Verizon Wireless and HTC have just announced, what is the latest Windows Phone device for both companies. The last Windows Phone’s form HTC were back in September of 2013, and of course the 8X was on Verizon. But today they are taking what is already the best Android smartphone on the market, keeping all of the hardware and features, and unleashing the One M8 for Windows! It brings all of the great hardware from the HTC One M8 that we have come to enjoy, and packages it together with Windows Phone 8.1. The HTC One M8 for Windows is going to be available exclusively from Verizon Wireless, it will be available from their online store starting at 12PM today, August 18th 2014, and will be landing in stores on August 20th 2014. The One M8 for Windows comes in at $99.99 with a 2-year contract or for $29.99-a-month on Verizon Edge, and it will only be available in Gunmetal Gray.
The HTC One M8 for Windows still features a 5.0-inch Full HD Super LCD Display and the quality of this screen was phenomenal on the Android variant of the device. For durability, the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 layer of protection is still on board. It is powered by a 2.3GHz Quad Core processor with 2GB of RAM. The Duo Camera is still on the back of the device and will allow you to do some pretty cool image editing, like changing the focus and adding unique effects. For selfies, Snapchatting, or for video chatting on the go, you get a 5 megapixel camera on the front, which does have a wide-angle view as well. For storage, you will be getting 32GB of internal storage plus a micro SD card slot that can handle up to a 128GB micro SD card. The same 2600mAh battery is back on board, for the Windows Phone variant of the One M8 as well. HTC BoomSound is still on board and it will give the best sound experience on any mobile device. The One M8 for Windows will be a Global Device and thanks to Near Field Communications built right inside, it will work with ISIS Mobile Wallet as well. Plus, you will get the lightning fast speeds from Verizon 4G LTE and XLTE.
Now, let’s talk software, for starters out of the box you are getting Windows Phone 8.1 and this brings many new features. One of those new features is of course Cortana, and that would Windows Phone built-in virtual assistant. A new home screen experience, with Folders, a new action center, and the new Word Flow keyboard will be on board as well. From HTC, you will get BlinkFeed still on board, which is a great way to see all of your social updates, along with those from you favorite news sources all in one easy place. HTC Sense TV is coming to the Windows Phone variant and via the inferred sensor built-in, you will be able to control your TV right from your phone. This is the first time a feature like this, HTC Sense TV, has come to the Windows Phone platform.
Overall, HTC and Verizon want to be able to provide the same great experience we have come to enjoy with the HTC One M8, but they want to offer it with multiple operating systems. The Windows Phone variant of the One M8 brings all of the great features and gives us Windows Phone 8.1. It will be a very interesting device and I cannot wait to get my hands on the device, but if you’re looking for a Windows Phone the One M8 for Windows might just be called the best Windows Phone on the market. Once again, the device will be available at 12PM today from Verizon Wireless’s Online Store and it will land in Verizon retail stores on August 20th.
