Verizon Introduces HTC 8X and the Nokia Lumia 822 Windows Phones

Verizon continues filling out its lineup of smartphones for the busy holiday season. Today it started offering a pair of models running Microsoft's new Windows Phone 8 operating system, one from Nokia and the other from HTC.

The Lumia 822 is built around a 4.3-inch, 800 x 480 (WVGA) touchscreen. It includes a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, with 1GB RAM, 8GB of internal memory, and a microSD card slot.

This smartphone includes an 8MP main camera as well as a front-facing one, and is a carrier-specific version of the Lumia 820.

The HTC 8X will be somewhat similar, it will also have a 4.3-inch display , an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 1.5GHz dual-core processor. Still, it will have some advantages, including a higher-resolution 1280 x 720 screen and Beats Audio.

The 8X costs a bit more, though: $200 with a new two year contract. Nokia's offering is $100 with contract and a $50 mail-in rebate.

The HTC device is available in blue, red, or black, while Nokia's comes in black, white, and grey.

For more information on either phone, have a look at our HTC 8X review or our preview of the Lumia 820 (the Lumia 822 is a carrier-specific version of the Lumia 820). And don't miss our review of Windows Phone 8.

Verizon plans to introduce a third model with Windows Phone 8, the Samsung ATIV Odyssey, later this year. The specifications, pricing, and release date for this have not yet been announced, but there have been rumors.