X1 is one of the cheapest Android smartphones you'll find and pretty good value for money.
It won't win any style prizes but doesn't scream "budget phone" either. It has a rounded, sleek case and the soft, rubber-like back cover feels comfortable in your hand.
The X1's biggest weakness is the 2.8-inch touchscreen. It's just too small and the screen quality is too low to deliver the true smartphone experience.
Typing on the keyboard can be a hit and miss affair and most users will have to enlarge the text to read it on the screen.
The technology under the hood, including HSDPA mobile internet technology, is a bit more impressive. I found web browsing and online video streaming a fairly smooth, if not fast, experience, and the phone also packs a GPS receiver - for location and navigation apps - an accelerometer, which changes the orientation of the display depending on the way the phone is held, Bluetooth and wi-fi.
Battery life is standard, lasting two days of moderate web, calling and gaming use.
Internal storage is limited to just 256 megabytes but you can boost capacity for your data, photos and apps with a microSD card.
The 3.2 megapixel camera takes reasonable pics as well as video. There is no flash, though, and no physical shutter button - just a touchscreen button.
The X1 runs on version 2.2 of the Android operating system - not the latest version of Android but it does support Adobe Flash technology (needed for viewing YouTube videos and some websites), and has the handy five customisable homescreens.
You also get access to the Android Market - Android's version of the Apple App Store - and its more than 200,000 apps. Built-in apps include Google Maps Navigation, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
The X1 is an average performer. Anyone looking for the polish of an iPhone or higher end handset will be disappointed, but such comparisons are probably unfair - the X1 is a fifth of the price.
RRP: $199
Source:http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/gadget-reviews/5833755/Review-Huawei-X1-on-Telecom-XT-network
