HTC Incredible S

Sunbed · 25 Feb 2011 at 14:33

Available today apparently on O2 and Vodafone:

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2028946/htc-incredible-o2-vodafone-contracts

Semi reviews:

http://mwc2011.techradar.com/2011/02/hands-on-htc-incredible-s-review/
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/2011/02/15/htc-incredible-s-review-first-look/

Update: Full review:

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/htc-incredible-s-933810/review

NB It has a bigger battery than Desire/Desire HD

Robbo · 25 Feb 2011 at 15:37

Seems a bit of a 'neither here nor there' phone (somewhat like the Desire HD was).

Considering what it costs and what the competition are bringing out, its certainly not worth buying.

Appelhanns · 25 Feb 2011 at 15:52

Robboftw said:
Seems a bit of a 'neither here nor there' phone (somewhat like the Desire HD was).

Considering what it costs and what the competition are bringing out, its certainly not worth buying.

Really? I was quite interested as it's reported to be around £25p/m at launch and I like the width and look of it. Has a better camera than the desire S to?

Robbo · 25 Feb 2011 at 15:57

Osian said:
Really? I was quite interested as it's reported to be around £25p/m at launch and I like the width and look of it. Has a better camera than the desire S to?

The phone is a CPW exclusive, and comes with a 4 inch display, 1GHz Snapdragon processor and an 8 megapixel camera with dual-flash and autofocus (capable of 720p recording).

There’s also a front-facing webcam for video chatting, wi-fi, bluetooth and 3G. However, it will only be running Froyo initially, with an upgrade to Android Gingerbread promised in short order.

Looks the same as the DHD to me bar the front camera.

Its £30 per month on contract over 24 months (with an internet deal which you need) with a free phone which is the premium phone price band.

Its basically a cross between the HTC Desire and HTC Desire HD. Disappointing from HTC

Sunbed · 25 Feb 2011 at 16:52

Robboftw said:
Looks the same as the DHD to me bar the front camera.

Its £30 per month on contract over 24 months (with an internet deal which you need) with a free phone which is the premium phone price band.

Its basically a cross between the HTC Desire and HTC Desire HD. Disappointing from HTC

I'd agree that it may be best to hold off for the March/April phone releases, but at this point in time - this is arguably one of the best phones you can buy, right?

Robbo · 25 Feb 2011 at 16:54

Sundance said:
I'd agree that it may be best to hold off for the March/April phone releases, but at this point in time - this is arguably of the best phones around, right?

Yes, much like the Desire HD/Galaxy S is one of the best phones around, its just not anything new. Its honestly not worth buying.

Right now is one of the worst times to buy a phone of any kind. You wont have to wait long to get a far better one for a similar price

Its your money though.

Sunbed · 25 Feb 2011 at 17:10

Robboftw said:
Yes, much like the Desire HD/Galaxy S is one of the best phones around, its just not anything new. Its honestly not worth buying.

Right now is one of the worst times to buy a phone of any kind. You wont have to wait long to get a far better one for a similar price

Its your money though.

Can't agree more tbh

which is why I'm sticking with my Desire, and can't see myself wanting/needing to upgrade for a while.

I only started this thread because I was surprised at the the lack of media coverage/interest for what appears to be a fairly solid phone. I certainly wouldn't buy it because it's not offering anything more than any current (ish) phone atm, including my Desire. However, if someone was needed a smartphone right this moment, I doubt you could go far wrong with this right? The better battery alone makes up for the Desire/D HD biggest flaw.

Appelhanns · 25 Feb 2011 at 18:08

Once the new dual core blingness has been released though, this will come down in price and be much better value no?

I'm just interested because it looks like a really nice size.

atpbx · 25 Feb 2011 at 22:17

If you have a decent high end phone now, its best to wait till the "next big thing" as everything that is around at the moment is much of a muchness.

sarge78 · 25 Feb 2011 at 22:45

All part of HTC's plan to sell 3.5", 3.6", 3.7" 3.8", 3.9", 4.0" 4.1", 4.2" and 4.3" Desire variants.

Then you'll have a choice of keyboard (hinge, slider, speaker, game controller) and screen (LCD, OLED, 3D, e-ink, hybrid) for all sizes.

Sunbed · 21 Mar 2011 at 11:44

Full review: http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/htc-incredible-s-933810/review

Seems like an OK deal at Carphone Warehouse too. Why is this phone not getting mentioned on the Ocuk forums? It's arguably the best Android phone out at the moment

I know the answer really... new phones soon to be released etc. No doubt there will be niggles with those too though.

Robbo · 21 Mar 2011 at 12:25

I like it, but its more or less a DHD with a slightly smaller screen. Shame the battery is still not great too.

As the review states (and I normally find Techradar quite fair) -

We know why you've come here: you want to know if we think that the HTC Incredible S is the phone you should be going for. Well, if you're thinking that the HTC Desire HD was a great handset, but the screen was a little too large and the battery life was a real worry, then you're in for a treat - this is the phone for you.

The reason it isn't getting mentions is because its a re-badged Desire HD and there are WAY better phones on the horizon, which everyone seems happy to wait for.

snapdragon · 21 Mar 2011 at 13:11

Sundance said:
It's arguably the best Android phone out at the moment.

nah it's not, not even arguably. the dhd and sgs are both better all round and they are considered "old" in mobile life cycles, for a new offering from a premiere producer this is poor, sorry but as of late htc are choosing to update rather than innovate.

I'm no htc hater, gf has an oled desire that she loves and I still think it's a beautiful piece of tech, htc could do so much more, this and pretty much everything else I've seen around smacks of laziness, they need to step up a gear or htc sense could well up as nonsense

Sunbed · 21 Mar 2011 at 13:16

snapdragon said:
nah it's not, not even arguably. the dhd and sgs are both better all round and they are considered "old" in mobile life cycles

How are the DHD and SGS better?

As robboftw said, it's virtually identical to the Desire HD but with a bigger battery - the primary flaw with the DHD.

Not seeing your logic, sorry.

snapdragon · 21 Mar 2011 at 13:31

ok DHD can be had on much better deals and as an older model will drop in price, both new and preowned. so in essence you could have a virtually identical model to the Incredible ( you're own words ) at a lower cost = better

The sgs has slugged it out alongside the dhd with both camps scoring points but it's most commonly held that the sgs's media playing abilities are way ahead of everything else currently available including ip4, again as "old" tech sgs's are dropping in price, an 8mp camera with flash over a 5mp one doesn't sway me one bit

Sunbed · 21 Mar 2011 at 13:42

I suppose when you take cost into account then yes, it would make the DHD and SGS good deals.

Off topic: I keep seeing adverts on TV for the SGS. Granted, they have been on there for a while - but why would they keep advertising it when the SGS2 isn't far round the corner?

Robbo · 21 Mar 2011 at 14:40

If you want a 4' Android phone, the SGS is certainly a better one to get than the Incredible S.

Granted, the Samsung UI isn't really better than Sense, but its quite fine. Add that to the fact its got a hugely superior screen, an almost certainly better camera (MP aren't everything) and definately better HD recording and will cost you quite a bit less.

The Incredible is a very 'meh' offering as I originally thought.

HTC need to bring out a dual core phone of some sort, and fast.

Sundance said:
I suppose when you take cost into account then yes, it would make the DHD and SGS good deals.

Off topic: I keep seeing adverts on TV for the SGS. Granted, they have been on there for a while - but why would they keep advertising it when the SGS2 isn't far round the corner?

Because most people dont know about the SGS2 and will happily buy a normal SGS now and plod on with it for years to come.

[TW]Fox · 21 Mar 2011 at 22:21

Every day I cry myself to sleep over the fact my HTC phone isn't dual core.

Meanwhile, in the real world, the Incredible S is probably pretty decent.

ultim · 21 Mar 2011 at 22:27

Think this might be my first android phone. Going to wait and see how this compare to Desire S though.

Dual core phones will cost too much.

Robbo · 21 Mar 2011 at 23:21

[TW]Fox;18721053 said:
Every day I cry myself to sleep over the fact my HTC phone isn't dual core.

Meanwhile, in the real world, the Incredible S is probably pretty decent.

Nobody has disputed that it is pretty decent, but it does nothing new and costs more than things that are arguably superior to it.

There are a lot of benefits to having a superior CPU in your phone, people don't just want dual core for the sake of it. You might not need it, I certainly am not that bothered about it either but there are clearly a lot of people that are.

That said, it is without question one of the best current gen Android devices about at the moment.