Let me preface this smartphone review by disclosing that the phone I tested didn’t actually have cell service.
About a month ago, AT&T provided me with the recently released HTC One X that had an incorrectly inserted SIM card and a jammed SIM slot.
I proceeded with the review anyway because smartphones these days are less about the phone service and more about the smarts.
“It’s a recorder, it’s a map, it’s weather, it’s sports, it’s social media, texting, Twitter, Facebook, calculator — the last thing it is is a phone, ” told me recently in describing his iPhone. “It’s a computer in your hand.”
The lack of cell service aside, the is my favorite Android phone to date, although that can quickly change because a new version is seemingly released every few weeks.
The highlight of the One X is the stunning, edge-to-edge 4.7-inch HD touchscreen. HTC manages to pack the huge display, which features a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution, front and rear cameras and a speedy dual-core processor, in a lightweight frame. It weighs roughly 4.6 ounces, while the iPhone 4S, with its 3.5-inch screen, weighs 4.9 ounces.
Light phones can tend to feel cheap, but the One X sports a unibody polycarbonate plastic material that gives the device a solid finish.
The phone is powered by Google’s latest mobile operating system, Android 4.0, or Ice Cream Sandwich, and HTC’s Sense 4.0 user interface. I think HTC, of the various Android phone manufacturers, offers the best user interface, adding attractive and useful personal touches with Sense.
One of the touches I love is the ability to snap photos with the 8-megapixel rear camera while also recording a video. If you’re in the middle of recording little Johnny’s play and want to capture a still of the moment he first appears on stage, you just tap the on-screen shutter button without having to stop the recording.
I saw very little lag using the stock Web browser, and the surfing experience is superior to browsing on an iPhone because of the 4.7-inch display. That’s also the case with streaming videos.
HTC, which holds a majority stake in Beats, loaded the phone with the audio technology made popular by Dr. Dre. AT&T is marketing the One X with the , a $400 portable Beats speaker that can connect to the phone via Bluetooth. I’m not an audiophile, but the sound is amazing. Unbelievably, the dock on top of the Beatbox is compatible with the iPhone but not the One X. For that reason, along with the hefty price tag, I would not recommend purchasing the speaker with the One X.
The One X costs $200 with a . It is compatible with 4G Long Term Evolution technology, although the carrier hasn’t yet lit up that network in Denver.
The phone was released this month, but you may have to wait a little longer to get your hands on it because a patent dispute with Apple has reportedly held up shipments of the device. The phone was temporarily out of stock when I checked the AT&T website last week. A local spokeswoman said the device should be available at most AT&T brick-and-mortar stores.
Andy Vuong : 303-954-1209 or facebook.com/byandyvuong
