HTC One X vs HTC One S

Veteran smartphone reviewer Shaun McGill has been using both the HTC One X and the HTC One S over the last couple of weeks. If you’re weighing up a choice between these two handsets, this is a must read post. Here’s his comparison.

HTC One X vs HTC One S:

The HTC One S will not be getting anywhere near the same amount of attention the One X has been getting, but for me it has turned out to be a surprise package. I received both phones from Clove and put the One S to one side while I concentrated on the fantastic screen on the X. After a couple of days I turned my attention to it and was surprised at how good it felt.

It has a generous 4.3″ screen and is only 8mm deep. I cannot tell you how thin a phone this size feels, but HTC has included some clever design choices that work together to create what is a very positive experience when in the hand. The depth is perfect for a device like this and marries well to the curved edges creating a slab that feels like a perfectly crushed pebble. The metal casing is what makes the phone feel so rigid in spite of the minimal depth and this together it creates a superb form factor.

The One S is £58 cheaper then the One X and the differences are detailed below-

Screen-

One X: 4.7″ Super-LCD with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution

One S: 4.3″ Capacitive with 590 x 960 pixel resolution

Processor-

One X: 1.5GHz Quad-Core

One S: 1.5GHz Dual-Core

Storage memory-

One X: 32GB

One S: 16GB

Back camera-

One X: 8 Megapixel, 28mm Wide Angle lens with f2.0 aperture

One S: 8 Megapixel, F2.0 aperture lens

Front camera-

One X: 1.3 Megapixel

One S: VGA

Battery-

One X: 1800 mAh

One S: 1650mAh

So, for £58 extra you get a bigger screen using better technology, twice the storage space, better front and back cameras, faster processor and a bigger battery. That seems like £58 well spent to me, but is not the whole story.

The One S is still a brilliant smartphone and one that uses the hardware it has been given perfectly. The screen is still very good, but pixels are viewable from time to time and it has a defined portrait feel to it. There is still a tiny gap between the screen surface and the software, but it does not quite pop in the way the One X does.

Performance is excellent and I, again, noticed no slowdowns at all, and the camera offers performance that is a match for the iPhone 4S and other high-end phones. In short, there is very little wrong with this phone and if I had to choose between the One X and One S I personally would go for the latter.

That may not be a logical decision when I consider how many extra features and specifications I could get for little extra money, but the design and form of the One S have charmed me completely. And then I think again and wonder if I could use a phone every day knowing that there is a bigger alternative with better specifications also available. I would still choose the One S over the One X, but if all of the One X features, including the amazing screen technology, could be squeezed into the One S body then I am sold. I would be on the phone to Clove and handing over my money in an instant. As it stands, I am still seriously considering one of these for personal use, but am completely stuck exactly half-way between the two.

The One S is a stunning smartphone which stands up well on its own, but the One X is not priced at a significantly higher level to make the One S feel worth just £58 less. Both phones are brilliant, they really are, and your main problem at this time is choosing between the two. My head says the One X and my heart says the One S. You will have to decide for yourselves.