HTC One SV Review

The HTC One SV is a mid-range Android phone with a good array of features and the benefit of 4G LTE compatibility. If you can’t afford the forthcoming HTC One, or if you prefer a more compact phone with a smaller screen, then the One SV could be a good option.

Compact style

The HTC One SV is similar in style to phones from last year’s HTC range – especially the One X+. It’s significantly smaller than the One X+ however, measuring 128 x 66.9 x 9.2 mm and weighing a modest 122g. It’s not too big to fit in a jeans pocket, and it’s the kind of phone you can hold and use in one hand.

With a screen measuring 4.3 inches and a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, the One SV is clearly marked out as a mid-range phone, but this is nevertheless a good size for most functions.

Android 4.0

Unlike the new HTC One, the One SV runs an older version of the Android operating system. Version 4.0, called Ice Cream Sandwich, is two versions behind the current Android release. Users will be hoping for an update to Android Jelly Bean (4.1 or 4.2) soon.

Like all HTC Android phones, the One SV also runs the HTC Sense user interface, which builds on the stock Android UI with extra widgets, shortcuts, a different lockscreen, homescreen and some changes to contacts.

Mid-range hardware

The One SV is powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor and has a full 1GB of RAM available. This combination makes it fast enough for most users. In particular the user interface responds fluidly and most apps open quickly. It may not have a quadcore processor like the HTC One X+, but this should be fast enough for the average user.

Dual cameras

The phone is equipped with a main rear-facing camera and a front-facing camera that can be used for self-portraits and making video calls.

The main camera has 5 megapixels, auto focus and a flash. It uses a BSI sensor for better performance in poor lighting conditions and can record high definition video. The camera is very fast in use, thanks to its own imaging chip. This enables up to 4 images to be captured every second, and you can capture still images and record video simultaneously.

Beats audio

The phone can be used as a music player, and is equipped with Beats Audio for studio quality sound. You can connect stereo headphones using the 3.5mm headphone jack, or use a Bluetooth-enabled stereo headset.

Connectivity

As mentioned, this is a 4G phone. It can also operate on 3G and GSM networks. Wi-Fi is available for fast data access, as well as Bluetooth, USB and NFC.

Battery performance

The phone is supplied with a 1800mAh battery, which is typical for this kind of phone. Android phones have a reputation for relatively poor battery performance, and the One SV is typical, with perhaps one or two days between charges.

Pricing

As a 4G phone, the One SV is available on 4G contracts, and is quite expensive. It’s also available sim-free and again is quite expensive. The cheapest way to buy it seems to be on a standard 3G contract, and here it compares favourably with other mid-range 3G phones.

Conclusion

The One SV isn’t the kind of handset to attract headlines. Those are reserved for flagship phones like the HTC One. But not everyone needs or can afford a phone at the cutting edge. If your requirements are more modest, you might find that the HTC One SV meets them very well indeed.