Review: The new HTC One X smartphone

The brand HTC has never really grabbed my attention, but this time I'm stunned. As a Vodafone user, this Telecom-based brand never really called out to me as something I would use for my personal mobile. But there's a lot to admire about the HTC One X.

The first impression is the smooth, flowing transition between menus and games.  This is exceptionally facilitated by the phone’s incredibly clear 720p 4.7” “Gorilla Glass” screen. It also feels reliable and its purring CPU performance gives it an overall aesthetically and user friendly interface.

The 9mm thickness gives it a clear cut, sophisticated look, whilst actually making it a practical item to carry in my trouser pocket without having an unflattering and obvious brick-shape imprint on my leg profile. The “Gorilla Glass” screen in combination with its polycarbonate body gives a nice strong reassurance that it won't fall apart in my hands and that it could take a little rough treatment.

In addition, the Android 4.0 OS is the most impressive so far. Almost every feature of this updated operating system seems to introduce itself. Even its advanced features are very easy to access. For example, when I needed the basic specifications on its hardware, all it took was three taps and there was all the information that I could want, all organised and easily understood. The device is as friendly to beginners as it is to more advanced users who like as many options as possible from the most personalised widgets, apps, backgrounds and themes.

The quad-core 1.5GHz Tegra 3 processor ensures that all functions do not impair the overall performance of the phone itself. The battery life varies quite a lot depending on the usage, but mostly matches with previous versions and other devices such as the Nokia N9.

With the amount of settings available to change and personalise, I almost immediately assumed that I wouldn’t be touching half of them. I was wrong when I saw how user-friendly and well categorised they all were. Quite quickly, I found myself exploring all of them with a perfect understanding of their functions and purposes and not worrying about breaking or ruining the software.

The built-in battery and Sim-Tray (for the new Micro-Sim, also used in iPhone and iPad) adds to the simplicity and sleek look of the phone. One small disappointment is the Dr. Dre Beats headphones included. Clearly, the designers were not thinking about price because these would have added to the cost. The disappointment was not the headphones or the price however; it was that the headphones I received were stand white mobile ones, not Dr. Dre’s. Putting that aside, the use of such a popular brand with the phone clearly bumped-up its selling appeal.

The headphones are a minor component of the amazing features already included within the normal stock apps. For example, switching mobiles has never been easier with the option to Bluetooth all your contacts, settings, and other personal information directly into the One X. Stock Android apps (Maps, Location, Music, Navigation, GPS, Radio, YouTube, Google+ and others) have all undergone an appealing interface touch-up, and a Task Manager app has been included.

Lastly, and probably most importantly, are the social networking capabilities. The HTC One X comes with Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and Gmail already installed and all are easily integrated with your contacts.  The new HTC phone also allows for internet access through Wi-Fi, your mobile network, or even through a USB port, making it a very handy and versatile device for on-the-go social networking.