Best Windows Phone hardware

[dlock13]

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.

This right here. Windows Phone seriously makes no difference in day-to-day performance. When I use my 1520 next to my wife's 1020, there's absolutely no discernible difference when it comes to performance.

What that means is if you wait till the next version, you're going to be waiting a while for what barely feels like an upgrade. The Icon is the same exact phone as the 1520 except without an SD card and with a 5" AMOLED screen. I absolutely adore my 1520 and its size. The 6" screen is gorgeous to read comics on.

Anyway, just get the Icon and be happy. It is an awesome phone.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

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.

What would make the 805 take so long to come the market? Whether it be on a Nokia, Samsung, Verizon, ATT, etc ?

EDIT: Say if I get a Lumia Icon, how could I get os 8.1 ?

 

[dlock13]

What would make the 805 take so long to come the market? Whether it be on a Nokia, Samsung, Verizon, ATT, etc ?

EDIT: Say if I get a Lumia Icon, how could I get os 8.1 ?

Easily. Sign up here. Then download the 'Preview' app on your phone and install the update. Then you restart your phone, and then you install the update.

Extremely easy. I have it on my Lumia 1520, and aside from a few minor bugs here and there, it has been working amazingly.

 

[bearxor]

Yeah, installing the 8.1 Preview is remarkably simple.

 

[AstroManLuca]

What would make the 805 take so long to come the market? Whether it be on a Nokia, Samsung, Verizon, ATT, etc ?

EDIT: Say if I get a Lumia Icon, how could I get os 8.1 ?

There just aren't as many handset makers for Windows Phone and they probably don't consider it a priority. Whereas HTC, Samsung, and LG are all rushing to compete for the position of highest tech Android phone, none of them really care about releasing compelling Windows phones more than once a year. LG has never released a phone with WP8, HTC hasn't released new hardware since November 2012, and Samsung does have the very current ATIV SE but all their others are fairly old as well. Nokia is really the only game in town and they're just one company.

There just hasn't been enough competition to drive higher specs.

 

[dagamer34]

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.

The *one* thing that the Snapdragon 805 has is HEVC/VP9 hardware decode, but by the time that's actually relevant, you'll have a new phone.

Go with the Icon, I highly doubt Verizon is going to get a better Windows Phone for the rest of the year.