HTC ONE X9 Dual - Review 2022

HTC hasn't really been on a ringlet recently, what with the influx of upstart Chinese companies bringing to acquit powerful smartphones at a pittance. It'due south not alone either as even heavyweights such as Sony have seen their marketshare erode. While most of HTC's contempo smartphones have been rather impressive, price has always been a bugbear for them as consumers become savvier with their tech purchases.

So that brings this review into focus with the new HTC ONE X9. With its sub-RM2K cost, does it have what information technology takes to find a domicile in people'southward pockets?

Pattern: Classic ONE

The HTC One serial line-upward has always had a contemporary feel to it. Fitting then, that the HTC ONE X9 more or less looks the same as its predecessors, with a rounded aluminium body that offers a good mix of premium feel and the glace handling we've all come to dear about HTC phones.

The front end facing speakers return, though they're a lot more in-your-face compared with the older ONE entries as they utilise a subtle grill design. Off-screen capacitive buttons return every bit well, offering a larger screen real estate. The camera is housed in a separate strip somewhat akin to the Google Nexus 6P, while Apple iPhone-esque antenna lines are used.

Dissimilar most electric current smartphones, the HTC Ane X9 lacks a fingerprint reader. This is specially glaring when fifty-fifty budget smartphones like the Leagoo T1 offers it while being half the cost. Additionally, it'due south non the lightest telephone out there and you'll definitely feel it in your hands and pocket. Some found this aspect to exist a solid move for HTC as it complements the well-nigh-flushed design the chassis uses.

The only thing that mars it are the volume rocker and embossed ability buttons, 3.5mm audio jack, too as the side-flaps that embrace the microSD and dual nano-SIM carte slots. The apply of flaps may seem odd since current smartphone offerings now apply pin-ejected trays but for the HTC I X9, it somehow works.

Oddly the SIM slots are non unified and the expansion retentiveness is more of spring-loaded slide-slot with no tray.

Also, it uses a microUSB port instead of the new USB Type-C port. That means all the older cables will work with it.

Operation: Speedy, Bright, and Loud

As it has ditched the Qualcomm Snapdragon range, HTC opted for a Mediatek Octa-Cadre processor for the HTC 1 X9. It appeared that this move has paid off handsomely with positive dividends; despite it being a mid-tier processor, performance gains take reached a threshold whereby general navigation is buttery smooth and fifty-fifty browsing image heavy websites is a mostly fuss-costless matter.

Of form, this is partially thanks to the 3GB RAM information technology uses as well.

The GPU may not be the hottest kid on the block too, simply it's serviceable for the Full Hd screen of the HTC Ane X9, running graphic intensive apps such equally Existent Racing iii without a hitch.

In terms of display performance, it'due south pretty much par for the course among mid-level devices; the clarity and sharpness is impressive, and while not the brightest screen out there, it should satisfy about people. Personally, the screen does get a piddling washed out in direct sunlight, and so do have note if you are exterior most of the time. Colours aren't as bright as its direct competitors likewise, meaning yous accept to look elsewhere if saturated colours are a necessity.

Thankfully, while your eyes may not exist dazzled with the screen, the front-facing speakers are a case written report in why lesser and back firing speakers should go the mode of the Dodo. Audio fidelity is first-class for the HTC Ane X9 and, in relative to other smartphones, offers a loud enough book that it won't get easily drowned out when dealing with ambient noise.

Even when headphones are jacked in, the audio processing is nonetheless decent as per how HTC has ever been

Photographic camera: Better This Time

Similar to the HTC Ane A9, this entry also packs a 13MP shooter, though it noticeably performs better on all fronts. Packing in an optical image stabiliser (OIS) ensures information technology will notwithstanding practice great when in shaky hands. Still, this is a mid-tier device, and so practise await it to produce images that are somewhat behind the top dogs.

While stiff in bright sunlight, information technology cannot escape the poor low light performance most boilerplate shooters suffer from. Even under vivid artificial lights, pictures erred towards being too grainy with significant loss in detail. Pictures likewise tend to easily become blurry when taken in such conditions, somewhat nullifying the upside of having OIS.

Sadly, the forepart facing camera is rather average every bit well, not even including a broad angle lens for easier group photo taking. In an age where some smartphones having front loaded shooters that outshine their rear cameras, this is somewhat of a letdown, especially for selfie enthusiasts.

Conclusion: Missed a Few Marks

The HTC ONE X9 powers itself with a 3000mAh bombardment. While it may be average for its size, the lasting power of this smartphone is slightly poorer than usual, draining from 100% at 8am to less than 10% by 5pm on a day of regular use. I suspect this to exist simply poor power management of the software used as the relatively lower resolution of the display coupled with a mid-range processor shouldn't create a fast power drain.

Overall, the HTC ONE X9 is certainly no slouch of a snartphone; it'south decently fast, has proficient thermal management and is a handy jukebox in a pinch. However, for what it delivers, its toll point does brand this HTC entry an easy option that can become head-to-head with rivals that are able to evangelize far more bang for consumer's buck.

If just the fingerprint sensor had been included.