This preview program will be expanded to other devices in the near future as well, each of them also being updated to the newest Android, version 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. We’ll likely be starting to see hands-on previews of the software working on the two Sensation models inside the next 48 hours. As HTC noted to us today:

“HTC is doing something new and pretty cool in the coming days: we’ll be releasing an “early access preview” of our ICS upgrade for the Sensation and Sensation XE. This will be limited in scope (just a few hundred users and only in Europe) because we’re still scaling up back-end resources for general availability worldwide, and our hope is people will play with it and enjoy getting used to the ICS experience with Sense. We’ll be doing similar previews for other devices in the future, too.” – HTC

We’ve not yet seen a full official preview of Android 4.0 on an HTC Sense-carrying smartphone, so it’s an exciting prospect for HTC users worldwide. Have a peek at our timeline below to see other HTC Sense with ICS updates as they will be appearing at Mobile World Congress 2012. Tasty treats galore!

It’s not hard to see the Amaze 4G’s lineage, though that’s no bad thing. The Sensation XE is a solid device, and T-Mobile’s version keeps the 4.3-inch qHD resolution display – bright, broad viewing angles and solid contrast – and 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video support, along with HTC Watch and a front-facing 2-megapixel camera. What’s new, though, is some of the software.

Galaxy S II vs Amaze 4G: 1080p recording and audio quality

HTC has built a new camera app, including a special composite photo mode which can fire off five shots in rapid succession and then glue them together, HDR-style, to make a single good frame. Unusually there are two camera buttons, too: one each dedicated for videos and photos. We’ll be interested to see how well the f2.2 wide-angle lens and back-illuminated sensor perform, since HTC has had mixed results with its cameras in the past.

So, same number of megapixels as the iPhone 4S, HSPA+ “4G” like Apple’s phone, but a bigger display and of course Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread with HTC Sense on top. Plenty riding on the HTC Amaze 4G for T-Mobile USA; check out our full unboxing and hands-on video to get an idea of whether it’ll work out, and we’ll tell you more in the full SlashGear review. Check out a few macro test shots here.

HTC Amaze 4G Hands-on

If you’ve picked up an HTC Sensation recently, the Sensation XE should come as no physical surprise. The sturdy metal and plastic chassis is still evident, as is the toughened glass with meniscus-style rim. Beats branding has been splashed across the back, and the silver and white highlights of the original have been swapped out for red replacements. The red touch-sensitive buttons look great, though the red speaker grille is a little much for our tastes.

Inside, there’s a 1.5GHz processor, overclocked from the original 1.2GHz dual-core of the first Sensation. We’ll be benchmarking the XE when we get a review unit in with final software, though needless to say it felt swift in our play today, apps opening without lag and webpages rendering and pinch-zooming with no issues.

The big change, beyond the CPU, is the audio. Beats Audio has had three main parts to play in the Sensation XE: the bundled headphones, the DSP and the audio profiles. Gone is the janky, throwaway hands-free kit you’d normally find packed in a new cellphone box, replaced by a tangle-free rubberized Beats set in eye-catching red, with an in-line remote – for answering calls as well as controlling media playback – and comfortable earbuds with a selection of three different sized tips. They’re a welcome change from what would normally be included, certainly, with plenty of bass and solid mids and trebles.

That’s helped by the custom Beats equalizer profile that automatically kicks in when you plug the headphones in. The Sensation XE actively recognizes the included set, as well as the Beats Audio Solo headphones, and switches to the specially-tuned profile. You can override it, if chunky bass isn’t your thing, but it sounds significantly more involving – with the right sort of music – than the default profile. HTC is working with Beats to extend recognition to other headphones in the company’s range.

HTC isn’t planning on overly pushing the handset, instead telling us that it intends to allow music aficionados to “discover” it and then gradually recognize its various talents. We’ll be running the Sensation XE through some more challenging music to see how the tuning holds up when our review unit drops, but first-impressions are good.

The Radar “will feature in hero POS [Point Of Sale] across all stores and its own demo hub across 150 of Phones4u’s top stores” the company claims, while staff will receive specific Windows Phone training in preparation. That should hopefully address frequent complaints that in-store promotion of Windows Phone falls short of that for iOS and Android devices.

When they all arrive at the beginning of next month, the Sensation XE will be priced from free on a £36 or above two-year agreement, the white Sensation will be free on £31 or above agreements, and the Radar will be free on £26 or above agreements. If you would prefer a SIM-free Sensation XE, however, retailer MobileFun has confirmed that it will arrive on October 7 priced at £489.95 ($775).

The HTC Sensation XE will be bundled with a set of special Beats by Dr. Dre in-ear headphones, along with either an 8GB or 16GB microSD card for your music and video. When used with those headphones, the smartphone will automatically switch to the custom Beats by Dr. Dre sound profile, which HTC says is tuned specifically for them.

They also have track control and call answer buttons, along with a microphone, while the phone itself has new red highlights and red backlighting for the touch-sensitive buttons. The HTC Sensation XE will go on sale in Europe and Asia from late September. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.