Entry-level dual SIM HTC Desire 210 weighs in at under S$160

HTC has unveiled the entry-level HTC Desire 210, available in Singapore from Wednesday, September 3, 2014 with selected retailers in Singapore. The phone, available in Stealth Black and Polar White, accommodates two SIM cards, making it easy to switch between multiple mobile accounts and manage both work and personal profiles from one device.

Source: HTC.

“This latest HTC Desire device brings amazing technology and design to the entry-level market,” says Jack Yang, President of HTC South Asia. “It combines fast dual-core processor speeds and premium features at a very affordable price, offering users with the best experience at this category.”

This new addition to the HTC Desire family has a 1 GHz dual-core processor and makes available some of the HTC One series’ most popular features, including HTC BlinkFeed and Video Highlights. The HTC BlinkFeed home screen, first introduced with the HTC One, allows users to read news and social updates directly on their home screens. Offline Reading mode allows up to 120 articles to be downloaded on Wi-Fi and then displayed offline in a personal feed.

With the Video Highlights feature, the S$158** HTC Desire 210 enables pictures and video clips to be automatically turned into a show reel complete with music and special effects*.

*HTC asks owners not to reproduce, distribute or otherwise use copyrighted materials in connection with the Video Highlights feature unless they have secured the copyright owner’s permission first.

**Recommended retail price for the 4GB model. 

LG launches G3 Beat mid-tier G3 model in Korea

Source: LG.

LG Electronics (LG) has officially launched the LG G3 Beat, a mid-tier variant of LG’s G3 smartphone, in Korea on July 18. The LG G3 Beat delivers a similar premium user experience with the Floating Arc design and fast Laser Auto Focus technology featured in the G3, but in a more compact package dominated by a 5" thin-bezel display. 

"Smartphone manufacturers cannot ignore this growing segment of consumers who want the best balance of looks, features, performance and, of course, price,” said Dr Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. 

“The LG G3 Beat represents our commitment to the mid-tier smartphone market that demands mature technology, proven branding, great innovation and attractive price, all in a single device.”

The LG G3 Beat features the Floating Arc Design first unveiled on the LG G3, boasting smooth curved sides and gradually tapered edges. It also comes with a HD IPS display with a screen-to-body ratio of 74.1%, which LG says is the highest in the mid-tier smartphone segment, and Smart Keyboard, which learns how users type to reduce errors by up to 75%. The 2,540mAh battery supports advanced camera features such as: 

￭ Laser Auto Focus, which measures the distance between the subject and the camera using a laser beam.

￭ Touch & Shoot lets users touch anywhere on the display to focus and shoot.

￭ Gesture Shot allows users to clench a hand in front of the screen to automatically begin a three-second countdown before the picture is snapped.

Key Specifications:

￭ Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor 1.2 GHz Quad-Core
￭ Display: 5.0-inch HD IPS (1,280 x 720, 294ppi)
￭ Memory: 8GB / 1GB RAM / MicroSD slot
￭ Camera: Rear 8MP with Laser Auto Focus / Front 1.3MP
￭ Battery: 2,540mAh (removable)
￭ Operating System: Android 4.4.2 KitKat
￭ Size: 137.7 x 69.6 x 10.3mm
￭ Weight: 134g
￭ Network: 4G LTE / HSPA+ 21Mbps (3G)
￭ Connectivity: Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS/Glonass, NFC, USB 2.0
￭ Colours: Metallic Black, Silk White, Shine Gold
￭ Other: Touch & Shoot, Smart Keyboard, QuickMemo+, Gesture Shot

A number of phone manufacturers are introducing lower-end models of their premium phones. Read about HTC's offering here.