To the dismay of some, the word “Phablet” is catching on. The Phone + Tablet hybrids technically first existed with the Dell Streak, but they actually became popular with the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy Note. Since then, we have not seen too many options come out besides the ever-growing Note series – not to mention all the options have been running Android.
That is, until recently!
Back in November we saw the launch of the Nokia Lumia 1520, the first Windows “Phablet” and it is sporting a 6-inch screen. Naturally, I had it pre-ordered (and due to a shipping error I somehow had it the day before it came out!) and have been using it for a while now. This phone is all sorts of beautiful, and here are all the reasons why!
Hardware
Before I can gush about the outside of the phone, let’s talk about the Lumia 1520’s hardware. Under the hood is nestled a top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor clocked at 2.2GHz. This thing can move. I haven’t seen any issues running multiple things simultaneously, although Windows Phone has always been good at that. There is also 2GB of RAM on board, which is great to see. Performance is top notch, none of my games lag like they occasionally did before.
For the first time, Windows Phone is using a 1080p display. Everything is so crisp and vivid and makes me pretty much drool everywhere. As per usual, the Clearblack technology still makes the black deeper and the colors pop, but the added pixel density just makes it that much better.
Also, this phone has phenomenal battery life. Rocking a 3400 mAh battery, it lasts me pretty much forever. With my heavy usage (5 email addresses sent to push, lots of texting, lots of gaming, GPS usage, Pandora in the background all the time, etc.) I still go to bed with nearly half the battery remaining. Obviously, this is always subjective, but the point is this is a massive battery that is complimented by Windows Phone’s already-great power management.
Now how about that body? Standard Nokia design here, although it borrows from the late 900 series rather than the monolithic 920. Sleek matte finish (except on the red one) makes it a little slippery, but nothing I can’t handle. The screen is only Gorilla Glass 2, which I found odd. Get a screen protector! Everything else is in the same locations they have always been. Buttons on the side, charger port on the bottom center, headphone jack on the top center. When you have a great design figured out early on, I suppose you don’t really need to change it!
Software
If you’ve read my other Windows Phone reviews before, the software section is always pretty much the same. Well I finally have a few differences to talk about! The Nokia Lumia 1520 has optimized the layout for the 6in. screen. Instead of the standard two columns of medium tiles, you now get three. That means twelve small tiles, or one large tile and one medium tile/four small tiles to a row. The extra screen real estate is welcome, since I don’t need to scroll as much to get to what I need.
We also experienced the new Lumia Black firmware with the launch of the device, meaning we finally have custom notification sounds, the ability to close running apps easily, and several other much-requested features. I wish they had taken a note out of Samsung’s book and added a one-handed mode for texting, though. The 6in screen size isn’t exactly one-size fits all. In fact, it is one-size doesn’t really fit anyone. Even my giant man-hands require both to type, and although it isn’t the end of the world, sometimes I just want my other hand for holding my tea.
Camera
This phone is not a 41mp beast like the Lumia 1020. It is, however, a 20mp beast that works like the Lumia 1020. Using the same Pureview technology, Pro Camera app, and with it the ability to alter every camera setting, the camera on this phone can blow most out of the water. My customers always like to test their camera next to mine, and with one exception (a 1020 user, actually) everyone prefers the 1520’s shot. Downside is it takes longer to take the actual photo, so iPhone users get in several shots before I get in mine, so take heed. Tell your subjects to hold that “cheese” for several extra seconds!
Overall
It is no secret that I am very much into the Windows ecosystem. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t see what else is out there. I’m excited that Nokia is releasing hardware to actually compete with the other options instead of sticking to older tech. The Nokia Lumia 1520 is a great “phablet.” Being able to do things like Office or edit photos or social network on that larger screen is invaluable, so if that is your desire, then go pick one up!
