HTC Incredible S
Though it has a generous screen and high-end features, the Incredible S is more pocket-friendly than its larger cousin, the Desire HD, both in terms of price and footprint.
| The good | Nice soft-touch finish; large 4-inch display; comes with HTC Sense software and service; good camera. |
|---|---|
| The bad | Front camera can't make video calls over 3G; not as thin and light as competitor's model; camera LED doesn't assist in focusing; speakers are soft. |
CNET Editors' Rating
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CNET Editors' rating
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Rating breakdown
Design
The Incredible S' entire chassis has a soft-touch finish which makes it feel good in the hand. Its dimensions are 120 x 64 x 11.7mm and weighs 135.5g. These specifications are typical for a device with a 4-inch screen. While we had no problems fitting it into a jeans pocket, the Incredible S is not what most people would consider compact and is really meant for those who don't mind carrying a larger handset because of the large LCD.Comparing the Incredible S with a similar model, the Samsung Galaxy S, we prefer the HTC's use of material. This is because the Galaxy S has a glossy finish which attracts fingerprints and appears somewhat plasticky for a high-end product. However, the Galaxy S has the advantage of being thinner and lighter at 9.9mm and 118g, respectively.
The back of the Incredible S has a unique shape which is raised in the middle. If you place the phone face down on a table, this design element can perhaps be described as a plateau. Some may find it odd looking, but we think this adds a bit of character given most handsets these days sport plain monolithic shapes.
Aside from the hump, the design of this smartphone is quite clean. There's a micro-USB port on the left edge and a 3.5mm audio connector on the top alongside a physical power button. Other shortcuts under the screen are touch-sensitive. As we've said in previous reviews, we prefer physical buttons on the front surface because touch-sensitive ones can be accidently pressed especially when playing games in landscape orientation.
However, the Incredible S' capacitive buttons have another trick--the button icons rotate so they are oriented correctly whether the phone is in portrait or landscape mode. Granted, this only works in one direction, when turning anticlockwise from portrait orientation and back, it's a cool feature that works seamlessly.
The 8-megapixel camera lens on this phone is found on the back, along with a pair of LEDs that act as a camera flash. Speakers are also on the back, beside the dual LEDs.
Features
Connectivity-wise, the Incredible S is fully equipped. It features HSPA for high-speed cellular data transfers, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and A-GPS for satellite navigation.Of course, what sets any HTC Android phone apart is the company's Sense software. Most evident are the user interface (UI) enhancements that add features to the stock Android experience. Some of the more important ones include the integration of social-networking services into the contacts list, an enhanced soft keyboard that includes a magnifier for fine placement of the cursor and text selection and many custom apps.
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As expected from a high-end product, the Incredible S comes with a slew of sensors for added convenience. There's an orientation sensor that adjusts the orientation of the screen depending on how you hold it. On the front are the proximity and ambient light sensors.
Like the Desire HD, the Incredible S has a microSDHC slot for memory expansion and comes with 1.1GB of storage built in. An 8GB card comes standard with the phone.
The 8-megapixel camera on the Incredible S takes pretty good pictures and supports 720p HD video recording. We got photos that were sharp and showed accurate colors outdoors. Take a look at our sample shots below. The dual LED flash was also quite effective in lighting up dark situations. Our only gripe was that it doesn't light up momentarily when the camera is trying to focus on a dark subject. Essentially, the LEDs don't double as AF assist, which can make focusing difficult in low-light situations.
Performance
The 1GHz processor in the Incredible S did well to keep things moving along smoothly throughout our review period. We did not feel any significant slowdowns during normal use. The processor used is similar to the Desire HD's. This includes the Adreno 205 graphics which gives 58fps in the Neocore benchmark for 3D performance.We managed to use the Incredible S for about 1.5 days before it ran out of juice. This included occasional calls and text messages, two Gmail accounts on autosync, as well as Twitter and Facebook on two-hourly syncs. This is good for a high-end smartphone as we expect most users to be able to last an entire day without reaching for the charging cable.
Call quality was good and comes with noise cancellation thanks to a second microphone on the top. There's a front-facing camera, but this does not support 3G video calls over the cellular network, which is somewhat disappointing. However, you can use it in VoIP apps such as Skype for video conferencing.
The speakers on the Incredible S are a little weak. They work fine if you are in a quiet location, but we'd recommend using headphones if possible.
Conclusion
You can think of the Incredible S as a scaled-down version of the 4.3-inch Desire HD. Its 4-inch screen makes it much more pocketable. The smaller display also gives a higher pixel density, so we find it nicer to look at compared with the Desire HD.It may not have niceties such as a dual-core processor or AMOLED display, but the S$758 price tag makes it very affordable, especially if you factor in operator discounts with a mobile contract, which will knock off another couple of hundred dollars. Furthermore, HTC has a good track record for software updates and has already committed to upgrading the Android 2.2 OS to Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) later this year.
About the author
Editor John Chan's love for gadgets can be traced back to the days when he disassembled his toys and couldn't put them back together again. He practices great restraint in not opening up every review product that comes through the CNET Asia Labs, and before that, in his previous job at HardwareZone. He has reviewed items big and small, from mobile phones to projectors and feels everyone should carry a multitool at all times in case of MacGyver situations.
Latest comments
Summary: Just after 3 months of purchase, my IS is giving me tough time
Just after 3 months of purchase, my IS is giving me tough time with its touch screen. Sometimes no response, sometimes only 50% screen works. Phone is even hanging many times. When I took it to HTC service centre, I was told its because of moisture. My phone is never exposed to water and if a expensive smart phone stops working because of atmospheric moisture then its not worth. Service station guys told this is not covered under guarantee, but after checking other things which were OK they somehow agreed to replace screen. Still haven%u2019t received. This is my second touch phone. Previously had a terrible experience with BB Storm, now HTC started troubling within 3 months. After my last 2 experiences I will never recommend touch phone to anyone.
Summary: It is an Incredible phone, since it does not function as a phone
I got my HTC incredible S on 10 June 2011 after hearing rave reviews about HTC and the incredible S; and I have not been able to use it as a phone since I got it. While the other functions are workable and extremely usable, this I attribute it to the Android technology, since the functionality of the phone depends on the OS. Because I only sent my phone back to HTC after 14 days after the date I purchased the phone, the company has refused to give me a one for one exchange. They have changed the main board at least twice and I have sent the phone in at least 3 times. Yet, they tell me that there is nothing wrong with the phone! Additionally, their tracking system is probably not online or their customer service does not update their tracking system. So each new person picking up the phone does not know from the next what is happening. What a joke! Especially, since I have been emailing them almost every other day on the same re-occurring issue. On top of that, they also use a courier service that does not have a tracking system; given it is a logistics company. On one of the pick-up days, when my phone was to be picked up at an agreed scheduled time, the courier did not pick it up because he was ill, and no one else in his company knew about it, until I called HTC customer service (who had wanted me to repeat my story - 2 months worth!) So after sending the phone in more than 3 times, the main board being changed at least twice and I still can't use the phone function, HTC is now asking me to go down to have a face to face discussion with their engineer. Oh, not forgetting at their on-site customer service center Habourfront has no on-site technicians. I believe that HTC has really no sense, what inconvenience they put the customer to. And they TRULY put their customers at their MERCY. So unless you want to buy a phone that can't function as a phone, it is a great phone.
Pros: On first holding the phone, it imparts a solid feel and a nice soft touch at the back. In terms of built quality this phone is hard to match. It is not a magnet for finger prints. Phone operates very fast compared to current ginger bread Android Phones.
Cons: A little heavy but this is only a minor trade off for a solid phone. Speaker's volume is a little soft. But this can be boost by a software upgrade if HTC feels necessary to meet customers' needs & demands.
Summary: A great phone to use. I did not experience any crashes or drop calls. I would suggest a restart to set the phone operating correctly again. I am not in anyway related to HTC.
I have used the phone for 3 weeks now. There is no doubt this is a fast phone compared to some other Android Phones that take a long time to power on. Good support service by phone is from service personnels in Taiwan. They can walk you through if there is any problems or questions you may want clarified. Being a photographer I found out that the 8 megapixel camera with double flash are good. Print copies are also even good and acceptable if you use a medium price printer (no a cheapo one) and with genuine ink cartridges on good quality papers. I don't have any steep learning curve. Anyone navigate the menu quite easily. Also I have no buyer's remorse about buying this phone.
Pros: Good features such as HTC Display Screens, SMS forwarding, HTC Sense
Cons: Intermittent dropped calls and crashes.
Summary: Nice HTC look and feel
Got the phone for about 3 weeks. It has crashed 4 times so far, twice on the first week even before I downloaded any additional Android programs! Also encountering intermittent problems, when I lift the phone out of my pocket for incoming calls, the calls sometimes get dropped or get answered automatically before I press accept. Would probably have to send for repairs if it gets much worse. Otherwise, I am pretty happy with the user interface, the extra HTC-unique features, screen, battery life, security, etc. The battery charging is quite fast at about 1% per minute, and with an overnight charge once a day only, I still get about 40 to 50% balance at the end of the day with light use.
Pros: Brilliant Screen, responsive, light weight
Cons: Battery life, soft sound
Summary: Excellent phone but still with few negative points
Very nice looking and responsive phone. But as of now feel battery getting dried out very fast. It cannot last for 12 hours with medium usage. Another thing is sound, sound while playing media is not loud enough even with high setting.
Pros: Incredibly sharp screen, zippy performance, above average batter life
Cons: Crude name. Try reading "Incredible S" out loud. :)
Summary: 1.5 day battery life for a 4-inch screen phone is incredible!
Got the phone for a couple of days already. So far, I'm very happy with it, especially with the battery life! I can go 1.5 days with it without having to charge it. This is not so for the Desire HD I owned before. With the HD, by 6 to 7pm, the battery is almost flat! The above average battery life is really a feat for such a bright and sharp 4-inch screen smart phone! As mentioned, the screen is surprisingly sharp. In a day to day use, it's almost as good as Samsung's super amoled screen and iPhone 4 retina display. You can only tell the difference when you put them side by side. Otherwise, one word: sharp! Browsing the web is also a joy. The performance of the Incredible S is zippy, and happy! ;) My only gripe is the name of the model. Incredible what? Incredible S! Try reading it out loud. Too crude eh. ;p
Pros: Sleek design; compact to hold compared with Desire HD
Cons: Battery life seems to be a bit bad - but this can be bearable considering the features of the phone
Summary: The best Android phone
I wanted to buy Desire HD model but was just dragging to buy it as I was not comfortable with the BIG size of it. But Inspire S is really an excellent android phone. Camera quality is too good. Battery life can still seems to need some improvement but considering the features provided by the phone, this can defenitely be a neglecting cons.
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