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HTC 8X and 8S are packing Windows Phone 8, bright colours

HTC has two Windows Phone 8 mobiles to show off, and we've already been hands-on! Read all about it.

Luke Westaway Senior editor
Luke Westaway is a senior editor at CNET and writer/ presenter of Adventures in Tech, a thrilling gadget show produced in our London office. Luke's focus is on keeping you in the loop with a mix of video, features, expert opinion and analysis.
Luke Westaway
2 min read
Watch this: HTC 8X hands-on

We knew it was only a matter of time until HTC threw its hat into the Windows Phone 8 ring, following Nokia's Lumia 920 and 820 with high-end and mid-range devices of its own.

I've already been hands-on with both phones, so examine our in-depth previews of both the HTC 8X and HTC 8S for everything you need to know. Don't forget to hit play on our hands-on videos as well.

The HTC 8X (top), which the company is promoting as the Windows Phone 8X by HTC -- we know which name we'll stick with -- is the top-of-the-line option, and has a 4.3-inch 720p display.

It's powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, backed up by 1GB of RAM. Take a peek around the back and you'll spy an 8-megapixel camera, while a 2.1-megapixel snapper resides on the phone's face. Both cameras are technically capable of recording 1080p video.

Watch this: HTC 8S hands-on

The 8S (above), meanwhile, is a smaller 4-inch option, and is powered by a 1GHz dual-core chip and 512MB of RAM. It has a 5-megapixel camera but no front-facing option -- HTC told me that was a space-saving measure.

Both phones come in a range of bright colours and have Beats audio tech built-in, though unlike other HTC phones these blowers won't come with a pair of Beats headphones in the box -- just a pair of HTC-branded 'buds.

Expect to see these phones lining shop shelves in about a month and a half, once Microsoft has properly lifted the lid on Windows Phone 8. For my money, I was satisfied with the design of both mobiles, but with few stand-out features I wonder if these good-looking smart phones can compete with Nokia's new Lumia gadgets and fend off competition from the Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5.

What do you think? Are you a Lumia lover tempted to stray by these beauties? Or is HTC falling further behind? Put Xs, Ss and any other letters you like in the comments below, or over on our charming Facebook page.