HTC Desire S

2651 reviews

Apr, 2024

Positive
usability (958)
performance (417)
screen (286)
design (281)
size (269)

Negative
battery (801)
reliability (67)
reception (52)
GPS navigation (41)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 2651 reviews of HTC Desire S. The average rating for this product is 4.0/5, compared to an average rating of 4.1/5 for other Cell phones for all reviews. Comments about the design and size are on the whole positive. The screen and performance are also mentioned favorably. The social networking functionality and GPS navigation get mixed opinions. There are some less positive comments about the reception and battery.

usability, performance, screen, size, design

battery, reception

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Cell phones the HTC Desire S is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 87/100 = Very good quality.

See all HTC Mobile Phones

Review analysis

(Based on 2651 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(31% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews (46% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews (11% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews (5% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews (7% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

usability
Show positive (74%)Show negative (26%)(Show all)

battery
Show positive (14%)Show negative (86%)(Show all)

performance
Show positive (82%)Show negative (18%)(Show all)

screen
Show positive (79%)Show negative (21%)(Show all)

size
Show positive (82%)Show negative (18%)(Show all)

Show more features

Showing 1595 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

Disclaimer:

Below is a list of reviews for this or similar products. If you think this grouping is wrong please click here to flag.
Read more on our FAQ’s page.

Showing 1 - 269 of 1595 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (1037)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for HTC Desire S

alaTest has collected and analyzed 248 user reviews of HTC Desire S from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 3.8/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.1/5 for other Cell phones on Amazon.co.uk. Reviewers really like the price and design. The portability and usability also get good comments. The camera and reliability get mixed views. Many are negative about the apps and reception.

performance, usability, portability, design, price

reception, apps

77% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for HTC Desire S

alaTest has collected and analyzed 11 user reviews of HTC Desire S from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 3.3/5, compared to an average user rating of 3.8/5 for other Cell phones on Amazon.com. People really like the apps and size. The usability and portability also get good feedback. There are some less positive reviews about the price and reliability, while there are some mixed opinions about the battery.

portability, usability, size, apps

durability, reliability, price

64% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Expert review by : Edward Chester (trustedreviews.com)

HTC Desire S

The direct replacement for last years barnstorming HTC Desire, can the Desire S live up to expectations?

Elegant design ; Brilliant screen ; Well built ; Easy to use

No camera shutter button ; Not dual core ; Camera fairly poor

The HTC Desire S certainly isn't the flag bearer for a new era in super fast smartphones, with it lacking the headline dual-core processor. However, it is a well crafted, elegant, easy to use, fast and very capable smartphone that thanks to HTC's...

Mar, 2011

Read the full review

Expert review by : Hannah Bouckley (t3.com)

HTC Desire S Vs HTC Desire review: hands-on

Quick look at the differences between the old and new HTC Desire's

We've only had a short time with the HTC Desire S, but it's clear that it offers a couple of significant advantages, namely it's speed and the screen. Side by side the Desire S is significantly quicker and the screen is slighlty better. However for...

Sep, 2011

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Mark Mayne (t3.com)

HTC Desire S review

The latest HTC Desire S has great hardware and UI, but it doesn't quite feel like enough to fight off the dual-core challengers just around the corner.

Sleek design ; HTC Sense UI ; Battery

Processor ; Media player ; Lack of progress

Sep, 2011

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Matthew Bolton (techradar.com)

HTC Desire S review

Can HTC's first Android 2.3 smartphone live up to its blockbusting heritage?

Fast operation ; Slick UI ; Excellent cloud integration ; Stunning design ; Strong stills camera

Wi-Fi antenna issue ; Frequently slow notifications bar ; Stuttery HD video recording ; Not cheap for its specs ; Still some Android UI issues

All things must come to an end (or at least be supplanted by something new). The HTC Desire S has arrived to take over from its predecessor in the Android race.

Mar, 2011

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Stuart Miles (pocket-lint.com)

HTC Desire S

The HTC Desire was the phone of 2010. It got in early, was considerably better than the competition and by the end of the year was still very much holding its own against the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S and the Apple iPhone 4 . Fast forward a year...

Great looking design, HTC Sense covers just about all bases, Android 2.3 is bang up to date, ultra connected experience out of the box

It feels a little samey and doesn't really advance the HTC story, and is outclassed by its older and bigger brother the Desire HD, finish started rubbing off on contact points, not the most striking screen around these days

The HTC Desire S is a perfectly good phone that, combined with HTC Sense, brings a smartphone that will serve you well, giving you a super-connected out-of-the box experience. However it is no longer the high-end smartphone it once was, making this the...

Mar, 2011

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Chris Hall (pocket-lint.com)

HTC Desire S hands-on - Pocket-lint

HTC has announced the launch of the new HTC Desire S the follow up to the smash runaway success of 2010 - the HTC Desire and Pocket-lint's was invited

Feb, 2011

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Barry de la Rosa (expertreviews.co.uk)

HTC Desire S review

A decent update to the original Desire, the S has a better camera, more space for apps and upgraded communications, but it's not enough to warrant a direct upgrade.

May, 2011

Read the full review

Expert review by : Thomas Newton (recombu.com)

HTC Desire S Review: In Depth

Following in the footsteps of the wildly successful HTC Desire and the equally impressive HTC Desire HD is the Desire S. The latest addition to HTC's Desire family comes with two cameras (one for normal…

May, 2011

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Ginny Mies, PC World US (techadvisor.co.uk)

HTC Desire S review

The HTC Desire S is an update to the firm's popular HTC Desire Google Android smartphone. We got our hands on the HTC Desire S at Mobile World Congress for a first look.

The HTC Desire S feels good in the hand, has a sharp-looking display and ran fluidly in early tests. We also like the camera upgrade. Watch this space for a full review of the HTC Desire S in due course.

Feb, 2011

Read the full review

Expert review by : littlegreenrobot.co.uk (littlegreenrobot.co.uk)

Expert Review

It is a heady mix, and the Desire S is in many ways a super smartphone. To answer our own question posed at the head of this review, the Desire S doesn’t stand out as much as the original Desire did, doesn’t break new ground, and doesn’t, at this...

Sep, 2014

Read the full review