Nokia Lumia 820

“The Nokia Lumia 820 is a solid smartphone - a massive update over any of the first generation of Finnish WP devices, it has a better shot at competing with its Android rivals. The Google-powered competition still has a comfortable lead and even the huge leap Microsoft's platform has taken, combined with Nokia's design expertise, isn't enough to overturn the status-quo overnight. On the other hand, things are closer now than they have ever been. The Lumia 820 brings Windows Phone another step closer to the moment when it will no longer be just a fresh looking alternative, but the prime choice for power users.And Apple shouldn't lower its guard either - the Nokia Lumia 820 is a midrange smartphone that was never supposed to threaten the iPhone, but its bigger brother, the Lumia 920 might have a thing or two to say about it.”

“The Lumia 820 is a smaller and cheaper version of the 920 but doesn't pack the same punch, especially in key areas such as the screen and camera. We like the interchangeable covers and decent battery life. However, in the Windows Phone 8 market, HTC's 8X could well outdo the 820 for the same price. Those not set on the operating system should consider the Nexus 4 which has high-end specs.”

“The display won’t win any awards with that low resolution and you won’t become the next Annie Leibovitz with this camera, but for $50 you get a comfortable design, speedy performance, and a well-designed operating system. The Nokia Lumia 820 is a good Windows Phone 8 handset for a good price. It makes an excellent ambassador for the Windows Phone 8 OS. While the 820 might not spur any conversions, it’s a good choice for consumers who’ve already had their own Come To Windows moment.”

“Nokia didn't pay much attention to its 820 during a grand unveiling in New York in September. Saddled at the end of a press event, it felt like the forgotten Lumia child. And the reality is that while the 820 might be attractive to some thanks to removable covers and different colors, it's more likely that you'll want to purchase a Lumia 920 instead. If you want a Windows Phone 8 that's not as bulky as the 920, the 820 is just such an option — but HTC’s 8X beats both in terms of pocketability and size, without sacrificing specs.Overall, I wish Nokia had taken a different approach with its mid-range offering. The company had the perfect size with the Lumia 800, and I can't help but feel that a 4-inch or 4.3-inch version of this form factor with less bulk than the Lumia 900 would be a popular choice for many. The 820 display and camera also don't come close to matching Nokia's flagship Windows Phone 8 device. With a $50 price difference between the two, it's hard to say that the Lumia 820 is worth the saving.The Lumia 820 still lacks polished apps, which are only coming slowly to Windows Phone 8 OS. Nokia and HTC are releasing decent hardware for this operating system, but Microsoft still needs to bring it up to feature parity with iOS and Android. Now that Windows Phone 8 allows developers to use native code, I suspect the Store and apps will only increase in numbers and quality — which will improve the ecosystem overall. Windows Phone 8 includes some powerful connections to a Microsoft world of SkyDrive, Outlook.com, Xbox Live, and Xbox Music — but popular cross platform apps like Dropbox and Instagram are still missing.There are some great aspects to the Lumia 820, including its exclusive apps and loud speaker, but if you can deal with the extra bulk and weight of the Lumia 920 then that seems like the obvious choice here. The Lumia 820 will serve you well, but if it's wow factor you're interested in then Nokia's Lumia 920 will suit you better.”