Introduction
The Nokia Lumia 1520 brings several firsts for the company. This is the Finns' debut in phablets, the first WP quad-core device and the first one to rock a FullHD screen.
The Nokia Lumia 1520 builds upon the design philosophy of all previous Lumia flagships. It features a solid unibody construction with a colorful polycarbonate casing. The PureView camera on board, complete with optical image stabilization, promises great low-light experience, while the top-notch display should help the 1520 deliver the best Windows Phone experience around. Services and apps like Nokia Camera, Storyteller and Cinemagraph add even more value to the package.
But first let's get the technicalities out of the way.
Nokia Lumia 1520 at a glance
- Dimensions: 162.8 x 85.4 x 8.7 mm, 209g
- Display: 6" ClearBlack IPS display with 1080p resolution, Gorilla Glass 2 protection, 367ppi
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800; quad-core Krait 400 at 2.2GHz, Adreno 330 GPU, 2GB RAM
- OS: Windows Phone 8 GDR3 with Nokia Black
- Camera: 20 MP, Carl Zeiss optics, optical image stabilization, autofocus, LED flash, PureView technology
- Video camera: 1080p @ 30fps video capture with main camera
- Storage: 32GB built-in, microSD card slot with support of up to 64GB, 7GB SkyDrive cloud storage
- Connectivity: NFC, A-GPS+GLONASS, WLAN (2.4/5Ghz) a/b/g/n/ac, microUSB 2.0, BT 4.0 LE
- Battery: 3,400 mAh with built-in wireless charging (Qi compatible)
- Misc: Nokia Camera app, FM Radio, built-in accelerometer, multi-touch input, proximity sensor
The 6-inch diagonal and has FullHD (1920 x 1080 pixel) resolution, which allows for a ppi of around 368 ppi, meaning no pixels will be visible. The bigger screen estate and higher resolution result in a third column of Live Tiles being present on the Lumia 1520 start screen.
The 6" ClearBlack IPS display offers low reflectivity and very wide viewing angles. It's covered with Gorilla Glass 2 for scratch resistance and can be used not only with bare fingers but also with gloves, thanks to the Super sensitive touch.
Moving onto the back where one of the most interesting assets of the device lies. The 20 MP camera with OS makes great use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset and provides shot to shot times far shorter than those of the Lumia 1020.
Stay tuned - more live photos and hands-on videos of the Nokia Lumia 1520 will be coming to the following pages very shortly.
Nokia Lumia 1520 hands-on
The Nokia Lumia 1520 is a big handset by every standard possible. Thanks to its sloping edges and slim profile, guys with large hands could manage the Lumia 1520 with one hand, but even they won't find it too comfortable.
When compared to the 6.4" Sony Xperia Z Ultra, the Lumia 1520 suddenly doesn't look all that big. The Xperia is a good 16.6 mm taller, 6.8 mm wider and 3 g heavier than the Nokia Lumia 1520.
Nokia Lumia 1520 next to Sony Xperia Z Ultra
The display on the Xperia Z Ultra is noticeably bigger and the device is also much slimmer at 6.5 mm (vs 8.7 mm).
Nokia Lumia 1520 next to Sony Xperia Z Ultra
Compared to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, the Lumia 1520 is a good 11 mm taller and 6 mm wider. Finally it weighs 41 g more, which is a lot.
Nokia Lumia 1520 next to Samsung Galaxy Note 3
The Galaxy Note 3 feels flatter compared to the Lumia and its sloping edges. The plastic on both feels completely different - the Note 3 has a textured back, emulating leather, while the Lumia 1520 is either matte or gloss with no textures or patterns.
Nokia Lumia 1520 next to Samsung Galaxy Note 3
The Lumia 1020, Nokia's supreme cameraphone, already felt big in the hands but looks much smaller overall when faced with its bigger brother.
Nokia Lumia 1520 next to Nokia Lumia 1020
However at 10.4 mm the Lumia 1020 is much thicker, which adds the sense of it being bulkier than the 6-inch Lumia 1520.
Nokia Lumia 1520 live photos
The good news is the Lumia 1520 feels built like a tank. It feels extremely solid in the hand and very pleasant to the touch. We have no doubt it will hold up greatly against everyday wear and tear.
The Nokia Lumia 1520 comes in four colors. Two of them are glossy and feel rather slippery - White and Red. The Black and Yellow color options, on the other hand, have a nice matte finish to them, just like on the Lumia 1020.
The Nokia Lumia 1520 packs a much larger 6" display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a pixel density of 368 ppi. Compared to the Lumia 1020's screen, this one is immensely more impressive - the sheer size and the extra sharpness make a notable difference that even an untrained eye can easily spot. The display also offers excellent viewing angles and vibrant colors up there with the best in business.
The 6" ClearBlack IPS full HD display is gorgeous
On the left side we find the nanoSIM and microSD card slots under pop-out lids. The right side holds the power button, a single piece volume rocker and two-step physical shutter button.
The left and right sides of the Nokia Lumia 1520
The back has a nice flat surface, which slopes only at the edges. On the bottom lies a micro-drilled louspeaker grille, while on the top there's a dual LED flash and a slightly bulging camera lens.
The camera on the Lumia 1520 sounds quite impressive. Nokia has placed a 20 MP 1/2.5" sensor with 6-element F/2.4 Carl Zeiss optics, which make for a very wide-angle 26mm field of view.