Best Windows Phone hardware

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I am considering a Windows Phone. Aside from the OS side debate between the two other contenders what is the current best hardware e.g. processor, gpu, camera, on a WP out there, and coming down the pipeline?

EDIT: Oh, I'm in the US, on Verizon..

 

[Kenmitch]

The Windows phone market is dominated by Nokia which is a you like the look or you don't thing.

I'm somewhat interested in Windows phone also. Unfortunately I don't really like the Nokia look.

Nokia 1520 probably the most powerful one currently on the market. Guess it would depend on what you value more as far as raw power, camera, etc.

 

[IamDavid]

I think the ICON has the latest and greatest specs?
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/phones/nokia-lumia-icon?model=rm-927


2.2 GHz QCOMM 8974 Quad core
2GB Ram
5.0" ClearBlack Full HD AMOLED
1080x1920 resolution
441 ppi



I've lived on WP for 1.5 years not without a single regret. Nokia 920, then 1020. Camera on the 1020 is absolutely amazing so it'll be very difficult for me to upgrade to anything new without having the same level of camera.

 

[zerogear]

1020, Icon and 930 is probably the latest & greatest. 930 has no known US release date.

 

[Commodus]

In the US, you're looking at the Lumia 1520 (AT&T) or Lumia Icon (Verizon). If you're not attached to any one carrier, the Icon is the more reasonably sized model of the two. The Samsung ATIV SE on Verizon might also be worth a look.

If you're abroad, Lumia 930 (don't think it's out yet) or 1520.

 

[Fenixgoon]

i just won a 1020 for free. woot! can't wait to go back to WP8. i really loved windows phone over android/iOS

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

edited the OP. I'm in the US, and on Verizon.

So some phones have better cameras e.g. better camera with lower CPU spec, and better CPU spec with lower camera spec? Is that what I'm reading?

 

[bearxor]

i just won a 1020 for free. woot! can't wait to go back to WP8. i really loved windows phone over android/iOS

I'd trade you a 925 if you're interested.

In the US, on Verizon, the only two choices you really have are the Lumia Icon and the Samsung Ativ SE.

I'd probably pick the Icon.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I'm not a Samsung fan. What is the latest Nokia with the best specs? The Lumia Icon? Does Verizon have a comparison page on it's specs vs other Nokia phones?

EDIT: I'm not in a contract anymore with Verizon.

 

[bearxor]

Verizon doesn't have a large selection of Nokia devices.

The only Windows Phone devices they have are the Icon, Ativ SE, Lumia 928 and HTC 8X.

The 8x and 928 would be out of the question in my opinion. They're both based on original Windows Phone 8 hardware. We're talking dual-core S4 Pro 1.5ghz with 1GB of RAM and 768/720 screens. This is late 2012 hardware.

The Ativ SE and Icon are both quad-core S800 with 2GB of RAM and a 1080p screen.

The question is, since you're not in contract, are you staying with Verizon?

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I would consider jumping if there was a device that offered a big jump in performance e.g. how Intel went from Yorkfield to Nehalem..

 

[bearxor]

That's an easy one. There's not. The S800 platform is the top of the Windows Phone heap. The Lumia 1520 and Icon have that hardware and so does the Lumia 930.

The Lumia 1020 might be a reason to consider AT&T, for the camera, but then you're going back to 2012 Windows Phone 8 release hardware.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Looks like Verizon only offers the Lumia Icon as their Windows Flagship phone ???

Isn't there a Snapdragon 801 coming out soon? What's coming down the pipeline and when?

 

[bearxor]

The Icon and the Ativ SE have the same core hardware. The Icon's camera is better.

I wouldn't look for any new Nokia or Samsung WP device on Verizon until after summer. There could possibly be a different manufacturer, but there's nothing really solid on those.

 

[s44]

Looks like Verizon only offers the Lumia Icon as their Windows Flagship phone ???

Isn't there a Snapdragon 801 coming out soon? What's coming down the pipeline and when?

The 801 is just a slightly higher-clocked 800. Not worth any wait.

 

[Demo24]

Looks like Verizon only offers the Lumia Icon as their Windows Flagship phone ???

Isn't there a Snapdragon 801 coming out soon? What's coming down the pipeline and when?

I just got an Icon, it definitely runs it all very fast. I can't imagine any new hardware would bring anything to the table there. Even lower end hardware runs WP well enough.

Icon is nice enough not very comfortable to hold though, and I think the buttons are in odd places. Screen is good, camera so far has been good, battery life has been good, reception is good. Sadly the speakers are, odd. Haven't made a lot of calls but they do sound kinda muddly, and it can actually vibrate the whole phone. I still rather like it though.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Any news if the Snapdragon 805 will be released in a Nokia Windows Phone? I just read this article.

 

[Kenmitch]

Any news if the Snapdragon 805 will be released in a Nokia Windows Phone? I just read this article.

Looks interesting.

Not much to find on it with a quick google search. Looks like the 1st device is scheduled to appear this month....Not sure what it's going to be as far as a phone or even a tablet.

Maybe this is true? http://www.technobuffalo.com/2014/0...h-snapdragon-805-and-2k-display-leaks-online/

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Looks interesting.

Not much to find on it with a quick google search. Looks like the 1st device is scheduled to appear this month....Not sure what it's going to be as far as a phone or even a tablet.

Maybe this is true? http://www.technobuffalo.com/2014/0...h-snapdragon-805-and-2k-display-leaks-online/

Yeah, this looks like a nice upgrade on all fronts.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Among midrange to high end Windows phones, there are two main SOCs.

The Icon (Verizon only), Samsung ATIV SE (Verizon only), 1520 (AT&T only), 930 (international only; possibly coming to the US in a few months due to retarded carrier politics) have the Snapdragon 800. These are all basically the same phone except the 1520 has the huge 6" screen and an SD card slot.

The 810, 820, 822, 920, 925, 928, and 1020 all use the Snapdragon S4, which is a little out of date. It was the bread and butter of high end smartphones in 2012, shipping in the US versions of the HTC One S and One X and Samsung Galaxy S3, and it's still serviceable today (I have a Lumia 810 and love it), but it's not getting any newer.

There's also the Lumia 520/521, and the upcoming 630/635, but these are low end devices that probably don't interest you.

Essentially, if you want a high end Windows phone, Verizon is the best carrier because you have your choice of a Nokia and a Samsung using the best hardware available on the platform. The only other choice is AT&T and you'd have to use the 1520 phablet, which some people think is too big.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I read the 930 is essentially a 1020 with Windows 8.1 pre-installed. It has decent hardware that i would consider going with. If a Nokia phone comes out with the 805 within the next few months on Verizon I will probably go with it. I've been struggling with my old Droid Bionic for 3 yrs I could wait a little more. And if I decide to bounce on a phone now I am still getting decent hardware. I'll just have to keep looking on the web for when and where it/the 805 will be released.

 

[bearxor]

I read the 930 is essentially a 1020 with Windows 8.1 pre-installed. It has decent hardware that i would consider going with.

I don't know where you read this. None of that is even remotely true. It's a completely different SoC, screen resolution and camera system.

If you need a comparison to help you determine where things lie, then the Lumia 930 is a 1520 with a 5" screen.

If a Nokia phone comes out with the 805 within the next few months on Verizon I will probably go with it. I've been struggling with my old Droid Bionic for 3 yrs I could wait a little more. And if I decide to bounce on a phone now I am still getting decent hardware. I'll just have to keep looking on the web for when and where it/the 805 will be released.

That extremely unique combination you're looking for (Nokia with S805 on Verizon) will not happen before November of this year. Mark this post.

 

[Kenmitch]

I don't know where you read this. None of that is even remotely true. It's a completely different SoC, screen resolution and camera system. If you need a comparison to help you determine where things lie, then the Lumia 930 is a 1520 with a 5" screen.

The 930 is the Icon for the masses. Looks to about 98% the same phone to me.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

The 930 is the Icon for the masses. Looks to about 98% the same phone to me.

Ah, ok, this is what I vaguely remember.

Hmmm. I really like the specs on the new 805. I care mostly about everything except the CPU getting a MHz bump. Anything will be better coming from this Bionic.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Is the 805 really so much better than the 800? I mean, how much of a difference will it make in everyday use? Especially given the Windows Phone OS. I doubt it will make any difference at all. I understand not wanting comparatively ancient tech like what you get in the Lumia 925 and 1020, but if you are really seriously considering a WP device then the Lumia Icon is perfect for you since it still has a high end SOC, it's not comically huge like the 1520, and it's available on your carrier.

If getting the 805 processor is that important then you should probably look elsewhere because I doubt you will see a WP device with it for a while. But WP8 is a very lightweight OS that doesn't require tons of horsepower.

There are much bigger advantages (the excellent 20 MP camera) and disadvantages (dealing with WP8 not having as many apps as Android) to getting an Icon vs. another phone. You should be looking at those factors before you look at the model number of the CPU.