HTC's latest wonder phone comes packing all the bells and whistles, but is let down by the non-removable battery that will last you about a full day's use. That said, the One X could possibly be one of the best handsets you'll see in 2012.
Arguably one of the more exciting new devices announced at the Mobile World Congress tradeshow, HTC's flagship Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) handset looks good and comes with killer specifications.
Design
Instead of the aluminum unibody designs that we've come to be familiar with in HTC handsets, the HTC One X cuts down on the weight with a polycarbonate finish that's similar to Nokia's Lumia 800. While the rear cover is matte, HTC has polished the sides, which gives the handset an unfinished look.
Despite the glossy sides, the One X did not slip from our hand. The handset felt comfortable to hold and use. There are no sharp edges to dig into your palm--the One X is all about pleasant curves.
Measuring just 8.9mm, the One X is among the newer breed of super slim Android handsets that are currently in the market. As mentioned earlier, thanks to the polycarbonate material used for the frame, the handset only weighs 130g and is 21g lighter than the smaller HTC Sensation XE.
The large 4.7-inch 720p (1,280 x 720 pixels) display is what catches your eye and text looks sharp on the high-resolution screen. Instead of onscreen software buttons, HTC has opted to use three touch-sensitive keys which are located just below the screen. This is supposed to give you more display real-estate, though we don't think it made too much of a difference. Here's a picture of the Galaxy Nexus which uses software keys and the One X on the right for comparison.
The battery is non-removable, so there's no rear-cover to speak of. There's also no microSD card slot. The One X comes with 32GB onboard storage, which should be sufficient for the average user. Multimedia junkies may have to manage their media files carefully to avoid running out of space.
At the top of the handset is where the power button, 3.5mm audio jack as well as the microSIM card slot is located. The right side plays host to the volume controls while the micro-USB port is found on the left. The rear camera has an 8-megapixel backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor and a lens with an F2.0 maximum aperture. In front, there's a 1.3-megapixel camera located just above the screen. Next to it are some speaker holes, instead of the metal grilles found on older HTC models. HTC told us that the holes are part of the polycarbonate chassis and are small enough that water droplets will be unable to seep in.
Features
HTC's One-series handsets come loaded with Google's Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and the company's own Sense UI. Sense UI is now in its fourth version and takes a toned-down approach compared with the version found on the Sensation XE. We've covered most of the new changes in this feature, so feel free to give it a read.
Frankly, we like the slight tweaks to Ice Cream Sandwich. Sense UI makes the app-switching panel a bit more sensible (pardon the pun) compared with stock ICS. At the same time, HTC has also improved on the camera app's interface. Google's original camera UI is very basic, but the One X has an updated take that adds the ability to take burst shots and capture still images while recording video. It also adds a video recording button next to shutter, allowing you to instantly capture videos instead of having to toggle a switch.
HTC has also tweaked Beats Audio to work with almost all music and video apps--the equalizer will turn on when the phone is playing tracks from Internet radio or even YouTube video clips. Compared with the Sensation XE's limited playback capabilities, this is a huge improvement. Unfortunately, the handset does not come bundled with any Beats-branded headphones. You'll have to fork out more if you want the full Beats Audio experience. We found audio with the equalizer enabled to have slightly more bass and clarity even with a normal headset.
The 4.7-inch 720p Super LCD 2 display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 2, which is the new version that's thinner and stronger. We first saw the Gorilla Glass 2 back at CES 2012, though the glass manufacturer did not reveal then which handsets will be featuring the technology. HTC also told us that the One X features optical lamination, a process through which the screen ends up laminated to the glass, resulting in better viewing angles. We found this to be true, and having the screen so close to the glass makes it appear brighter and more visible under sunlight.
As for camera performance, you might want to hop over to our photo gallery where we put the One X to the test against the iPhone 4S (which currently has the best smartphone camera around). The One X has a dedicated imaging chip, and the handset's camera app has a wide variety of modes including smile detection and the ability to adjust the flash level depending on the lighting situation (HTC calls this feature "Master of Light").
The result is a camera with detail and quality as good as the iPhone 4S, while having a more aggressive HDR mode. While the colors are not as warm compared with the 4S, the One X delivers sharper images. If you're looking for an Android handset that can match Apple's smartphone, the One X is it.
Lastly, the One X comes with the whole slew of connectivity options, including Bluetooth 4.0, near-field communication (NFC), DLNA, MHL as well as HSPA. The One X also comes with a Media Link mode which you connect with Media Link HD accessory (sold separately) to turn your television into a smart TV. Watch our video review for a quick demo of the features.
Performance
The One X packs Nvidia's Tegra 3 chipset, which has a quad-core processor as well as a low-power core that kicks in when the handset is in standby mode. Overall performance was blazing fast--you won't feel any Android "lag" when using this phone. HTC also claims a fast camera startup of 0.7 seconds and a 0.2 seconds autofocus. The One X seems to perform as claimed, with really snappy shots and quick autofocus.
Using our usual test settings of having two Gmail accounts, Twitter as well as Facebook on push, the One X's 1,800mAh battery lasted us for about a full day. You can probably get more if you're willing to turn off push notifications. However, with the non-removable battery, we recommend keeping a charger handy at the office.
We did not find any issues with voice quality and reception when making calls. While speaker volume was loud, you may want to switch the default ringtones for something with a higher pitch. You may end up missing calls and text alerts otherwise.
Conclusion
HTC seems to have hit all the right notes with the One X. If you're waiting to upgrade your Android handset--look no further. With a superb camera, fast performance, an excellent display as well as a sexy design, the One X could be the one for you. If you're patient though, you may want to see what Samsung has up it sleeves for its upcoming Samsung Galaxy S III before making a decision. Otherwise you should check out this handset, which deserves our coveted Editors' Choice award.
The HTC One X will retails at around US$714 without an operator contract. Do note that retail prices will differ from country to country.
