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Some people might not fancy the sound of a 1GHz dual-core chip or 5-megapixel camera, and these people should indeed look elsewhere. But, if you want a phone that looks good, is reasonably priced and just kinda gets the job done, then we're hard-pressed not to recommend the 8S.

The HTC 8S is a nice little handset. It's dependable without being groundbreaking, so while it might not get your pulse racing, it'll keep you in touch.

There’s certainly room in the market for a well-performing, affordable, compact Windows Phone 8 handset, but the HTC 8S lacks the all-round polish to fill that niche.

If you're thinking of making the move to Windows Phone 8, then the 8S is certainly an affordable and stylish route into Microsoft's OS. It feels very smooth to use and looks quite different to most other smart phones on the market.

HTC has made a mucho sympatico handset with the 8S, shaping it in a two-tone ergonomic bod, with very easy one-handed operation. It has skimped a bit on the camera quality, and not even included one for video chat, but the rest of the readings are solid.

With excellent build quality and a fresh youthful styling, the HTC 8S will easily get most people's attention. The Windows Phone 8 UI is also novel enough and, while it might lack the versatility of Android, it offers an arguably better looking alternative to those keen to try something new.

Looking outside of Windows Phone 8 it doesn't seem such great value for money, but if you're set on Windows Phone 8 and don't want to drop a huge amount on a handset then for the time being this a good buy.

If you want to try Windows 8, the HTC 8S is a good mid-range option for budget-conscious consumers. It's a watered-down version of its sister phone, the HTC Windows Phone 8X, but it boasts some solid features.