If you are on Verizon Wireless, you may well be thinking of dumping the carrier after their early retirement of the Lumia Icon. Blame poor sales and denounce their staff, but the fact is Verizon is a tough carrier to love when it comes to Windows Phone. Luckily, the blackout from getting your itchy fingers on the svelte, cold metal of the AT&T HTC One (M8) for Windows just got an end date, at least according to our sources.
I reported earlier that Friday November 7 was the planned launch date for the Nokia Lumia 830, which is shaping up to be a prevalent launch for that phone (example: all of Canada). Additionally, it looks like Microsoft is going to have some welcomed competition that day as we hear AT&T's version of the HTC One is also launching the same day.
If you have been waiting for a new Windows Phone, your choice now becomes a little more complicated.
Pricing is still not clear for either phone, but the Lumia 830, dubbed "the affordable flagship", is almost certainly to come in cheaper than the true flagship HTC One for Windows. Determining which phone is better for your needs is undoubtedly going to be a challenge. Then again, this is the sort of "problem" I am sure that Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint users dream of having when they walk into a store.
Which to get?
From handling both phones and using the HTC One on a regular basis, even I have a tough time choosing. Obviously if you prioritize imaging, the Lumia 830 is likely to better with its 10 MP PureView camera. The Lumia 830 is 10 grams lighter than the HTC One at 150 grams, although that is a small difference. The One, however, has a larger and higher resolution display at 5-inches and 1080P, not to mention a significantly beefier processor with the Snapdragon 801 clocked at 2.3 GHz.
At least for Microsoft and those on AT&T, it looks like two solid Windows Phones are about to launch just in time for the holidays. AT&T still appears to be the best supporter of Windows Phone in 2014 as they were exactly four years ago when they launched the first three Windows Phone 7 devices.
Don't forget to jump into our Lumia 830 and HTC One Forums to discuss the pros and cons of each, or get feedback from current owners!
If you are on AT&T, which Windows Phone will you buy on November 7? Sound off below.
