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The Nokia Lumia 820 is set to launch alongside the Nokia Lumia 920 as a Windows Phone 8 device for those on a tighter budget. So, how does it stack up against the more affordable HTC Windows Phone 8S?

The Nokia Lumia 820 may have been overshadowed at point of launch by the flagship Nokia Lumia 920 but it’s quietly gathering many a consideration from those who are looking for a more mainstream handset.

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It’s essentially a mid-range smartphone and for most will be compared with the HTC Windows 8S, which is seen as much a similar device. With that in mind we thought we’d check both handsets out and see how they stack up.

Nokia Lumia 820 Vs HTC Windows Phone 8S: Size and shape

Take one look at the HTC Windows Phone 8S and here are striking similarities between it and the Nokia Lumia 820. It’s not just the array of bold and bright colours that are shared between the two, but it feels the HTC has been taking design cues from the now classic Lumia styling.

So what we end up with is a great looking smartphone that we’ll have to wait and see whether it live sup tot he build quality of the Lumia line or not. The HTC Windows Phone 8S is based around a 4-inch display, so is smaller and considerably lighter than the Nokia Lumia 820.

The Nokia Lumia 820 by contrast is a 4.3-inch smartphone, the same size of the high-end HTC Windows Phone 8X, and while it shares the same resolution as the 8S delivers a bigger and therefore more immersive experience.

Nokia Lumia 820 Vs HTC Windows Phone 8S: Tech specs

When we look under the hood we can start to see that that the HTC really is something of an entry-level smartphone. Sure both phones come with a dual-core snapdragon CPU, but you’ll find the Nokia Lumia 820 comes with a 1.5GHz variant, while the HTC Windows Phone 8S has the 1GHz version. It’s also got half the RAM, with just 512MB, so we’re expecting to see some lag at times,w which simply won’t be the case with the Lumia 820.

Then there is storage, the Nokia Lumia 820 delivers 8GB built-in, to the HTC Windows Phone 8S’ 4GB. Luckily both have microSD slots to add up to 32GB of extra storage, should you need it.

Nokia Lumia 820 Vs HTC Windows Phone 8S: Features

The HTC Windows Phone 8S is set to come with Beat Audio, which is a nice touch for those looking to use their smartphone for music and with a larger battery pack, the 8S will no doubt delivery a great battery life.

However, when it comes to features, the Nokia Lumia 820 leaves it behind. We can look forward to a better camera with Carl Zeiss optics, NFC and a screen that you can use in any conditions with your finger, gloved hand or even the end of a pen – something only the Lumia 820 and Lumia 920 can offer!

There is also the little matter of LTE supported in the Nokia Lumia 820, so you’ll be able to access 4G networks as they start to roll out towards the end of the year. 

What really sets the Nokia Lumia 820 apart is the addition of shells, which will allow for an endless variety to your smartphone not only in looks but also features. For example, if your want wireless charging, there will be a shell for that. How about something a little more rugged for those extreme excursions? Yup, there will be a shell for that.

Is the idea of the HTC Windows Phone 8S being comparable to the Nokia Lumia 820 a fair one, or do you think it’s more in line with the HTC Windows Phone 8X (which would leave the Nokia Lumia 920 out in a league of it’s own). Check out the tech spec comparison below and let us know what you think.