Windows Phone 8 Comparison: Nokia Lumia 920 vs HTC 8X vs Samsung ATIV S

They have been hard pressed but we are already close to the arrival dates of the first Windows Phone 8 in Spain. Now it's up to us to choose our future smartphone and nothing better than taking a detailed look at the offer that will be available on the market. For this we bring you our comparison of the different Windows Phone 8 mobiles divided into two parts: today we will review the high-end of the devices and the next day we will complete it with the more affordable mid-range.

Lumia 920, 8X and ATIV S make up the top of the range of the first batch of mobiles with Windows Phone 8.The three, each one of them with the best technology from each house, represent the strong commitment of Nokia, HTC and Samsung for the Microsoft mobile operating system. Choosing between them will not be easy, so let's see what each one offers us.

Nokia Lumia 920

The jewel in the crown of Windows Phone. Nokia's phone has become the most desired by users of the platform on its own merits and proof of this are the difficulties of the Finns to meet the demand . What makes the Lumia 920 so special compared to the competition?

To begin with, its spectacular IPS screen with PureMotion technology, which ensures a much higher response speed than its rivals, as well as high brightness even in sunlight and incredible tactile sensitivity. Its pixel density is below the HTC 8X, but in exchange it offers a slightly larger screen reaching up to 4.5 inches.On the performance side, it shares the processor and RAM memory with its rivals, and falls somewhere in between in battery capacity, below the Samsung ATIV S. With the Korean phone it shares 32GB of internal storage and the possibility using a microSD card.

But if there is another feature that makes the Lumia 920 special it is its main camera. Beyond its 8.7 megapixels, the largest of the three phones compared, what has given rise to the most comments is the PureView technology used by Nokia that promises quality in photos like never before seen on a mobile. Its system allows you to obtain high-quality photos in very low light conditions and its image stabilizer, controversies aside, ensures a substantial improvement in video recording compared to the competition.

"

In dimensions, the Nokia smartphone loses out, being the thickest of the three by little and the heaviest by quite a difference with its 185 grams. In return we get a more compact look and everything cool about the unibody> design"

HTC 8X

Being one of Microsoft's classic partners in the mobile world, HTC was not going to be left out of Windows Phone 8 and has prepared the HTC 8X for the high-end Not without controversy over the resemblance of its designs to the lines of Nokia's Lumia, the Taiwanese headliner is all a display of know-howand comes out very well against its rivals, with several points in which it leads.

The screen is not one of those sections where you come out on top. The HTC 8X offers the smallest screen of the three devices at 4.3 inches, but it does so while maintaining a stupendous 1280x720 resolution that gives it highest pixel densityof the comparison. Its Super LCD technology may be a little behind the rest but, from what we have been able to read in the Xataka analysis, it offers more than enough quality.In its guts we have the same dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor as the Lumia 920 and 1GB of RAM, although in this case with the smallest battery of the three in competition. It also lags a bit behind in storage, with 16GB internal and the lack of a microSD card slot.

Watch out for the photographic section, because, without monopolizing all the attention that the Lumia 920 has received on this issue, the 8X offers a more than satisfactory 8-megapixel camera, equipped with technology similar to that HTC has been offering it on its latest Android devices. And to complete the multimedia section, nothing better than taking advantage of his work with Beats Audio to provide the terminal with great sound. Without forgetting the LTE and NFC connectivity that it shares with its rivals.

Despite seeming to lag behind due to its smaller battery, less internal storage and lack of microSD slot, we found the explanation quickly when we took a look at its small size.The 8X is the smallest of the three top-end WP8s, though still thicker than the ATIV S, weighing in at a meager 130 grams. To this we must add a very attractive design that has received very good reviews from those who have had it in their hands for its appearance and comfort.

Samsung ATIV S

Surely the most enigmatic of high-end phones with Windows Phone 8. Samsung's terminal was the first to make itself known and, despite that, it looks like it will be the last that we can get our hands on. With availability still to be confirmed scheduled for January of next year, the Koreans are superior in several areas to try to convince us to keep waiting for their final exit.

The ATIV S boasts the largest screen size at 4.8-inch that leaves its competition behind.In addition, it comes with HD Super AMOLED technology that has given the company such good results in other devices. Instead it maintains the same resolution of 1280x720, leaving a lower pixel density than its rivals, although still at very high levels. Again we have a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and the same GB of RAM, although in this case it is supported by a 2,300 mAh battery, significantly larger than those of its opponents. As for storage, Samsung's is the most flexible, allowing you to choose an internal size of 16 or 32 GB and adding its possible expansion with microSD cards.

In the camera is perhaps where the ATIV S stands worse compared to the other two high-end competitors. Although it maintains the type with its 8 megapixels, the lack of promotion by Samsung rules out that we can think of special technological additions such as those advertised by its rivals in this field.All other features are on par with its rivals, including maximum connectivity and NFC.

Of course, as a work of engineering the Samsung smartphone stands out from the rest, thanks to its spectacular screen size contained in the thinnest bodyof the three, just 8.7mm thick. Add to that its meager 135 grams of weight, almost on par with the HTC 8X, and you have a real beast in a very contained body. Its design is probably the least showy of the three, but that may be a strong point that helps it convince users who prefer a more sober style on their phones.

Prices and availability

All this comparison of specifications would not make much sense if we do not know how much we will have to pay for each terminal and when we can get hold of them. It is of little use to provide your phone with the best on the market if the price is exorbitant.That is why we consider it important to emphasize this point so that data and information provided by the companies is not lost in the meantime.

Nokia announced yesterday that in Spain we will be able to purchase the Lumia 920 from the first fortnight of January with Vodafone or free at the price from 669 euros Meanwhile, the HTC 8X has been available exclusively since last month with Vodafone, but it can be found in online stores at a price of less than 500 euros The Samsung ATIV S in the end its release has been delayed until early 2013 with an announced price of 549 euros

The final verdict is waiting to be able to properly test all smartphones in order to have sufficiently informed conclusions and not let ourselves be carried away by numbers and brands. Meanwhile and on paper, they all seem to cover the main needs of usersNokia seems to have reached a higher level with the innovations incorporated into the Lumia 920, HTC has not missed the boat and has managed to put a spectacular 8X on the market at a competitive price, and Samsung more than complies and stands out from the rest by maintaining a design line more sober with the ATIV S. We already warned at the beginning that choosing one is not going to be easy