As we speak, Nokia will be launching its first ‘phablet’ device in Malaysia – the 6-inch Nokia Lumia 1520, the biggest and fastest Lumia device to date. Powered by a 2.2Ghz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB RAM and packed with a massive 20MP PureView camera, the Lumia 1520 may just be the best Lumia to date. I’ve been playing around with the gigantic device for several weeks, and here are some quick first impressions.
Design and build
The device is unmistakably a Lumia, with familiar lines, polycarbonate body and multi-colours. I’ve seen the entire colour range – Black, Yellow, Red, White. Solidly-built as you would expect from a Nokia device, specifically the Lumia range. Make no mistake, this baby is huge. A little too big for my tastes, but for some out there looking for a phablet, this could be a consideration. At 209g, it doesn’t feel overly heavy, and still fits in the pocket due to its slim 8.7mm profile. Overall, slick and premium-looking.
Performance
Nokia has used a no-holds barred approach and packed in one of the quickest Snapdragon processors to date, something not seen in any Lumia device thus far. The 2.2Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 800 should silence the critics who have belittled Windows Phone’s somewhat lagging hardware as compared to Android devices in the market. It’s assuringly quick with no notable performance lags. And it certainly needs the power to process all the 20MP photos the PureView camera takes.
The 6-inch Full HD 1080p IPS LCD display with ClearBlack technology is as bright and crisp as they come, protected by Gorilla Glass 2. The WP8 Start Screen suddenly just packs so much more stuff. Brilliant for movies, videos and photos.
Camera
The 20MP camera is impressive, as you would expect from a PureView. While I still think it’s overkill (the 41MP on the Lumia 1020 as well), it works really well with some impressive low-light shots. Nokia has rolled the Nokia Pro Cam and Nokia Camera apps into one, leaving only Nokia Camera in existence. Switch to Pro mode by swiping on the touch dial controls. Impressed with the camera, as I am with the Lumia 925’s and Lumia 1020’s.
Overall impressions
In all honesty, the Lumia 1520 isn’t for everyone. However, for those who are looking for a bigger Windows Phone 8 device, this is as good as it comes. An alternative to the Note 3, HTC One max and Sony Xperia Z Ultra.
Pricing and availability to be revealed.
