Get a 5.5-inch HTC Desire 816 for $199.95 shipped

Virgin Mobile

What's the sweet spot for smartphone screens? Some users prefer smaller ones that can be tapped and swiped with a single thumb, while others want the equivalent of a dinner plate.

Me, I read a lot on my phone, so I'm definitely leaning toward a bigger screen -- even if it means a slightly less comfortable addition to my pocket.

Of course, the really big phones cost a pretty penny, right? Not today: QVC has the HTC Desire 816 for Virgin Mobile for $199.95 shipped. Virgin's price: $299.99.

The Desire's standout feature: its 5.5-inch screen. The resolution falls well short of Retina or the like, but as noted in CNET's very positive review, 1,280x720 pixels is "more than sharp enough."

Other standout specs include a powerful quad-core processor, a 13-megapixel rear camera, front-facing stereo speakers, and an attractive plastic chassis. Another standout (in a bad way): just 8GB of storage. Fortunately, you can easily add more by way of the microSD slot.

I'll let you peruse the aforementioned review for more specifics, keeping in mind it was based on a $300 price tag. At $200, I think it's a little easier to forgive the Desire's minor shortcomings.

Of course, for some users, the carrier could be the deal breaker: Virgin Mobile runs on Sprint's network, and in my experience at least, coverage pales in comparison with, say, AT&T. On the other hand, you're not roped into a contract, and plans start at just $35 per month. (Incidentally, the user reviews for the Desire 816? Glowing.)

So if you've been lusting after a really big screen but limited by your budget, this is a smartphone deal worth considering. Personally, having used the 5.5-inch OnePlus One a fair bit, I can totally see the appeal of this size. Your thoughts?

Bonus deal: Hey, iDevice users: Not satisfied with the stock Mail app? There are plenty of alternatives, including some freebies. And then there's CloudMagic, a top-rated Mail app that normally sells for $10. Today, however, you can nab CloudMagic (iOS) for free! Even if you end up not liking it, no harm done (or money spent).

Bonus deal No. 2: Game time! Clear your weekend, because you can play Dishonored absolutely free between now and 1 p.m. (PT) Sunday. And if you like it, the full game is on sale for a measly $4.99 -- a crazy-good deal for one of the most celebrated games of 2012.

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HTC's mid-tier Desire family debuts in US

The HTC Desire 610. CNET

HTC is bringing the One M8's more affordable sibling, the Desire family of smartphones, to the US.

The HTC Desire 816 will debut on Virgin Mobile on Tuesday for $299 without a contract. HTC will sell the Desire 610 and Desire 816 on its own website. The company also teased more Desire smartphones to come to the US.

The move marks a reversal of HTC's recent strategy to narrow its focus and marketing efforts behind the flagship HTC One M8. HTC continues to struggle with eroding market share and 12 straight quarters of declining revenue. By launching the Desire family in the US, the company hopes to expand its reach to more cost-conscious consumers and people who opt to pay the full price of the smartphone upfront.

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Where the Galaxy S5 or iPhone 5S costs $650 without a two-year contract, there have been a number of companies that have sprung up that offer more affordable smartphones. LG, ZTE, and Motorola have in the last year been aggressive with rolling out reasonably priced smartphones without a contract. The prepaid market is considered one of the last growing parts of the traditional smartphone business.

HTC wants a chunk of that market. "We thought it was time that consumers had better smartphones to choose from across price points and payment options," said Erin McGee, vice president of marketing for HTC America, in a statement.

By selling its lower cost smartphones through its site, HTC is mimicking a similar strategy taken by Huawei, which struggled to get its higher end devices sold through a carrier, and opted to set up its own website for consumers. It sells the Ascend Mate 2 4G LTE on the site for $299.

HTC is hoping that the design of the Desire line, which shares similar visual cues as the HTC One M8, will attract consumers who can't afford its flagship smartphone. Rather than the metal construction of the M8, HTC opted to go with plastic for the Desire.

HTC is looking to expand its portfolio to go after even lower end customers, targeting a growing number of potential customers in the emerging markets.

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