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HTC Sensation XE debuts with Beats Audio

HTC announces its first smartphone to integrate Beats Audio technology.

Bonnie Cha Former Editor
Bonnie Cha was a former chief correspondent for CNET Crave, covering every kind of tech toy imaginable (with a special obsession for robots and Star Wars-related stuff). When she's not scoping out stories, you can find her checking out live music or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California.
Bonnie Cha
2 min read
HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio
HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio HTC

Well, that didn't take very long. One month after acquiring a majority stake in Beats Electronics, HTC revealed today its first smartphone to integrate Beats audio technology, the HTC Sensation XE.

As first reported by CNET, the Sensation XE is a souped-up version of the HTC Sensation 4G that utilizes Beats Audio to enhance to the sound experience of the handset and also comes with a pair of custom Beats by Dr. Dre headphones. Once plugged in, the phone automatically detects the headset and switches to a custom Beats sound profile that should deliver fuller bass, crisper vocals, and a new level of clarity and range, according to HTC.

The headphones also feature a remote control so you can play, pause, and advance through tracks, as well as answer and end calls. Unfortunately, the handset only offers about 1GB of user-accessible storage, but it ships with either an 8GB or 16GB microSD card. The expansion slot can also accept up to 32GB.

It doesn't end with the audio enhancements either. The Sensation XE also features a faster 1.5GHz dual-core processor (the Sensation has a 1.2GHz dual-core chipset), a larger 1,730mAh battery, and some red design accents to complement the Beats logo and headphones, of course. The rest of specs list looks pretty similar to the Sensation 4G, with its 4.3-inch qHD touch screen, 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture, and front-facing VGA camera.

The HTC Sensation XE will be available in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa in late September. However, pricing and North American availability were not announced at this time.