HTC's latest smartphone is much smaller than the company's recent flagship models, such as the One X+, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Its 4.3-inch HD display is one of the sharpest and brightest available on a smartphone, eclipsing even the Retina display on the iPhone 5. It includes a very good camera, a fast processor, and performs well on 4G LTE data networks from AT&T and Verizon (the phone is also available on T-Mobile, which is in the process of launching its LTE network). The 8X runs on Windows Phone 8, which improves on earlier versions of Microsoft's mobile OS with a more customizable start screen, a new version of Internet Explorer, and good parental controls. While the Windows Phone app ecosystem isn't quite as robust as iOS or Android, many key apps are already available for the OS, and more are being added daily. The 8X has half as much storage as you'll find on the Nokia Lumia 920, its chief competitor in the Windows Phone space (AT&T's $99 version has a quarter of the storage). Its screen is also slightly smaller, and it lacks some of the 920's other unique features, such as a camera with optical image stabilization. However, it's also much lighter than the 920, which can be a real issue for a device you'll be carrying all day. If you're ready to make the jump to a Windows phone, the 8X is your best bet if you're a Verizon customer, and a good option for AT&T users as well, though the Lumia 920 is also worth checking out.
