I don't see any fails or even outright bad phones hitting at launch. We have some lower end phones, a necessity to expand the smartphone market.
The 8S and 810/820/822 are those entry or near entry level phones. Lower MP cameras, lower internal storage to keep costs down, and micro SD expansion. The 8S benefits from the Beats software and is heralded by many as the best looking of all the phones, a perspective I tend to agree with even though I won't get that phone. It has the lower resolution display, but a good enough res that non-techheads will be fine. The Lumia 800s are similar with the ability to run the Nokia apps. Nokia's advantage on the lower end is their apps. HTC's 8S has Gorilla Glass, so it appears to be a bit more durable.
Then there's the high end and WP8 has something for everyone. You want Drive+, City Lens, Pureview with OIS, and 32GB built-in storage, and the highest resolution possible in WP8? The 920 is the only phone for you then and, right now, AT&T is the only carrier for you. It's going to be a great phone and I have no doubt that those who pick it will love it.
Then we've got the HTC 8X. Extra amps, a little bit lighter, good camera (probably just a notch below the 920 in low light, but appears on par with iPhone 5 - and of course does not have OIS). Have heard it sounds about as good as a phone can when playing music out of the phone speaker. Great 720p display and a dedicated photo processor that appears to make it the fastest snapper. Does not have the Nokia apps, but does have Nokia Maps - a huge plus for all of WP8. Stunning phone. Frankly, the 920 and the 8X will cause a lot of phone envy from other users based on their looks. Both phones are stunning. WP8 has the two best looking phones on the market.
Then there's the Samsung. Biggest display size, ultra thin, removable battery, 32GB on board storage and the only premium WP8 device that is able to also use micro SD expansion. If you want a high end phone with a good camera and the ability to store a ton of data/pictures/music locally then this is your phone.
We can debate which is better, but I think its a matter of what each person wants. These phones shows us why Windows Phone 8 is the superior platform, not just because of the OS itself, but by the selection.
With iPhone, you get what Apple wants you to get. With Android, you have tons of variety but there will be a learning curve if you go from manufacturer to manufacturer because there can be a lot of variety in buttons, widgets, skins, etc. You can't pick up someone else's Android and instantly navigate the phone necessarily. You can do that with iPhone, but there's no variety with the phone.
Windows Phone finds the happy medium. If you end up with an 8X but have a friend with a 920, you will be able to work the 920 without any effort if you pick it up. It will have a two stage camera button, just like your phones. You'll know all the functions of the back, start, and search buttons. You'll know what tapping the power button does. You'll know what's in the settings tile. Yet both phones will also look the same and different because the live tiles will tell a lot about who you are. And so will the phone. Different shapes, different colors.
Android can get different colors too, but it's not going to replicate the WP8 experience. Will the Android phone have a physical camera button or not? You know the iPhone won't (hate that - the two stage button is genius).
So let's celebrate diversity. There are hardly any reasons for someone not to get a WP8 over iPhone or Android outside of "but it doesn't have THAT app!". We're getting phones that cover the spectrum and it is only just beginning. It's going to get even better from here. And WP8 can rock iOS and Android quad cores with just dual cores. Wait until the quads come. We've got the best kernel of them all, the best security, the most stability, and the best looking phones. No need to quarrel between different phone fans.
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