The HTC 8X does not have 4G capabilities and make use of an operating system that may be daunting to a lot of users. The phone is actually the Windows Phone 8X and it is one of the nicest and tactile phones you can get hold of today. This phone joins the HTC 8S and aims to compete with the likes of the Nokia Lumia 820 and the Nokia Lumia 920.

Build

The HTC 8X feels sturdy and solid. It can be considered as one of the best constructed units since the Legend phone. You will not hear any creaking or feel any flexing with this phone. This is somehow due to the battery being sealed inside the phone, so users cannot pop off the back panel. The design allows the battery to be bigger while the phone remains a slim architecture.

It feels smaller than its other competitions with 4.3-inch displays. It will not stretch your hand just like when you hold the Galaxy S2 or the even bigger S3.

Its smoothness, blending the polycarbonate body with the glass screen, will make one mistake it for a worry stone that you can flip and rotate thru your fingers.

Features

The sounds coming from HTC phones are always good since the manufacturer’s partnership with Beats Audio. The HTC 8X comes with an amplifier to boosts its audio and it comes pretty obvious when you are listening to music or watching some video.

The phone also comes with an 8MP main camera and a 2.1MP front camera. HTC phones are well-known for its quick shutter and HD video capabilities.

The 4.3-inch display has a resolution of 1,280 x 800 with 342ppi. That number simply says that its even better than the Retina Display of the iPhone 5 with 326 ppi. The screen is not AMOLED but will not disappoint in terms of color and brightness. The vibrant tiles of the Windows system is also very inviting.

Performance

The HTC 8X sports a dual-core Snapdragon processor. This is the same chip used for the Lumia 920 of Nokia. This is actually enough to run the system without any lag or glitches. The touchscreen is very responsive. HTC was able to make the battery life acceptable.

The EVO 4G released in 2010 impressed a lot of mobile phone lovers being the ambassador of WiMAX and a big superphone screen at 4.3 inches. So how will the recently EVO Design 4G compare with its older sibling? If you want to know, read on our review of the EVO Design 4G.

Hardware

In terms of design, this new EVO phone has no wow factor. Do not get us wrong, it feels premium but when you know when you hold it that there should be something better with this HTC. It may lack flair but the soft to the touch rubber, glass, and brushed aluminum gives it a feeling far from cheap. It has a unibody architecture that hugs the 4.3 inch screen and houses its capacitive buttons. It has a dimension of 121x61x12mm and that is a bit thick plus the camera swells on its back.

The LCD display is very crisp even on a smaller screen compared to its predecessor. The 960 by 540 pixel screen displays great color even in unusual angles.
Then 5 megapixel camera is sufficient and should not be counted out. The focusing capability is decently quick even for macro shots. The capture time is also very snappy most times but there can also be washed out images due to the limits of color reproduction.

Software

The EVO Design 4G runs on Gingerbread 2.3.4 and has a design language that replaced the old Sense’s locks, app drawers, home screens, and every layer in between. It looks good but there will be times that its 1.2 Gigahertz processor will be performing rough compared to the smoothness of the Galaxy S II or the iPhone 4. If you will be getting the EVO Design 4G under contract, you can also expect some bloatware to come with it from the provider. HTC though promises an upgrade in the near future to Ice Cream Sandwich.
Performance wise, this phone running on Android will be a lot better if it has a minimum set up of a dual-core brain so it will have the horsepower it needs.

Conclusion

The EVO Design 4G from HTC gives you the best value for your hard earned money. It is well made, nice screen, and very affordable but the phone trying to become a jack of all trades pours in more negativity to its side.

The HTC Gratia can be considered as a compact, subdued, and old machine but at the same time it manages to be capable, edgy, and new. The HTC Gratia will be the newer version of the HTC Aria that will be rolled out in Europe.

The world of Android consists of screaming big screens which somehow makes it difficult to find something in a small package.

Summary of Features

• 3.2” capacitive HVGA touch screen
• Froyo and Sense UI
• Quad band
• Wi-Fi capable
• 5 MP camera
• microUBS and Bluetooth connectivity
• PDF and Office viewer
• Facebook,  Twitter, and YouTube integration

Some of the down sides of this offering from HTC are the following: sunlight legibility is poor;  there is nosecondary camera for video calls; no dedicated key for the camera; and the card slot located beneath the battery cover.

We cannot say anything about the design lines since it stands out carrying its signature back panel screw. Somehow it has the hints of the HD Minibut still exudes its uniqueness. The user interface too is very usable giving focus on the social media craze these days. Using the Froyo instead of the Éclair also gave the setup a speed boost.

The sound quality of the HTC Gratia is also very crisp with no problem in terms of signal reception.

The HTC Gratia performs well as a mid range smartphone but the Aria still has a better impression overall. The price might also be something people in the old continent might not be pleased with side by side the other droid phones.