HTC Desire V review: A simple wish

Display

The HTC Desire V packs a 4" LCD display of WVGA resolution (480x800), which is more, in terms of both size and resolution, than you get with the Desire C. The image quality is average at best, but quite decent for the class - the viewing angles are OK, but sunlight legibility could've been better. The native contrast of the screen is actually quite good, but the glass is quite reflective, which damages the image quality in anything but complete darkness..

The 4.0 inch LCD display of the Desire V

We put the HTC Desire V through our usual display tests and here's how it scored. You can find more about the testing procedures here.

Display test	50% brightness			100% brightness
	Black, cd/m2	White, cd/m2	Contrast ratio	Black, cd/m2	White, cd/m2	Contrast ratio
HTC Desire V	0.33	340	1027	0.48	506	1054
Sony Xperia tipo	-	-	-	0.75	561	751
HTC Desire C	0.23	186	814	0.5	360	723
HTC One X	0.15	200	1375	0.39	550	1410
Sony Xperia U	0.35	287	831	0.55	515	930
Samsung S7500 Galaxy Ace Plus	0.27	239	873	0.6	528	888
Samsung Galaxy Pocket	0.31	238	774	0.62	468	753
Samsung Galaxy Y	0.40	247	624	0.72	471	625

Contrast ratio

• Nokia 808 PureView
  4.698
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
  3.419
• Samsung Omnia W
  3.301
• Samsung Galaxy S
  3.155
• Nokia N9
  3.069
• Samsung Galaxy Note
  2.970
• HTC One S
  2.901
• Samsung Galaxy S II
  2.832
• Huawei Ascend P1
  2.655
• Nokia Lumia 900
  2.562
• Apple iPhone 4S
  2.269
• HTC One X
  2.158
• Nokia N8
  2.144
• Apple iPhone 4
  2.016
• Sony Ericsson Xperia ray
  1.955
• Sony Xperia U
  1.758
• LG Optimus 4X HD
  1.691
• HTC One V
  1.685
• LG Optimus Vu
  1.680
• HTC Desire V
  1.646
• LG Optimus 3D
  1.542
• Nokia Asha 302
  1.537
• Nokia Lumia 610
  1.432
• Gigabyte GSmart G1355
  1.361
• HTC Desire C
  1.300
• LG Optimus L7
  1.269
• Meizu MX
  1.221
• Samsung Galaxy Pocket
  1.180
• Sony Xperia tipo
  1.166
• Samsung Galaxy mini 2
  1.114

We snapped a shot of the display under a microscope and here's what the RGB matrix of the HTC Desire V looks like.

The HTC Desire V display pixels

Handling

The Desire V is built to a high standard and, despite the all plastic body, it doesn't feel cheap or flimsy. There's no premium finish but the excellent grip and comfortable handling make up for that.

The only thing that feels out of place is the huge camera plate at the back. If you can live with that, you'll find the Desire V a pleasure to handle.

The HTC Desire V held in hand

That about wraps it up on the outside, Ice Cream Sandwich and Sense UI are coming up right after the break.