Interested in Windows Phone 8? Here’s a complete roundup of upcoming devices

We give a quick and comprehensive overview of the devices set to launch alongside Microsoft's Windows Phone 8.

Windows Phone has struggled to establish a foothold in the crowded smartphone marketplace, and the distance between Microsoft and its competitors is only growing. Microsoft hopes this will all change with the release of Windows Phone 8 and device manufacturers like Nokia, HTC, Samsung, and Huawei ready to back it up on the hardware front. 

We surfed the web for hours (seriously, it was hard) to put together a list of all the WP8 devices set to launch alongside the new OS at the end of October. And if we may be so bold, each company has put out some of its best work under the Microsoft name. Below are the first Windows Phone 8 devices.

(*Note: All devices below run on Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processors.)

Nokia Lumia 920

Screen: 4.5 inches, 1280×768 pixels, 332ppi, IPS LCD
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core, 1GB RAM, 32GB storage
OS: Windows Phone 8
Camera: 8.7MP rear (1080p video), 1.2MP front (720p video)
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+ 
Price: TBA

Description: The Lumia 920 is posed to be Microsoft’s savior for Windows Phone 8, a White Knight on horseback ready to cut a swath through all the iPhones and Androids out there. Nokia claims the big draw for consumers comes from its superior camera technology and software innovations. Its latest line up comes with wireless charging and elements of its PureView camera. On the software front, it has its own maps and a music streaming app. Not to mention it looks gorgeous with a polycarbonate, high-gloss, unibody design.  

Nokia Lumia 820

Screen: 4.3 inches, 800×480 pixels, 217ppi, AMOLED
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage
OS: Windows Phone 8
Camera: 8MP rear (1080p video), 0.3MP front (VGA video)
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Price: TBA

Description: The Lumia 820 may be aimed at more budget-minded consumers, but it still holds onto the wireless charging (with the right accessory) and software present in its older brother (but a lesser camera). Like the 920, the 820 comes in a bunch of bright colors but in this case, the colored backplates are interchangeable. Since it doesn’t follow a unibody design, the 820 also has a removable battery and supports microSD so you can jack up the storage up to 32GB.

 
HTC Windows Phone 8X

Screen: 4.3 inches, 1280×720 pixels, 341ppi, Super LCD 2
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage
OS: Windows Phone 8
Camera: 8MP rear (1080p video), 2.1MP front (1080p video)
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Price: $200 with a 2-year contract 

Description: At first glance, the HTC Windows Phone 8X looks like it may just be a cheap knock-off of Nokia’s Lumias. However, once you get past the familiar form factor and dizzying color options, the 8X does hold its own. It’s crafted from the same polycarbonate that gives the Lumia its signature swagger. HTC has also included Beats Audio here, much like in its One-branded smartphones. The non-expandable 16GB storage may be a drawback, but that wholly depends on your storage needs.

 HTC Windows Phone 8S

Screen: 4 inches, 800×480 pixels, 233ppi, Super LCD
Specs: 1GHz dual-core, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage (32GB)
OS: Windows Phone 8
Camera: 5MP rear (720p video)
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Price: TBA

Description: HTC’s Windows Phone 8S is the cheaper option in the company’s WP8 offerings, and it’s a fairly large step down spec-wise from its more luxurious counterpart. The two-toned coloring is pretty flattering, but the cheaper, plastic build can’t compete with the polycarbonate body of the 8X; the saving grace is that HTC opted for a matte finish. Like the Lumia 820, the 8S supports microSD for added storage. The 8S also doesn’t have a front-facing camera, a rather weird move considering Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype and it’s RAM, screen resolution, and storage are lacking. 

Samsung ATIV S

Screen: 4.8 inches, 1280×720 pixels, 306ppi, HD Super AMOLED
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core, 1GB RAM, 16 or 32GB storage
OS: Windows Phone 8
Camera: 8MP rear, 1.9MP front
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Price: TBA

Description: Judging by the looks of the ATIV S, Samsung wasn’t invited to Microsoft’s neon-centric design meeting. In stark contrast to its fellow WP8 devices, the ATIV S is rocking a brushed metallic finish and only comes in a single color option. However, it’s certainly nice to see Samsung can make a device that isn’t made of plastic. The ATIV S wins in terms of storage space, supporting up to 32GB of added storage through an appropriately sized microSD. But all in all, the ATIV S isn’t as unique as what Nokia and HTC are presenting. Samsung may, literally, be phoning it in.

Huawei Ascend W1 and Ascend W2

Not a lot is known about Huawei’s rumored pair of Windows Phone 8 devices. We’re still waiting for the official unveiling, but we do know the W1 will be its flagship device and the W2 will most likely be a mid-range device.

However, if the Ascend is anything like the Android-powered P1 then the smartphone will pack a 4.3-inch screen, Super AMOLED display, and 4GB of storage. Due to Microsoft’s restrictions on Windows Phone 8 devices, we can expect the Ascend will also come with a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 and 1GB of RAM. It will also probably look a lot like the device pictured at left. 

Here’s hoping Huawei puts its best foot forward here and launches an incredible pair of smartphones. 

Any of these new devices stand out to you? Are you planning on upgrading to Windows Phone 8 when it launches? Let us know in the comments below.