HTC S740 A Comprehensive Look at Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview of HTC S740

The HTC S740 is a mobile phone that was announced in August 2008 and released in November of the same year. Designed to serve the needs of business professionals, it combined the functionality of a smartphone with a physical QWERTY keyboard for easy typing. Although it has been discontinued, the S740 remains a noteworthy part of HTC’s lineup for its time due to its unique features and design.

Design and Build

The HTC S740 features a compact design with dimensions of 116.3 x 43.4 x 16.3 mm and a weight of 140 grams, making it relatively lightweight and easy to hold. It sports a traditional candybar form factor with a QWERTY keyboard that slides out from the side. This design was particularly appealing for users who favored physical keyboards for typing over on-screen keyboards. The phone supports Mini-SIM and is available in a sleek black color.

Display

The device includes a 2.4-inch TFT display capable of displaying 65K colors. With a screen resolution of 240 x 320 pixels and a 4:3 aspect ratio, the screen provides a pixel density of approximately 167 ppi. While this display specification might seem modest by today's standards, it was quite adequate for basic smartphone operations at the time of release.

Performance

Under the hood, the HTC S740 is powered by a Qualcomm MSM7225 Snapdragon S1 chipset, coupled with a 528 MHz ARM 11 CPU. The device does not feature a dedicated GPU, which somewhat limits its graphic performance. However, for tasks such as email, web browsing, and basic apps, the device delivers satisfactory performance. It comes with 256MB of RAM and 256MB of internal storage, with an option to expand using a microSD card, providing ample space for additional apps and data storage.

Operating System

The phone runs on Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard, which was a popular choice for business phones at the time. This operating system provided a range of productivity features conducive to business use, including Microsoft Office compatibility, email management, and calendar synchronization.

Camera

For photography, the HTC S740 is equipped with a single 3.2 MP rear camera. It allows users to capture basic photography and record videos, albeit without the advanced features seen in modern smartphones. The phone, lacking a front-facing camera, focuses more on functionality rather than multimedia capabilities.

Connectivity

Connectivity features on the HTC S740 include GSM and HSPA network technology, allowing for decent mobile internet speeds with HSPA 7.2/0.384 Mbps capability. The phone also supports Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, GPS, and A-GPS, thus catering to a range of connectivity needs from wireless internet access to location-based services. It is equipped with a miniUSB 2.0 port for data transfer and charging.

Battery Life

The device includes a removable Li-Po 1050 mAh battery, which provides up to 400 hours of standby time and up to 6 hours and 20 minutes of talk time. This battery life allows for prolonged everyday use and is suitable for a device with relatively modest power consumption needs.

Audio and Multimedia

Audio capabilities of the HTC S740 include a loudspeaker, and it supports vibration, polyphonic, and MP3 ringtones. However, it lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, which means users would need to rely on wireless or USB-based earphones. The phone does not include FM radio connectivity, a feature that some of its competitors at the time did offer.

Final Thoughts

The HTC S740 stands out for its integration of a physical keyboard and smartphone capabilities in a compact design, appealing to business users who prioritize typing efficiency and functionality. While it may not boast the multimedia or high-performance specifications of modern smartphones, it remains a capable device for basic communication and productivity tasks.