Nokia has been the topic of numerous discussions during these past several months, not only due to Microsoft’s acquisition of the company’s devices and services divisions, but also because the Finnish manufacturer released several impressive phones lately. This includes the Lumia 1020 camera-centric handset and the Lumia 1520 phablet. Nevertheless, in the US, Verizon customers haven’t been lucky enough to enjoy either one of these devices. Both have been released mainly through AT&T, while Big Red’s most recent Nokia device remains the Lumia 928. Not a bad handset, but definitely not on par with Nokia’s finest.
Fortunately, the situation will soon be remedied, as a new Nokia smartphone is on its way – this time exclusively on Verizon. If you’ve followed the mobile blogosphere during these past couple of months, then you’re probably guessing that we’re referring to the Lumia Icon.
There have been numerous reports surrounding this device, more often than not unofficial bits of information, but the Icon is as real as it can be, and Nokia has already made it official. The gadget is expected to hit Verizon’s shelves in a matter of days, so if you’re a prospective customer looking for a WP device, then you might want to know what to expect from it.
Overview
Rumors concerning the Lumia Icon have been spreading out for months, but back then, the device was known as the “Lumia 929.” You might’ve heard of the 929 before, but now the time for rumors has come to an end. The Lumia Icon will become Verizon’s finest Nokia smartphone, and the most powerful Windows Phone at that.
Spec-wise, the Icon does not let down. It features a 5-inch AMOLED display protected by Gorilla Glass 3, boasting a resolution of 1080 x 1920. This combo results in a very impressive pixel density of 441 pixels per inch.
Under the hood, the Icon shares many similarities with the Lumia 1520, including the Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor clocked at 2.2 GHz, the Adreno 330 graphics chip and 2 GB of RAM. As far as storage goes, Verizon’s gadget features 32 GB of internal memory, but unlike the 1520, the former lacks a microSD card slot.
The handset draws its energy from a Li-Ion 2420 mAh battery which is considerably smaller than the one included in the 1520 (980 mAh smaller, to be exact). However, keep in mind that the 1520′s battery has to keep up with a 6-inch screen, and that might balance things out.
Camera Capabilities
Nokia is the leading cameraphone manufacturer at this point, and it continues to sit comfortably in the lead thanks to some of its sensors. The Icon makes use of the same successful formula used by Nokia before, and packs a 20 MP PureView camera with Zeiss optics.
The camera is packed with features, including optical image stabilization (OIS), a double LED flash and a camera application that offers a ton of features and manual controls, allowing photography enthusiasts to take advantage of the unit’s full capabilities. The Icon is able to create two separate files for each photo – a 5 MP image meant for easier online sharing and a full-res 19 MP image. Furthermore, the 20 MP sensor is capable of saving pictures in RAW format, allowing for easier post-processing. Photography lovers should be glad to know that a handful of photos captured with the Lumia Icon surfaced on the web last week, and they look rather promising.
In the video recording department, the Icon will most likely continue to impress, thanks to its high quality built-in microphones and the ability to zoom up to 3x while recording without pixelization.
Design and Software
Nokia is well-known for its tendency to create handsets that look and feel robust. This tradition carried over to the Lumia line-up some time ago, and we’re glad to say that the Icon might have even stepped it up a notch.
Unlike some of the previously launched Lumia devices, the Icon comes wrapped in a metal chassis, accompanied by a polycarbonate back cover. The smartphone looks premium and it should feel that way as well. It measures 9.9 mm in thickness, which isn’t really going to win it any slimness contests. But at 166 grams, the Icon is not the heaviest smartphone either – taking into account its built-in wireless charging capabilities. More so, the powerful 20 MP camera doesn’t protrude as it does on the Lumia 1020 and 1520, and that should be a plus for some people.
As for the software side of things, the Icon will ship with Windows Phone 8 out of the box. Unsurprisingly, the OS will be sprinkled with Nokia’s range of applications, including Mix Radio, Beamer, Creative Studio and Cinemagraph.
Release Date and Price
By now you might’ve already made up your mind about the Lumia Icon, and whether or not this is the phone for you. If it is, then you should know that the device will go on sale in Verizon’s stores starting February 20 – at the price of $199 alongside a 2-year carrier agreement.
If waiting a couple of days is not good enough for you, then you might be interested in pre-ordering the device at a Microsoft store. The gadget is available for pre-purchase, and those who pick one up by March 16 will also receive a free wireless charger.
All in all, the Lumia Icon is an undeniably good addition to Verizon’s Windows Phone range of devices. But, as always, it’s up to you to decide whether or not it’s the right phone for your needs. We invite you to share your opinions in the comment section below.
Vlad Andrici is editor for gforgames.com and writes about technology issues. Follow Vlad on Google Plus.