HTC launches Windows Phone 8 offerings a half-hearted attempt to take on Nokia, Samsung

After Nokia and Samsung, handset manufacturer HTC has also unveiled its Windows Phone 8 offerings in the form of HTC 8X and 8S. While 8S belongs to mid-price range, 8X belongs to the high price segment and similar to the Nokia Lumia smartphones, these will be available in a number of peppy colours. Here's a look at the specs.

HTC 8X

The device comes with a 4.3 inch super LCD 2 touchscreen display (1280x720 pixel resolution) with Gorilla Glass 2 and runs on Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 operating system. The device is powered by a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm S4 dual core processor and has 1 GB of RAM. It comes with 16 GB of internal storage that can be further expanded with a microSD card and 7 GB of additional free SkyDrive storage.

The company has provided an 8 mega pixel auto-focus rear camera (f/2.0 aperture and 28 mm lens) with LED flash and BSI sensor (for better low-light captures) that can record full high-definition videos (1080 pixels) at 30 frames per second. Plus, it sports a 2.1 MP front-facing camera that can also record full HD videos (which is kind of amazing).

On the connectivity front, it comes with Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi, 3G and it also has a microUSB port and a microSD card slot.

HTC 8X measures 132.35 mm x 66.2 mm x 10.12 mm and weighs 130 gm. It has a 1,800 mAh battery (not something to write home about) and comes with Beats Audio for enhanced sound quality, GPS and near field communication (NFC).

The device only supports a microSIM (like the iPhone 4S) and will be available in California blue, graphite black, flame red and limelight yellow colours. Additionally, a physical shutter button makes it easier to take pictures, even if the phone is locked.

HTC 8S

The smartphone has a 4 inch super LCD touchscreen display (800x400 pixel resolution) with Gorilla Glass and also runs on Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 OS. It is powered by a 1 GHz Qualcomm S4 dual core processor and has 512 MB of RAM. It also comes with 16 GB of internal storage that can be further expanded with a microSD card and 7 GB of additional free SkyDrive storage.

HTC 8S features a 5 MP auto-focus rear camera (f/2.8 aperture and 35mm lens) with LED flash that can record HD videos (720 p) at 30 fps. On the connectivity front, the device comes with Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi and it also has a microUSB port and a microSD card slot.

It measures 120.5 mm x 63 mm x 10.28 mm and weighs 113 gm. It has a 1,700 mAh battery and features Beats Audio for enhanced sound quality, GPS and like its big brother, it supports only a microSIM. It will be available in domino, fiesta red, Atlantic blue and high-rise grey colours.

The smartphones will be available in more than 150 countries (and that should definitely include India) from November 2012 and looking at their specs, 8S should cost around Rs 12,000-Rs 18,000 while 8X should be upwards of Rs 25,000.

As none of the current Windows devices runs on Windows Phone 8 OS (it is scheduled to be launched next month), these two smartphones will essentially compete with Samsung's soon-to-be-launched ATIV S and Nokia's Lumia 920 and 820. But all these will only compete with HTC 8X since the other one is way out of their league (and not in a good way).

We also feel that HTC could have done a much better job and we do prefer Nokia's Lumia 920 over 8X any day (that is if you are looking to buy a Windows phone in the first place). You can also read about the Nokia and the Samsung devices here and here.

(Edited by Sanghamitra Mandal)