Review HTC Windows Phone 8X Smartphone

The 8X is currently available in four colors. Owing to the unibody casing, it is very stiff and pressure resistant almost everywhere. We can marginally dent the plastic on the back's center using selective pressure. The main camera is additionally framed in a small metal ring. The build quality and used materials convinced in the test.

The design makes a very consistent impression and looks good. Unlike the design of Apple's iPhone 5, the back is not quite as angular and the sides are rounded. That lets the smartphone fit better in the natural curvature of the palm. Moreover, the Windows Phone 8X features a message LED. Regrettably, it currently only shows activity when the device is connected to the charging cord (red) and lights up green as soon as the battery is recharged. The additional lighting mode could possibly be made available with one of the next software updates.

In a direct size comparison of HTC's 8X (132.4 x 66.2 x 10.2 mm/~5.21 x 2.61 x 0.40 inches) and Nokia's Lumia 920 (130.3 x 70.8 x 10.7 mm/~5.13 x 2.79 x 0.42 inches), we notice that both feature similar dimensions, but exhibit different screen diagonals. The Lumia 920's screen is 0.2 inches bigger than the 8X. HTC's 8X clearly differs from its contender in terms of weight. It is lighter by an impressive 55 grams (~2 ounces). Surprisingly, Samsung's giant, 4.8 inch Galaxy S3 merely weighs 3 grams (~0.1 ounces) more.

More interesting than the hardware inside HTC's 8X is certainly the completely new software. The metro design of the modern UI surface is known from the previous Windows Phone 7, but it has been completely refreshed. The home screen can be compared with widgets known from Android systems. Applications are continuously updated, are never idle and imply high dynamics. Naturally, the looks can be customized. Interesting features are noticed when scrolling through the innumerable settings. This is Microsoft's attempt at making its new device interesting for company use. The smartphone can be furnished with a corporate account and consequently allows the company to have a better control over its smartphones because highly sensitive data (e.g. email traffic) might be stored on them. Thus, the boss can disable the SD card or delete all data on the device via a remote application.

Another setting is dubbed "Kid's Corner", which enables assigning certain applications, games or videos to a specific target group. It is very obvious that the developers have put a lot of thought into software usability. The entire handling is very intuitive; the functions are easy to understand and are self-explanatory within a short time. Those already using Windows 8 on their computer or tablet will immediately find their way around on the metro design and can get started. The interface for coupling a computer, tablet or smartphone is refined. Synchronizing content via Microsoft's Skydrive cloud service facilitates work and exchange among devices extremely well.

All in all, the system already runs very well and reliably just after its unveiling and is very enjoyable for the user. How the Windows Phone 8 asserts itself against the strong contenders will be seen in the next months. There definitely is potential and Windows' app store is continually being filled with applications and games.

The capacitive touchscreen in HTC's 8X also works very precisely and accepts inputs accurately and without much delay. Multi-touch gestures, such as pinch-to-zoom or tap-to-zoom as known from Google's Android or Apple's iOS, are also supported. The fade-in QWERTY keyboard has been modified compared with HTC's Android default keyboard. For example, it no longer features navigation arrows nor can additional icons be selected by pressing the symbol for a longer time. The opened keyboard takes up roughly 50% of the screen in profile mode - and even more in landscape mode. Unfortunately, there is not yet a setting option for altering the keyboard's design or enabling other features (navigation arrows).

There are three touch-buttons below the touchscreen for navigating throughout the entire Windows Phone 8 world. Actually, two of the keys would have been enough because only one is needed for opening the Internet quick search. The touch-buttons are permanently illuminated when the screen is on. They cannot be completely turned off like in the Galaxy S3. As in HTC's One X, the device cannot be activated by any of the three keys.

HTC's 8X owes its high viewing angle stability and saturated color reproduction to the IPS screen. It does not matter if the viewing angle lessens horizontally or vertically. There is no hint of visible color deviations here.

Microsoft's still fairly young app store does not yet have the variety of the App Store or Play Store and thus not as many 3D games with which we can extensively test performance. We found 3D Brutal Chase and could test it online and against other players right away. We come to the conclusion that HTC's 8X provides sufficient reserves to easily render the latest games. Of course the classic game Angry Birds is a must for installing on the 8x.

The abundance of possibilities sometimes lets you forget that the smartphone can also be used for making calls. The speech quality was  good at both ends in the many test calls we made. The volume was sufficient to make calls in a car (from the passenger seat). The free-hands feature also did a satisfactory job although the calling partner complained about a slightly low volume.

The overall impression of the new high-end smartphone based on Windows 8 is positive throughout. The software is dynamic and intuitive in use. Even technically less savvy users will quickly have an overview of the operating concept and the options. The smartphone is in line with other Windows 8 systems, such as a computer or tablet, and allows easy synchronizing via Microsoft's cloud service. Features like the "Company App" for catering to the needs of companies are implemented in the settings. Microsoft has done its homework and is creating a multipurpose tool for computers, tablets and smartphones with its comprehensive Windows 8 system. HTC's 8X provides enough reserves and we never had the feeling that we were facing a performance bottleneck. The IPS screen delivers natural colors and can be used precisely. However, we rate the lack of a micro SD card slot and the built-in battery as negative. But it is not only HTC to accept this criticism. Google's latest Nexus 4 as well as all previous iPhone models also have these two drawbacks.

We will see whether this is a revolution or only an evolution in terms of software in the next months. After all, such an operating system makes or breaks with its additional applications. Microsoft's app store is by far not as well filled as the ones from the competition. But its day may (and must) come. HTC's 8X is an interesting alternative for Android and iOS devices in any event.