Can you really tell? I usually can't. If I put phones up to my eyeball I might be able to. The 822 has the same powertrain specs as the 8X minus the higher rez screen. I think the 822 will be snappier than the 8X because of this.
It's a 4.3 inch screen. Frankly, I couldn't really see a huge difference between the 820 and 920 screens I saw at the AT&T store other than the 820 was brighter. The higher pixel density will mean higher battery draw and more heat generated from the display.
Two things push the 822 over the top for me. Expandable storage (music buff) and Nokia apps. Liked the 820 better than the 920 in many ways when they were announced but the lack of Gorilla Glass was a killer. As soon as I saw the 822 was getting GG2.0, I became very interested in it.
The 8X is a nice phone, don't get me wrong. I think the 822 is a more versatile phone. And I have heard what Honestabread said, the 822's reception is incredible. The AT&T guy I talked to (was just wanting to look at the phones) said the 820 had better reception than the 920 and was the best he had ever seen. If the 822 is the same, this could be an incredible phone at an equally incredible price.
I guess that it sounds, if you read my posts, that I've become one of the supposed 8X fanboys. I promise you this isn't the case.
I like HTC. They've made several of my previous phones, including my favorite, the HD7 that I was able to play with for only a few days. While I'm really not stoked about their support and RMA process, including repair prices, I do like them as a company. If you ask some of my friends, they'll say that their experiences with HTC vary.
However, I do want to support Nokia for their support of Windows Phone. I do wonder what the future of Windows Phones would have been without them. They also get some exclusive apps as well, some of which I do wish I had on my phones.
There is a double edged sword here. The whole WP ecosystem may also be suffering due to the exclusivity with not only apps, but phones as well. I digress.
I've still been considering the 822, but I would like to review the unit before making a choice. Personally, I pretty much agree with you that the 822 is an underdog and is getting judged unfairly without anyone really seeing or using one. I'd personally like to prove this to everyone, and I think that the 822 would be a fantastic choice for the average consumer.
Thing is, I don't believe most people here to be average WP customers. I think those who actively post about phones are probably a little more passionate about features and the like. For some, its all about brand. For others, its features.
Can I personally spot the difference between screens with high pixel density? Absolutely. I know that others, like my parents and some friends really can't tell. Some will call it a marketing gimmick. Others will notice.
Take the iPhone 3x and compare to the iPhone 4. It was an incredible change.
I really am rooting for the 822. I really just wish that Nokia would have sent review units before the launch of the actual device itself.
Take it for what its worth, but I'm very much considering the 822 more and more. I chose the 8X initially. That has a very high degree of changing.