NOKIA Lumia 810 Pro Reviews

In their effort to find a way around the AT&T exclusivity on the Nokia Lumia 820, the company's engineers have ended up with an arguably better device in the face of the Lumia 810. The T-Mobile exclusive smartphone benefits greatly from the larger battery, while maintaining everything we liked about its Lumia 820 sibling. This includes the capable chipset, decent camera, and a display which makes Windows Phone OS even more enjoyable. As far as the handset's limitations go, we reckon that they are mostly due to the OS. Windows Phone 8 is a major improvement over the previous version, but it's still well behind the Android and iOS establishment. This is mostly due to the lack of quality apps for Windows Phone 8. Microsoft might be constantly boasting about the ever increasing number of apps in its Marketplace, but the truth is that not many of them are a joy to use. Normally, the Nokia Lumia 810 is priced at $99.99 with a two-year commitment to T-Mobile in the US. For the next couple of days however, the Big Magenta has dropped the smartphone's price to free with a contract. This makes the Lumia 810 a great value for anyone looking to enter the Windows Phone 8 realm. But as with every other phone, there are always a handful of nice alternatives.

The Nokia Lumia 810 is an undoubtedly solid smartphone, but its ultimate undoing is the Lumia 920, a better device that costs less money. If you're unwilling to jump ship from T-Mobile, Nokia's custom software also throws a wrench in the equation, because you'll need to choose between superior hardware that does less (HTC 8X), or a relatively inferior smartphone that does more (Lumia 810). Alternatively, you could also wait for the Lumia 920 to break free of its six-month AT&T exclusivity. Or you could import the Canadian version, which just so happens to support T-Mobile's HSPA+ bands. So long as you're aware of the alternatives, we have no qualms recommending the Lumia 810. If you're wanting to snag the phone right away, however, you should prepare to swallow a bitter pill, because we don't expect its $150 price tag to last far beyond the holiday season.

The Nokia Lumia 810 is a fantastic mid-tier phone that is unfortunately dragged down by the performance of its carrier. While it's true that the same hardware is available on different networks (the Lumia 822 on Verizon and the Lumia 820 on AT&T), the simple but attractive design of the Lumia 810 is exclusive to the carrier, which is sure to disappoint many. For an 800 x 480 display, the screen of the Lumia 810 truly shines (see what I did there?), the battery life is great, and the performance is surprisingly heavy-hitting for a handset that isn't even considered to be top-of-the-line. It's a shame that such a pretty -- but not quite perfectly designed -- phone is only available on such a poor-quality network, as it's just not worth suffering through the weak signals and spotty coverage. If it's the affordable price and respectable action under the hood that attracts you to the Lumia 810, suck it up and go with one of the less attractive but better connected variants from either Verizon or AT&T.

The Nokia Lumia 810 is T-Mobile’s attempt to stand out from the competition with its own custom variant of a midrange Windows Phone 8 device. In that respect, the phone succeeds: it’s a unique piece of hardware that delivers a serviceable experience overall. We’re not sure why T-Mobile and Nokia decided to depart so drastically from the 820′s design in crafting the 810, but its boxy design, and the suggestion of ruggedness accompanying it, will doubtless appeal to some customers. We also think the asking price is a little steep for a device like this. $149.99 isn’t a negligible amount for a midrange device, nor is the special $99.99 price point available to customers with qualifying T-Mobile plans. For that same hundred dollars, a customer could walk across the street to an AT&T store and pick up a much higher-end Lumia 920 (though it’s true the monthly cost would probably be higher). Are the custom apps, above-average camera, and solid battery life enough incentive to lay out a little more dough than usual for a midrange smartphone? Well, we don’t think it’s is the best option for everyone, but if you’re sweet on T-Mobile and Windows Phone, the Lumia 810 is the closest thing to a premium experience you’re going to get from a carrier store. And for all its compromises, there’s a lot to like in this hardy little smartphone.

The Nokia Lumia 810 for T-Mobile is a solid choice for a mid-range smartphone. It may not have a high-definition screen, nor the very fastest mobile processor, but it makes good use of the tools it does include. The hardware might be a wee bit on the blocky and spartan side of the design equation, but it is solid, well built, and all the features and buttons work properly. The radio and calling performance was quite good, though battery life could have been a little bit better. The communications tools of the 810 are as good as any other WP8 smartphone. For media fanatics, the 810 has plenty of avenues through which content can be purchased and consumed. Perhaps the only real negative thing I can say about the 810 is the inconsistency of the camera (which in reality wasn't all that bad). If you're a fan of Windows Phone or are simply looking for a change, the Lumia 810 is an excellent alternative to the Android devices available from T-Mobile.

Despite the less than elegant design, the $150 Nokia Lumia 810 is a good Windows Phone 8 device that offers speedy performance, a nice display, and a decent camera. For a budget phone, it has many great attributes. However, if you’re not a T-Mobile customer, this is not a device that entice you to switch. For $50 ($100 less), you can get the same phone with better design elements on Verizon Wireless or AT&T. Or you can get a better (but bigger) Nokia phone overall for $50 less on AT&T. Existing T-Mobile customers who want a Windows Phone will appreciate the upgrade in operating system and specs the Lumia 810 offers over the Lumia 710. However, the HTC One S offers better specs at the same price over on the Android side. If you have the budget and want a Windows Phone, HTC’s 8X is only $50 more.

If you're deciding between the Nokia Lumia 810 and the HTC Windows Phone 8X for T-Mobile, the Lumia 810 is both less expensive and also has a few more software enhancements such as Nokia Music and Nokia Drive. However, if those whistles and bells don't stir your imagination and looks could tip the balance, choose the HTC Windows Phone 8X. I prefer using the latter on a day-to-day basis, though I would miss some of the Lumia's extra features. If you're interested in Windows Phone and the carrier is unimportant, the Nokia Lumia 920 is the most advanced you can get, though it also suffers from a thick build. A lot of you may wonder if it's worth switching from an Android phone or an iPhone to Windows Phone 8. It boils down to personal preference and to what you look for in a phone and in an operating system. Each OS comes with its own strengths and weaknesses; you'll have to consider the trade-offs with each. In general, though, this might help you decide.

On the surface, there’s nothing cool or hip looking with the Nokia Lumia 810, which is a shame considering it’s a Lumia device, but yet, it’s lacking any of the distinct design cues to make it a part of the family. However, once you’re able to overlook its boring design and discover its inner beauty, the Lumia 810 really shines as an entry-level smartphone. Interestingly enough, the Windows Phone 8 experience here is identical to what you’ll find in Nokia’s flagship in the Lumia 920. And even though it’s not packing a PureView camera per se, its quality is remarkably pleasant for a basic handset. Therefore, if you can overlook its beastly appearance, you’ll find the beauty within that’ll impress on so many levels.

The Nokia Lumia 810 delivers a solid, affordable Windows Phone 8 experience, but its blocky design and low-res screen don't do it any favors.

In the end, Nokia has created another real winner for the Windows Phone 8 universe as a whole. The Nokia Lumia 920 may be just that little bit better with a slightly larger display and loud body, but the 810 takes care of the user who doesn’t want to take a monster out of their pocket every time they need to make a call. This is the business person’s Windows Phone 8 smartphone.You’ll want to consider this device if you’re definitely working with T-Mobile in the near future and will be living in the Windows Phone 8 universe. It’s not going to be winning any popularity contests against the Samsung Galaxy S III or an unlocked T-Mobile-wielding iPhone 5 any time soon, but that’s not what it’s made for. Instead its your first great choice for Microsoft’s next generation in mobile OS action. The Nokia Lumia 810 is a truly solid Windows Phone 8 experience, top to bottom.