HTC One V review

A 5MP camera-toting Android 4.0-powered smartphone we can afford

HTC One V
A bright 3.7-inch screen is a highlight of this Android 4.0 smartphone

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While the HTC One V's 4GB of internal storage does not attune itself to heavy bouts of video recording and media playing, the 25GB worth of free Dropbox storage makes video a viable option, with all captured content able to be automatically backed up and saved via the more expansive remote storage option.

HTC One V review

Pushing media to the fore users are offered a selection of app shortcuts and homescreen widgets to gain instant access to their coveted content with the inbuilt media player lining up as a homescreen option for speedy tune playback.

Similarly simple to access, the easy to locate picture gallery also offers users a small selection of editing options with casual image rotation and cropping on offer.

As with the majority of current handsets, the HTC One V comes packing its own inbuilt media player that is tasked with competing with the likes of the mighty iPod.

Despite the widespread ownership and intense popularity of the iPod, however, this Beats audio-packing device more than holds its own on the PMP front, with its near faultless user interface continuing across the musical means and combining with a selection of strong audio output offerings.

A slightly disappointing omission from the HTC One V is that the handset filled with Beats audio software doesn't come packaged with a pair of Beats headphones to match its internal audio potential.

HTC One V review

While the included earbuds are of the cheap and cheerful nature, they do work well with the Beats audio enhancements available when using headphones to offer a more diverse, deep, varying sound than expected that highlights the intricacies of a song.

HTC One V review

For those looking to take their choice in music to a more public audience, the HTC One V's inbuilt speaker is of a more than acceptable nature, with the kinked bottom producing the audio output and ensuring that sounds aren't muffled when the handset is placed on a surface during playback.

In terms of video, the 3.7-inch 800 x 480p display gives what you would expect from a mid-range handset, with smooth, strong, clear playback that fails to offer the pop and intricate colour breakdown associated with its larger, higher specced, pricier rivals.

One area where the phone's screen does excel, however, is when combining with the device's ambient light sensor to perfectly attune the display's brightness to the optimal levels based on location lighting to ensure images remain crisp and enjoyable with as little amount of glare as possible.