Event Coverage

Ushering in the Windows Phone 8X and 8S by HTC (Update)

By Wong Casandra - 2 Nov 2012

Windows Phone 8S by HTC

Windows Phone 8S by HTC

It's clear to see that the Windows Phone 8S is the quirkier, shorter and more affordable device of the two.

Windows Phone 8S by HTC 

  Key highlights of the Windows Phone 8S by HTC

  • Windows Phone 8
  • 4-inch Super LCD / 800 x 480 pixels
  • 1.0GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor
  • 512 RAM
  • 5-megapixel / f/2.8 aperture and 35mm lens
  • Beats Audio software
  • Availability & Price: Available at all three telcos. Price S$418.

Like the HTC One S, the Windows Phone 8S by HTC stands to offer users a similar experience, albeit with a cheaper price tag. Aside its smaller form, the device comes across as a fun, vibrant-looking phone as it comes with a pretty eye-catching two-toned exterior. Otherwise, the smartphone looks very similar to the 8X, down to the position of its ports (save for the microSIM slot). The 8X is what we would call a sleeker and more full-fledged smartphone compared to its smaller 8S sibling.

Other than a removable cap that houses both microSD and microSIM slots, the device also features a contoured back that is finished with a matte polycarbonate non-slip surface.

The Windows Phone 8S (right) for HTC comes in slightly dressier colors as you can see from the picture above. Shades include Domino, Fiesta Red, Atlantic Blue and High-Rise Gray. Only red and blue variants will be available in Singapore.

The keys look a little different from the 8X by HTC, We personally prefer the 8X's less plasticky look but the 8S gets a thumbs up for its vibrant colors.

The 8S for HTC might come with a paltry 4GB internal memory compared to the 8X's 16GB, but it does come with a microSD card slot while the 8X does not.

In the photography side of things, the Windows Phone 8S by HTC seems less impressive than its 8X counterpart. Unsurprising of course, since it is the more affordable of the two. The 8S comes with a 5-megapixel camera with f/2.8 lens and no HTC ImageChip.

Like the 8X by HTC, the Windows Phone 8S by HTC seems to share many similarities with its Nokia counterpart, the Lumia 820. Here's a quick specs table to show the differences between the two WP8 devices:

 

 Device

Windows Phone 8S
by HTC

Nokia Lumia 820

OS Windows Phone 8 Windows Phone 8
Processor  1.0GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4
dual-core processor
1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4
dual-core processor
RAM  512MB RAM 1GB RAM
Storage 4GB mass memory
(microSD memory card support and
7GB free SkyDrive storage)
8GB mass memory
(microSD memory card support and
7GB free SkyDrive storage)
Display 4-inch Super LCD 4.3 inch ClearBlack OLED
Resolution  800 x 480 pixels 800 x 480 pixels
Camera
  •  Rear Camera: 5 megapixel / Auto focus / LED flash
    f/2.8 aperture and 35mm lens /
    720p HD video capture
     
  • Rear Camera: 8-megapixel / Auto Focus with Carl Zeiss optics / Dual LED flash / 
    Full HD 1080p video capture
     
  • Front Camera: VGA resolution
Battery Capacity  1700mAh 1650mAh with support for Qi wireless charging
LTE No Available in LTE and HSPA+ variants in select markets

Dimensions
& Weight

  • 120.5 x 63 x 10.28mm
     
  •  113g
  • 123.8 x 68.5 x 9.9mm
     
  • 160g

Colors

 4 (Domino, Fiesta Red, Atlantic Blue and High-Rise Gray; only 2 shades avail in Singapore)

7 (red, yellow, grey, cyan, purple, white and black.) 

Launch Price S$418 S$699
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