It's time for a PhoneDog Snapshot Review, where we take our typical two-part review and condense it down into a tiny little video that's loaded with information! Today, the HTC One SV.
Cricket's HTC One SV is the first "One" device for the carrier, but similarities can be drawn to the HTC One S, which debuted last year and is on T-Mobile. The One SV offers some great features and brings a very solid mid to high-end device to prepaid. With specifications like a 1.2 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU, 4.3-inch display, 5-megapixel camera, 4G LTE connectivity, and Android 4.0, it's a near-perfect smartphone for someone that wants an HTC One device but is unwilling to switch away from Cricket.
This is an entirely new One device, but the changes that were made from previous One devices include:
Like the other One series devices, the One SV is a beautifully designed piece of hardware and brings a style to prepaid that's not often seen. The curved back is reminiscent of the HTC DROID DNA, and the 4.3-inch display means that it's very pocketable and easy to hold. Despite only offering 5-megapixels, the One SV's camera features the same ImageSense chip that the One X+ and DROID DNA offer.
The HTC One SV is powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, along with HTC Sense 4.1. It's not the newest version of Sense and is missing a few features I like from Sense 4+, such as an improved virtual keyboard and some personalization options, but overall, it's still one of the better overlays on the market with some fantastic customization abilities. It makes Android far easier to use for the mainstream consumer over the stock version. Sense is a bit resource-heavy, but the 1 GB of RAM and dual-core processor handles it relatively well.
Keeping in mind the total package from a performance and price standpoint, the One SV has a lot to like. The specifications are great for regular day-to-day use, and users can take advantage of 4G LTE in Cricket markets that support it. All too often, "prepaid" and "cheap" go hand-in-hand, so it's great to see a smartphone out there with build quality like the top-tier HTC candidates.
Despite the mid-range status, I'd like to see Android 4.1 and HTC Sense 4+ installed on the One SV. As much as I'd like to see beefier internals, I can't fault the One SV for it - that's the trade you have to make in keeping a device cheap enough to sell at $330 with no contract.
Prepaid carriers are starting to change to reflect the times. They get that consumers are after well-designed smartphones, and that often times, a customer will sacrifice the carrier they want to get the device they want. The HTC One SV is proof that you can get a solid Android smartphone at a reasonable no-contract price. It's missing some of the specifications and goodies that high-end devices out there have, but the overall package offers a lot. If you're after a no-contract smartphone that's beautifully designed and offers decent specifications like a dual-core processor, 4.3-inch display, and 4G LTE, this is a solid choice for you.
