How expensive is HTC's new hardware?
Pricing for the HTC 8X and HTC 8S, which were announced yesterday at the manufacturer's Windows Phone event in New York, have been revealed by online UK retailer Unlocked Mobiles. While both handsets aren't entirely matching Nokia's Lumia line of Apollo hardware, the designs and technology powering both the 8S and 8X ensures they're not left behind in a smoke trail.
Unlocked Mobiles has the HTC 8X listed for £399 SIM-free including VAT (approx. $650), which is not pricey by any stretch. Packed inside the casing is a 4.3” Super LCD2 display with Gorilla Glass2 at 720P resolution. In addition, the 8X features a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm S4 CPU, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of non-expandable storage. The 8X sports an extra amplifier and Beats Audio.
The younger sibling -- the HTC 8S -- has been priced at just £225 SIM-free including VAT (approx. $365). The 8S sports a 4” WVGA (800x480) display with slightly curved Gorilla Glass and Super LCD2. It weighs in at just 113 grams, comes with Beats Audio (software, no amplifier) and a 5MP shooter and front facing camera. The phone does lack NFC and some more advanced features found in the 8X, but does have expandable memory on board for those who require more than the 4GB of included storage. We close up with 512MB of RAM.
The 8X and 8S are Windows Phones targeting mainstream consumers. HTC has left out power-users and has decided to release hardware that caters for both the average consumer and those who don't require much in terms of functionality (think "Tango"). While this may upset many who were expecting a TITAN III and more, it's great to see the manufacturer really start to back Windows Phone and rekindle the relationship with Microsoft.
Could this be final pricing? Only time will tell, but we sure hope the pricing is either an incredibly accurate estimation, or the real deal. Let us know your thoughts in the comments, will you be purchasing either at these prices?
Source: Unlocked Mobiles - 8X, 8S; thanks, Henrique, for the tip!
