HTC Windows Phone 8X

HTC has announced two Windows Phone 8 devices, the HTC Windows Phone 8X and 8S. The 8X is the higher end model. The HTC 8X has a 4.3-inch HD (720 x 1280) display, a 1.5 GHz dual core Qualcomm processor and Adreno 225 graphics, 1 GB of RAM and LTE connectivity like the other top of the line Windows Phone offering from Nokia and Samsung.

How does the HTC Windows Phone 8X distinguish itself from the other new Windows Phone 8 offerings? The HTC Windows Phone 8X also looks to have the same improved 8 MP f/2.0 camera in other HTC models released this year, but it is not likely that it will match the Pureview camera with Carl Zeiss optics on the Nokia Lumia 920. It also does not have the USB-on-the-Go support that you have on the Lumia model, and it comes with 16 GB of internal storage, less than the 32 GB found in the Nokia Lumia 920.

On the other hand the HTC Windows Phone 8X does come with a MicroSD card slot. It is a also slightly trimmer and much lighter phone. It comes in a light 130 grams, compared to the near brick like (for a phone) 185 grams of the Lumia 920.  The HTC Windows Phone 8X does have a smaller 4.3-inch display compared to the 4.5-inch display found on the Nokia Lumia 920. Of course, it support Beats Audio which is bolstered by a dedicated audio amplifier.

So I think it would be fair to say that while the Nokia Lumia 920 will be the premier Windows Phone 8 camera phone, HTC plans to sell you on its sounds. 

Compare to the Samsung ATIV S, while both phones are also similar specifications wise the Samsung offering is much larger coming in with a 4.8-inch display. But that Samsung is a lot thinner, at 8.7 mm, than the HTC Windows Phone 8X and Nokia Lumia 920.

Strangely and fortunately each of the new Windows Phone 8 flagships is similar but offering a distinct size of feature set from the others. Decidedly, the HTC looks like it is the lowest end model among the three.

I am a bit disappointed with the design. I was hoping for something more along the lines of the sleek HTC One S.  The HTC Windows Phone 8X looks more like a Nokia than an HTC. It comes in tons of colors too.

So which Windows Phone 8 device is for you?