If you are a loyal customer of long Sprint in the hope of a Windows Phone 8 device, the good news is that your wait is over. The bad news is that the HTC 8XT is not quite the answer to your dreams. Although its sleek and attractive design has many of the features that we have come to expect from HTC and Microsoft OS, the display resolution could use a serious bump. Similarly, while it supports (ascending) Sprint LTE network and takes sharp and colorful pictures, internal performance was slow and call quality was not completely reliable.
The result is a device that makes you more prone to the notice of defects of Windows Phone 8 - as its selection poor app - the positive attributes provided by the operating system. $ 99.99 This is a reasonable price, but Sprint has better smartphone options available if you don't have your heart set on Windows. The LG Optimus G, for example, takes great pictures also, has a faster processor and runs most applications with more robust software selection of Android, and it's free if you are a new customer of Sprint.
Design
If the HTC 8XT sounds familiar it is because it's almost a picture of splitting of the HTC Windows Phone 8 X, which made its debut on AT & T, T-Mobile and Verizon last year. Although it is a bit of a design redux, in some respects, it is a good thing. The 8XT share the sleek profile thin and rounded edges of the 8 X that contributed to this device really stand out from the crowd. The phone comes in a similar blue hue, although the 8XT sports a paint job two-tone light and dark blue as opposed to the 8 x uniform color scheme.
Rounded edges, compact size and soft touch support helps the 8XT uncomfortable.(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Measures 5.2 inches in height 2.6 inches wide and just 0.39 inch thick, the 8XT has roughly the same physical footprint too. That said, the 8XT weighs heavier 4.9 ounces compared with the stature of ounce 8 x 4. Despite this, the gadget is compact enough to slip into tight pockets and other cramped places easily. I also found that of the gently curved phone comfortable to hang back.
Volume controls and the camera are very thin and almost flush with the edge of the phone.(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)On the front of the 8XT is a 4.3 inch LCD with a WXGA (800 x 480 pixels) resolution. Which is away from the sharpness of the most expensive phones with a full HD resolution (1, 920 x 720). Yet, while it won't exactly blow your socks off, the screen is bright enough and the colors are fairly bright so as to not interfere with video, text and other mobile content.
HTC also stated that the 8XT offers its technology audio BoomSound which appeared on its flagship product, an HTC. In short, there are two stereo speakers that equipped with their own amplifier. The objective is to amplify the volume of the music, videos, and other audio data.
I admit that I was skeptical that a phone this trim might sound nice belt. After having pulled up from a few test tracks, however, my doubts quickly evaporated. The 8XT played loud music, with almost as much volume as my HTC a single unit test actually. I noticed, however, that the 8XT tended to distort at maximum volume on tracks that gave no trouble.
The 8XT screen is not very strong but is colorful.(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Above the screen is 1.6Mp 8XT front camera for self-portraits and video chat. Along the bottom of the screen are typical Windows Phone controls on back, Start and search. There is no physical keys on the left edge of the 8XT, but you will find a thin volume rocker and camera on the right side key. As with the 8 X, these keys are extremely flush with the surface of the phone almost to a fault. I found them very difficult to locate and push blindly, especially when you hold the camera on the side in landscape orientation.
At the top is a headphone jack 3.5 mm and power trim button. Around back is the main camera 8 megapixel camera and LED flash. They are both housed in a circle metal too, which is a difference with the Windows Phone 8 X which has no such element of the design.
While 1,800 mAh battery of the 8XT is embedded, you can remove the back cover to get to the SIM card and micro SD card slots. It is a welcome departure from the 8 X that uses a totally sealed chassis.
Operating system and applications
Running Windows Phone 8, 8XT HTC uses Microsofts famous 'Live Tile» UI where the tiles square and rectangular application twinkle actively with alerts and other data in real time. Living on the vertical scrolling home screen, you can also move the tiles, resize them or delete them according to your tastes.
I have to say that while Windows Phone 8 has certainly made improvements on its previous iteration of the software, its layout, functions, and dare I say base philosophy feel still misguided. It may be a result of fresh Jelly Bean (4.2 and 4.3) Android settings, wizbang options Samsung TouchWiz and slickness of HTC sense and 5 upcoming iOS7. Whatever the reason, WP8 seems just a bit flat and dull otherwise.
In addition, all the fun graphical eye that you browse menus and open apps seems excessive at best. At worst, it causes delays you expect text complete rotation with a fancy 3D button.
For the defence of the HTC 8XT however, it can tackle all your smartphone's basic work such as tapping into the email from individuals and corporations and Gmail accounts. It also manages versions of many popular mobile applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Netflix. You can browse the Windows Phone 8 store to find more titles.
Of course, Microsoft's mobile software list is that less developed that that of Apple and Google to find your favorite iOS or Android app could be a problem. For example WP8 still lacks apps for Instagram and Flipboard if such as TuneIn Radio and Evernote have made a home here.
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