NOKIA Lumia 900 Pro Reviews

Rather than getting down and dirty stating which device did better in what category, we’re going to get right to the point and talk about pricing – well, that’s because there’s such a huge disparity. When you’re deemed as a high-end offering and priced at $99.99 on-contract, you’re bound to attract plenty of attention, while coming off as something that’s packing a whole lot of bang for the buck. Simply, that’s essentially the story we find with the Nokia Lumia 900. On the flip side, however, people will cringe having to cough up $299.99 for a device that’s going to be on-contract for 2 years. Yes, it’s a steep price to own and experience the Samsung Galaxy Note LTE, but it’s fully warranted seeing that it wins in the specs sheet department – while still offering some benefits in the form of its S Pen functions and video-out functionality. On the hardware side, its 5.3” display is a magnificent thing to behold, and simply puts the 4.3” display of the Lumia 900 to shame. In the end, they both offer all the lovable qualities we expect out of any top-shelf smartphone, but if pricing isn’t a concern, the Samsung Galaxy Note LTE proves to be the more alluring product in the long run. Well, we can say that the Nokia Lumia 900 is a grand device on its own, but it can’t outmatch the prestige that radiates blindingly from Sammy’s juggernaut.

The Nokia Lumia 900 is without a doubt one of the best Windows phones we’ve ever tested up to this point. If you can see past the limited app selection of the platform and the lack of some cutting-edge features like a 720p screen or NFC, there’s a whole lot to recommend. Those already committed to Android, iOS or Blackberry are unlikely to be swayed, but new smartphone buyers should seriously consider the phone… and not just because of its looks or software. At $99.99 for returning AT&T customers, the Lumia 900 is tempting for any smartphone aficionado. At zero dollars for new customers (or $49 if you brave the Wal-Mart aisles) it’s a downright steal. A solid and stylish build, reliable software and excellent value should put this phone on your short list, no matter what you’re currently using. You can consider LTE as a bonus, since AT&T will surely add many more markets over a two-year contract period.

It won't outsell the Samsung Galaxy S II or iPhone 4S (which together gobble up 95 percent of all smartphone profits), and the design isn't strictly new, but the Lumia 900 is nevertheless a successful handset for the Microsoft-Nokia partnership. Of course, not everyone likes Windows Phone and not everyone will like the design, but in my view, Nokia has provided a great handset on a platform that's frankly still immature, but with the camera and call quality, it has left room for the upcoming Titan II and its jaw-dropping camera to do a better job. We'll have to wait until we review that phone to compare. In the meantime, it's Microsoft's turn to help out Nokia by issuing software features that will make Windows Phone a smoother, smarter, and stronger OS that can compete more completely against the much more mature Android and iOS.

I feel like I have been saying this for the length of this review, but it's hard to understate how impressed with the Nokia Lumia 900 I am. The phone's industrial design is impeccable, and it is really the only phone on the same level of the iPhone 4S in this regard. Performance is very fast, and the Windows Phone Metro interface is a joy to use, though I do wish that third-party apps opened and refreshed their data faster than they currently do. The Lumia 900's support for AT&T's 4G LTE network is greatly appreciated, but even if you don't live in one of the few markets currently covered by it, you can get great performance with the Lumia 900 on the carrier's HSPA+ network.

Like its sibling, the Lumia 900 is certainly one of the best Windows Phones available, partially because of its hardware and partially because of Nokia’s many exclusive apps. Sadly, the increase in size has been a bit hard on the Lumia’s square design, which still looks fantastic, but tends to poke at your palms. The navigation buttons will also be difficult to reach for many users, and the specs are the same as every Windows Phone. The OS may run well on a single-core processor, but the lack of power does cause some third-party apps to stutter and holds back some of the platform’s potential. Though its $100 price point has been lauded as incredible for a flagship phone, neither Nokia or AT&T are losing money on hardware here. This phone’s specs are barely better than the first batch of Windows Phones in late 2010. Having said all that, it’s hard not to recommend the Lumia 900. It has a gorgeous AMOLED screen, WP7 is still a great operating system, and the inclusion of 4G LTE really helps boost Web browsing speeds. If you’re looking for a good phone for a reasonable price, this is it. Just don’t expect the cutting edge. We’ll have to wait for Windows Phone 8 for Nokia devices that truly try to compete with Android and iPhone on specs.

After spending some quality time with the Nokia Lumia 900, we have to admit, we’re not entirely blown away by it. Rather, it’s essentially yet another device that we’ve experienced on numerous occasions in the past already – and it merely plays to the same level found with existing Windows Phones like the HTC Titan and Samsung Focus S. Of course, we do like the fact that it’s sporting 4G LTE connectivity, but beyond that, it doesn’t have anything particularly exciting in the hardware front – though, we have to give credit that it has a unique looking design. If we take out LTE out of the equation, the Lumia 900 isn’t anything special. However, we seriously need to give some props to both Nokia and AT&T for agreeing on a price point that is unbelievable in so many aspects. At $99.99 with a 2-year contract, it’s an uncharacteristic price point, and even more, it’s unheard of in this day and age. Yet, that’s what it is in the books people! Surely, it’s going to attract a whole lot of attention and stir some things up with the competition, but in the end, it boasts a ton of value for buck.

When super-fast 4G connectivity is one of the Lumia 900’s core features, and something that won’t be widely available in the UK for yonks, we see this new Windows Phone 7 device as a minor iteration on the Lumia 800. But that’s no bad thing when it has an equally well-built, jaw-droppingly gorgeous bod. While we like that Nokia hasn’t blasted out a dozen half-hearted Windows Phone handsets to date, a 4.3in option couldn’t do the Lumia series’s sales any harm.