INTRODUCTION:

The HTC S740 is a standard smart-phone, come set with a standard numeric keypad and full QWERTY keyboard. This way your normal-looking phones transforms into a messaging device. The specifications has improved from the S730 it has become much faster with more RAM and a better camera.

WHATS IN THE BOX:

• HTC S740.
• Pouch.
• Headphones.
• Charger.
• Data cables.

DESIGN:

The HTC S740 has a flat front with a diamond-like rear. Unfortunately, its shinny and smooth surface are prone to be smeared with fingerprints. The S740 is much longer than your Touch HD, once the phone is close it looks pretty much ordinary, yet its dimensions can be rather interesting. This phone is obviously not the smallest HTC QWERTY smart-phone; however it’s not that thick with a width of 16.3mm, making the phone simple to fit in any pocket. It weighs 4.94 oz that is 140 grams.

S740 has a display of 2.4-inches with QVGA resolution, the colors are brilliant and saturated in addition the colors stay the same even in the sunlight. At the bottom you will find your round D-pad, this blinks in a white color when you have new messages or a missed call. The end and send key are positioned around it, they are tiny but protruding just enough making it easy pressing them. Your functional keys, back and home are there as well.

As mentioned this phone is relatively long, but its screen is not large. This way the numeric keypad makes the most of it resulting in big, handy keys. With all this said its main feature is not its numeric keypad but the QWERTY keyboard. When you slide the phone open, its screen turns into landscape view. On you left is a volume rocker, on your right you find its camera shutter at the top you find a power button. The last button was almost unnoticed through touch; however we did not have any problems pressing it.

Your microSD and SIM are located behind your back panel same to most phones, but underneath your numeric keypad. To get to it you would have to open its slider and after that the tiny cover at the bottom part. While doing this your phone will automatically turn off.

SOFTWARE:

The S740 naturally runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard. The only customization it has is the home screen.  By default, it has the same home screen as HTC Home; you are able to change to WM standard if that’s what you wish. HTC Home features in a vertical file of icons, when you open the slider the screen will change to landscape view from portrait. The difference from the S730 is that you have the menu; this allows you quick access to e-mail, Windows Live Messenger and messages.

This is a 3G phone has Wi-Fi, you will enjoy high-speed internet. Regrettably, your default browser is Internet Explorer, you will experience difficulties while loading complex pages such as phone-Arena.com, and we recommend you choose an alternative like Opera Mobile.

Although the HTC S740 is designed especially for texting, but its multimedia capabilities are also great, its video recordings play excellent. Videos clips play in high quality at a resolution of 640×272 pixels, the music player has an average sound through the headphones and when the volume is turned up the sound becomes very sharp. Its loudspeaker is not very good.

CAMERA:

It comes with a 3.2-megapixel camera this has improved from its previous models. Also has all the basic functions such as brightness and whit balance, Outdoor pictures are not very satisfying. Unfortunately the camera doesn’t come with a flash, making the indoor picture not that good quality. The HTC S740 also is able to do video recording at a resolution of 352x288pixels.

The new HTC S740 also features a GPS system this will assist you when you have lost your way. Unfortunately, you don’t have a preinstalled application for running it.

PERFORMANCE:

It was a pleasure using the HTC S740 the performance was good without any lag while navigating through all the menus or while running different applications. Additionally when the slider is opened its display changes the orientation pretty fast. This improvement is greatly welcomed since it took 3-4 seconds by previous models. The sound was not very impressive with loads of noises, the loudspeaker was unclear and crackling, but the sound was loud from both sides.

CONCLUSION;

In all the HTC S740 is an excellent smart-phone which boasts a number of features and has a handy QWERTY keyboard as a bonus. But on the downside it is a tad bulky, with a weight of 4.94 oz or 140 grams which is not easily ignored. If you looking for a smart phone that’s not touch screen then you defiantly will not be disappointed with the HTC S740.

PROS:

• Has a great display.
• Modern and interesting design.
• A very handy QWERTY keyboard.

CONS:

• Pictures are disappointing lacks in flash.
• Calls are not clear with all the noises and crackling during a call.
• The phone is noticeably bulky and is also heavy.
• The loudspeaker disappointedly is useless.