Nokia Lumia 1520 Review
Introduction
Nokia Lumia 1520 is definitely one of the stars of 2013. It is everything that Windows Phone users were longing for since the new trend for large sized devices conquered the tech world. It is hard to describe all the advantages of Lumia 1520 in just few words. It sports a 6-inches display with 1080p resolution, it works with quad-core Snapdragon 800 chipset under the hood and boasts 20MP rare camera. Let’s not forget that the new high-end phablet runs on Windows Phone 8 platform and takes advantage from all the benefits that the GDR 3 update brings – large display with three-column live tiles and abundance of features, blazing fast quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and LTE connectivity.
Design and Display
Lumia 1520 is a relatively large device, but it is a lot lighter and slimmer than you can expect. Its appealing design and premium built in combination with the ergonomic shape make one of the most attractive devices of this size that feels great in the hand. The new high-end phablet sports a 6-inches LCD display with the impressive resolution of 1920x1080p. The screen is truly brilliant, with vibrant and sharp colors, excellent viewing angles and perfect performance in strong sunlight. It is protected with a Gorilla Glass 2. Lumia 1520 will be offered in four main colors – white, black, red and yellow. The design of the high-end device is in tune with the appearance of the Lumia family and reminds a lot to Nokia Lumia 820 and Nokia Lumia 920 for example.
Hardware
Nokia Lumia 1520 is powered by a quad-core 2.2GHz processor with Snapdragon 800 chipset on board and 2GB RAM. It provides beyond excellent performance, faster than anything we have seen until not in a Lumia device. According to Nokia, the phablet will be able to record 4K video thanks to the flawless work of the CPU and the RAM. It comes with 32GB internal memory pre-installed and provides the possibility to expand it via microSD slot.
Lumia 1520 works with non-removable battery with the impressive capacity of 3400mAh. It assures juice for the device for up to 124h in music play mode.
Camera
The 6-inches display with HD 1080p resolution along with the Windows Phone 8 OS is great news for users. But that is not all that Lumia 1520 has to offer. The new high-end smartphone boasts a 20MP main camera with Carl Zeiss optics and PureView technology that is also integrated in the outstanding camera-phone released this year, Nokia Lumia 1020 with 41MP shooter. As expected, the camera of Nokia Lumia 1520 is modest compared to the camera-based smartphone, but compared to its rivals on the market, the new phablet certainly wins the competition. Nokia has provided a dedicated camera button for the handset. It is enriched with a dual-LED flash and excellent OIS. The specs of the camera include also a BSI sensor, a 2.4mm aperture, 16:9 aspect ratio and 26mm focal length. It is needless to say that Lumia 1520 works with the Nokia Camera app that assures a rich variety of apps, modes and features, like Smart, Pro and Video modes among others. The new phablet works with the same user interface for the camera app from its sibling Lumia 1020. It is easier than ever to adjust the settings you want directly from the slider controls and see immediately how the changed settings will impact the quality of the pictures. One of the most interesting apps that you can use with Nokia Lumia 1520 is the just launched Nokia Storyteller that blends the capabilities of Nokia HERE Maps and the PureView possibilities to provide you with the possibility to share stories with pictures and videos. The sharing with the social networks, Vine and Instagram is easy and fast. The second camera of the device is set on the front panel with 1.2MP.
Software and Connectivity
Nokia Lumia 1520 works over the newest update of the Windows Phone 8 platform GDR 3. This is the main reason why it is possible for Nokia to develop a large-sized device powered by Microsoft’s operating system. Along with support for bug displays, the GDR 3 update brings support for quad-core Snapdragon 800 chipset, the three-column tile homescreen and improved user interface, exceptional multitasking capabilities and numerous features for users to enjoy. The refreshed design of the platform improves the user experience.
In terms of connectivity, Nokia Lumia 1520 is provided with all the modern features you can think about. It arrives with support for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G and LTE 4G networks as well for HSPA+. It assures also GPS and NFC connectivity.
Availability and Price
Nokia Lumia 1520 is an outstanding high-end phablet that will be distributed globally later this month. The price for the unlocked model is $750. If we compare it its rivals o the market, this is the same price of the Apple iPhone 5S 32GB and it is slightly more expensive than the newly released Samsung Galaxy Note 3 phablet. AT&T was the first carrier in the States that officially confirmed that will release the Nokia Lumia 1520. It is expected to be launched by the biggest mobile operators in the US and overseas. The expected price on a contract for the phablet is $250. As we mentioned in the beginning it will be offered in 4 color variants – red, yellow and the classic white and black.
Conclusion
Nokia Lumia 1520 is among the most innovative and impressive smartphones we have seen in the tech world until today. It brings the top notch quality of Nokia, the attractive appearance of the Lumia line, the blazing fast speed of the Snapdragon 800 processor and the 20MP PureView camera. All this powered by the newest Windows Phone 8 platform and packed in a sleek and slim body with premium feel and look and 6-inches HD 1080p display. What more can users want?
