HTC 8X - Great Phone, Shame about the Price

The HTC 8X has already got itself a fanbase thanks to the overall design of the handset.  With a great screen and a longer battery life than most heavy users would expect there is very little here to disappoint, except maybe the lack of removable storage.

Features of HTC 8X

This is a Windows Phone 8 operating system backing a 4.3 inch screen.  While removable storage could be a problem for most people, there is 16GB of on-board memory which is perfectly adequate for most users.  Providing you do not want to save hundreds of photos or download a lot of music, there is not a lot to complain about with this handset.

Appearances of HTC 8X

Anyone who is really concerned about the overall look of their phone will not find a lot to complain about here.  The ergonomic design fits neatly into the hand so it is not uncomfortable to handle.  It is a good size and is not too heavy.

All the buttons are easy to reach and the design includes a 3.5 mm headphone jack, something that is missing from a number of rival handsets.  With a micro USB port at the bottom of the phone it can be easily connected to a computer or other device.  Colour choices include red, blue and black and each looks as good as the rest.

The screen on the HTC 8X has a great resolution and enthusiasts are comparing it to the iPhone 5.  It is also very similar to that used on the Sony Xperia S.  The viewing angles are great and the colours are sharp.  Text also appears sharp on the screen, so it is great for emails and browsing the web.

The operating system has brought in a few changes so that the same development is used for the phone version of Windows 8 as for the computer version. The homescreen can be completely personalized so you can choose the size of the tiles and you can opt to have shortcuts to your social networking sites or email on the main screen at the touch of a button.

Camera of HTC 8X

Photography enthusiasts will not be disappointed with the 8 megapixel camera although some other smartphones have more sophisticated options.  The picture quality is great though and there is very little delay when taking a photo.   You may also be impressed with the video recording option which is HD – naturally! – and uses auto focus to ensure that all shots are as sharp as possible.

Conclusion

Overall performance is nothing short of excellent and users will notice clear call quality and even those who are fairly heavy users will get more than a day out of the battery which is good going for any smartphone.

While this is a great handset, it is expensive and there is some competition out there when it comes to a sophisticated smartphone.  However, it does everything that you will want it to do and more so there is no reason not to give it a go if you want a handset that is more than basic.

  Phil Turner

About the Guest Author:

Phil Turner bought his first phone on the Orange network back in 2000. It died in 2005, but he still has an Orange phone for his UK trips.