After becoming a meme for the “most durable phone” that potentially had Chuck Norris-like defenses against breaking, Nokia jumped into the smartphone market with a line of sleek, colorful Windows phones. Almost all carriers have at least two or three Nokia phones, which have grown more popular as more apps have been released for the Windows phone operating system. Today’s best Nokia smartphones feature better cameras, sophisticated interface, tons of apps and big screens.
1. Nokia Lumia 1520
Overview
Nokia Lumia 1520 is a 6-inch smartphone with a 1920 by 1080 screen. It has a 20MP PureView camera with the latest Windows 8 installed. The hardware includes 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 800, which is the best in the business and also features 2GB of RAM. MicroSD, NFC and 802.11n WiFi with a 3,200 mAH battery complete the total package.
When Nokia released the Lumia 1520 in November 2013, everyone lined up to see its capabilities and big screen. The screen is quite large at 6 inches making it more of a “phablet” than a simple phone. This Nokia’s released marked the first time that Windows was able to have the same or better apps than iPhone 5s and Android. In short, its design, camera, picture quality, apps and functionality are incredible.
Pros
– Big, vibrant display
– Fast, powerful hardware
– Great camera
– Durable build
Cons
– Phone is quite large
– Camera can be slow to snap photos
Overall, this phone beats out most Android phones and even places itself a step above the iPhone 5s. Carriers also have a few different incentives for those who purchase the Lumia. For example, you can get 50GB of cloud storage through ATT Locker or through SkyDrive on Microsoft. Nokia also some great apps like the Here app, which is an intelligent GPS and driving app, or you can also use Nokia music.
The Nokia Lumia 1520 offers the most choices for users because its fast, large and vibrant. The screen is absolutely amazing to watch videos on and will make it easy to watch videos or read your latest messages. The 1520 may be the first and only phone right now that’s pushing Microsoft towards the top of the mobile phone market.
2. Nokia Lumia 1020
Overview
Never in the history of the mobile phone has there been a camera as powerful as the 41 megapixel PureView camera on the Nokia Lumia 1020. With a 4.5-inch 1,280 by 798 pixel Super AMOLED display and dual Core 1.5GHz Krait CPU, the 1020 is another powerful phone in the Lumia lineup. It also has 2GB of RAM and Xenon flash with LED focus light.
The anticipation for the Nokia Lumia 1020 was incredible high. Many people wanted to experience the incredible camera on this phone and see if it was really up to the hype. Although it’s not quite perfect, the features of the 1020 make it one of the best companions to any camera-loving, photo-sharing, social app junkie. It’s also got some pretty great design and functionality thrown in as well.
Pros
– Biggest, most sophisticated camera phone
– Beautiful, colorful screen
– Phone is built tough
Cons
– Camera processing can be slow
– Hardware is just average
– Design of camera lens lends to awkward handling
Overall, the 1020 has a lot of other phones beat out in the looks department, but it’s still got some issues with design. The camera lens juts out rather far from the casing and pushes up against your hand when you hold it, which may not be comfortable for some people. It’s best to try the phone before you buy.
The display, apps and camera really are what make this phone a great choice for individuals who love to take pictures and want a powerful device that is also built tough and lightweight.
3. Nokia Lumia 920
Overview
Nokia Lumia 920 has a 4.5-inch HD IPS LCD screen with 1.5GHz dual core processor. It comes with Windows 8 OS, 8.7MP camera with 1080P video and optical stabilization.
The release of the 920 in 2012 was one of the first times that people were attracted to the design of the Lumia line. The rounded edges, glossy screen and colorful selections made it a contender against the iPhone 4s. While there are a few design issues with the Nokia 920, it’s one of the best phones if you’re looking for affordability and functionality of Windows 8.
Pros
– Blue-free night time shots
– 1080p video
– Fast 4G compatible
Cons
– Glossy finish makes the phone slippery at times
The Nokia Lumia 920 comes with up to 32GB of built-in storage, which eliminates the need to get a microSD, which is good since the phone doesn’t have one. The call quality was quite superb on the Nokia 920 and speakers are even better for playing music.
Overall, the Lumia 920 is pretty standard but also comes with a few bells and whistles that make it a step above some of the other Android phones on the market.
4. Nokia Lumia 925
Overview
The Nokia 925 has a dual-core 1.5GHz Krait CPU with 1GB of Ram. The screen features AMOLED display at 4.5 inches and 1,280 by 768 pixels. In addition, the phone has an 8 megapixel PureView camera with LED flash.
Pros
– Sleek metal phone
– Excellent build quality
– Handling is comfortable
– Lots of features and great functionality
– Screen quality
Cons
– Slight blue tint to AMOLED display at certain angles
Overall, the Nokia 925 is very lightweight and possibly the sleekest phone in the Nokia linup because of its metal design. Nokia ditched wireless charging in favor of keeping the phone more lightweight, which also added to its functionality as well. The ports are cleverly placed on the bottom and top of the phone to make it fit nicely in the hand. It also comes with a GM radio, GPS, 4G internet and microSD capability.
5. Nokia Lumia 620
Overview
While the Lumia 620 is an older Nokia release, it still has better features than many phones out there, and it’s quite incredible for the price. The phone features a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU with 512MB Ram. The phone is lightweight and small with a 3.8-inch screen featuring 480 by 800 pixel ClearBlack LCD screen. With 8GB of memory, the phone also has a 5MP camera that has LED flash.
Pros
– More affordable than most Android and older iPhones
– Exceptional build quality
– Lots of value for the price
– Great ergonomics
– Lightweight
Cons
– Older phone with 3G
– Average battery life
Windows phones debuted on the market in 2010. The Nokia Lumia 620 was the first Windows phone to give some promise to the functionality and design of the new mobile phone OS. The best thing about this phone is its affordable functionality and design. You won’t find a sleeker, more colorful phone for the price. Even though its not 4G-ready, it’s still a great buy if you are looking for a cheap, lightweight phone that has apps, great camera and colorful screen.
