HTC One Series Camera: Can It Replace Your Point-and-Shoot?

Mobile World Congress rolled through Barcelona last month, and we were lucky enough to be invited along by HTC to try out its new ‘One’ series of smartphones.

There are three models in the range — the entry-level V, the mid-range S, and the flagship X. We got our hands on the One S for the day, with one question in mind:

Can the camera replace a point-and-shoot?

The HTC One S Camera Tech

On paper, the One S shares a lot with the flagship One X. You get an 8-megapixel sensor paired with an f/2.0 lens — which is worth noting, as most camera phones sit closer to f/2.4. That means up to 40% more light captured by the lens, and in theory, better images.

HTC has also introduced its “ImageSense” tech (yes, they do like the word “Sense”), which includes Instagram-like filters, fast autofocus (around 0.2 seconds), and a continuous shooting mode.

And that’s where things start to get interesting.

Using the HTC One S Camera

Startup time is quick — around 0.7 seconds — which is impressive. The only slight frustration comes when launching the camera from locked. You need to unlock the phone and drag the camera icon into place, which adds a bit of delay. Not ideal when you’re trying to capture something quickly.

Once you’re in, though, it’s all very straightforward. Shutter button, zoom, settings — exactly what you’d expect — and, of course, access to those filters.

The standout feature is continuous shooting. Hold down the shutter, and it will keep firing off shots until you let go (or run out of space on your memory card). It’s brilliant for capturing movement, and will work so well with snowboarding, skateboarding, or other dynamic sports. No more hoping to luck into getting the perfect moment.

Video is solid too. HTC claims Full HD, although we didn’t get full confirmation on 1080p, so we’ll play it safe and say strong 720p performance. A nice touch is the ability to take still photos while recording video, without stopping.

Battery Reality

There is, however, a catch.

Battery life takes a hit when using the camera heavily. During our testing, a few hundred shots over around four hours drained the battery completely, and that was without calls, texts or data use.

That’s fine for light use, but if you’re planning to rely on it all day, you’ll need to plan ahead.

The HTC One S Camera Verdict

We came away impressed. The HTC One S camera is genuinely good, better than most phones out there, and in some cases, better than the iPhone.

But as a full replacement for a point-and-shoot, it’s not quite there yet. Battery life is the main issue, and the slightly clunky startup process doesn’t help when speed matters.

That said, for everyday use? It’s more than capable.

Would it replace a compact camera for day-to-day shooting or small events?

Yeah… it probably would.