Cnet Asia reviews the Nikon D40x and liked the camera for its compact body design; low noise at higher ISOs; customizable menus and the on board 10.2-megapixel CCD sensor. What they didn't like was the slow kit lens, RAW editing software costs extra;awkward controls, no automatic sensor cleaning; RAW-plus-JPEG mode limited to basic instead of fine JPEG compression.

The Nikon D40X fits right in the pixel crazy world as this one sports a 10.2-megapixel CCD which is quite a step up from the D40's 6.1-megapixel CCD. One also comes across features like; Nikon’s exclusive 3D Color Matrix Metering II, an improved Image Processing Engine and superb Auto White Balance. The DSLR has been equipped with a 2.5-inch large LCD and one can also access the built-in Help menu via the LCD.

In the end the review writes "Nikon's D40x is a very impressive camera. While not quite as fast as the Canon Rebel XT, it does offer a higher resolution, though the Rebel is less expensive. If you're considering the D40x with the 18mm-135mm kit lens, and you've shot with an SLR before, you'll probably prefer the control system of the D80, which also includes a coupling pin, so you can use it with older Nikon AF lenses and retain the autofocus capability. If you're stepping up to your first dSLR and don't have a stash of old lenses, the D40x is a good choice."