HTC Desire X Pro Reviews

A good value and stylish Android handset

We liked the idea of HTC doing away with its confusing approach to phone releases, and seemingly random naming convention (Sensation? Explorer?). So, we're still a little curious as to why the Desire brand lives on. The Desire C is much lower spec, but confusingly, the low-but-premium One V gets bested by the Desire X on some key features (notably RAM and number of processor cores). So, is it all about design and build quality? Or old habits sneaking back in? Perhaps the Desire name is just too intertwined with HTC's heritage for the company to give it up fully. Whatever the reason, the Desire X exists. More importantly, should you want one? This is mainly a question for shoppers in European and Asian markets, particularly those looking to spend around £220 / €299 SIM free. If you are looking for a mid-sized phone, aren't wed to stock Android and doing things like taking casual snaps and playing fun games on the way to work, then you won't be disappointed with the Desire X. If you want a little more from all of those categories, you might soon find yourself asking a little too much from this phone. More pressing, is the issue of longevity. The phone might be able to keep up now, but as time -- and software requirements -- march onward, the Desire X could start to age very quickly.

HTC has done a good job of equipping its Desire X mid-range fighter. Its dual-core chipset gives you a smooth ride around the UI and garnished it with decent app performance, while the build quality and display are among the better in this price range. More importantly, the smartphone has just one major weakness, which can break the deal for you. The chink in the Desire X armor is, of course, video recording - 720p is the very least you could expect from a dual-core CPU these days. Even HTC’s own One V does HD video and that one only has a single-core processor at its heart. Still, if video recording isn’t all that important to you or if you are willing to live with WVGA clips, you would be getting a special treat. Unlike most of its competitors, the Desire X comes with Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box and knowing HTC’s record it will probably get at least an update or two in the coming months. But does the HTC Desire X have what it takes to survive in the mid-range – delivering more bang for your buck than its competitors? To answer that we’ll have to take a look at the competition first.

The HTC Desire X falls into a space between the HTC One V and the HTC One S, but is more restrained in its design. There are some points where the Desire X has been squeezed on the spec sheet: the lack of front facing camera and limited HD support being notable. There are also devices out there offering a higher resolution at this screen size. The result is an Android handset that is for the most part perfectly capable. The HTC Desire X will set about your daily tasks without complaint and the experience is typical for a mid-range device at a mid-range price. If it's HTC Sense you want, then the Desire X will give you a phone that's (almost) up to date, without breaking the bank. But you don't step away from the Desire X with a big sense of wow factor. It's safe, it's competent, but it never really steps beyond that. Some might say that it doesn't quite have the X factor, but it is reasonably affordable.

Chances are thatthe HTC Desire X is a phone that you won't regret getting. Its maker has managed to deliver a reasonably priced smartphone that looks good enough to make you want to show it off in public. Besides, the handset runs as smoothly as a contemporary Android device should and its front is graced by a screen of above average quality. Yet be aware of the fact that the HTC Desire X has its flaws. For example, you'll have to live with the horrible physical keys it has been cursed with and the lack of support for HD video. The performance of the stock web browser also leaves something to be desired. If you are interested in an alternative to the HTC Desire X, there's the Sony Xperia P, which might be priced slightly higher, but offers a much better camera and an amazingly bright display packed inside an aluminum body. In case you are into AMOLED displays, the Samsung Galaxy S III Mini might grab your attention with its 4-inch WVGA screen, and you'll also get a front-facing camera as a bonus. If you need something a bit more affordable, you might give the HTC One V a try as it delivers decent performance at a noticeably lower price.