Nokia Lumia 1020 Windows Phone ‘person on the Street ’ Review.
This is the first time in around 4 years that I have used a Nokia Mobile Phone due to losing confidence in how Nokia was evolving with its hardware and software.
And how Nokia have changed…. for the better in my humble opinion.
A big heads up to @Toby and @Anonymous and O2 for allowing me this opportunity once again to be involved in this Tech Review Programme.
Specifications from Nokia’s Homepage :
http://www.nokia.com/gb-en/phones/phone/lumia1020/specifications/
Operating System.
Windows Phone 8 lives inside the Nokia Lumia 1020, and as I have never used a Windows Phone before, it was very unfamiliar to me, but after pushing on with it I soon got on with this platform, and really like it.
The 'live tile' system operates like butter to provide you updates on Weather and Social Sites, and any other useful info you might need and want to view. These tiles are also customisable in size, which is a very nice touch. So if you wish one can make them larger or smaller, and also you can arrange them into clusters when you reduce them down.
It did take a little time to get used to the tiles updating on the screen as i'm more used to a static screen.
In all I noticed no lag or stutter while using the UI.
Design and Features.
The Lumia 1020 comes in three colours which are Yellow, Black and White, each with a matte finish, and with a coating that’s purported to both be fingerprint- and dirt-resistant.
The variant i’m using is the Yellow version which is a little different in colour to what I normally use. If I were to purchase this phone it would be the Black option.
The quality of design is awesome and feels very solid in your hand, with polycarbonate being used for its body, and with the various buttons such as the volume rocker button offering a tactile feel and are also responsive, although I did find the volume kept being turned down from pressure on the rocker switch while it was in my pocket.
The corners do feel a little sharp as you move your hand around the phone, and as the camera is rather large if feels a little top heavy and un-balanced in the hand. Also due to the camera sticking out it will not lay on a flat surface, and rocks when trying to use the handset. I submit not a problem for everyone.
The Lumia 1020 display is a 1,280 x 768 pixel AMOLED screen with corning gorilla glass 3 protection, that provided ample clarity in all conditions I used it in. The Contrast is adequate and the colour reproduction is adequate too.
One of the ways I gauge a phone is if it feels comfortable to use in one hand. This 4.5” handset display size was fine, and I could reach all the buttons and up to the far upper left-hand corner of the screen with my thumb at a stretch. The fonts are just the right size and very clear and crisp.
It may be me but the Lumia 1020 did not live up to the Retina screen I'm used to on my iPhone 5s.
The music functions are extensive and much can be achieved and to me offered all what I ask for in these devices ,which is an acceptable user experience whilst commuting.
I made several outbound calls and fielded several inbound calls and both were crystal clear. The loud speaker yielded the same clarity.
The audible alerts for incoming calls and notifications such as SmS and e mail etc were loud, which is what I need due to where I work. In conclusion I had No issue with the phones speakers at all.
Their is no option to expand the memory of the Lumia 1020 via a SD card so ensure you purchase a capacity that suits your immediate and future usage too. This puzzled me as everything about this phone shouts out CAMERA USE, so if one got a little trigger happy taking pics and downloading the usual data we all do nowadays such as music and videos, the on-board memory could soon fill up. Its good that various options such as Drop Box are available for example.
General Usage.
The handset had no issue providing me with full network signal and 3G and 4G was strong too.
WiFi usage had no dropouts while at home or in my local City Centre.
The keyboard is nicely spaced out for texting and sending e mails etc although the process of moving the cursor back into a paragraph is a pain to use as it jumps all over the screen.
Surfing the Internet on the 1020 provided a fluid experience and in my use I didn't come across any lag, stutter or crashes. It was nice to again have the ‘Rich Editor’ function while creating posts on the Community Forum.
The native Mail App only allowed syncing as often as 15 minutes which could be a deal-breaker, as i’m used to having my e mails pushed to me from my server as soon as they are ready. To keep this phone I would have to download a 3rd party e mail app which would allow more often syncing. ie : Push like on my iPhone.
In this day and age I really would expect the stock e mail app to provide this as standard.
I had every spec I could find turned on and used it as my primary handset to push it to the limits ,and the Nokia Lumia 1020 easily attained a full days usage.
The phone had no problems dealing with the games which were Cold Space and Angry Birds and Six-Guns.
Camera.
The back of the Nokia 1020 is the most noticeable with its large camera module, Xenon flash, LED light and camera lens. The spec is 41mp with 38mb effective. As I mentioned earlier in my review It sticks out enough from the device that it never lays flat on its back.
I’m not sure I like this and could be a deal breaker as camera functions are not at the top of my wants and needs list in a mobile phone, and I found this protrusion to cause me handling issues. I found myself picking it up and having to think about where to place my fingers around the camera.
I'm not knocking the specs of the camera and the quality of snaps that this phone offered up was the best user experience I’ve ever had, and provides all sorts of bells and whistles tucked away inside it.
Accessories.
As with any phone I buy into or review I want to know what I can buy to add to my user experience.
These caught my eye.......
Nokia Wireless Charging Cover. CC-3066.
Nokia Portable Wireless Charging Plate. DC-50.
{More details ref specs/prices can be found on Nokia Homepage}
I also looked at some 3rd party cases on auction sites and the High-Street and their is the usual affair of different styles made out of different materials which start from a few pounds upwards.
The Good.
Excellent Camera.
Nice Slim down design and solid build quality.
In my view very good battery life.
Colourful Vibrant Screen.
The Not so Good.
No expandable memory SD Slot.
Windows app’s and the games selection is a little light on the ground at the moment.
Native Mail App restrictive.
Un-balanced and top heavy.
Curser not easy to navigate with.
Can not lay it on a flat surface to use.
Conclusion.
I was pleasantly surprised on how Nokia have moved on from the earlier versions I used many moons ago which is fantastic, and has re ignited my interest in them.
Would I buy this as a secondary handset.
..................Yes.
I looked on the O2 Online Shop and found some nice deals here :
https://www.o2.co.uk/shop/phones/nokia/lumia-1020-black/
Thank you for taking the time to read my review.
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