We covered the HTC launch event this morning, and now we’ve had a chance to get a closer look at the lower-end device announced today, the Windows Phone 8S. It offers a compelling screen to body size ratio for those with smaller hands, and its two-tone design follows cues that HTC has been featuring on its high end phones for years.
In terms of specs, HTC has made it very clear where early adopters should go–to the 8X. The 8S is a downgrade on some very important specs, including the smaller screen running at an unremarkable 800×480, a slower Qualcomm processor, and a 5-megapixel camera where the 8X has HTC’s best.
However, the device still feels premium. The curved back isn’t as extreme as the 8X, but it’s still very handsome. Like the 8X, the curved back lends the illusion that the phone is skinner than it actually is. HTC is positioning this phone as an affordable device who want a no-nonsense Windows Phone to, well, actually be a phone. I can see thousands of high schoolers loving this device to death.
There wasn’t any pricing information at the press conference, but if this phone starts out at $100 on contract and the 8X starts at $200, I’d recommend getting the nicer phone unless you have something against big phones. The real cost is in the contract anyway, and everyday users will appreciate both the nicer screen and the better camera.
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