Nokia Looks to Make a Splash with New Lumia Devices
Today at the Nokia World event in Abu Dhabi, Nokia has unveiled some new devices—the first ones since being acquired by Microsoft this past summer. All three put the emphasis on size: the Lumia 2520, 1520, and 1320 are a 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet, a 6-inch 1080p phablet, and a 6-inch 720p phablet, respectively. While the tablet is about the standard size for that device category, Nokia’s decision to put out two gigantic cell phones shows that the company is looking to make an impression. And with their bright, neon colored outer casings, that shouldn’t be too difficult.
First, the tablet, which was seems as though it was on track to compete with the Surface RT before Microsoft absorbed Nokia. The product page for the Lumia 2520 shows that the rumored specifications for the device were right on the money: it’s got the Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage (which can be expanded up to 64GB total via a MicroSD slot), and a full high definition 1080p display.
If that wasn’t enough, Nokia’s also putting out a Power Keyboard accessory that features a full keyboard and trackpad cover, very similar to the one that’s offered along with the Surface. The Power Keyboard isn’t just a euphemism, though: Nokia says it’ll give the tablet another five hours of battery life. The Lumia 2520 is set to be sold for a pretty budget-friendly price of $499, while the Power Keyboard cover costs another $149, placing the whole shebang at about $650. That’s not unreasonable for a slick piece of hardware, especially if you want to stay within the Windows family.
On the phone side of things, the Lumia 1520 features the same Snapdragon 800 processor as the 2520 tablet, the same 2GB of RAM, and the same 1080p HD display—albeit in a 6-inch package. One of the only real hardware differences here is that the 1520 only has 16GB of internal storage, but via a MicroSD slot, that can be bumped up to 80GB total. And it also doesn’t skimp when it comes to its camera, which has recently become one of the major selling points of Lumia devices. While it’s not as ridiculously overpowered as the Lumia 1020’s 41 megapixel camera, the 1520 still sports a more-than-adequate 20 MP camera, along with a ZEISS optics lens. In short, this is probably the very best Windows phone you can buy…even if it will probably stretch out your pockets.
But don’t worry—your pockets will have room if you wind up paying the unsubsidized price of $749. Obviously, the phone’s carriers will bring that down a bunch, but don’t be surprised if you can’t get this for less than $300 or so with a contract.
According to a post on the Verge, the 1320 phone is about the same size as its more powerful cousin, though its 720p display, Snapdragon 400 processor, and 5 megapixel camera (internal storage and RAM specs weren’t available on Nokia’s site) reveal that this is the “budget” option for users looking to dip their toes into the Windows phone waters. It’s price tag is similarly halved, with an unsubsidized price of $339, meaning it’ll probably be closer to a hundred bucks at your local carrier with a contract. But while I appreciate the wallet-friendly option in the 1320, I feel like the 1520 is really the only way to go if you want the full-featured Windows Phone experience.
Now that all of these are out in the open, it remains to be seen what kind of impact they’ll have on the marketplace. Will the Lumia 2520 manage to put a dent in the iPad’s dominance? And if it does, what impact will that have on Microsoft’s plans for its Surface line? And can either Lumia smartphone attract new customers when iPhones and Androids dominate? It’ll be interesting to find out.