The flagship Windows Phone 8 handset
has style in spades
Price: $599
Ratings: 4/5
When it comes to Windows Phone 8, Microsoft
reckons you can’t do better than the HTC 8X, and has chosen it as the signature
device for its new operating system. The handset is available in a vivid array
of colors: you can play it safe with black, be a little more adventurous with
blue, or go all out with red or yellow.
The
HTC 8X is a well-designed and proficient smartphone
The phone feels impossible thin in the hand
thanks to its tapered edges, but is, in fact, 10.1mm thick. At 130g, you’ll
hardly notice it’s there, and the 4.3-inch HD display makes it comfortable to
hold.
At
130g, you’ll hardly notice it’s there, and the 4.3-inch HD display makes it
comfortable to hold.
You get 16GB of internal memory and no
microSD card to expand it, but HTC gives all its customers 25GB of free Dropbox
could storage, and Microsoft makes 7GB available in its SkyDrive service.
HTC
gives all its customers 25GB of free Dropbox could storage, and Microsoft makes
7GB available in its SkyDrive service
The HTC 8X handles your music with aplomb.
Dr. Dre’s Beats audio technology enhances your tunes not only via a set of
headphones, but also through the internal speaker, which is better than those
found in most rival handsets.
Full of features
Video playback on the phone’s generous
screen is equally pleasing. The 720p HD display is more than adequate if you
want to watch a feature-length film, and the soft-touch back and sleek body
mean the handset is easy to hold for extended periods.
The 8X sports an 8MP camera on the back,
and a single LED flash. It’s not as good as the Lumia 920, but will keep most
casual snappers happy. There’s also a front-facing 2.1MP camera with an extra
wide aperture, allowing you to cram in more mates for a status update.
The
8X sports an 8MP camera on the back, and a single LED flash.
It’s not all good news though; the battery
life is a concern. In our tests the handset struggled to see out a whole day,
even with moderate use. If you’re a heavy user you’ll need to carry a charger
with you.
In the initial lineup of Windows Phone 8
handsets though, the 8X is our favorite – a well-designed and proficient
smartphone that’s sure to turn heads with its great looks.
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Basic
Specifications
§ Thickness:
0.4 inches
§ Weight:
0.29 pounds
§ Form
factor: Slab
§ Screen
size (diagonal): 4.3 inches
§ Carriers:
T-Mobile, AT&T, Other
§ Operating
system: Windows Phone
§ Launch
OS version: 8
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