Faster, snappier… better.
The One XL is Telstra's version of the very shiny HTC One X. This is HTC's flagship Android phone with the added benefit of 4G LTE. To accommodate that, however, there are crucial internal differences between the X and XL. Where the X has a quad-core Tegra processor, the limitations of current LTE chipsets means that the XL has to make do with a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 instead.
The effect on real-world performance isn't that marked, however; that could change as Android developers really push quad-core-capable applications, but for now, relatively little separates the two lines. The XL's LTE underpinnings mean it can chew through power very quickly in 4G zones and since it's a sealed unit you can't carry spare batteries with you. 4G performance was very good when Telstra's network was up to it -- we regularly hit download speeds in the 20-40Mbps range during our tests.
HTC's learned its lesson with skins and the version of Sense that sits on top of Ice Cream Sandwich is lightweight and works well. The One XL's camera is a little beauty, combining fast shutter speed with good colour reproduction, as well as the ability to capture snaps while shooting video. One minor catch for those keen on importing rather than contracting: the local version has 32GB of onboard storage, while import models are 16GB only. Because this is a fully sealed smartphone with no microSD slot, that's all it'll ever have. The One XL is an exceptionally good phone and easily the best 4G model you can buy, but carry a spare charger or external battery with you.
Pros: Fast, great screen, great camera.
Cons: No expandable storage, battery hog.
Verdict: 9/10 (Editor's Choice)
Available from HTC, $64/month for 24-month contract.
