HTC Explorer: Budget Android
Smartphones are replacing higher end and mid level feature phones and a large segment of smartphone market is expansion is in the lower price brackets. Today a Android or Symbian smartphone can cost you as low as 5K. Recognizing this, HTC has released a new low end Android powered handset, the HTC Explorer.
With a 3.2-inch 320 x 480 resolution screen, touchscreen interface, a 600MHz processor and Adreno 200 graphics, it is essentially a HTC Wildfire S with a few downgrades to lower the price. Instead of the 5 MP autofocus camera with a led flash on the Wildfire S, you have a 3.15 MP fixed focus unit with no flash. Instead of the 400 MB of user available storage, you get a scant 90 MB.
The phone comes with Android 2.3.5 with the new 3.5 Sense Interface designed for lower power handsets.
The phone is be available in black or dark blue, but clearly targeting younger users, you can swap in purple, orange or white cover.
Available at Php10,300 it is 1.5K cheaper than the Wildfire S. But neither of these phones is a great deal. If you are looking for a small pocket friendly mini smartphone, one of Sony Ericsson's 1GHz Xperia Mini phones is a much better choice. Another option would be Smart Communications Netphone with its 3.5-inc 480 x 800 resolution screen.