HTC One V is the most basic device of the One series. Its sub-standard specs however manage to provide some amazing performance and while it targets the market of mid-ranged to low-ranged smartphones, its software makes you feel entirely different.

HTC One V features a 3.7-inch Gorilla Glass touch screen which displays HTC’s Sense 4.0 Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS (Android 4.0.3 installed). It has a screen resolution of 800×480 and also includes a 1 GHz single core Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon processor.

Design

The HTC One V is designed like the very first Android phone HTC Dream or HTC Legend and it seems like going back to basics is working well for HTC.

The bent tail-end of the phone is similar to that of the Dream bar the physical QWERTY keyboard and has several design similarities.

The phone itself is 9.2 mm thick which is impressive for such a low-end phone, has 3 touchscreen button on the bottom and 2 hard keys on the sides. There are 2 panels: one for USB and the other for charging.

All in all the phone looks great and based just on the design I’d go and buy one right away.

Rating: 4/5

 Hardware

The phone’s hardware is standard to put it mildly. The 1 GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon works its socks off to make the Android 4.0.3 run on the device smoothly and even though the HTC Sense 4.0 is pretty easy on the processor it still pushes the limit. The 512 MB RAM ensure that it seldom experiences lag.

The Adreno 205 GPU enables the device to run the basic category of games on the phone. All the phone’s hardware is just enough to run the OS and also provide seamless (lagless) and beautifully vivid photography with the 5MP main camera.

Dont expect it run games such as Rockstar’s GTA III or Gameloft N.O.V.A. 2, because it just can’t.

Rating: 2/5

Software

The One V runs HTC’s very own Sense 4.0. The Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.3 works lag-free on normal use but it remains to be seen what happens when the phone is multi-tasked.

The app drawer however, at some places, fails to maintain the same Sense UI of the rest of the phone and is easily noticeable. The overall ICS Sense 4.0 UI looks amazing. The Sense 4.0 and Android 4.0.3 combine well to deliver performance and looks.

Rating 4/5 

Camera 

HTC One V’s camera takes a step down from the 8MP on the One X, it is equipped with a 5MP sensor which runs with ImageSense allowing users to perform continuous shooting, still photos while recording video, and zero shutter lag. There is no more switching between taking an image or capturing a video with ImageSense which allows you to switch between the two in the same screen with VideoPic. The imaging sensor is perfectly capable of taking pictures in Low light conditions as well as NO light conditions. All in all the camera is one of the stand-out qualities the One V.

For a mid-range device the 5MP camera shoots really good in warm vivid colors, especially because it has the ability to record videos at 720p like the GALAXY Nexus. However, I am docking off half-a-point though for bad moving objects photography.

Rating 4.5/5

Outdoor video sample

httpvh://youtu.be/6ivbopg3seM

Indoor video sample

httpvh://youtu.be/CRWK4u8dWuo

Verdict

The phone lies on a middle ground between high-end phones and low-end phones and there is no way one can slap either label on the phone.

It packs enough juice to take it out of the budget-phones category but falls short of joining the big leagues with the One S more suited to that purpose. The Sense 4.0 and Android 4.0.3 provide HUGE plus points and the inclusion of Beats Audio only adds to the ‘mid-level’ One S.

In my opinion for those looking for an Android 4.0 phone without splashing cash this is the phone for you, as simple as that. Dont bother with the rest of the specs, the camera is pretty good and the phone will fulfill everything you desire from a normal Android phone. This hands-down beats any other Samsung ‘budget’ phone.

(Ansh Singh also contribute to this review)