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Topic: HTC

Windows Phone 8X by HTC: Full specs

Summary: HTC and Microsoft took the stage in NYC to unveil two new Windows Phone 8 smartphones. The colorful Windows Phone 8X is the flagship handset from HTC with two hi-res cameras and a bevy of colors for the fashion-conscious.

James Kendrick

By for Mobile News |

HTC 8X

Steve Ballmer of Microsoft and Peter Chou of HTC shared the stage to unveil two new phones for Windows Phone 8. The joint presentation had the feel of a partnership, with Ballmer frequently referring to the two new phones as a product of "us" and "we". He also made a statement that when people want a Windows Phone they will think of the HTC product. 

The top of the line Windows Phone 8X has a 4.3-inch screen protected by Gorilla Glass 2. The full specs indicate a good effort by HTC:

  • Display: 4.3-inch super LCD 2, Gorilla Glass, 1280x720
  • CPU: Qualcomm S4 1.5 GHz dual-core
  • Memory: 16 GB, RAM 1 GB
  • Network: GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE/ CDMA/ HSPA/ WCDMA/ LTE
  • Wireless: Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, 2.4 & 5 GHz
  • Ports: 3.5mm audio, microUSB
  • Cameras: Front- 2.1 MP, f/2.0 aperture, ultra-wide angle, 1080p recording; Rear- 8 MP, f/2.0 aperture, 28mm lens
  • Audio: Beats Audio
  • Battery: 1,800 Ah
  • Dimensions: 132.35 x 66.2 x 10.12mm, 130 grams; 5.21 x 2.6 x 0.39 inches, 4.58 ounces
  • NFC capable, depending on operator

ZDNet UK has a full hands-on photo gallery for your viewing pleasure. It seems Windows Phone is shaping up to be a colorful line of phones.

The Windows Phone 8X will be available in November from 150 carriers including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile in the US.

Also unveiled was the lower-end Windows Phone 8S with a 4-inch display and lesser cameras. It will also be available in November.

HTC 8S

Topics: HTC, Smartphones, Windows

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41 comments
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  • Odd..

    What's odd is that the Snapdragon S4 has hardware support for at LEAST Bluetooth 3.0, if not 4.0. I guess it hasn't gone fully through Bluetooth SIG testing yet.
    Jeff Kibuule
    Reply Vote

    • It has Bluetooth 3.1!

      The listed spec is wrong. Every other website with specs I have seen all list it as BT 3.1. Must be a typo.
      Crunchy Frog
      Reply Vote

  • Interesting To Compare...

    ...the equivalent Android models, the HTC One range: available in one-core, two-core and four-core variants, yet it seems Windows Phone 8 is unusable on anything less than dual-core.

    Yet another bloated, resource-inefficient Microsoft OS.
    ldo17
    Reply Vote

    • Feeding the troll

      With Windows Phone 7 supporting only single core, the haters talked about how horrible it was that WP7 did not support dual core. WP7 was so efficient that it didn't need dual core to be fast. Now WP8 supports dual core and the haters claim Windows 8 is bloated because single core phones are not available.

      Windows Phone is not a large enough market (yet) for the variety of phones Android has, so manufacturers are going to choose what is best for the masses, and they're going with dual core. Battery life figures I've seen are quite good. So let's find something relevant to criticize Windows Phones for.
      FDanconia
      Reply 5 Votes

      • Re: Now WP8 supports dual core...

        I have no problem with Windows Phone 8 SUPPORTING dual-core; it's the REQUIRING dual-core that worries me. Android was able to add multi-core support while still maintaining--in fact, improving--single-core performance. While Microsoft, it seems, has returned to its age-old habit of demanding ever more hardware to run newer releases.
        ldo17
        Reply 1 Vote

        • it doesn't require dual-core

          but heck you can stuff a 64 core in it and it will happily take it :)

          It has support for multi-core, up to 64, but you can also stuff a single core in it and it will still be buttery smooth, than a quad core android
          nessrapp
          Reply 1 Vote

          • Re: it doesn't require dual-core

            Windows Phone 8 will not run on single-core. Microsoft has already admitted as much.
            ldo17
            Reply 1 Vote

          • Can you give a link?

            I had actually never seen the requirement for dual-core only the possibility to use multiple cores.
            Can you please give a link to where Microsoft states it requires Dual-Core?
            brhorv
            Reply Vote

          • No single core support for WP8

            Microsoft has clearly stated a requirement for WP8 is dual-core or better. That's the reason they gave for no existing WP7 phones could get updated to WP8.
            JamesKendrick
            Reply Vote

          • Source ?

            By the way, it is Android that is well known to be the resource inefficient os. The usual malware from Google, too busy phoning home. Together with Chrome, the only OS on the planet where the user is the product.
            sjaak327
            Reply Vote

        • They want a minimum user experience.

          Even while playing games, so to avoid the bad reviews that most cheap single core android phones get, they just said know. I'm glad this means they care more about the overall user experience than pushing cheap crappy phones out on to the user.
          Sam Wagner
          Reply 2 Votes

      • Feeding trolls

        I don't know why people have to bash the phone choices of others. If one likes the Windows 8 interface, and likes the phone (and the specs look great), then isn't it up to the buyer to make his choice. I just can't tolerate the appearance of the interface, and that is enough reason for ME not to buy one, but then there are many people who like that interface. Certainly the latest phones greatly improve the appearance of the interface by offering several sizes of tiles. This gives the user some control over how the interface looks, and interacts with him/her. It's a step in the right direction.
        rphunter42
        Reply Vote

        • Precisely

          For f-ck's sake, it's a phone (whether iPhone, Droid or WP8) not a superior religion.
          sedewicki
          Reply Vote

    • Quick assumption

      "Yet another bloated, resource-inefficient Microsoft OS."

      So Windows 8 isn't even out yet and here we are. You are like a parrot. Want a cracker? Windows 7 is an efficient OS. Where in the article does it say anything about Windows Phone 8 and less than dual core. Are they even releasing anything under dual core these days? Can you run ICS on anything less than dual core? How well does it run? More pointless anti-MS rhetoric.
      bmonsterman
      Reply 3 Votes

      • Re: Are they even releasing anything under dual core these days?

        That's still the most popular category of Android phones.
        ldo17
        Reply Vote

      • Re: Can you run ICS on anything less than dual core?

        Yes. Compare HTC's One range, available in quad-core One X, dual-core One S and single-core One V models, all running Android ICS.
        ldo17
        Reply 1 Vote

        • You raise an excellent point

          There is a lot of FUD going around that Android phones all suck because they aren't smooth and they lag, etc.

          It would be interesting to see if these complaints stem from the (lack of) performance on single core Android phones. If so, MS was perhaps wise to set the acceptible performance bar higher than Android did just to avoid the situation Android is in where fantastic high end hardware like the S3 is painted with the same performance issues as lowly single core devices.

          Do you have experience running recent versions of Android on single core devices?
          toddbottom3
          Reply 1 Vote

          • No problem with Android

            I actually have an Android phone. I'm not slamming Android. Just sayin, if WP8 is the latest MS mobile OS and it runs primarly on Dual Core+, and ICS or Jellybean is the latest google mobile OS and it runs primarily on Dual Core+...what's the difference?
            bmonsterman
            Reply 1 Vote

          • There is a difference

            The biggest complaint spit out about Android is that it has the reputation for being "laggy". I've never personally witnessed this but I've also never personally witnessed Android running on a single core device. If the single core performance of Android sucks, then you will get people saying: "Android? I hear those are really laggy compared to the iPhone." Note that it doesn't even matter if it isn't true and that dual core+ Android phones run just fine. By restricting the minimum requirements, MS prevents people from EVER experiencing a laggy WP8 phone and will avoid "WP8? I hear those are really laggy."

            Just look at the PC market for proof of this. $2,000 Macs are undeniably better than $300 PCs but are significantly worse than $2,000 PCs. Yet what is the first reaction when someone thinks PC? "Cheap, breaks down quickly, slow, not like those fancy Macs."
            toddbottom3
            Reply 2 Votes

          • ANDROID = LAGGY

            On Single core...and Dual Core. Open several apps, and then start up Angry birds and Doodle Jump. Doodle Jump will make it laaaaggggy. This DOESNT happen even on a 3rd gen iPod Touch....The last 3 generations are even better.

            Now, The problem with Android and MS phone / Mobile OSes has always been the need to reboot the device often. If that is gone with WP8 excellent. I have friends with ICS phones and they still need that reboot. I haven't seen a Jelly Bean one yet.
            Techdelirios
            Reply Vote
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