and the latest handset to stride onto...

By Channel Pro on March 15, 2013

An excellent handset that loses out to the Nokia Lumia 620 in the budget smartphone stakes by the narrowest of...

By PC Pro on March 14, 2013

The HTC Windows Phone 8S is one of the best looking smartphones on the market. It lacks a front-facing camera and the screen is merely average, but this is a compact, well designed device that offer decent value for...

By Good Gear Guide on February 15, 2013

An impressive budget Windows Phone 8 handset with a good camera, but Nokia's Lumia 620 rival takes the crown...

By Expert Reviews on January 31, 2013

The 8S is a beautiful handset with good build quality. The WP8 OS and the handset's sound quality are impressive. On the flipside, the camera is disappointing and the phone lacks a proper sat-nav app. The biggest downer, however, is its mediocre screen....

By TechTree on January 28, 2013

W e don€t want to imagine the scenes at Nokia HQ when the HTC Windows Phone 8X and 8S were revealed: getting the nod from Microsoft to put the OS in the name was a blessing the Finns, until then favoured partners, would not have expected to see bestowed...

By What Mobile on January 10, 2013

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