HTC Salsa Complete Guide to Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview of HTC Salsa

The HTC Salsa, released in June 2011 and first announced in February of the same year, is a smartphone that holds a special place in the history of mobile technology thanks to its integration with social media. It was especially notable for featuring a dedicated Facebook button which brought social networking to a single touch, appealing to social media enthusiasts. With its compact design and functional features, the Salsa aimed to cater to users seeking a budget-friendly smartphone experience in its time.

Design and Build

Weighing in at 120 grams and measuring 109.1 x 58.9 x 12.3 mm, the HTC Salsa is both lightweight and compact, making it convenient for one-handed use and easy portability. It features a mini-SIM slot and comes in three colors: Black, Silver, and Lilac. The smartphone’s TFT display is encased with Corning Gorilla Glass, offering robust protection against scratches and minor dings, which was a highly appreciated attribute for smartphones in the early 2010s.

Display

The HTC Salsa is fitted with a 3.4-inch TFT screen, providing a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels with a 3:2 aspect ratio. This results in a pixel density of approximately 170 ppi. Although not the highest-resolution screen at the time, it was suitable for its class, balancing display clarity with energy consumption. The screen's contrast ratio of 593:1 was modest, accommodating everyday use and viewing necessary information without straining the eyes.

Performance

Under the hood, the HTC Salsa operates on the Qualcomm MSM7227 Snapdragon S1 chipset, powered by an 800 MHz ARM 11 CPU and an Adreno 200 GPU. This configuration, combined with 512MB of RAM, facilitated smooth performance for handling basic smartphone operations and applications prevalent during its release period. The inclusion of Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) with HTC’s Sense UI provided a friendly and intuitive user interface, aligning well with its targeted market demographic.

Memory and Storage

The device comprises 512MB of internal storage, expandable through a dedicated microSDHC slot. This flexibility allowed users to leverage external memory cards to increase storage capacity, fitting for users who wanted to store music, photos, and other multimedia content without much hassle.

Camera Capabilities

Equipped with a 5 MP rear camera with autofocus and an LED flash, the HTC Salsa was designed to capture reasonable quality photos and videos at 480p@24fps. Despite not being at par with the clearance of modern-day smartphone cameras, it sufficed for casual use and documenting day-to-day life moments. The device also features a VGA front-facing camera, designed for video calls over 3G networks or via third-party applications.

Battery Life

The HTC Salsa houses a removable Li-Ion 1520 mAh battery, a clear fit for users needing a full day's charge under normal usage scenarios. It achieves a stand-by time of up to 445 hours on 2G and up to 530 hours on 3G, alongside a talk time of up to 9 hours on 2G and up to 7 hours and 50 minutes on 3G. This longevity was commendable for its time, offering reliable communication and entertainment duration through a day’s trials.

Connectivity and Communication Features

An array of connectivity options are available, including GSM and HSPA technology, with support for bands such as GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and HSDPA 900/2100. Internet browsing was possible through HTML support, and users could connect via Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with hotspot capabilities. Additionally, Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP, GPS with A-GPS, and a microUSB 2.0 port expanded the options for data transfer and device interconnectivity.

Audio and Multimedia

The HTC Salsa features a loudspeaker along with a 3.5mm audio jack, a standard arrangement for playing music, watching videos, or connecting call equipment. The smartphone supports stereo FM radio with RDS, allowing users to enjoy live radio broadcasts. Audio quality is characterized by a noise level of -86.0dB and crosstalk at -85.5dB, ensuring decent aural experiences for users within its operational range.

Additional Features

Incorporating accelerometer, proximity, and compass sensors, the HTC Salsa was capable of offering immersive app interactions, aligning as well with fitness-tracking functionalities introduced in later applications. Its unique physical attribute was the dedicated Facebook button, a testament to the evolving relationship between social media and smartphones, enabling users to instantly share content online.

Conclusion

Priced at roughly 130 EUR during its release, the HTC Salsa aimed to fulfill the needs of social media enthusiasts and casual smartphone users alike. Through a mix of practical features, adequate performance metrics, and seamless social media integration, it remained a relevant choice for navigating the beginnings of the smartphone revolution.