HTC 8X to launch in India for Rs 35,023

At a regional launch in Singapore, HTC has just announced the pricing of its flagship Windows Phone 8 smartphone, the HTC 8X. This model will be available this month in India at a market operating price (MOP) of Rs 35,023. The HTC 8X features the new Windows Phone 8 operating system and Beats Audio.

Speaking at the announcement of the brand’s first Windows Phone 8 handsets, the HTC 8X and 8S, Faisal Siddiqui, Country Head, HTC India, said, “Windows Phone has clearly emerged as one of the top mobile ecosystems and is competitive against any other smartphone platform in the world. We are confident that the iconic design and incredible innovation of the Windows Phone 8X and Windows Phone 8S by HTC will help consumers fully realize the potential and lifestyle benefits offered by these smartphones.”

Available in a range of colours

At the announcement, HTC stated that it created the Windows Phone 8X to blend the virtual and the physical, utilising a three dimensional, pure uni-body design based on the Windows Phone Live Tiles.  The HTC 8X has a tapering body, which makes the handset look and feel thin. The handset is available in colours such as California Blue and Graphite Black in a matte finish.

Highlighted features of the HTC 8X:

• 4.3-inch S-LCD2 touchscreen with a 720 x 1280 pixel resolution

• 3G, EDGE, dual-band Wi-Fi

• Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP, USB 2.0

• GPS with A-GPS Support and GLONASS

• 8MP AF camera with 1080p video recording and an LED flash

• Secondary 2.1MP Camera

• 16GB internal memory

For the first time, HTC is introducing a 2.1MP, f/2.0 aperture, with an 88-degree ultra-wide angle front-facing camera that allows up to four people to be captured in the frame. It also supports 1080p video capture. The rear camera sports an 8MP sensor with backside-illumination (BSI) for low-light performance, along with an f/2.0 aperture, 28mm lens, and the dedicated HTC ImageChip. HTC claims that a physical shutter button makes it quick and easy to capture images even if the phone is locked.

HTC states that Beats Audio is exclusively available on HTC smartphones. The Windows Phone 8X by HTC offers an audio amplifier powering the 3.5mm audio jack and the speaker.

The Windows Phone 8X by HTC has a 4.3-inch, HD-resolution, super LCD 2 screen, protected by lightweight Gorilla Glass 2. The optical lamination reduces reflections and glare.

It comes pre-loaded with the Windows Phone Store and Xbox Live, from where it is possible to access the latest video, music, and gaming content.