Windows Phone 8: when can I get my new phone?

Windows Phone 8 release date: when can I get my new phone?
Shut up and take my money!

With the announcement of the Windows Phone 8 prices, you'll be pleased to know you won't need to wait long to get your hands on one.

But with a plethora of phones on offer, and a number of networks promising to thrust them into your hands, how much will you need to fork out and how many days will you have to count down?

The HTC Windows Phone 8X UK release date has been set for 2 November, but the rest of the phones will be available on multiple networks and retailers later in the month it seems.

HTC Windows Phone 8X

This is the first Windows Phone 8 handset we've subjected to our intensive testing (see the HTC 8X review to get an idea what's going on) and is a slightly more expensive option thanks to the Beats Audio power and improved design.

If you want to get your hands on the phone, pre-orders are now open for the HTC 8X, with a release date of 2 November being touted from the likes of Phones 4U, Three and Carphone Warehouse.

Some networks are charging for the phone up front, but here's our guide to how much you'll need to pay and the cost each month:

  • Phones 4U: (No cost up front) £31 per month
  • Carphone Warehouse: No price as yet
  • EE: (£29) £36 per month
  • O2: (£29) £36
  • Vodafone: No price as yet
  • Three: (£30) £29

HTC Windows Phone 8S

The little brother to the flagship Windows Phone 8 handset is proving a hit with the networks, with most choosing to range the new device.

With it's amp-less innards and lower spec, it's certainly one of the cheaper choices on offer – but just how much will it cost you?

Read our hands on: HTC 8S review

  • Phones 4U: (No cost up front) £20.50 per month
  • Carphone Warehouse: No price as yet
  • EE: (No cost) £20.50
  • O2: (No cost) £21.50
  • Vodafone: No price as yet
  • Three: No price as yet

Nokia Lumia 920

Nokia Lumia 920

This is the phone that most people are excited about – and for good reason, given the huge plethora of technology on offer inside. Be it wireless charging, the ability to text with gloves on or the Puremotion HD+ screen, it's got a lot going for it.

However, here's the rub: it will be an exclusive to EE (thanks to being the only 4G Windows Phone 8 handset) and will therefore cost a boatload to own. Sad times.

Read our hands on: Nokia Lumia 920 review

  • Phones 4U: (£19.99 cost up front) £46 per month
  • EE: (£49) £36 per month

Nokia Lumia 820

The little brother to the Finns' big hitter, the Lumia 820 offers some similar features but skimps on a few specs to keep the cost down.

You'll be able to chuck on a range of cases (including the ability to wirelessly charge) and a more-than-half-decent camera to boot – great for those on a budget, although it's not the cheapest on offer by far.

Read our hands on: Nokia Lumia 820 review

  • Phones 4U: (No cost up front) £31 per month
  • Carphone Warehouse: No price as yet
  • EE: (No cost) £36 per month
  • O2: (No cost) £36 per month
  • Vodafone: No price as yet

Samsung Ativ S

The 'under the radar' member of the Windows Phone 8 clan (thanks to only just being shown off in any kind of shape to the prying eyes of us journalists) it's been dubbed the Windows Phone 8 Galaxy S3… and that's a pretty good mantle to have.

It's thin, light and comes with a whopping Super AMOLED screen… this could be the underground hit for Microsoft if ever there was one, despite the fact not many networks are stocking it (read: O2).

Read our hands on: Samsung Ativ S review

  • Phones 4U: (No cost up front) £36 per month
  • O2: (No cost) £36 per month
Gareth Beavis
Formerly Global Editor in Chief


Gareth has been part of the consumer technology world in a career spanning three decades. He started life as a staff writer on the fledgling TechRadar, and has grown with the site (primarily as phones, tablets and wearables editor) until becoming Global Editor in Chief in 2018. Gareth has written over 4,000 articles for TechRadar, has contributed expert insight to a number of other publications, chaired panels on zeitgeist technologies, presented at the Gadget Show Live as well as representing the brand on TV and radio for multiple channels including Sky, BBC, ITV and Al-Jazeera. Passionate about fitness, he can bore anyone rigid about stress management, sleep tracking, heart rate variance as well as bemoaning something about the latest iPhone, Galaxy or OLED TV.