HTC Sensation XL Pro Reviews

The HTC Sensation XL has a mammoth screen, and it has the best of Android and HTC’s Sense UI, but in terms of display resolution, processing speed, video recording and memory expansion, its Beats-packing cousin the XE is the better handset.

The HTC Sensation XL has some good points and also no so good points, the camera is fine for photos, but not so good for recording video, the display on the device is pretty good though and this is one of the devices plus points. Overall the HTC Sensation XL isn’t a bad Android smartphone, but considering its price there are definitely better Android smartphones out there for the same money.

Chunkier than the best top-end handsets, but the camera is reasonable, battery life is good, the headphones are great and the screen is glorious.

We like the Sensation XL, but there are better phones available for the same price and we missed having a microSDHC card slot

It is hard not to like the HTC Sensation XL for its big bright screen, great music performance and fast processor. But it is big for the hand and pocket and the absence of microSD expansion is a crime.

The HTC Sensation XL is a really nice handset to use, thanks to that large display and decently quick 1.5GHz processor, as well as Android 2.3 and HTC Sense 3.0 keeping things interesting. The 8 megapixel camera isn't bad for an HTC camera phone, either, and the XL is a well built and handsome device, too. However, there are a handful of niggles that sour the overall experience. With a huge 4.7-inch display, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Sensation XL is the daddy of the Sensation line-up when in fact its specifications fall short of its siblings, with a single-core processor, lower resolution display, and lack of a microSD card slot for expanding its storage capacity. Nevertheless, the Sensation XL is still a formidable beast and irrespective of its on-paper specification and limited storage, I really enjoyed using it. There's something very pleasing about having such a large display, and the XL's display is pretty nice, despite the WVGA resolution. It also didn't hurt that the Sensation XL is a robust and eye-catching handset, which will certainly garner appeal for some keen phone shoppers. You'll find a gallery of photos shot with the HTC Sensation XL's 8 megapixel camera on the following pages.

We almost like the HTC Sensation XL. It's stylish, easy to use, has a great camera, the large screen has some benefits and the Beat Audio headphones we know will appeal to some. However, you pay for the privilege of getting those headphones, and on most other fronts this phone just doesn't add up. It's screen is low res, it's processor is slower than the competition, and all told other handsets simply offer more for the money. If you want a Beats phone then the HTC Sensation XE is a much better bet. Or you could just get an HTC Sensation and buy some even better headphones.

The Android Gingerbread OS remains the major difference between this and its Windows Phone cousin. While the Titan could arguably lay claim to being the best device available on the OS at this point, the XL has tougher competition -- even within HTC's own family. Sacrifices have been made here, and ones which put it behind the smaller-screened Sensation and XE when it comes to processing speed and battery life. We've said our piece about Beats Audio already, but it becomes even more defunct when storage space for the stock music app is at a premium. Having said that, like our experience with Samsung's Galaxy Note, web browsing, media consumption and other full-screen tasks are a joy with the extra canvas on offer here. But as we concluded with the Galaxy Note, some may still find the Sensation XL's 4.7-inch screen one size too big. HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio review Qualcomm's 1.5GHz dual-core MSM8660 destroys the competition in majestic benchmark run HTC

While the Titan manages to get ahead of others within the rules and regulations of Windows Phone, the HTC Sensation XL is a tougher sell. It’s got excellent build quality and a solid set of features, but it would be hard to recommend against any of the flagships, in whose category it’s unfortunate to be. Still, it doesn’t count entirely on luck. If you can’t beat them, iBeats them.

Generally, most reviewers look forward to ending a review with a good note, but that's only if the product delivers all its promises. The HTC Sensation XL was one of those devices that seemed great at first hand handling, but it faltered in a few key aspects to make you think twice. It's not a bad phone, but there are reasonably good options that offer more and cost less - other than the huge screen though. From the onset, we really liked the pure white chassis of the Sensation XL as it breathes some fresh air to its line of Sensation models, which were beginning to look dull. HTC also showed (unintentionally) that making white phones is not as difficult as a fruity company has made it up to be. The design team at HTC managed to pull off a 9.9mm thin super sized phone that sports a vast 4.7-inch display. The huge display is marketed as a key selling feature of the Sensation XL and there is no doubt about it. Having the extra screen estate means viewing more things at one go, better gaming experience and a more pleasing visual experience.

The final result is a phone that we want to love, but can't. Having initially thought the screen would be too big, we now accept that 4.7-inches works. But the list of things that don’t quite work leaves the HTC Sensation XL feeling like a stopgap and us eyeing a replacement in early-2012. For the hardened Android fan that might be a problem, especially if gaming is on the agenda, but for those that want to browse the Internet, listen to music and just enjoy the simpler things about Android, the HTC Sensation XL will still serve you very well.

At times it seems like HTC is trying to follow Samsung’s strategy, with a phone for each and every possible price-point. Unfortunately, Samsung has a direct tap on the latest and greatest display, processor and memory hardware, while HTC is dependent on its suppliers. That doesn’t mean it can’t produce brilliant devices – the Rezound is a good example of that – but it does mean that handsets like the Sensation XL can feel like filler in the range. Serviceable yes, but the HTC Sensation XL lacks top-tier appeal.

Speaking of which, the price is the biggest stumbling block for Sensation XL as it stands. As a mid-range, big-screen handset, HTC would be onto a genuine winner here. But the price puts it in the firing line of the Sensation XE, the Samsung Galaxy S2 and the iPhone 4S. And, frankly, it comes out at the bottom of that list.

If you have larger hands, and are only looking at the hardware specs, you’ll think that you’ve finally found the fairly compact, slim and affordable Android handset with a huge screen you’ve been waiting for. Single-core chipset, average pixel density and lack of memory expansion slot should mean a 4.7” screen for the masses, but HTC doesn’t think so. It is priced as much as the high-ends with better (yet smaller) screens, and dual-core chipsets. The bundled premium headphones are not an excuse, as the Sensation XE has them too. At that price, we would also consider phones with a tad less screen real estate, but better features - like the HTC Sensation XE or the Samsung Galaxy S II. Much cheaper alternative with features similar to the XL is also the Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S, which has the smaller 4.2” display but is also way more compact.

The HTC Sensation XL has a giant 4.7in screen but manages to remain just 9.9mm thick. It also benefits from the HTC's strategic partnership with the Beats By Dr. Dre audio company, promising exceptional audio quality.