HTC S310 Comprehensive Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

General Overview

The HTC S310, announced in September 2006, emerged as a compact and practical smartphone in the mid-2000s. With its relatively small form factor and practical features, it catered primarily to business professionals and casual users seeking basic smartphone functionality. The device was well-received for its balance between performance, usability, and cost.

Design and Build

The HTC S310 featured a classic candy-bar style design with dimensions of 108 x 47 x 18.5 mm. Its compactness made it comfortable to handle and easy to carry around. The phone was available in three main colors: Black, White, and Grey, appealing to users who preferred a classic aesthetic. The use of quality plastic materials ensured a lightweight device without sacrificing durability.

Display

The device came equipped with a 2.0-inch TFT display, offering a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels. Although not particularly large by today's standards, the screen was suitable for the time period, displaying 65K colors that provided a decent viewing experience for basic smartphone tasks. The screen-to-body ratio was approximately 24.8%, which was typical for smartphones during that era.

Hardware and Performance

Powering the HTC S310 was the TI OMAP 850 chipset, with a 200 MHz ARM926EJ-S CPU under the hood. While these specifications were modest, they were adequate for running Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone OS, which the phone utilized. The device offered 64MB of RAM and 64MB of ROM, with expandability via a miniSD slot, providing users flexibility in managing their storage needs.

Camera

In the realm of photography, the HTC S310 was equipped with a single 1.3 MP rear camera. This was functional for capturing basic images and video, although it was not intended for high-quality photography. The lack of an additional selfie camera was noteworthy, aligning with the device's emphasis on simplicity over advanced multimedia capabilities.

Sound and Multimedia

The HTC S310 included a built-in loudspeaker and supported vibration alerts, downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones, and an alert composer. While it did not offer a 3.5mm audio jack, it facilitated basic multimedia functionalities that were consistent with user expectations during the mid-2000s.

Connectivity and Network

The device supported GSM technology across 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz bands, providing solid connectivity options worldwide. It utilized GPRS and EDGE Class 10 for data transfer. While Wi-Fi connectivity was not available, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP supported wireless data transfer to compatible devices. The absence of positioning and FM radio signified a focus on core communication and productivity features.

Battery Life

The HTC S310 was powered by a removable Li-Ion 1150 mAh battery, enabling a standby time of up to 220 hours and talk time of up to 3 hours and 30 minutes. This battery performance was adequate for regular daily use, aligning well with the needs of its target demographic.

Operating System

Running on Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone edition, the HTC S310 provided users with a practical suite of business and productivity applications. This operating system was renowned for its integration with Microsoft Office applications, supporting productivity on the go. The browser supported WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML (PocketIE), which was effective for basic web browsing tasks.

Market Appeal and Legacy

Upon release, the HTC S310 was priced at around 130 EUR, making it an affordable option for users seeking a reliable smartphone experience without unnecessary complexity. Its discontinuation reflects the rapid evolution of smartphone technology, as larger displays, more powerful processors, and enhanced multimedia capabilities became the industry standards.

Conclusion

In summary, the HTC S310 holds historical significance as a representative of mid-2000s smartphone technology. Its simplicity, combined with essential features, catered to a specific market segment and laid the groundwork for successive innovations in mobile technology. The HTC S310 serves as a testament to the technological advancements achieved over the years in the smartphone industry.