The HTC Butterfly S is the latest in HTC’s line of smartphones and improves upon its predecessor, the Butterfly and offers better specs than the HTC One. Key features include a quad-core 1.9GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of built in storage, expandable micro-SD slot and a non-removable 3,200 mAh battery. In performance tests, CNET reviewers found that the Butterfly S slightly outperformed the Samsung Galaxy 4 despite both using the same processors. The Butterfly S’ battery life is also comparable to the Galaxy 4, lasting around two days with normal usage.
Like the Butterfly, the design of the Butterfly S maintains the glossy plastic body which GSMArena describes as “very soft and actually good to touch.” Unfortunately, Alvin Wong of Unleash The Phones observes that the glossy plastic attracts fingerprints and will accumulate small scratches and scuffs over time. In addition, the phone itself is slighter thicker than most smartphones today, measuring in at 10.6mm and weighing around 160 grams (around 5.6 oz) which, according to Phone Arena, makes the phone slightly unwieldy.
The main draw of the phone is its 5” LCD3 display. The vast majority of reviewers found the screen to be extremely sharp and detailed due to its 1080 x 1920 resolution. Mobarena notes that the display offers excellent contrast and saturated colors as well as excellent viewing angles which “make[s] everything appear as if painted on the screen…” The only issue that reviewers had with the display was sunlight legibility. Even at the brightest setting, reviewers at Hardware Zone had issues viewing content under direct sunlight.
On of the few drawbacks is its camera. While it uses the same Ultrapixel 4MP camera as the HTC One, it unfortunately does not have utilize the optical image stabilization. Instead the Butterfly S uses a software image stabilization, which many reviewers have found unacceptable for a phone of its price range. In addition, CNET notes that the camera suffers from some smearing of pixels in low-light situations and some loss of detail in good light situations.
Most reviewers have had no problems recommending this phone for people more interested in a utilitarian device. Consumers interested more in design and aesthetics, however are urged to look elsewhere. CNET notes that in order for the phone to compete among the market “its design needs to stand out more” while Hardware Zone states that “mainstream consumers ...may not be looking purely at performance; Aesthetics, build quality and usability are also factors...If the latter set of pointers are more important for you, the HTC One might a slightly better choice.”
The Good: Excellent display with superb viewing angles, incredibly fast processor, excellent battery life.
The Bad: Unwieldy phone design, plastic body prone to smudges and scratches, display.
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Victor H., PhoneArenaThe Butterfly S has taken some great features from the HTC One and mixed them up with an amazing long-lasting battery. We love its display, we love its front stereo speakers, we love its longevity. Then again, it’s not a perfect device. The large battery has taken its toll and the phone i...
- Alvin Wong, UnleashThePhonesUltimately, the Butterfly S is a very competent high-end Android smartphone which resolves some of the One’s downsides such as battery capacity and storage expandability even if it does not really bring anything new in either the hardware or software departments. Personally, I would still choo...
- GSMArena team, GSMArenaWith HTC it seems like the problem is never with making quality devices, but with when (and how, and where) to release them. The Butterfly S is a puzzling flagship offering hard on the heels of the previous one, and not unlike some other HTC handsets, hard to find in many markets. But it's impossibl...
- Aloysius Low, CnetIf a faster processor and bigger battery trump a sexy metal design, then choose the HTC Butterfly S, otherwise skip it for the HTC One.There's no doubt that the HTC Butterfly S is a great phone. While the design isn't new or interesting, it does sport better hardware specs compared with the flagship...
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Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the HTC Butterfly S user manual here.
HTC backs up the Butterfly S with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Butterfly S has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact HTC support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find HTC's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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