HTC Sensation XE Review

The Sensation XE from HTC is a powerful smartphone, featuring a fast dual-core 1.5GHz processor and Beats Audio. Expert Reviews say when Beats Audio is turned on, bass and treble are too dominant and preferred sound quality when it's switched off. The qHD screen is sharp and bright and there's plenty of storage space. It functions best as a phone, rather than a media player.

Value for money: 7

Aside from the red Beats logo, the XE looks practically the same as the original Sensation. Inside though, the processor has been upgraded, with a better battery to handle the extra power. It also promises an upgrade from Android 2.3.4 to v4.0 in the future. The design is bigger than some, but Micro Mart believe it to be a top-class Android phone, and Beats Audio is a boon.

HTC's Sensation XE doesn't alter the 'impressive' Android formula of the previous version with the exception of the Beats By Dr Dre audio technology and high-end headphones. The dual core processor is 'scorchingly fast' but the smartphone lags behind with its usage of Android Gingerbread. It is a modest update which may leave some users a little disappointed.

The Sensation XE is the one to go for if you don't want or need the XL's huge screen, say Wired. Its display is actually sharper, since the resolution is the same for both phones, its dual-core CPU is much more powerful and it can record 1080p full HD video, all for pretty much the same price. The bundled Beats earphones are quite decent too, although they're heavy on the bass.

"FOR: Build; smart branding; inclusion of iBeats buds; fast and intuitive; clean, clever interface.
AGAINST: Video struggles with dark scenes; over-cooked bass; battery life isn't great."

PC Advisor think that HTC's Sensation XE is only a small upgrade from the previous Sensation handset. It has the same 4.3inch qHD display and 8MP camera, as well as the same unibody chassis, though some minor cosmetic changes have been made with colours and buttons. The 1730mAh battery is an improvement but battery life still isn't great. Overall it's quite a good smartphone.

The HTC Sensation XE is classically designed to look like a top phone, but with the added gem of Beats Audio which makes a huge difference to music playback. The bundled iBeats headphones are top-notch, and the phone comes with a powerful processor, but doesn't have much internal storage. Know Your Mobile are also concerned that the OS will soon be out of date.

Coolsmartphone were generally quite happy with the HTC Sensation XE, apart from some issues they had with HTC Sync. It is a bolstered up version of the Sensation and the extra power and upgrades have made it a great phone. Battery life is noteworthy, it operates smoothly, and music lovers will absolutely adore the stunning sound it produces.

Value for money: 7 out of 10 points

Beats branding aside, there isn't too much of a difference between the Sensation XE and the original Sensation. The CPU is slightly more powerful but not enough to make a noticeable difference, while its audio capabilities struck Trusted Reviews as somewhat gimmicky, leading them to recommend going for its predecessor and investing in a good pair of headphones instead.

Althought Pocket-lint acknowledge that the HTC Sensation XE really is a great handset with excellent audio and headphones packaged in, they also say it is just an update of the original Sensation. Beats adds an element of cool, but has not been fully integrated. Also this phone comes too soon to benefit from the latest Android operating system and Sense user interface upgrades.

HTC have used their new investment in Beats Audio to improve on what was already their most incredible smartphone to date. The Sensation has not only been given a better battery life, decent camera and speedier processor, but also Beats Audio effects and a set of Beats headphones finish off the full Sensation XE package. Mobile Choice declare this to be a tremendous phone.

If it hadn't been for the battery life, Tech Radar would have given the HTC Sensation XE the full five stars, but besides that, it's a highly recommendable phone that's on a par with the Samsung Galaxy S2. The phone is beautifully designed with a fantastic screen. The camera is great apart from the erratic autofocus, and the implementation of social networking is first-rate.

The Sensation XE is certainly impressive when it comes to computing power, but Mobile Phones UK wondered whether it actually makes a noticeable difference to the average user. The larger battery and Beats Audio technology are welcome additions, but they can't make up for the fact that the Galaxy S2 is still a whopping 30% thinner and lighter, a crucial factor for many buyers.

The Sensation XE has all the strengths of the original Sensation and a couple of improvements such as a slightly faster CPU and of course, Beats' audio technology. IT Reviews loved its black and red design and were quite satisfied with the sound quality of the bundled earphones. However, its extra features don't quite justify the price premium over the equally capable Sensation.

Thanks to its impressive pixel density, dual-core processor and powerful GPU, the Sensation XE is a cut above its Titan rival. Android is also more polished at the moment than Windows Phone 7, is easier to use and has thousands more apps to choose from. Know Your Mobile weren't too impressed with the camera, but it's just a quibble in an otherwise superb phone.