Nokia Lumia 930

After Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia, the Finnish phone company has pushed Microsoft forward in the smartphone department due in part to their solid phone designs. The Nokia Lumia 930 is no exception. Like the rest of the Lumia line, the 930’s most striking feature is the bold orange and green color for the plastic back cover. Reviewers describe the colors as “vivid” with Mashable going even further by stating, “…the 930 [is] a pretty solid choice of handset for a hunting trip, so nobody accidentally mistakes you for a deer…” For those that want a more conservative look, it also comes in black and white.

While the bright colors might make the Lumia 930 look childish, experts praise the overall build quality noting that it feels solid and built to last. When compared to its predecessor, the Lumia 925, critics found the 930 to be chunkier, squarer and less comfortable to hold due in part to its large dimensions (5.4 x 2.8 x 0.4 inches) and hefty weight of 167 grams.

Following in the big phone trend, Nokia has opted for a 5-inch full HD display. With a pixel density of 441ppi, critics were pleased with the overall crispness of text and images though it lags behind LG G3’s 534ppi. Besides the image clarity, reviewers also praise the phone’s ability to offer deep, inky blacks, excellent contrast and rich, albeit slightly oversaturated colors.

Nokia didn’t pull any punches in terms of internal hardware either. The Lumia 930 comes packed with a 2.2GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. CNET describes its performance as “extremely spritely” and adds that “Apps open with little delay…Gaming too is well within its capabilities.” Reviewers mention that mobile gamers may be disappointed with the app selection as many games available on Android and iOS still have not made it over to the Windows ecosystem.

Powering the phone is a 2,420mAh battery. Nokia claims that the battery lasts around 15 hours of talk time over 3G, but unfortunately actual hands-on testing do not back these numbers. Most reviewers discovered that it could last around 7 hours of standard use which, while not horrible, is a bit of a downgrade when compared to the Samsung Galaxy S5. The battery is also non-removable though it does support QI wireless charging.

While the 930 doesn’t have the monster 41MP camera of the Lumia 1020, it does manage to pack in a decent 20MP rear camera. Although reviewers found picture quality to be quite, the sluggish camera performance ultimately ruined the picture-taking experience. Trusted Reviews states, “In controlled close-up environments, it maintains great detail. But the moment there’s motion in the scene it really struggles.” As well, due to the lack of HDR mode, experts point out that the light and dark balance is often poor leading to washed out colors. Despite some issues, most were impressed with the camera’s color reproduction and excellent low-light performance.

Most reviewers describe the Lumia 930 as one of the best Windows phone due to its solid internal hardware, unique appearance and good build quality. Still, they have a difficult time recommending it. Pocket Lint states, “The Lumia 390 is big, bold and has touches of brilliance…[but] there’s still work to be done to truly set it apart from the competition.” The Guardian adds, “The Lumia 930 is a solid phone, but not a remarkable one…there are better smartphones around for the same amount of money.”