HTC Snap

6/10

320 x 240 display
Windows Mobile
QWERTY
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
Speakerphone
GPS
Memory slot
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With HTC’s focus on higher-end touch screen devices such as its Touch line, it’s good to see they haven’t forgotten the tried and true, perennially popular candy bar QWERTY, a design which continues to hold its own as Blackjacks, BlackBerries and others.

I’m referring to the new HTC Snap, which upon first glance looks a little like a morph between a BlackBerry and a Blackjack.

Unfortunately, while HTC is brilliant with its signature line of Touch devices, the HTC Snap falls short because too many other phones do what the Snap does, but better. The four row keypad, for example, consists of keys which, while useable and not unfriendly, lack the dynamic contouring of the more recent BlackBerries. Similarly, the 2.4 inch screen delivers a lackluster experience. It may have qualified two years ago, but today people simply expect more.

That said, it isn’t a bad phone. Call quality is good, navigating is relatively easy and the phone is appealingly slim, which never hurts.

What is most odd is when you compare the size of the HTC Snap against the BlackBerry Curve, the Snap’s dimensions are larger in all but thickness, yet there is no benefit to the extra beef. This is to say that were the Snap providing a better or larger screen, one could argue in favor of increased size. Or if it possessed a feature set that out-performed its competitors, here again I’d tip my hat to the added size.

But alas the HTC Snap does not distinguish itself in a manner that would make it catch fire in the market.

On the upside, HTC did a wonderful job assigning secondary short-cut functions to many keys, making it a breeze to access the camera or your messages. This is a clever and appreciated inclusion.

Rounding out the feature set is GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth and an HTML browser. This phone will get you where you need to go, but in this writer’s opinion, there a more comfortable ways (options) to enjoy the ride.

Final Thought:

HTC rocks when it’s working on its pet projects, but the Snap project appears to have received the interns. It works, its decent, but it is in a tier that offers far better choices.

Review by: Scott Cerullo

Prices (Where To Buy)

BARELY USED MINT IN BOX HTC SNAP S510 SMARTPHONE FROM TELUS MOBILITY from eBay

•Condition: Used
•Availability: In Stock
•Carrier: Telus
•Located In: Canada

$49.99

HTC Snap S521 - Black (Unlocked) Smartphone from eBay

•Condition: Used
•Availability: In Stock
•Contract: No
•Located In: Canada

$132.20

HTC SNAP S511 SPRINT CELL PHONE SMARTPHONE PDA WINDOWS MOBILE 6.1 QWERTY from eBay

•Condition: New
•Availability: In Stock
•Contract: No
•Located In: USA

$29.99

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Latest Reviews

Not so good.

Dissappointed User (over 2 years ago)

0/10

Very limited functionality, might be because of windows OS. Alarm is not good. Cannot customize your main screen, having very limited functionality. Limited application for download. I brought it so that I can use it for my official purpose. Email doesn't get downloaded automatically if there... More

okay phone by far not the best

Anonymous from Phonedog (over 3 years ago)

5/10

Pro: nice sound quality nice screen and camera beautiful form factor inner circle was a great idea. web browser Con: plastic feel, keyboard way to small for average size hands, space bar off center, no track ball,menu was is annoying screen could have been larger Using experience: 5 days What to... More

HTC S521 Unlocked GSM Smartphone

Jorddana (over 3 years ago)

6/10

This is great phone I moved from Blackberry to HTC and couldn't be happer its easy to type its good size screen and over all great phone I got the S521 which is the GSM Model from here http://www.selectgsm.com/htc-snap-s521-unlocked-phone-mobile-phone-pr-16899.html

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