HTC One V review

With 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity options the One V provides plenty of browsing options for both users on the move and those holed up at home or in the work place.

Whilst not a severe issue 3G load times did fall slightly short of some of the handset's competitors whilst the Wi-Fi options kept the device on a level playing field with the rest of the market.

Thanks to the now common array of pinch-to-zoom and single swipe scrolling options, the handset's browser is simple to navigate with zoomed content retaining its crisp edges and pleasant, easy on the eye reading options.

With the standard search tool and simple bookmarking features, the HTC One V's web browser has a few new tricks up its metaphorical sleeves compared to its past Android 2.3 Gingerbread-rocking rivals.

In-page searching lands alongside forward navigation, tabbed browsing and the option to forgo mobile sites and skip direct to the desktop view.

A feature not included on many handsets to date, but one that offers the opportunity of quick, instant access to desired pages, content and featured terms, the in-page search features found on the HTC One V are simple and effective to use, with the quick, responsive access helping to enhance the user experience and further bolster the friendliness of the device's web browser.

An omission on a number of Android handsets to date, the HTC One V, thanks to its ICS innards and Sense UI, enables you to not only scroll back through previously viewed web pages but also then jump forward again through pages at will, thanks to a newly included dedicated "Forward" button, available through an easily accessed drop-down menu.

While this might seem an inclusion of relatively little importance, its availability makes a marked improvement to the flow of the browsing experience.

While Google's Android operating system has long lauded its iOS trumping Flash capabilities over bitter rival Apple, the HTC One V's lack of Flash direct from the box is a slight irritant.

As with many of the handset's online and offline features, bookmarking web pages is a simple, hassle free task with a tabbed drop down menu leaving users just two taps away from quick access to their favorite and most visited online locations.

Despite many of the web's big players having already moved to the HTML5 format, and with a Flash download available for many Android users, having it ready to use direct from the wrapper would provide HTC One V users with a more comprehensive and immersive web experience off the bat, filled with interactive and multimedia content, and with little unwanted delay or hassle.