These are exciting times for Windows Phone, with the new OS release and some fantastic hardware. The upcoming portfolio of devices from HTC, Nokia and Samsung are extremely important for the growth and adoption of Windows Phone 8. One of the highly anticipated devices is from Nokia, a manufacturer who is all in on Windows Phone. Here’s our Nokia Lumia 920 review round-up, with reviews from some of the major tech blogs.
“You know that guy who walks into the coffee shop and unapologetically slams down a gigantic, 17-inch monster of a laptop on the table, declaring “This thing is a beast, but I don’t care.” That’s the Lumia 920. It’s a muscle car. It’s a monster truck.”
Bohn points out that the size allows for a larger display, generous battery and the PureView camera. The latter of which might have greater appeal to “knowledgeable users“.
To most eyes, the images look a little washed out and don’t “pop,” with not enough warm tones. A studied pro might say that they’re more accurate and true to life, but the vast majority of smartphone users don’t want to think about the nuances of optical imaging stabilization, they just want to take photos.
“…there’s a serious dearth of apps when compared to iOS and Android — and I’m not just talking raw numbers but popular apps that are table stakes on other platforms. Just as Internet Explorer 10 gets unfairly treated as a second-class citizen by many websites, developers are giving this platform short shrift.”
Those shopping the Lumia 920 vs the HTC 8X should certainly read the entirety of his review, as it offers a comprehensive look at the 920.
The Verge, Dieter Bohn
That’s the first thing you’ll notice from the Nokia Lumia 920 and the first thing everyone we’ve given it to hold has said to us. Asked to describe the phone in one word, it’s not good. We’ve had “brick” we’ve had “weighty”, we’ve had “chocolate bar” we’ve even had “tombstone”.
Stunning. That’s probably the best word to use when describing the Lumia 920’s PureView camera, especially when looking at low-light shots – something the Lumia 920 specialises in.
The razor sharp photos come from Nokia’s floating camera sensor. If you are able to get a stable shot, the images approach DSLR level.
In a series of tests against the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S III, the Nokia Lumia 920 out-performs other phones every time, giving you shots you can use with little noise. It really is the equivalent of night and day.
Pocket-Lint was extremely critical when speaking about third-party apps.
There aren’t any. Or at least, that’s the impression you’ll get from peering into the Windows Phone Store. That’s an incredibly heavy generalisation but, chances are, if you like apps, you’ll be disappointed with what’s on offer.
This isn’t an iPhone or Android killer, and given the choice over this or the HTC 8X we would have to pick HTC.
Stuart Miles, Pocket-Lint
The 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ screen on the Lumia 920 is big, bold, and beautiful. Photos and videos looked fantastic. The dual-core 1.5-GHz Snapdragon S4 processor in the Lumia 920 was snappy in everyday use. Its score of 236.55 in WP Bench matched that of the HTC 8X, which has the same CPU, and was well above the category average of 92.
When you’re touted as the flagship phone for a new mobile operating system, you’d better pull out all the stops. Nokia has done just that with the Lumia 920. It has a superior camera and camcorder (especially in low light), one of the sharpest and richest screens you’ll find on a smartphone, and wireless charging capability that will make your life easier.
Laptop Mag, Michael Prospero
Great camera. Beautiful display. Heavy. Weak app selection, despite Nokia offerings, but should improve with Windows Phone 8. That appears to be the general consensus among those who have had early access to the Lumia 920.
It’ll be interesting to see how consumers respond to the Nokia Lumia 920. More importantly, will AT&T representatives continue to steer customers to Android or iPhone. The Nokia 920 is an impressive piece of kit and the app catalog is more than sufficient for most users. It also comes with a killer app, the camera.
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