HTC One V Review

Introduction:

You didn't think that after reviewing the HTC One X and HTC One S, we will disregard their little brother – the HTC One V, did you? Well, here it is, folks! We have taken this little munchkin for a spin and we cannot wait to share our experience with you.

But before we begin, a little background: the HTC One V comes with a 3.7-inch display, single-core processor clocked at 1GHz, 5-megapixel camera, and Beats Audio enhancements, all of that locked within a metal unibody of under 10 millimeters. And that seems pretty good for a mid-range smartphone that will set you back only about $370 off-contract. Okay, enough talking. Now let us tell you how the HTC One V performs in real life.

Box contents:

• Wall charger
• microUSB cable
• Wired headset
• User manual on paper and CD

Design:

If the HTC One V looks familiar, that is because it sports the same curved-chin design that was present on the international version of the HTC Hero. And that does not only add a dose of uniqueness to the smartphone's looks, but it also should make it easier to hold. Sure enough, we like how the One V fits in the palm, but that is mostly due to its compact dimensions. It is nearly 9 millimeters thin and weighs only 115 grams, which is why we can barely feel it while it is resting in our pocket. Two thumbs up for that! Moreover, our thumb can effortlessly reach every corner of its screen, so if you are among the people who like using their smartphone with a single hand, the HTC One V will surely fit your preference.



You can compare the HTC One V with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.


The 2-button volume rocker and the lock key, which are located on the device's right and top sides respectively, are not too hard to feel and respond with a nice click when pressed. Underneath the smartphone's display we see a trio of Android buttons: one that takes you back a step, one that takes you to your home screen, and one that brings forth recently opened applications. Thankfully, physical capacitive buttons have been used instead of the virtual ones that Android 4.0 supports, which allows for the pretty limited display real estate to be put to greater use. We cannot complain about their responsiveness and we did not experience any accidental presses during use. Something that HTC is known for adding on its smartphones is a notification light that can glow in green or amber, and in the case with the One V, it is located on its top side. That allows it to be seen even when the handset is lying with its display down, which is a design touch that we surely won't pass on.

HTC has decided to go with anodized metal for the One V's unibody: a wise choice, we must say, for it is a feature that we don't get to see very often when mid-range devices are concerned. That is why the smartphone has a distinct, premium feel to it – a feel that most plasticky mid-range devices lack. Also, the handset's surface is extremely resistant to fingerprints, which is more than welcome.


Display:

Sadly, we cannot say the same about the touchscreen's surface. It collects finger smudge fairly easily, and overall, using it feels a lot like swiping your finger across a piece of plastic. In other words, the display's surface is not quite as smooth as the glass touchscreens on most high-end devices we are so spoiled with nowadays. Nevertheless, we have no complaints whatsoever about its sensitivity as it accurately registers every tap.

The HTC One V comes with a 3.7-inch display of the Super-LCD 2 kind. It has a resolution of 480 by 800 pixels, which gives us the respectable pixel density of 252ppi. As a result, we rarely notice any pixelation whatsoever. Graphics look nice and detailed, and small text does not require much effort to be read. Just like we expected, the Super-LCD 2 display treats us to great-looking, saturated (but not overly) colors and very impressive viewing angles. Additionally, we are quite satisfied with its outdoor visibility as it is bright enough to remain easily legible even in broad daylight. In case you are wondering, it may not be as bright as the Super-LCD 2 panel on the HTC One X, but nevertheless, the One V's display is really good considering the smartphone's price point.