HTC's new 8X and 8S with Windows Phone 8: the full story

The Windows Phone 8X. Reversing a habit of putting merely a token effort into its Windows Phone range, HTC is greeting the launch of Microsoft’s eighth mobile OS with a handset that leaves no doubt about its flagship ambitions. The statement of intent that’s apparent from the look of the 8X — which immediately feels fresh, innovative and modern — is underlined by a bullish $99 price with AT&T in the US.

For an LTE-capable phone without a single blemish on its spec sheet, that represents a tremendously aggressive proposition. The big unanswered question, however, is inherent in the handset’s name — how well does Windows Phone 8 fare against the incumbent leaders of iOS and Android? Can it finally summon up enough pluses to draw people away from the comfortable and familiar into a bold new world of live tiles and flying animations? Let’s find out.

HTC's Windows Phone 8X will be available on T-Mobile starting November 14th, according to a leaked roadmap obtained by TmoNews. The date closely matches up with what HTC had stated at the handset's unveiling, when the company said it would launch in early November alongside the Windows Phone 8S. Featuring a 4.3-inch 720p HD Super LCD 2 display, a 1.5GHz processor, and Beats Audio, the 8X is set to compete directly with the Nokia Lumia 920, which will be released the same month.

The roadmap also includes potential launch dates for a mysterious devices, such as the BlackBerry Armstrong, Huawei Summit, and the Samsung Toba. LG's Optimus L9, which previously had a general fall launch window, appears on the list as well with an October 31st release date. T-Mobile and HTC have yet to offiically announce when the 8X will be available, but more concrete details should surface at Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 event on October 29th in San Francisco.

HTC made a bit of a splash today when it and Microsoft announced the new Windows Phone 8X and Windows Phone 8S smartphones. The 8X and 8S represent a new focus on Windows Phone for HTC — at least for today — and rekindle the relationship Microsoft and HTC have had for the better part of 15 years.

In fact, Microsoft's influence on these new devices is so strong, it literally named them for HTC. Putting "Windows Phone" right in the name of the smartphones sends a clear message to consumers: if you want a Microsoft smartphone, this is where you go. Microsoft has committed to a heavy promotion of HTC's new devices, and it's even gone so far as to call them the "Signature of the Windows Phone 8 brand."

There's a major decision facing those who've been eagerly awaiting the next generation of Windows Phone hardware, and that's which flagship device to go with. Physically the HTC 8X and Lumia 920 are alarmingly similar in design philosophy. Both are encased in finely-crafted plastic shells and available in a number of vibrant color tones. In terms of raw size, the 8X is taller but also less wide owing to its slightly smaller 4.3-inch display. That could carry the benefit of easier one-handed use compared to the Lumia's 4.5-inch screen. It's nearly a draw when it comes to resolution, though, with the 1280x768 panel on the 920 edging out the 720p panel on the 8X. Again, that's attributable to the extra real estate on the 920 more than anything else, and we expect most users will have a tough time picking a clear winner. Each of the lower-end handsets feature identical WVGA resolution, so that's essentially a wash.

There are significant differences in the storage department, as each Nokia device provides twice the built-in capacity of its respective HTC rival. With expandable microSD as an option in both cases, that might not matter much to you. But what about processing power and memory? There's just not much to say on the topic. Thanks to the guidelines Microsoft has set for its Windows Phone partners, you're met with four phones that all contain Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 chipsets. Speed and responsiveness have always been strengths for Microsoft's mobile OS and performance should improve markedly in these upcoming devices, but their internals likely won't be the deciding factor in which handset you pick. The 8S does have a slight disadvantage in terms of RAM, offering only 512MB in contrast to the 1GB found in the Lumia 820. That could play a role if you're frequently playing demanding games, but shouldn't impact day to day usage.

HTC began hyping its industrial design chops with its One series phones, and now the company invites you to take a romantic tour of the design considerations that went into its new 8X and 8S Windows Phones. The video's panning shots and pleasant narration are strikingly similar to Apple's signature keynote videos, indicating HTC's burgeoning focus on the design-conscious consumer. While Windows Phone 8 still has yet to prove itself in the market, it's nice to see HTC trying to advance the smartphone from a design perspective rather than a simple specs race.

HTC has just unveiled two new Windows Phone 8 devices today (the 8X and 8S), making them the signature phones for Microsoft. We asked Nokia about today's announcements and the company's head of marketing, Chris Weber, has responded to HTC's move by claiming the announcement is "good news for the Windows Phone ecosystem." However, Weber says that "while others may choose to tactically re-brand their products," Nokia is building its Lumia franchise exclusively around Windows Phone.

Nokia isn't mincing its words, but it's clear the company remains committed to Windows Phone 8 with its Lumia 920 and 820 devices expected to arrive in early November. We have reproduced Weber's statement in full below.

High Tech Computer (HTC) has grown up with Microsoft, from the old HTC-built iPAQ's running on Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system, to the Orange SPV — Microsoft's first Windows smartphone. The Taiwanese company has always been a loyal aid to the software giant, but lately that close relationship has started to feel a little dated. HTC's investment in Android and its Sense user interface has taken precedent over its initial work with Windows Mobile, and the company's Windows Phone flagships have been impressive, but overshadowed by Nokia's colorful Lumia range and partnership with Microsoft. That all appears to be changing though.

The result is two Windows Phone 8 smartphones — the 8X and 8S — that are designed to mimic the Live Tiles of the Windows Phone 8 operating system, with the 8X the flagship design. "We started with a clean sheet of paper and the designers actually took inspiration from the Start screen and actually Live Tiles," says Wheeler. "So they thought about a Live Tile and how that would look if it was actually…something you hold." The 8X doesn't look like a Live Tile per se, but it's clear from holding the device that HTC is serious about Windows Phone 8. With a 4.3-inch super LCD 2 display, Beats Audio, and a front facing camera that will capture 1080p video — HTC has created a beautiful and lightweight Windows Phone 8 device that will rival Nokia's own Lumia devices.

Like the 8X, HTC has opted to include Beats Audio on its Windows Phone 8S — however, the 8S does not include additional amplifiers to take advantage of the Beats integration. HTC has a Beats Audio application installed on the 8S which provides notifications after headphones are plugged in, with the option to switch the Beats settings on.