Retina display, 9.7‑inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi‑Touch display with IPS technology, 2048-by-1536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi), Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, FaceTime HD Camera, 1080p HD video recording
HTC has unveiled another Android super smartphone – the HTC Evo, the first 3G/4G handset in the world.
And if you liked the HTC HD2, you'll love this: a 4.3-inch screen, a 1GHz processor and a huge 8MP camera, the first from the Taiwanese firm.
The camera is also HD-capable with HDMI-port, making this a real spec-heavy device capable of downloading data much faster than the average 3G mobile.
HTC Sense is predictably plopped on top of the Android 2.1 experience, much likes its Legend and Desire brothers, so Facebook and Twitter integration will be offered as standard.
Google Goggles is offered in the box as well, making it easier to search for things in the real world, and there's also a forward facing camera to enable easy video conferencing.
Memory, all alone in the moonlight...
It will come with 1GB of internal memory as well as 512MB RAM, with an 8GB microSD card in the box too.
We knew there would be a phone like this coming from HTC after all the rumours and pictures of the HTC Supersonic – it's just a shame that name wasn't actually used.
The Evo is being brought to the US by Sprint, which offers 4G networks in 27 territories in the US. This is slightly worrying to us British-type folk, as we're currently without the high speed 4G goodness.
But don't worry, we'll be poking around to find out whether there will be stripped down version coming our way – come on, who doesn't want an Android version of the HD2?
In an attempt to snaffle the legions of ex-HTC Desire users with a more budget model, HTC has announced the Desire X.
The phone itself is unremarkable when it comes to specs, with a dual-core 1GHz Snapdragon S4 processor powering a Super LCD screen that measures a now-average 4-inches.
This has also been raised up and laminated to help cut down on the glare when looking at the screen and improve clarity, which seems to have worked given the impressive display on offer.
It's more 'smartphone' than the 'superphone' One series, according to Graham Wheeler, director of product commercialisation for HTC, but still manages to pull in design language from a number of models in the company's history.
The shell feels very similar to the polycarbonate of the HTC One X, but instead of a unibody chassis we're treated to a removable back cover that hides slots for a normal-sized SIM and a microSD card too.
In the hand the HTC Desire X is much more palm friendly, fitting snugly between the digits and offering a more unique central power/lock button. This initially seems like a weird place to put such a key point, but within seconds we realised it fitted in with the design very well.
The rest of phone also offers relatively little to talk about – there's a microUSB slot and a headphone jack at the top, along with the Android Ice Cream Sandwich-friendly three soft keys at the bottom of the device.
The camera is the most striking part of the HTC Desire X though – not through its specs (only 5MP on offer here) but the design direction. It evokes the Evo 3D language from a year ago, but fits more slickly into the architecture of the device.
It's definitely the most unique feature of the phone, thanks to the blue band (on the white version of the Desire X, although an all-black option is also available) and will likely play a strong part in the marketing of the device.
There's also a range of covers to choose from, in the same way as the One X was able to be 'styled' to your own preference, although these added a fair bit of heft to the slim device.
The software onboard the HTC Desire X is Android Ice Cream Sandwich, coming in at 4.0.4 (although a Jelly Bean update isn not confirmed as yet). This is running underneath HTC's famous Sense UI, which is thankfully pushed all the way up to Sense 4.0.
For those untrained in the Sense evolution, when it first debuted it was a revelation for Android, bringing a whole new skin that offered a raft of new functionality that wasn't available from Google's vanilla option.
However, over time it became slightly more bloated and power-intensive, focusing too much on the functionality to the detriment of performance and battery life.
With the One Series of smart/superphones, HTC has dialled things down, and it's great to see that simplicity on the Desire X too.
It's not the full version of Sense, more a tweaked version that takes away things like the re-designed multi-tasking window. Where before we saw large thumbnails cascading across the screen that could be removed by swiping upwards, we now see the standard Google list layout, although this is no less functional.
There's the same rash of HTC toys throughout the phone – from the Music Hub, which brings together the likes of SoundHound, 7Digital and the Music Player (enhanced by Beats Audio) to the camera.
It's not the same 'amazing experience' as touted by HTC for the One Series, but still features a lot of the impressive features seen on that range. For instance, there's the same pre-shot effects that can make the photo look more 'alternative', and the burst mode (engaged by holding down the shutter key) and still works as well as on other phones.
The processor, a 1GHz dual core offering, might not sound like much in today's world, but given we're talking about a company that made the HTC Desire a slick phone on a single core, and the fact it's rocking a Qualcomm S4 chip, we can see why this is a lag free experience under the finger.
Websites load with the expected aplomb, opening and closing apps is a slick enough experience and the messaging system is adequate enough, although the days where we looked at the HTC keyboard as the best in the business are sadly gone as this one still brought out a little lag, and the accuracy isn't as gifted as it once was.
It's worth noting that this is a pre-production model though, so we'll reserve judgement until our full HTC Desire X review.
Other niceties include 25GB of onboard storage with Dropbox, which HTC says helps make up for the fact there's only 4GB included on the phone, and precision-drilled speaker grills for that added sense of craftsmanship.
Early verdict
Let's get onto the important thing: price. This phone is set to sit above the Desire C, but below the HTC One V, in the range of products from the Taiwanese manufacturer.
And while we predictably couldn't get HTC to confirm it, the Desire X could come in for just £15-£20 a month on contract, or £180-£200 on pay as you go deals. This would be a real howitzer of a handset to throw at that segment, as while the HTC name doesn't command the same level of fervour among smartphone users, those wanting to stick with the Desire name will love the idea of halving their bills.
The HTC Desire X release date is set for mid-September in the UK, so it won't be long before we get to update this hands on with a full, in-depth review of a possible mid-range marvel.
TechRadar got early access to the Windows Phone 8S by HTC, and while we admired it's aesthetic merits, it wasn't running a finished version of the OS – we will be updating this review soon as we get hands on with the finished product at HTC's event in New York.
The Windows Phone 8S by HTC, which is its proper title don't ya know, launched alongside the HTC 8X at a special HTC event in New York, where the Taiwanese firm unveiled its first Windows Phone 8 handsets.
Both, we're told, will go on sale in early November and the Windows Phone 8S will be available in a range of two-tone colour options; California Blue, Graphite Black, Flame Red and Limelight Yellow – the latter being the one we've laid our hands on.
The HTC Windows Phone 8S price is currently un-known, but as this is clearly a mid-range handset we expect it to rival the likes of the HTC One V and Sony Xperia U.
Design wise the 8S can be compared to the One V and Xperia U, with a separate chunk below the screen – although it stays flush with the device instead of curving forwards as on the V.
Like the Windows Phone 8X, the HTC 8S isn't the slimmest handset at 10.3mm, but the taped edges provide the illusion that it is thinner than it is, and the tidy 120.5 x 63mm frame gives a sleek finish to decent looking device.
The Windows Phone 8S sits comfortably in the hand and at 113g it's nicely weighted without feeling like a cheap toy.
The 4-inch, WVGA (800 x 480) display dominates the majority of a relatively minimalist front, which also features the Windows, back and search soft keys on the colour bar below and the matching earpiece above.
There's a power/lock key and 3.5mm headphone jack sitting on top of the 8S, while a volume rocker switch and camera button reside on the right hand side of the handset.
The buttons are easy to hit, and thanks to the small stature of the HTC 8S you don't need to stretch your fingers to far to reach any part of the handset.
A microUSB port is found on the base of the Windows Phone 8S, and you can slide the rear of the coloured section off to reveal a microSIM slot and a microSD slot – allowing you to build on the 4GB of internal memory.
There's no access to the 1,700mAh battery though, which may annoy some of you who like to stick bigger power packs in your phones, but it should keep you going for a whole day with a decent level of usage.
We'd expect the 1GHz dual-core S4 processor and 512MB RAM to run Windows Phone 8 without too much of a fuss, however as we were only able to access the lock and home screens on the HTC 8S, you'll have to wait for our updated hands on review to find out how it gets on.
That said, the display was still clear, and although not as pin-sharp or vibrant as on its bigger brother the Windows Phone 8X, it's still a perfectible acceptable for what we expect to be an affordable smartphone.
Round the back there's a 5MP camera, with single LED flash and 720p video recording, and HTC has ensured it comes with a f/2.8 aperture and 35mm lens for improved picture quality.
It's good to see the dedicated physical shutter button on the side of the 8S, allowing you to launch the camera app and snap photos easily – something we find easier than trying to tap the onscreen alternative.
As we mentioned at the start, we'll update this review later today with our findings from the fully working version of the Windows Phone 8S by HTC, after we've spent some time with it at the event.
Early verdict
It's obviously difficult to give a proper early verdict at this point, but once we've had a play with the final device today, we'll update this with a more informed outlook.
Design wise we reckon the Taiwanese firm is on to a winner with the HTC Windows Phone 8S, but we'll reserve proper judgement until we've spent some time with the fully working device in New York.
Bored of your One X? Fed up of the small storage and slow processor? Well, HTC has got a treat for you.
The One X+ is a step change from the original, but like the Sensation to XE transition, this is more incremental than complete overhaul.
The main change visually is the new matte finish, which, well, seems to make the black a little bit darker.
On top of that are new red accents adorning the softkeys on the front and around the camera - once again, very reminiscent of the HTC Sensation XE with its Beats Audio branding.
Speaking of that music boosting system, HTC has lumped a separate amplification chip under the speaker to boost sound, making bass sound bassier and separating out the vocal and mid-range sounds to produce a more pure sound.
It does actually work; while we wouldn't condone it for playing any music out loud on a bus, if you're watching a movie (privately and not within reach of others' ears) then it's certainly a step up. FutTv : hwh9xL63FO5th
You may notice a similar situation on the new HTC Windows Phone 8X, but that device has two amplifiers, for the speaker and the headphone jack, whereas we've just got the one of the One X+.
What else is new? Well, it's running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, comes with an updated overlay (cleverly dubbed HTC Sense 4+) and new features that allow easier access to photography and video apps.
The latter is based on HTC Watch 2.0, a more homogenous system that aggregates all your video-playing apps in one place. This is something HTC told TechRadar last year it would be bringing to the service, although it's odd that it's taken this long to appear.
HTC has been hard at work under the hood too, upgrading the inner components to ensure a longer-lasting, more hard-working One X is available to consumers. The battery has been updated to 2100mAh, the Nvidia Tegra 3 processor sped up to 1.7GHz and the internal storage increased to 64GB.
It's the first and last stats that really got us intrigued there, as the battery was the real problem with the original One X, and the larger internal storage makes up for the lack of microSD slot.
We're a bit perplexed over the need to speed up the CPU, as realistically there's no need for an extra 0.2GHz on each core, given it could have an impact on battery life.
Consumers won't notice much in terms of use (the original One X was hardly a slouch when it came to whizzing around under the finger) so it's a curious decision beyond just giving the Taiwanese firm something to shout about in terms of headline specs.
Android 4.1 is on board, giving access to Google Now and bringing with it Project Butter to make the OS that little bit smoother again. That's on top of Sense 4+, which brings slight tweaks like the Hub updates we mentioned earlier, slight camera UI alterations (you can now see how many pics you've got left, for instance) as well as keeping the camera running when you press the power button for easy access.
The front facing camera now raises its game to include a 1.6MP sensor, but more importantly it runs using the same imaging chip that's improved the camera quality of HTC's One series pretty effectively.
Things like autocorrecting pictures and smoothing out skin tone for portrait photos, as well as giving a little countdown before taking, show HTC has thought about the core audience for front facing pictures… it's a shame it doesn't automatically add duck lips and a fake tan for the ultimate teenage Facebook profile pic. FutTv : 8q1sHSNfimAkd
Another key feature of the HTC One X+ is the phone is PlayStation Certified, so will be able to make good use of the store when it goes on line later this year for improved gaming and such. Here's hoping that the Tegra 3 chip is less of a drain on power with the HTC One X+, as it was this area that let the first phone down so much.
The Media Link HD connection is once again strong on this HTC device, meaning that a simple three finger swipe will allow easy connection with your streaming device. HTC promises us that this has been updated as an app on the phone as well as on the device itself, as our previous tests were hugely disappointing.
However, combined with the reasonably-priced Watch service, we can see this being a bigger hit in the months to come.
The rest of the phone functions exactly the same as the HTC One X did in terms of performance, meaning we noticed no obvious slowdown in the use neither of the phone nor on the internet.
The web browser was phenomenally fast, even on a slower Wi-Fi connection, and even though the HTC One X+ won't be coming with a 4G flavour in Europe. This is again curious, as territories such as the US will get a quad core LTE version of the phone, but presumably the bands used aren't compatible with UK 4G.
Early verdict
Overall, the HTC One X+ is a good, good phone. It builds well on the power of the HTC One X and looks to iron out the bugs with the improved battery life and Android 4.1 on board too.
It's still got the same decent design and upgraded storage to 64GB is more than most will ever need, even with a strong HD video library and too many music tracks.
The display is clear and crisp, and the 4.7-inch Super LCD 2 screen is excellent under the touch as well. We're fans of the red accents, and the camera software is still top notch.
However, the only problem we can see is the fact it's going to be a little confusing to consumers how this phone is obviously different from the One X. It would be unfair to call it a whole new name, as it's too close to the original in terms of specs, but adding a + will annoy those that have forked out for the current One X and thought it was HTC's favourite.
We remember when the Sensation XE emerged to ruin the image of the original Sensation, and unless the One X gets a real price drop it's going to struggle to sell anything.
But on the plus side, the HTC One X+ release date has been set for early October, and the price – likely to be under £500 (around AU$790, US$800) SIM free – looks very palatable indeed, especially when compared to the ridiculous cost of the iPhone 5.
We'll see how this one fares in the market, but there's a very good chance it could be our number one smartphone of 2012. For all the criticism above, that's only because it's so similar to the One X already, and that's a very, very good phone to be building on.
