Another vote for the HTC M8 For Windows. There were rumors that the upcoming "10" would have a Windows variant but HTC hasn't revealed any plans for a Windows device; at least for the time being.
We get it, Micah, you do not like the M8, Some of us really do. The camera is the only downside and if you don't Zoom or use the Micro you will be more than happy with it, it is by far the best looking Windows phone, has great stereo speakers, fast processor, took to Windows 10 like a duck to water. If you want a top of the line Windows phone and not pay an arm and a leg the M8 is the way to go.
Can't you put Gmail on the outlook mail app on windows 10?That would explain it ha ha!
The BLU Win HD seems to stick out here. Plus it looks like HTC which look great. That's the one I'm looking at right now.
Yeah I'm not about to buy it anyway, not before Microsoft adds the ability to write and reply with another email than our outlook.com email on their mail client. I put all my personnal and pro emails in my email service (currently Gmail) and if I'm to move to MS I want to have that functionnality so I can answer clients from my phone. I'll see what's coming in the next few months but the BLU Win HD is pretty interesting.
Gotta hope.
'HTC 10 - with Windows 10' is a marketing gift and is too coincidental to waste.
"I got my little bro the hd LTE. They are actually cute phones and I think the design is better than HTC. That said I wish blu would release it's other android phones as windows phones tbh."
But earlier you said;
"That's just what happens when OEMs are lazy and release android rehashes "
I could put Gmail but it's the Outlook Mail App that's missing the feature not outlook.com. You could do it in Windows Phone 8.1 but the new app doesn't do it anymore nor does it on desktop which is a shame.
The thing that bugs me about the BLU is that it's already 1 year old and there's been no new phone announced. So going back into the Windows Mobile world would have to happen eventually but not right now I think.
I very much like the look of the VAIO Phone Biz, shame that it's (for the moment at least) Japan only.
Oh I see. I use outlook mail because I choose to not support google which makes my choice of phone difficult.
But that sucks you have no way to do that. Aren't there any mail apps on the store that can work work work Gmail?
Can't you forward the Gmail to your outlook address?But see that's the thing, if I go back on Windows Phone I want to use MS products not Gmail
If the apps supported it, I would move to outlook and use the app on my PC and on my Android phone and eventually on my Windows Phone.
The only improvement the m8 had was an 801 processor which is largely irrelevant as it more or less performed sometimes better and sometimes worse or sometimes just as good as the Lumia 1520/icon/930.
We really should stop this myth that the m8 was a top specced phone when it wasn't much different from a Lumia.
Also on the picture quality if we have to say things like "the camera is okay for everyday use or for social network as long as you don't crop or zoom" then that is not a good camera. I know HTC has its fans but we really need to stop downplaying it's shortcomings and overhyping its pros.
The OP had said that he don't like his current Lumia choice and looking for the best non-lumia device, it's pointless to bias bashing some non-lumia device with lumia device. All points you have against HTC W8 (besides pixel number) are all well suited to Alcatel, BLU....whatever OEM. But the fact is MSFT are releasing those exclusive apps to all windows phone and after w10m upgrade MSFT will taking cared of the further support so after w10m the OEM phone should be no different in terms of software experience compared to lumia devices and it's a coming future.
So back to the topic, the best non-lumia phone available now will be either HTC W8 or NuAns NEO from japan. The HTC has better FHD screen and NuAns NEO has default W10M loaded and continuum support. However the band support of NuAns NEO might be a problem and OP can check here Spec | NuAns see if it fits your local telecom system.
As for BLU, besides for it's poor hardware SPEC, HTC clone looking.
BLU Win HD LTE Review: a solid and affordable Windows Phone smartphone - Mobile Geeks
BLU Win HD LTE Review: Bold, high definition, and now LTE | Pocketnow
BLU Win HD LTE review: A gorgeous Windows Phone device at a decent price
BLU Win HD (Unlocked) Review & Rating | PCMag.com
Four reviews mentioned the subpar camera performance in common. I'm not sure what's the point to crop and zoom into some poor source image even it got higher pixel counts? Just a simple tip, you only need 2mp to achieve point-to-point display in FHD screen. Under this condition, 4mp camera makes loseless zoom to 140% while 8mp make it to 200%, that's the only difference. So in real life, one or two steps forward will compensate the pixel number difference while I'm not sure how to compensate the image quality difference.