This article was published on June 26, 2013

Sprint unveils HTC 8XT with BoomSound and Samsung ATIV S Neo as its first Windows Phone 8 handsets


Sprint unveils HTC 8XT with BoomSound and Samsung ATIV S Neo as its first Windows Phone 8 handsets

The HTC 8XT and Samsung ATIV S Neo will be the first Windows Phone 8 handsets to launch on US mobile operator Sprint this summer.

The HTC 8XT resembles the mid-range 8S and is fitted with a respectable 1.4 GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8930 processor. There’s 8GB of internal storage and 1GB of RAM, coupled with dual front-facing speakers, making it the first Windows Phone 8 smartphone to come with HTC’s ‘BoomSound’ moniker.

The 4.3-inch screen is a WVGA affair set at a resolution of 800×400, and there’s an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera for photographers. No ‘UltraPixels‘ in sight, it should be noted.

Screen Shot 2013-06-26 at 15.54.57

The Samsung ATIV S Neo is rather uninspired from an aesthetics standpoint, and offers near identical internals to the HTC 8XT, albeit with a 4.8-inch display. The only real differences are a 2,000 mAh battery and a slightly more powerful 1.9-megapixel camera on the front for video calls, beating the 1,800 mAh power pack and 1.6-megapixel snapper found in HTC’s offering.

Both devices are also LTE-enabled and wil abe able to take advantage of Sprint’s existing network with no metering, throttling or overages.

The Samsung ATIV S Neo will set consumers back $149.99, while the HTC 8XT comes in at a slightly cheaper $99.99 price point. Both are available when taking out a new line, or upgrading from a previous handset with a new two-year agreement.

Image Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

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