Smartphones

Windows Phone Central's review of Samung's flagship Windows Phone 8 device

Samsung is in a rather odd position. Its strength is certainly Android, but the company enjoys skinny dipping into the Windows Phone ecosystem every once in a while. The ATIV S is Samsung’s answer to Windows Phone 8, offering a familiar style to the Galaxy S3 line of Android smartphones (which can be viewed as both a positive and drawback) and packing a serious punch.

The ATIV S is supposed to be taken seriously, and when you first get some hands-on time with the Windows Phone, it’s easy to see why. It’s incredibly hard to put the smartphone down after booting the thing up for the first time. But I can't help but feel as though the ATIV S could have (and should have) been so much more.

Nokia’s Lumia 620 could be Palm Centro of 2013

The Nokia Lumia 620, a modestly priced entry-level Windows Phones, represents one of the best value devices we’ve encountered yet on the platform. The 620 replaces the Lumia 610, a device that went on sale last year and now runs Windows Phone 7.8. But in our opinion, the value impact of the 620 is leaps and bounds higher than its predecessor.

Make no mistake, this is an entry-level device that is not meant to rival the 800/900 series of Lumia Windows Phones. But also know this: it is one cool device and we’re having a hard time putting it down.

Windows Phone Central's review of HTC's mid-range Windows Phone 8 device

The Windows Phone 8S by HTC has been a quiet little device, which has recently launched in a number of markets to compliment the more advanced HTC 8X. As a mid-level Windows Phone, the 8S sports hardware that’s powerful enough to process majority of tasks quickly, but it's main attraction is the affordable price tag.

While the HTC 8X is a strong choice for those who require more power and a larger display, the 8S fits in with those who are new to Windows Phone or smartphones in general, not to mention consumers who either don’t require much horsepower, or have enough funds for high-end devices. The issue is there's a lot of competition out there, and Nokia is just starting to get back into the game with Windows Phone 8.

The HTC 8S is available on both contracted plans and Pay As You Go (PAYG), but does not break the bank balance. We’d like to throw out a thanks to Clove for sending us the unit for this review to be completed. The HTC 8S is currently available on their website. We’ve been using the device for little more than a week, but what do we make of the hardware? If you’d like the short version: we’re impressed, but there are annoyances.

Windows Phone Central's review of Nokia's mid-range Windows Phone 8 device (Non-branded)

While nearly all the attention on Windows Phone 8 devices has been lavished on the ‘hero’ devices such as the ATIV S, Lumia 920 and the HTC 8X the Lumia 820 has taken somewhat of a backseat.  The 820 does lack some higher end specs of its other Window Phone 8 brethren but it still manages to present a capable and compelling package.

The Lumia 820 is an important product both for Windows Phone 8 and Nokia, as it represents a mass market device the platform and manufacturer need. Unlike enthusiast phones such as the Lumia 920 it will be affordable on either a monthly contract or fit in nicely on a pay as you go plan. The Lumia 800 has become a bit of a hit on lower cost contracts and this paves the way for the 820 to continue where it left off. We have been using the 820 for over two weeks now and would like to share with you why we think this is a device worthy of your consideration.

Windows Phone Central's review of the HTC 8X - a powerful yet sleek Windows Phone 8 device

While the Windows Phone 8 launch spotlight has shined brightly on the Nokia Lumia 920, there's another Windows Phone that has been lurking in the shadows. The HTC 8X launched over at AT&T on the same day and is a respectable Windows Phone within its own right.

The 8X is fitted with a 4.3" Super LCD screen, NFC (Near Field Communication), BEATS Audio, and an 8MP camera with BSI sensor (helps with low-light performance. The 8X is noticeably narrower than the Lumia 920 and reminds me of how the Samsung Focus Flash compared to the Focus S.

If you prefer a more compact Windows Phone, the HTC 8X isn't a bad choice.

Windows Phone Central's review of Nokia's highly anticipated flagship Windows Phone 8 device

If there were one device that the tech world is focused on for measuring Windows Phone success, it would be the Nokia Lumia 920 (available now on AT&T; $99). It is considered by many to be the “flagship” phone (a term we find to be ill defined) for the platform and as such it has a lot riding on it.

We’ve had the AT&T Nokia Lumia 920 for well over 10 days now so we figured we would finally share our thoughts. The reason for the delay? Simply put, the device was not available to most of you and we happen to believe in spending more than 48 hours with a phone before deciding on the pros and cons.  Some reviews, in our opinion, have glossed over some issues, others have missed new developments and most have focused on just a few aspects e.g. the size issue.

The too long, didn’t read it version? We like the Lumia 920 a lot and it is easily the best Windows Phone to date. It’s perhaps not for everyone but Nokia have done a great job.