At first glance, you might wonder why on Earth someone would be interested in the HTC Desire C. It’s comparatively underpowered, it has a substantially smaller screen, and its camera even lacks flash. Then it hits you that this phone can be purchased for the same price outright as it may cost you to buy another phone on a lengthy contract.

The HTC Desire C sells for between $99 and $149. That’s without the typical three-year “service agreement” in Canada and it’s available through your choice of SaskTel or Virgin. Rogers and Fido are getting it soon too. So, what do you get for this bargain-friendly price? There’s a slower 600Mhz processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, microSD slot, 5MP camera, and a 3.5-inch screen with a 480×320 pixel resolution. It’s pretty low end, but it has the price to match. It even has Beats Audio, not unlike its “Incredible” cousins. Realistically, aside from the processor, it’s not that far off from the original Samsung Galaxy S Captivate.

Yes, it’s smaller than the increasingly large Android superphones and it’s less powerful, but it’s also only about a hundred bucks outright. It’s even cheaper than an iPod touch, for crying out loud, and you even get Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich right out of the box!

Our friends at MobileSyrup have posted a full review of the phone, if you so desire (see what I did there?) to check it out. The Desire C won’t beat a Galaxy S III or an HTC One X, but if you’re buying outright, it also means you’ll have several hundred dollars more in your pocket.