A Closer Look at the Windows Phone 8X by HTC

Microsoft is placing a lot of its hopes on Windows Phone 8, and the phone that they are expecting to take the Windows Phone platform to new heights is the HTC Windows Phone 8X.  With a suggested retail price of Php26,550, and a street price of Php24,150 it competes directly with the newly launched Google Nexus 4. On the Smart network, the HTC Windows Phone 8X also has to compete with the Apple iPhone 5 and the LTE enabled Sony Xperia V, both of which will actually cost a subscriber less on Data Plan 2000.

The HTC Windows Phone 8X specifications are the same as the the Sony Xperia V in two key aspects. Both of which have a 4.3-inch HD (720 x 1280), a dual core Qualcomm Krait processor and 1 GB of RAM. The other specifications are typical for the class with 16 GB of non-expandable storage, a 8 MP camera, 1800 mAh battery.

The specifications of the HTC Windows Phone 8X indicate that it has an LTE chip, however, the version carried by Smart is not marketed as an LTE phone. It would seem that he local versions of the HTC WIndows Phone 8X either does not have an LTE chip or does not have an LTE chip compatible  with the Smart network. This aspect is where it is overshadowed by the Sony Xperia V which is sold as a LTE enabled phone.

This also make it less desirable than the Apple iPhone 5, which while it does not come with LTE enabled, phones already in the market are likely to get LTE enabled once Apple accredits the local networks.

Compared to the Google Nexus 4, the Windows Phone 8X has a smaller display and a less powerful processor. The Google Nexus 4 comes with a 4.7-inch HD display and a quad core qualcomm krait processor.

Appearance wise, the bezel seems a bit larger than it should be, and it is actually a few millimeters wider and taller than other HTC Phones with a 4.3-inch display. and at 10.1 mm is not particularly thin. All-in all, in terms of hardware, the HTC Windows Phone 8X does not stand out from the Android phones in the market and the iPhone.

HTC Windows Phone 8X does not have the hardware to influence Android and iOS users to switch to the Windows Phone platform and is not priced low enough to make that a consideration for migration.  So what will have to sell the HTC Windows Phone 8X is Windows, and local marketing for Windows Phone 8 seems non-existant.

This is a bit of a shane since Filipino's are heavy Facebook users, and the Windows Phone 8 platform has the best Facebook integration of any mobile operating platform. HTC Philippines and smart should have marketed this as "the" Facebook phone. Instead, as it is right now, it looks like it is left to the Nokia Lumia 920 to generate some buzz around the Windows Phone platform.