Another chapter in Microsoft’s historic story in the field of mobile platforms is about to be written, from the woodwork, as it were. They rightfully have had plenty of sustenance from smartphone makers who have been in the industry for a long time and who correctly feel that exists great growth potential that is worthy of investment in Window Phones.

Those who are in the business know very well that there exists a relationship that mutually benefits both the world famous company that is based in Richmond and HTC, the handset maker from Taiwan.

It is hard to believe that over six months have passed since we set our eyes on an HTC Windows Phone gadget. For those users who may have forgotten, which will not come as a big surprise when one takes into consideration that releases of Window Phone devices lately have not been done, except for the HTC Titan II, the Windows Phone 8 has come smartly into the fray and is aggressively pushing its product.

The Taiwanese company is hoping that its HTC 8X becomes the high end smartphone to make into the premier segment of the market. It has chalked out a different path with a design that is not in keeping with its character, for instance. The question that is being asked is, will it be sufficient to compete with the big hitters found in the ring today?

The package in this deal comprises a microUSB cable, stereo headphones and wall charger.

Read also: Samsung Galaxy S III vs HTC Windows 8X Review

Design

One cannot miss this characteristic, but there is a line of argument that holds that HTC pinched a leaf from Nokia’s book while designing its 8X. This is noticeable in the handset which is available in a broad range of bright and vibrant colors.

But if one were to examine it more closely, one would find that it is a rare design. It’s stark when compared to the frosty industrial creations that one sees attached to a large number of similar products from the manufacturer. While handsets of Nokia’s Lumia line comprise flat top as well as bottom trims, the HTC product uses tapered angles on all its sides that come together seamlessly at a point in the rear. This produces the illusion that its frame is skinnier than what it actually is – 0.4 inches. When one wraps one’s hand around the phone, the 8X fits quite comfortably in it. Our hand smugly hugs the curve of the phone’s rear.

Supplementing that, the design is additionally complemented by a sturdy one-body construction that has a light feel (it weighs 4.59 ounces) and a clean look because of its soft touch surface. If one were to give an honest appraisal, it’s nice to see the varied levels as we have not generally witnessed in a design of this type from the manufacturer. What’s more important is that it shows that the firm is willing to experiment with out-of-the-box and novel designs. Without doubt, the pleasant color options peppers a good slice of character and elegance to the product. It’s great to note the attention it grabs from the beginning.

When one has a look at the rear, the 8-megapixel camera with auto-focus catches the eye because of the shimmering metallic trim that surrounds the lens, among other features. Though its size may not be one that is pushing the limits, it nevertheless has the unique ImageSense technology of HTC, the extra wide aperture lens, capability to take videos in 1080p and LED flash. As one goes to the bottom part of the rear, one finds microdots that are lined up in unison to house its speaker grill. Besides that, of course, the memorable Beats Audio symbol makes us remember that this is going to be a special audio experience.

The size is not huge; in fact it is a humble 4.3” Super LCD-3 screen that has a 720x1280 resolution. One can add here that’s about time Windows Phones made some advances in resolution. As far as visuals go, it’s a beauty to behold. Its sharp details are exquisite; its color punchy; and it has great outdoor visibility -- all the features, indeed, that you see on a great screen. And, like the display on the HTC One X, this one also curves just a bit at the edges to provide an unbroken transition between the screen and the trim. This type of display may not be unique; we have seen it elsewhere. We will not go ga-ga over it. But without argument, for a Windows Phone, it’s an enchanting sight.

Though it is appealing, the Windows Phone 8 interface leaves plenty to be desired. There’s not much advancement in the refinements as well as the usability at least for a power user. The lock screen does provide up to 5 fast statuses which translate into, for example, the total of our unread messages or the unopened emails. But we can just select one detailed category. If you compare it to the Android system, it is both too insignificant and basic.
   
Though the interface clearly looks Windows Phone, it does not provide sufficient material to its basic functions to make it eligible to give a challenge to the newest Android. No doubt the UI is dazzling what with its consistent layout and vibrant Start Screen. Other than that however, it still has much to catch up with.

Read also: HTC J Butterfly Close Look

Functionality

An experienced Windows Phone user will enjoy the HTC 8X’s Windows Phone 8 experience, due to the very few additions. With one new option, the Rooms, the user can select persons with whom he/she can share personal details. In the Groups the user can send messages to everybody in the segment. The user can also total up applicable content that relates to them. This may include posts and photos on networking sites.
           
When one looks at the processor as well as the memory of this phone, its non-virtual performance is fast and smooth. It is good in every one of its operations and is highly satisfying to the users. Another appealing feature of the Windows Phone 8 is that the HTC 8X works great with its 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus CPU. Theoretically this may not be much to boast about, looking at other up-market smartphones.

Internet and Connectivity

The 4G LTE connectivity and the Internet Explorer 10 browser work together for a rewarding experience. Pages load quickly and the fluidity is evident. The new features include a function for quickly sharing pages by using several options. These can be any of the social networking sites or email.

Camera

This is a well-liked feature of all the Windows Phones. It’s great to have the capability to use the camera even when the shutter key is locked. The interface here is more or less the same as the rest, and one still can see the practical manual settings and the previous modes of shooting. The visual presentation in the music player is much the same but it has a modern look. When one uses headphones, the great bass as well as and treble effects lend it a groovy sound.

Conclusion

The $99.99 price tag is attractive. In itself this would attract the clients. The design of the 8X’ stands out among the standard dull designs that have been thrust upon the public. They have truly scored a home run with this one; it’s simply beautiful and the beauty is not skin deep.

HTC Instant Unlock Service

You can now Unlock your HTC Smartphone in Few Minutes with us and you can use it all over the world with any GSM SIM card!

Related news:

• HTC U11 - Full Review & Specs
• HTC One M9 Review
• HTC One Max vs LG G2
• HTC One Max vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 3
• Sony Xperia Z1 vs HTC One
• HTC One vs HTC One Google Play Edition