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HTC's 8S is a beautiful handset, and is the best looking of all Windows Phone 8 devices right now. As much as the 8X was a new design approach for the company's line of Windows Phones, HTC has replicated a similar look here with the 8S. HTC’s Windows Phones used to be uninspired versions of its Android designs, but the new approach focuses on a colorful look and feel. The 8S is similar to the 8X with its tapered back, vibrant colors, and button / camera arrangement, but yet it feels distinctly different. At about four ounces (113 grams) it's super lightweight, but not in a way that feels plasticky or cheap. At 10.3mm thick it’s imperceptibly chunkier than the 8X, but the weight makes it feel smaller anyway. The polycarbonate body provides a soft touch without the typical creaking you'd experience with a fully plastic device.

The front of the device features the usual Windows Phone capacitive hardware buttons, but HTC has decided to color the 8S in a way that it looks like the bottom part of the device has been dipped into a paint pot. It's an interesting effect that provides two tones of color and it certainly makes the handset stand out, especially since HTC offers the 8S in Domino, Fiesta Red, Atlantic Blue, and High-Rise Gray color arrangements. The speaker grill at the front of the device also includes the dipped color to match perfectly.

Extremely lightweight with a 4-inch display that's suited for one handed use

Button arrangements are fairly standard here. There's a power button up top alongside the 3.5mm headphone jack, with volume and camera buttons on the right-hand side. The left-hand side is bare, making it easy for right-handed users to thumb most of the buttons required. Having used HTC's 8X, I'm happy to report that the power button on the 8S feels a lot better: there's noticeable feedback when it's pressed down despite it being virtually flush with the handset's edge. At the rear of the device there's a 5-megapixel camera and LED flash and a speaker at the bottom.

HTC has opted to support the Micro USB standard, adding the port at the bottom of the 8S. Entry points to the Micro SIM and microSD slots are also available at the bottom, underneath the colored cover. At first glance you'd assume the cover just snaps off, but it's not as simple as that. I spent five minutes trying to work out how to remove the bottom cover before realizing you had to pry it off using a fingernail from the front. It's a little tricky at first, but it's not something you'll need to do regularly unless you swap your microSD card around. Unfortunately, even though you can remove the cover there’s no removable battery here.

Compared to the Lumia 820, the 8S feels extremely lightweight. There’s not a huge difference in thickness, but the 4-inch display makes it easier to handle on a daily basis. I prefer the look and feel over the Lumia 820, but it’s harder to compare to the 8X. HTC’s 8X includes a bigger display and higher resolution and two cameras that are vastly superior. It’s hard to recommend the 8S over the 8X, unless you’re looking for a light phone with a great design.