Robust build, decent HD screen
Processor could be faster, so-so camera
Here comes another big one from HTC. The Desire 816 has a hefty screen but can its resolutely midrange credentials do it justice?
There's no sign of the metal body we saw on the HTC One (M8) but that's not necessarily a bad thing -- the glossy polycarbonate shell still feels sturdy enough to handle the strains of the day and is warm to the touch. It's also nice to see that, like many recent Nokias, it's available in a range of bright colours, including red, dark blue and green, as well as black and white.
You can't remove the back to get to the battery, and the SIM and microSD card slots are hidden behind a not very sturdy plastic cover on the side. It's nice and slim though, at a sliver under 8mm. Power/sleep and volume buttons are high up on the left side and are easier to reach if you're a southpaw.
Screen & chassis The 5.5in screen has a less than full HD resolution of 1280x720 pixels (267ppi) but it looks pretty good overall, with bright, realistic colours and wide viewing angles. It doesn't have the 'pop' of the best screens, but it's better than just all right, and it's responsive to use too.
As usual, it's running HTC's Sense UI over the Android operating system. But while it's the latest 6.0 of Sense (which we like very much), it's the 4.4.2 KitKat version of Android, rather than the latest 5.0 Lollipop. That's not a deal-breaker for the most part, but it always feels better to know you've got the latest updates with a new phone.
Software & processor The quad-core processor is clocked at 1.6GHz and backed by 1.5GB of RAM. That's a way short of powerhouses like the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge or even the HTC Desire Eye but in practise it put in a fair performance, nipping between apps without much pause. Our AnTuTu benchmark test gave it 21,953 which again is way behind the 40,000+ of today's most powerful devices, but so long as you don't overload it, you won't feel let down.
Photography
Despite numerous improvements from HTC on the camera front, the snapper is still a bit of a letdown. With 13 megapixels (abandoning the UltraPixel strategy of some recent HTCs), plus flash, autofocus and a range of extras including HDR and macro mode, it's got plenty going for it. While picture quality is okay, it doesn't excel considering the spec -- you'll need to be careful with your light and photos just don't seem as sharp or detailed as they should.
Nice to see a 5 megapixel camera on the front though, for better looking selfies.
There's 8GB of memory on board for storing your photos and videos and you can add another 128GB via microSD card.
Battery life held up fairly well, comfortably delivering a day's worth of regular use, and if you need more there are Power Saver and Extreme Power Saving modes on board to stretch it out.
Conclusion It's a decent phone, but there's not a lot to distinguish the Desire 816. It's got a pretty good screen, but it's let down by the leisurely pace of its processor and a so-so camera.
If you're after a phablet on a budget, it's worth considering, but you'd probably be better opting for the likes of the OnePlus One or even Samsung's Galaxy S4, once a high-ender, but now selling for considerably less.
Software: Google Android 4.4.2 KitKat
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
