HTC has launched two new smartphones, their first that will be running Windows 8 operating system, being the 8X and the 8S. The 8X is the higher end phone with better specs. It has a Qualcomm S4 1.5 GHz, dual-core processor, 16GB of storage, 1GB of RAM, 4.3 inch super LCD 2 touch screen with HD 720p resolution covered with Gorilla Glass 2. There is a 8 megapixel camera with auto focus, LED flash, and BSI sensor on the back that has a F2.0 aperture and 28mm lens, and able to capture 1080p video recording. The front camera is 2.1 megapixel with a ” ultra-wide-angle” 88mm lens for fitting in more in the shots, plus its is also capable of recording HD video at 1080p like the back camera. 

HTC have included its premium audio processing in the form of Beats Audio for “deeper bass, crisper vocals and detailed high notes for music, games, movies and videos” and which also has two amplifiers; one for the headphone jack output and the other for the smartphone’s speaker. Sensors come in the way of a G-Sensor, digital compass, proximity sensor and an ambient light sensor, and the connectivity is done via NFC capable, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n.

The 8S is the smaller brother of the 8X and will be priced lower. The differences between the two being for the 8S; 1GHz dual core processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, smaller screen at a 4inch display, no digital compass, no NFC, Beats Audio but no amplifiers, and only the rear camera with 5 mega pixel resolution and 720p HD recording with F2.8 aperture and 35mm lens. The battery is also slightly smaller, 1700 mAh for the 8S and 1800 mAh for the 8X, and both non removable.

The 8X has one color cover while the cheaper 8S has a two tone part grey and part main color scheme available in blue, black, bright yellow and bright red/orange . Both phones are said to be the signature Windows 8 enabled phones from HTC and are set to rival the Lumia 820 and 920 from Nokia released last week. The 8X and 8S will go on sale from November 2012 in 52 countries on about 150 carriers, and the price is around $199 on the AT&T network.