Hands On: HTC VX and One X+ for AT&T
Oct 4, 2012, 5:37 PM by Eric M. Zeman
updated Oct 4, 2012, 6:47 PM
The HTC VX and One X+ are solid entries from HTC that boast good specs, good looks, and good performance. Here are Phone Scoop's initial impressions.
VX
AT&T had the HTC VX on hand at an event in New York City today. This Android smartphone from HTC takes some of the best elements of the One S and One X and merges them into one, excellent smartphone.
The devices on hand today were prototypes, but they were in excellent shape. The VX has a 4.5-inch display, which lands smack in the middle of the One X's 4.7-inch display and the One S's 4.3-inch display. Let me tell you, this is the real sweet spot. The display still feels large and roomy, but the footprint of the phone is tight and comfortable.
This is one of the most appealing phones I've held in a while. The materials are a mix of metal, glass, and plastic in just the right amounts. The materials used for the battery cover, in particular, were excellent. It doesn't have a matte finish, nor a glossy one. It falls somewhere in between, and it simply feels good.
The HTC VZ is the Goldilocks phone!
I found the fit and finish to be solid. The seams all fit together well and the phone didn't feel loose or cheap in any way. It is svelte and sleek, and easily slips into pockets.
The buttons are typical for an HTC smartphone. The volume toggle on the left, and the lock button on top. I found them to be easy to find and use, though the travel and feedback wasn't the best.
The 4.5-inch display has qHD resolution, which means 540 x 960 pixels. The display looks really, really nice. There's no doubt of that. Part of me can't help but wish that HTC had gone for broke with a full 720p display. Either way, it is bright and colorful.
The user interface is Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with Sense 4.0 (at least that's what was on hand). It looks and feels identical to every other phone that HTC has shipped this year, so no surprises there.
The HTC VX is an impressive phone. Toss in the LTE, fast processor, and other high-end specs the device has, and this little phone could be a hit.
UPDATE: Although the back pops off, unfortunately the battery isn't removable. So close, but so far.
X Plus
THe HTC X+ is pretty much what the name implies. It is a better version of the One X. HTC said in its press release that the external hardware was unchanged between the One X and X+, but that's not quite true.
The X+ looks identical to the One X, but the feel in the hand is decidedly different. Where the One X has a semi-matte shell, the X+ has a full-on soft-touch paint job. It has a grippy feel that definitely sticks in the hand more than the One X does. The footprint is the same, though, and it's a fairly good-sized phone in terms of length and width. It remains to be thin, thankfully.
There are other, very minor changes to the design, but it would take an HTC engineer to really spot them.
The screen, which measures 4.7-inches and includes 1280 x 720 pixels, looked quite good. It's the same LCD used by the One X, and it's one of my favorite displays to come to market this year.
The version of the X+ that will be sold by AT&T has a quad-core Nvidia Tegra processor and LTE on board. (The One X has a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor). The X+ with the Nvidia quad-core felt incredibly fast as I played with the the user interface. Speaking of which, the UI is exactly the same as it is on the One X. Android 4.0 with Sense 4.0. According to HTC, though, the device will ship with Jelly Bean and Sense 4.0+.
About the author, Eric M. Zeman:Eric has been covering the mobile telecommunications industry for 17 years at various print and online publications. He studied at Rutgers Newark and University of Kentucky, and has a degree in writing. He likes playing guitar, attending concerts, listening to music, and driving sports cars.
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Comments
X Plus question for Eric
I eventually broke down and bought a case so the lock button was more one top of the device instead of on front.
That is one of the biggest Cons of the One X.
HTC One X+ speaker
Does anyone know if that is true?
