Review Nokia Lumia 920 Smartphone

A yellow cracker! At least in our case. Nokia also offers the Lumia 920 in red, black and white. But it is not just the colors that differ. For example, the black model's casing features a matte finish in contrast to the yellow model which is made of high-gloss poly-carbonate. The sleek surface has its pros and cons. The good grip is positive. It is not slippery. On the other side, the casing is very susceptible to small scratches which cannot be prevented. We find the looks of the Lumia very appealing. The blend of rounded sides and the linear finish at both the top and bottom make a very solid impression. However, it looks very bulky in contrast to Apple's iPhone 5 or HTC's Windows Phone 8X.

Its stability also makes a very good impression. The phone only warps marginally even when stronger force is applied. We did not ascertain any unusual noises. The clacking noise produced when shaking the phone should not discomfort the user. It is the camera's optical image stabilizer. The noise is very quiet. The phone will usually not be moved to such an extent as that this noise would be perceived in everyday use. Nokia does not surprise in terms of maintenance. The battery is built-in and cannot be replaced (mono-block build). This is certainly an advantage for Samsung's ATIV 2 smartphone in the WP8 category.

Finally, we compare the hard facts: Nokia's Lumia 920 features a size of 130 x 71 x 10.7 millimeters (w x d x h/~5.12 x 2.80 x 0.42 inches) and weighs 185 grams (~0.41 pounds). It is much thicker and heavier than comparable smartphones. Apple's iPhone 5 only has a height of 7.6 millimeters (~0.30 inches, 29 percent less) and weighs 112 grams (~0.25 pounds, 40 percent lighter). This difference is noticed in a direct comparison. Samsung's Galaxy S3 has the bigger screen but is also only 8.6 millimeter thick (~0.34 inches, 20 percent less) at a total weight of 133 grams (~0.29 pounds, 28 percent lighter). HTC's Windows Phone 8X is also much lighter at 130 grams (~0.29 pounds) despite the same screen diagonal. 

Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 is used as the operating system. We recently scrutinized it in the review of HTC's Windows Phone 8X. The handling is the same: The OS is intuitive in use and features a stylish user interface. The preinstalled applications are a unique characteristic in the same mobile operating system. Nokia has a few nifty treats in this field.

In addition to the usual bloatware (HRS, sport news, news, local finder, etc.), applications like Nokia's City Compass, Nokia Drive+ Beta (free navigation software with maps from Navteq) or Nokia Maps are nifty features. The latter mentioned three apps made a good impression in the practical test. Excepting for Google Maps, decent navigation software for Android or IOS often has to be bought for a steep price.

Nokia's smartphone is compatible with most networks worldwide owing to the support of the four main GSM frequencies (850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz). A modern peta-band LTE chip is integrated for mobile Internet access. Up to 100 MBit/s in download and 50 MBit/s in upload are possible with a corresponding mobile phone contract. In contrast to Apple's iPhone 5, the use of long term evolution (LTE) is not limited to only the network of the Deutsche Telekom. This is a big advantage for users who depend on fast connections. Of course, the chip is backwards compatible. In addition to LTE, HSPA+ (3G) with a maximum download of 42.2 MBit/s is also supported. The SIM card tray is designed for micro SIM standards. Bigger mini SIM cards do not fit in the device. Affordable Nano-SIM adapters are available at the mobile phone providers.

Connecting to positioning satellite systems is fast thanks to A-GPS and Glonass. The connection is very stable outdoors. Reception only declines a bit in most rooms indoors. Problems could arise in rooms with thick reinforcing steel, basements or highway tunnels. Nevertheless, an overall solid performance from the test device.

Telephony

The corresponding tile is found on the home screen's upper left ex-factory. It can be resized, dragged or even deleted as desired. This function is available in the menu that is displayed by left-wiping over the screen. The functionality only looks different from other operating systems. Contact, search and mailbox icons are displayed beside the number pad. It is also possible to make calls via the browser or from an email in the system.

Cameras

The likely most important unique selling point of Nokia's Lumia 920 is the integrated primary camera, which the company labels "PureView". The module sports a BSI sensor with 8.7 megapixels, a Tessar objective from Carl Zeiss and an optical image stabilizer. The camera can shoot pictures in 3552x2448 pixels and videos in 1080p with 30 frames per second whereby it makes use of so-called pixel oversampling. Thus, more pixels exist in a smaller area. The image stabilizer is placed on a suspension mechanism which should enable taking pictures and videos in poor light conditions without major shaking. The automatic LED flash is engaged in this case and helps focus the picture more quickly. More details about PureView can be read in Nokia's white paper.

A dedicated button is installed for the camera on the smartphone's right. The application also opens from standby when it is pressed. The test pictures we took were acceptable. However, the pictures look rather soft in daylight. The first tries in unfavorable light were compelling though. The integrated post-processing feature counters image noise directly on the smartphone. Nevertheless, you should not expect the picture quality of a DSLR. This also applies, for example, to the response time. We also had to reckon with less delay in our test device.

In our opinion, Windows 8's camera application does not do justice to the lens of Nokia's Lumia 920. The setting options are limited. In addition to four icons for flash settings, swapping the camera module, video recording and picture apps, more settings can be found behind the three points on the right. The most important detail settings can be made there. The image quality of pictures cannot be influenced. The pictures are made in a resolution of 1278x720 pixels, whereby the pixel density is increased through pixel oversampling. Overall, it is not a revelation for eager hobby photographers. The settings are sufficient for snapshots without high expectations.

We tested the primary camera's optical image stabilizer (OIS) by foot, on the bicycle and stationary. Overall, the camera makes good pictures in a high-res 1080p standard (1920x1080 pixels, Full HD) with 30 frames per second. Owing to the continuous autofocus, you do not have to think about the picture too much. Of course, the performance cannot keep up with the quality of a high-end DSLR or action cam, such as the new GoPro Hero 3 featuring 4K support.

The front-facing camera in the Lumia 920 features a resolution of 1.3 megapixels. It exhibited a medial picture quality in the practical test. The picture remained relatively blurry and soft even after several tries. In return, there was barely any visible image noise. In addition to pictures, the module enables video recordings in 720p standard (30 fps). The quality is acceptable. The lens in Apple's iPhone 5 (1.2 megapixels) makes considerably more focused recordings with visible noise. The lens on the front is conceived for video chats. It is also well-suitable for that in the right light. Nevertheless, it is not a wide-angle lens. HTC's Windows Phone 8X features such a front-facing camera.

The necessary things for immediate use are found in the box. Besides the smartphone, we find a compact USB power supply unit with the corresponding cord, a very well-designed headset model Wh-208, printed documentation and a very small tool for opening the SIM card slot. The quick start guide is well-structured and definitely worth reading. Nokia also offers a few accessories on the product website for the Lumia 920; among other things, products for wireless charging, various speakers and headsets.

Warranty

Nokia includes a 24-month warranty on the smartphone. As expected, the battery and accessories are only covered for 12 months. Interestingly, the PSU does not belong to the accessories and is only protected for six months by the warranty. A warranty upgrade is currently not offered on Nokia's website.

Nokia's Lumia 920 features a 4.5-inch screen with a resolution of 768x1280 pixels, which is protected by a layer of Corning's Gorilla Glass 2. The rounded edges are an advantage. It creates a pleasant feel even without the edging. The edges are very palpable. On the other hand, the additional layer of Gorilla Glass causes intense reflections. Nokia describes the used technology with the name "PureMotion HD+ Touchscreen". The screen is based on IPS technology in connection with LEDs for the light. Owing to a high pixel density of 332 dpi, the single pixels are not seen. Apple's iPhone 5 or Google's new Nexus 4 are on a par with 326 and 320 dpi, respectively.

We first measure the LED screen's available luminosity. The screen achieved an average of approximately 322 cd/m² and is thus in a good midfield. The iPhone 5 stands out with an average rate of over 450 cd/m². Google's Nexus 4 is inferior with a maximum of 283 cd/m². But it is a good overall performance from the Lumia. The brightness of the available surface is an important point in this context. The test device reached very good 89 percent due to minor fluctuations. However, the device from Cupertino is again a bit better.

The Lumia basically does not have problems with outdoor use due to a brightness of over 300 cd/m². In view of the glossy surface, the LED light could be a bit stronger though. The content is always well-readable in overcast conditions. However, the smartphone could have difficulties in bright sunlight since the given brightness will unlikely defy the intensely reflective Gorilla Glass 2. The behavior in outdoor use can be compared to Google's Nexus 10 tablet.

Qualcomm's system-on-a-chip (SoC) is to ensure good performance. The implemented Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 is a high-end component that offers a computing power of 1.5 GHz. It is built in a 28 nanometer structure width and is based on the modern Krait architecture. It is considerably more advanced than comparable Cortex A9 from contenders. In a rough comparison, Qualcomm's SoC is on a par with the Cortex A15 modules. Both cores feature 32 KB L1 cache and a mutual L2 cache with a capacity of 1 MB. Another component is the aforementioned Adreno 225 graphics unit. In contrast to Adreno 220, the latest version clocks with 400 rather than 266 MHz. A small but important feature is the dedicated decoder for playing Full HD videos with up to 30 fps.

Nokia's Lumia also sports a 1 GB working memory and 32 GB of memory capacity that cannot be expanded. The option of choice is cloud memory. This makes a net capacity of 26.67 GB available for the user (83 percent). Compared with the previously reviewed HTC Windows Phone 8X, the hardware configuration is virtually identical.

Various browser tests start off our benchmark course. Nokia's Lumia achieved a score of 785 points in the latest revision of Google's V8 and is on a par with HTC's contending product. Both Apple's iPhone 5 and Google's Nexus 4 have a clear lead. The difference is 76 and 86 percent, respectively. Browsermark 2.0 records a similar result. However, we only have a comparison rate here. The lowest rate wins in the Java script benchmark Sunspider 0.9.1, and so does HTC's Windows Phone 8X with mere 896 milliseconds. Our test device and the iPhone 5 are close behind and Google's Nexus 4 scores much worse. The difference is over 100 percent.

Verdict: The preinstalled browser's performance is depicted in these tests. Internet Explorer 10 used by Microsoft can only score in the Java script benchmark. Apple's mobile Safari scores well in all areas. Google's Chrome on the Nexus 4 exhibits a strong performance in Google's V8. However, the benchmark and browser both come from the same company.

Two speakers are found at the smartphone's bottom, placed beside the micro USB port's right and left. Like in Apple's iPad Mini, a stereo sound is theoretically possible. However, it is only perceived when you place yourself directly between the speakers, which is quite unlikely. The sound is mostly limited to rendering trebles. Bass or low ranges are barely present and thus it makes an unbalanced overall impression. In return, the maximum volume is convincing since the sound does not distort. The level can also be fine-tuned quite precisely. Higher quality speakers or headphones can be connected to the standard 3.5 mm stereo jack.

Nokia's Lumia 920 is the new flagship from the Finnish manufacturer and is convincing in many aspects. For example, its solid casing, good performance, high-quality camera featuring optical image stabilization and the given features. NFC and LTE stand in good form beside dual-band Wi-Fi. On the other hand, the smartphone is quite heavy and bulky, does not sport a card reader and is often very warm under load. The 4.5-inch screen that Nokia uses offers a very high pixel density at 768x1280 pixels besides good rates. The brightness could be higher for outdoor use though.

Overall, a decent smartphone with many assets as well as a few drawbacks. We believe Nokia probably seized its last chance in the form of the Windows Phone 8, although there is still room for improvement. This applies to both Nokia and Microsoft alike. The QWERTZ keyboard, for example, does not exploit the full width in landscape mode and the Store still lacks the scope of applications known from Android and iOS. Nokia's Lumia 920 is certainly not a bargain with a price of around  650 (~$861). But the Finnish company also has two less expensive models in its range for tighter budgets.