HTC MOBILE: HTC Smart

HTC Smart

The Smart's fixed-focused camera limits its use but overall performance is decent so you can rattle off a few shots in quick succession. It's comfortable and easy to use, too, thanks to a dedicated camera button on the right edge. Photos are as mediocre as you might expect with fairly poor sharpness, slightly iffy colour accuracy and a general graininess. However, outdoor shots are still perfectly usable and the flash helps prevent indoor shots from turning into abstract motion-blur art. Video is also available and you can, again, use the LED light while shooting. However, with a resolution of just 240 x 320 pixels and framerate of just 15fps, the results are of very limited use.

The HTC Smart is available for free on contracts as low as £15 per month and will set you back £180 SIM-free. At this level, its high build quality and good external features make it a strong competitor in the value sector. However, some 'true' (if slightly old) smartphones, such as theHTC Hero, can be had for around the same price, so we might be inclined to go for one of those deals.