The end of 2014 is quickly approaching, so this is a great time to look back at the year that was in Windows Phone, and give our recommendation on the best Windows Phones for various price ranges. 2014 saw some change in the Windows Phone market, with the dominant player Nokia being purchased by Microsoft earlier this year. Microsoft also made some changes to the platform to make it easier to build a Windows Phone from scratch with the Qualcomm reference platform, and they changed the hardware requirements of the software to allow device makers to port their Android based smartphones over to Microsoft’s platform.

The former Nokia smartphone division is now Microsoft Mobile, and they have continued to churn out many different devices this year. This new division has focused mainly on the lower cost devices where they have seen the most traction. But the new hardware requirements have allowed a larger array of devices and manufacturers to come on-board in 2014. This has changed the landscape with competitive offerings from many manufacturers over a wide price range.

Flagship Phone: HTC One (M8) for Windows

Phones called flagships are going to need to earn it, with shortcomings more harshly criticized when the average selling price can be north of $600. The HTC One (M8) for Windows is the winner in this category. The combination of a sleek aluminum design, light weight, good battery life, microSD support, Boomsound speakers, and the fastest SoC available in any Windows Phone puts it over the top. Performance is important on all platforms, and the Snapdragon 801 is a potent choice for Windows Phone. Battery Life is another key, and here the HTC has a great showing as well. The 5 inch LCD has a 1080p resolution for 440 pixels per inch, and with a RGB subpixel arrangement.

The one shortcoming on the HTC One M8 is the camera. The 4 Ultrapixel duo cam rear shooter cannot compete against the likes of the Lumia 930’s 20 megapixel 1/2.5” sensor, but it still gives good low light performance although at the expense of resolution.

The HTC One (M8) for Windows also supports the funky dot view case which allows Cortana integration through the case. People who purchase the HTC One (M8) for Windows in the USA can now get the limited edition green Xbox dot view case until January 31^st 2015, and the device is now available from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile for around $600.

Overall, the HTC One (M8) for Windows is the more complete package, and camera aside, checks all the flagship boxes. If you value camera performance above battery life, the Lumia 930 would be runner up.

Phablet: Nokia Lumia 1520

Although the Lumia 1520 has been out for over a year now, there still is no real competition to it if you are after a Windows Phone phablet. The 6 inch behemoth still packs a punch too with the Snapdragon 800 SoC inside, which we found transformed the Windows Phone experience when we reviewed the Lumia 930. Also shared with the Lumia 930 is the excellent 20 megapixel 1/2.5” camera coupled with optical image stabilization and a six element lens with Zeiss optics.

The six inch display has a 1080p LCD with Glance support, a ClearBlack polarizer layer, and per pixel Content Adaptive Backlight Control for superior outdoor visibility. With 368 pixels per inch, it does not quite reach the insane 500+ ppi of some devices, but should still provide a crisp clear image. Nokia also includes Super Sensitive Touch, which allows the touchscreen to be operated with gloves on – a great idea at this time of year.

The 1520 has 32 GB of internal NAND, and support for an additional 64 GB through microSD if you find yourself craving additional storage.

The large form factor allows Nokia to pack a 3400 mAh 3.8 V battery into the 1520 as well, so all day computing on your smartphone should be no problem at all.

If you want a phablet, and you want Windows Phone, this is the device to get, and you can find it for less than $500 now.

Mid-Range Device: Nokia Lumia 830

The Lumia 830, which we just reviewed, is at the top end of the Nokia mid-range smartphone lineup. Armed with the same SoC as the other mid-range devices, it trumps them with a more premium feel and a surprisingly decent PureView camera. The five inch display also has the mid-range specs of 1280x720, and it has LTE support.

The one major downside to the Lumia 830 is the SoC though, which is underpowered compared to other devices in this price range. It does not stop Windows Phone from being quick to respond and fluid in motion, but it can hamper app loading times and performance within apps. The Lumia 830 has seen a quicker than normal worldwide availability though, which is a bonus. Prices can vary from region to region, from $0 to $100 on-contract pricing. Off-contract pricing can vary as well, but it is available at or around $360 outright from the right retailers. There are a couple of variants, so be sure to get the one that supports your local frequencies if purchasing from anyone other than your cellular provider.

If you are not someone who craves the latest and greatest SoC, the Lumia 830 is a great choice with a good in-hand feel, a thin body,  and light design. The removable back also has Qi wireless charging and gives access to the replaceable battery and microSD slot.

Low-Cost Device: Blu Win Jr

There is far more competition on the lower end of the price scale for Windows Phones now, with several companies launching devices this year. Going into this guide, people who follow Windows Phone might have guessed I would put the Nokia Lumia 630/635 here. The Lumia 630 is a good phone, and for the right price, it is not going to be a bad choice, but for me the 630 had too many compromises. There was no flash, no ambient light sensor, and on-screen keys. The Blu Win Jr delivers all of these features missing on the Lumia 630, and undercuts it on price as well.

Though we have not tested it here, the Win Jr is a lot of phone for the less than $90 unlocked asking price. The four inch display is a bit small compared to the norm now, but it makes the 800x480 resolution a bit sharper. The Snapdragon 200 is certainly low end, but carries the same quad-core Cortex A7 at 1.2 GHz as the higher priced Snapdragon 400 models. Although the GPU is not as strong, with only 512 MB of RAM the low cost phones are not going to be great for gaming anyway.

There are certainly some corners cut to get to this price, but you still get a front facing camera, ambient light sensor, 5 MP rear camera with LED flash, capacitive navigation keys, and microSD to compliment the paltry 4 GB of onboard storage.

So there you have it. If you are a Windows Phone fan looking for the next flagship, it is there, or if you maybe just want to check out the platform, jump in for less than $100 with the Blu. The number of devices has expanded quite a bit since the last time we took a look at the platform, and hopefully this will continue into 2015 with some exciting new models.