HTC Windows Phone 8S

“The HTC Windows Phone 8S is a likeable little handset. It clearly isn't one of the platform's headliners, but it may be the right thing to help the fresh Windows Phone 8 conquer some new territory.The 8S was meant to make the WP OS more desirable and accessible, and it seems the HTC engineers did a pretty good job of cutting the right corners. The display may not be the standard-setting stuff that we saw in the One X, but it isn't half bad either. The chipset has a down-clocked CPU and half the RAM, but WP8 still feels pretty comfortable on it. And while full HD video recording didn't make the cut, 720p capture should still be enough for the majority of users.No phone is perfect, much less in this price range, but we can't see anything we can't live with on the list of cons.With excellent build quality and a fresh youthful styling, the HTC 8S will easily get most people's attention. The Windows Phone 8 UI is also novel enough and, while it might lack the versatility of Android, it offers an arguably better looking alternative to those keen to try something new.It will not be able to win the fierce battle in the mid-range all by itself, but the 8S is showing the right attitude. With iOS offering nothing in this price range, a reasonably priced WP8 handset is HTC's best bet on gaining back some lost ground.”

“The HTC Windows Phone 8S is the first Windows Phone 8 handset to fit into the mid-range price category. As such it's not quite the performer of the high-end Windows Phone 8 devices, but it's not so poor as to make it a bad deal. It offers solid performance and features for a reasonable price. Whether you prefer it to a similarly priced Android phone will depend on your own subjective preference of platform.”

“When we got our hands on the 8X, we found it to be a worthy flagship, with a good balance of specifications and design. Fortunately for the 8S, much of the design DNA has carried over, which we like. Naturally, the spec sheet differs dramatically, but only as you would expect for a phone aimed at a more mainstream section of the market. Some people might not fancy the sound of a 1GHz dual-core chip or 5-megapixel camera, and these people should indeed look elsewhere. But, if you want a phone that looks good, is reasonably priced and just kinda gets the job done, then we're hard-pressed not to recommend the 8S. And until the Nokia Lumia 620 arrives, the 8S has the stage all to itself. So, if you're not looking to wait, we suggest you start thinking about color options.”

“The Windows Phone 8S by HTC isn't going to blow anyone's socks off with its modest specs. But its design certainly sets it apart from the pack - the range of bright, strongly contrasting colours its available in will put a smile on many a face. Running Windows Phone 8 and with a dual-core processor, its nice and fast, and the microSD slot means you can easily upgrade storage. We'll have to wait and see what final pricing is like and how it stacks up against the competition when it's finally released but on first impression the HTC 8S could be one to look out for if you're on a budget.”