HTC One SV review

Helping Optus grow its 4G network

HTC One SV
Bringing Optus 4G to the masses

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Stuffed inside the One SV is a removable 1800mAh battery. That's the same capacity as found in both the One X and One XL, and as anyone who read our reviews of those handsets will realise, this means that the One SV has some battery life issues.

Of course, this is nothing new for any LTE-enabled phone. Manufacturers are yet to perfect the combination of LTE handset battery life, and while we wait, we're left needing a Micro-USB charging cable strapped to our hip like a lasso on a cowboy.

HTC One SV review

On a slow day, we managed to stretch almost 18 hours from the battery, doing nothing more than the occasional email check and Facebook update.

But on a typical day's usage, the battery was gone by about 5pm. That consisted of regular email, some web browsing, social media, camera usage and a little bit of Fruit Ninja.

What's more, that was outside the LTE network. Connect the phone to 4G, and we were struggling for juice by 3pm.

It's quite the conundrum, really. 4G is super fast and super convenient for browsing, but it's the bane of battery life. You can toggle LTE on and off, but that's far from the most convenient way to do things.

Connectivity

Outside of LTE, the One SV has all the standard connections you would expect from a mid-range handset. Wireless-N Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC are all inside, alongside GPS and GLONASS satellite connectivity and a digital compass.

HTC One SV review

A 3.5mm headphone jack and MicroUSB are the only obvious connections on the outside of the device, with a MicroSD card slot on the inside above the battery.

The inclusion of features like Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC hold the phone in good stead for the next two years. Although there are few services currently available to take advantage of them right now, both NFC and Bluetooth 4.0 are expected to take off in a big way over the next few years.

Optus itself has entered an arrangement with Visa to begin offering contactless payments using NFC from this year, so having the feature on board is a welcome addition, even if it won't be used much for a few months.

Having spent the past decade editing some of Australia's leading technology publications, Nick's passion for the latest gadgetry is matched only by his love of watching Australia beat England in the rugby.
Latest in HTC Phones
HTC Desire 22 Pro
HTC is back with an intriguing phone wrapped in NFT and metaverse buzzwords
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
A foldable HTC phone might be in the works, based on a new patent
HTC U20 5G
HTC U20 5G is official, and it's the company's first 5G phone
HTC is still making phones, as it launches the triple camera-toting Wildfire R70
HTC U12 Plus
HTC is launching its first 5G phone sometime this year
HTC One M8
Why the HTC One M8 is the best phone of the decade – and beats these four other phones
Latest in Reviews
Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank leaning on plinth on desk with pink background
I wouldn't take the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank on extreme adventures, but it's great for my basic traveling needs
VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank leaning on plinth on desk with pink background
The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is one of the most stylish batteries I’ve seen, but it’s too slow for the price
TinEye website
I like this reverse image search service the most
Epos Expand Vision 5 Bundle main image
I tested the Epos Expand Vision 5 Bundle - read why this video conferencing solution is recommended
Biamp MRB-M-X400-T main image
I tested the Biamp MRB-M-X400-T - read what this meeting room solution is actually like
Allied Telesis AT-AR4050S-5G main image
I tried out the Allied Telesis AT-AR4050S-5G - read how this gateway appliance holds up against the competition