HTC 8X vs Nokia Lumia 925: A Windows Phone Battle

The HTC 8X and Nokia Lumia 925 were flagship Windows Phones vying for dominance. Both offered a compelling Windows Phone 8 experience, but with distinct design philosophies and feature sets. This detailed comparison will help you decide which device was the better choice back in the day.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nokia Lumia 925 edges out the HTC 8X thanks to its superior camera, slightly better display visibility in sunlight, and refined design. While both offer similar performance, the Lumia 925’s overall package felt more polished and premium.

PHONES
Phone Names	HTC Windows Phone 8X CDMA	Nokia Lumia 925

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-892
4G bands	13	1, 3, 7, 8, 20 - RM-892
Speed	HSPA, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO	2, 4, 5, 17 - RM-893

Launch
Announced	2012, November. Released 2012, November	2013, May. Released 2013, June
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	132.4 x 66.2 x 10.1 mm (5.21 x 2.61 x 0.40 in)	129 x 70.6 x 8.5 mm, 78 cc (5.08 x 2.78 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Micro-SIM	Micro-SIM
Weight	132.1 g (4.66 oz)	139 g (4.90 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 2	Corning Gorilla Glass 2
Resolution	720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~342 ppi density)	768 x 1280 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~332 ppi density)
Size	4.3 inches, 51.0 cm2 (~58.2% screen-to-body ratio)	4.5 inches, 57.6 cm2 (~63.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	S-LCD2	AMOLED
	-	PureMotion HD+ ClearBlack display

Platform
CPU	Dual-core 1.5 GHz	Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait
Chipset	-	Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus
GPU	-	Adreno 225
OS	Microsoft Windows Phone 8	Microsoft Windows Phone 8, upgradable to 8.1

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	16GB 1GB RAM	16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 1GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash
Single	8 MP, AF	8 MP, 1/3.0", AF, OIS
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	2.1 MP	1.3 MP
Video	1080p@30fps	720p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	3.1, A2DP, EDR	4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE/ aptX after WP8 Denim update
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS
Radio	No	FM radio
USB	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Music play	-	Up to 55 h
Stand-by	Up to 300 h	Up to 440 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 15 h	Up to 18 h 20 min (2G) / Up to 12 h 40 min (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 1800 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 2000 mAh, non-removable (BL-4YW)

Misc
Colors	California Blue, Graphite Black, Flame Red	Black, White, Gray
Price	About 200 EUR	About 260 EUR
SAR	0.69 W/kg (head) 0.85 W/kg (body)	1.42 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.81 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -82.5dB / Crosstalk -81.2dB
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 3.402:1 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 63dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 66dB

HTC Windows Phone 8X CDMA

Compact and lightweight design
Slightly more vibrant screen colors
Good build quality

Lower camera quality compared to Lumia 925
Less sunlight readable display
Less premium feel

Nokia Lumia 925

Excellent camera with OIS
Superior sunlight readability
Premium metal design
ClearBlack display technology

Larger size compared to HTC 8X
Colors slightly less vibrant than HTC 8X
Windows Phone 8 limitations

Display Comparison

Both phones feature 4.3-inch displays with a 1280 x 768 resolution. The Lumia 925 boasts a significantly better contrast ratio, especially in direct sunlight, thanks to its ClearBlack display technology. While the HTC 8X has slightly more saturated colors, the Lumia 925’s visibility in bright conditions is a clear advantage. The Lumia 925's contrast ratio is reported as 'Infinite' nominally, and 3.402:1 in sunlight, while the HTC 8X's is not explicitly stated but is noticeably lower.

Camera Comparison

The Lumia 925’s camera is the standout feature. It boasts a 20-megapixel PureView sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), delivering significantly better image quality, especially in low light. The HTC 8X has an 8-megapixel camera, which is decent but lacks the Lumia 925’s advanced features and image processing capabilities. Video recording is also superior on the Lumia 925.

Performance

Both devices are powered by dual-core 1.5 GHz processors, though the Lumia 925 utilizes a Krait CPU within the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus chipset, generally offering slightly better performance. Real-world usage feels very similar on both phones, with smooth navigation and app loading times. Gaming performance is adequate for the era, but not exceptional.

Battery Life

Battery life is comparable on both devices, typically lasting a full day with moderate usage. Both phones have around 1800mAh batteries. Neither phone was a battery champion, but they were adequate for the time.

Buying Guide

The HTC 8X is a good choice for those prioritizing a more compact design and a slightly more vibrant screen (though less sunlight readable). The Nokia Lumia 925 is ideal for users who value camera quality, a premium metal build, and a more refined overall experience.