FollowThe Lumia 920 could be the last throw of the dice for the Finnish company which once dominated the mobile phone industry. It now attempts to provide a valid alternative to the existing smartphones of Apple and Google’s Android. Lumia 920 is constructed splendidly. It comes with the best camera on the market and with an excellent display. However, its size and the third party apps ecosystem could not match its rival platforms.
Design and Built
Lumia 920’s design is inviting and fresh. It is quite a huge phone though. It weighs 182g and is 10.7 mm thick. While the technology that is packed on its shell is appreciated such as the camera and the stabilization system of the floating lens optical image, it is bigger and thicker than its competing smartphones.
Many people have loved Nokia handsets especially the feel of curves into the hands when they are picked or held, letting them aware that the manufacturers really thought a lot about ergonomics. The polycarbonate block curls nicely in the hands and its buttons on the right side are all placed so the device would be handled with one hand, albeit the lustrous finish is slippery. It has no expandable memory, though the device comes with 32 GB that seems to be enough for most users.
Lumia 920 has several small but welcomed touches of its design – the buttons that are made from ceramic which are supposed to prevent scratches. The headphone jack that is placed at the center on top as well as the torx screws on the bottom. This attention to detail is commendable as many smartphone makers tend to overlook them.
Lumia 920 comes in bright colors such as red, bright yellow and the traditional colors of black and white models. The black colored device has the typical matte finish.
Screen
Nokia Lumia 920 comes with a screen resolution of 1280 by 768 and pixel density of 332 ppi. Its screen is one of the best in the market with colors that are eye-catching and vibrant. The texts are clear and crisp with no visible aberrations. Nokia uses “PureMotion HD+” technology that offers a scrolling free of blur. Its between screens are smooth and sleek while the device can work perfectly well even with the direct sunlight outdoors and respond to the touch even to those wearing gloves – a feature that is so handy in cold climates.
Speed
Nokia Lumia 920 is one of the first devices that run the most recent version of the Windows Phone platform, Windows Phone 8. It is fast and efficient offering no lags when flipping between apps or scrolling through the list. Internet browsing scrolling is faster than Android phones. The partnership of Lumia and Windows Phone 8 results to a polished speedy device.
Windows Phone 8
Windows Phone 8 adds a new interface to the home screen. There are now more customization of colors, Skype integration, a Kid’s corner, revamped backup, SMS backup and People Hub expansion with new “Rooms” of share lists, photos and calendars. The ecosystem has great core features. All users receive 7 GB of free SkyDrive storage. The Microsoft Office app handles Excel and Word docs with ease and is undoubtedly the best client on any mobile. The music service of the Xbox at $11.99 monthly or $119.90 annually for unlimited streaming of music is quite decent. Though it is odd to realize that it cannot open a .wav file, like the voicemail message service that is used by many workplaces.
Pre-Loaded Apps: Nokia Maps and Nokia Drive
Not found on other Windows Phones, Nokia adds pre-loaded apps such as Nokia Drive and Nokia Maps. The Nokia Drive provides free easy and clean to navigate layout. The Maps is more comprehensive than Apple’s or that of iPhone 5 and better than Google Maps running on Android phones in some features. It allows a download of maps of whole countries to use when there is no network coverage, using its GPS chip that is built-in.
Third-Party Apps
Nokia Lumia 920 has great bundled apps but lacks third-party apps. Dropping by Microsoft App Store will show the absence of important apps which many use in a daily basis with iOS and Android. Examples are Dropbox, Instagram, Pocket, Pulse News, Flipboard, Pinterest and Spotify. The prices of its apps are also higher.
Pros & Cons
Nokia Lumia 920 is an efficient and fast smartphone. It has an excellent screen with a great design and construction and best camera. Its buttons are placed so to make a one-hand use comfortable and easy. Its screen displays are of vibrant colors and perfect viewing angles. Running the Nokia apps is fast and smooth.
The first noticeable thing about Lumia 920 is its size. It is also heavy and thick, its Windows Phone apps are limited and its battery life is average.
Conclusion
The Nokia Lumia 920 is a great smartphone that is perfectly constructed with an excellent screen and outstanding camera. However, its size and weight are quite noticeable because it is heavier and thicker than its competitors. Users who want for light and thin phones may just look elsewhere. Its third-party apps are limited and its Windows Phone app cannot rival that of iOS and Android smartphones. This is a very nice handset Microsoft can be proud of. It really depends on the user needs. For those who want a device for more of a luxury, then Nokia Lumia 920 is worth it. For people who also don’t care about weight, size and third-party apps, this phone is a great thing to own.
