The HTC Desire S, the latest handset from the Taiwanese manufacturer, is more of a subtle upgrade than a complete revamp.

This is understandable as the original Desire was a very high quality device and received a solid four star rating from V3.co.uk.

The main difference between the Desire S and its predecessor is the build quality. The manufacturer has chosen to give the latest version a unibody aluminium frame that was used successfully on the HTC Legend handset. The trackball found on the original has also been deemed to be surplus to requirements.

In reality, these redesigns give the Desire S a much better look and feel than the original and even the Desire HD, which has a particularly fragile rear. Handily, HTC has also managed to shave 5g off the new device, so it weighs a comfortable 130g.

The specifications haven't really been increased too much, with the main addition being the 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, which allows for video calling. This is likely to be an attractive feature for business users who use Skype or any conference calling applications.

The Desire S retains a 3.7in display, with a 480 x 800 resolution which is crisp. The 1GHz processor is the same speed as the original, but it is the latest Snapdragon chip so it will be more efficient and use less power, or so HTC says.

Still, even a miniscule improvement will be something, considering that the original had such a poor battery life.

Similarly, the 5-megapixel camera is the same one found in the Desire, but it does feature a larger image sensor to give it better performance in low-light, HTC claimed.

The handset ships with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which again will help with battery performance.

Some tweaks have also been made to the HTC Sense user overlay. Applications, for example, are now stored in a more methodical way and users can click on tabs to access the most frequently used or those that have been downloaded.

Each of the seven home screens can be rearranged at anytime, and users can manage their internet connection from the drop-down menu.

The device also gives users the benefit of logging into the HTCSense.com portal. This has so far been limited to just the HTC Desire HD, Desire Z and Windows Phone 7 models.

Desire S users can divert calls and text, locate their device and remotely lock or wipe the handset should it be lost or stolen.

Overall, the Desire S is shaping up to be better than its predecessor, but whether users are going to want to splash out on an upgrade so soon remains to be seen.

Author: Khidr Suleman

16 Feb 2011