Nokia Lumia 920 (AT&T)

Bottom Line:

One of the first handsets shipping with Windows Phone 8, the big, beautiful Nokia Lumia 920 is the most powerful, versatile option available. But the phone itself is overgrown, and the platform has some growing to do.

PROS

• Beautiful screen.
• Exclusive apps including free driving and transit directions.
• Excellent video recorder.

CONS

• Huge and heavy.
• Windows Phone has fewer and different apps from more popular platforms.

Read Our Nokia Lumia 920 (AT&T) Review

Nokia Lumia 928 (Verizon Wireless)

Bottom Line:

The Lumia 928 is the best Windows phone yet, but it isn’t Verizon’s best phone overall.

PROS

• Very good low-light camera performance.
• Excellent call quality.
• Bright flash.

CONS

• Big and bulky.
• Fewer apps than Android and iOS.

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Read Our Nokia Lumia 928 (Verizon Wireless) Review

HTC Windows Phone 8X (AT&T)

Bottom Line:

The HTC 8X is a powerful Windows Phone in a slim, pocket-friendly form factor.

PROS

• Excellent balance of size and power.
• Great design.
• Sharp screen.
• Killer Beats Audio.

CONS

• Photos are a bit washed out.
• Lacks high-quality free navigation apps.

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Read Our HTC Windows Phone 8X (AT&T) Review

Nokia Lumia 521 (T-Mobile)

Bottom Line:

The Nokia Lumia 521 for T-Mobile is a good smartphone for a great price, as long as you don’t mind Windows Phone’s lack of apps.

PROS

• Good call quality.
• Comfortable design.
• Inexpensive.

CONS

• No camera flash.
• Weak app selection.
• No LTE or HSPA+ 42.

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Read Our Nokia Lumia 521 (T-Mobile) Review

Windows Phone got off to a slow start, but according to new stats, it’s been gaining steadily in recent months. Part of this is due to Microsoft’s release of Windows Phone 8 late last year, and part of it is due to some really standout devices.

It’s pretty clear that, when it comes to Windows Phone, Nokia is king—its phones alone make up three quarters of this list. HTC had a strong showing with the Windows Phone 8X, but no other manufacturer has put all its eggs in Microsoft’s basket in quite the same way Nokia has.

So why go for a Windows Phone compared with one from Apple, Google, or even BlackBerry? For starters, Windows Phone is supremely easy to use, which makes it an attractive option for users upgrading to a smartphone for the very first time. It also has superior integration with Microsoft’s Office apps, which is a big selling point for some. And on top of that, it’s more configurable than Apple’s iOS, but less intimidating than Google’s Android, which makes it just right, as many recent converts will probably tell you; there’s a reason it just snagged the top honors in our Readers’ Choice awards.

Something to consider: You probably haven’t seen too many Windows phones in the wild. That’s because, despite the fact that Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 operating system is fast, good-looking, and simple, it still lacks many of the popular apps that smartphone users want. This is changing more and more each day, but it’s something to keep in mind as you peruse the phones on this list. The Lumia 928 may have the best low-light camera attached to a smartphone, but it doesn’t have Candy Crush.

And one thing you won’t find on this list: any phones from Sprint. Sprint plans to offer a pair of Windows phones at some point this summer, but it doesn’t have any right now. We’ll be sure to get our hands on them as soon as we possibly can, so check back to see if they make the cut.