The Windows Phone 8X by HTC is a hero device for Windows Phone. It is designed to be the premium experience that should rival the iPhone 5, Samsung Galax S3 and the LG Optimus G but does it really deliver its promise?
Performance
The processor in the 8X is the dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.5 GHz – this is the same processor used in the snappy Samsung Galaxy S3 and the HTC One X. To suit this baby up, it comes with 1 GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB of internal storage. It also comes with a 1,800 mAh battery but I wish HTC offered more. The premium device comes with a 4.3-inch SUPER LCD 2 display at a 720P resolution – asides from Sony’s displays I like this the best.
But all of this nerdy stuff doesn’t mean much since all other premium devices have this. What differentiates the HTC 8X is the Design, Camera and Beats Audio.
Design
Design is something that HTC uses to set itself from its competitors. With the 8X and the 8S, HTC is stepping away from the stereotypical white and black phone. HTC is going for something vibrant and fresh and it is something I definitely like. The minimalistic touch is beautiful but I still prefer the uniqueness of the 8S to the 8X.
Camera
HTC’s camera has been it’s selling point with its Android flagship HTC One X and HTC One S. I have used them and I love it. The F2.0 aperture and 28 mm lens allows the user to take photos at a wide angle and very quickly. The first image is by a pond while the second one is a photo taken of a ride at an amusement park WHILE taking video at the same time.
With HTC, it is easy to take both video and photos at the same time. If you’d like to see more samples from my HTC One X, visit my Digital Rev Profile by clicking here.
Sample by HTC One X
Sample by HTC One X
Something new to the 8X is the 2.1 megapixel front camera. The front-facing camera that is used for video calls and photos is 300% wider angle than your typical front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera. This is great for some quick group photos with your friends.
HTC also has a stock video editor that is very easy to make slide shows with the photos that you have taken. Here is a quick one I whipped up with my HTC One X.
Special Feature – Beats Audio
I understand why HTC desided to use a 4.3 inch super LCD touch screen rather than bigger sizes like 4.7″ or 5.3″. This is because the layout of the tiles are big and they are easily accessible already. The bold colored tiles make it easy to see and press and I explained why this is definitely Microsoft’s biggest asset in this market. The Beats Audio on the device now comes with a dedicated amplifier for both optimized speaker playback volume and sound enhancement for when headphones are on.
Personally, I find HTC’s Beats Audio the best stock audio experience on any handset. The HTC One X had better raw playback audio than the iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy Note I have used. It is better by at least a mile. If you think HTC Beats Audio is a scam, go try for yourself. This is something experiential and different for each person. HTC Beats Audio sound enhancements are optimized for the general public’s hearing preferences of base, vocals, and tremble.
But it is not the best experience you can EVER have. I currently use SoundBest Audio and this App can optimize sound to another new level of comfort.
Generally this phone is really great! I just wish the battery was a bit bigger. I’ll see how my opinions change when I put this thing in my hands.
Conclusion
This is not an easy phone for me to conclude since specifications are only one part of the story. With smartphones, its all about the experience and Windows Phone 8 is not something I have experienced yet – I loved Windows Phone 7.5 so I expect Windows Phone 8X to also be an excellent device. I will have to try it to find out!
Now that you’re hyped: check out more videos of 8X and 8S.
