Nokia Lumia 920 Review Roundup: Critics vs Consumers' Opinions

Against the might of the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy, the Nokia Lumia 920 and its Windows 8 brethren face a prolonged war for market share, but the question remains whether or not developers will heed the call and breathe life into Microsoft's app ecosystem.  On the design front, some critics find the Lumia 920 to be bulky, however consumers appear to largely view the smartphone's size as a non-issue. Lackluster battery life also reportedly plagues the device, yet for the most part Windows 8 Phone users note that using the Lumia 920 is a "refreshing" experience in an environment saturated with Android and iOS handsets. Now, on to the reviews.

Critics

The Verge argues that the "Lumia 920's hardware and design is top-notch, the  screen is lovely, and the camera is a marvel in low light - but you can't ignore just how big and bulky the phone is. The software and hardware tradeoffs inherent in the Lumia 920 could be worth it if you've bought into the Microsoft ecosystem, but for most people I don't think it's a sure bet."

CNET adds that the smartphone isn't for everyone due to its large size and weight, and notes: "there is no one broken, terrible, or unfinished feature to push you away, and innovations like Wi-Fi charging and gloved use are unique draws that no other competitor can offer."

The Guardian was impressed with the Lumia 920's sturdiness, but labels some of the apps useless and suggests that "wireless charging is a bit of a gimmick" and "battery life could be better." As of now, the app store also "has significantly fewer apps than Google Play or the Apple App Store."

TechRadar wasn't blown away by the Lumia 920, but peg the device as a "refreshed Lumia 900 with a newer operating system and additional power. That's not to say it's a bad phone, what Nokia has produced is a solid, well-built device which does the job you'd expect of a smartphone, without any of the lag we sometimes see from the convoluted Android system."

Consumers (CNET User Reviews)

Brandonkeenan suggests that smartphone users  who suffer from Android or iOS fatigue should check out the Windows 8 Phone for "something exciting and original. It's quick and responsive screen makes using it easy and enjoyable. It feels great in the hand with the curved back and its weight is substantial enough to where you know your holding a phone after all it is a Nokia."

LouisvilleSteve explains that he was "concerned about the size and weight that the reviewers keep mentioning," but that the "bulkiness of the phone...is a non-issue."

EWCTCU, a user concerned primarily with productivity, commends the Lumia 920 for its email integration "both with exchange and with Gmail. I prefer it to iOS. I also greatly prefer SkyDrive to iCloud. It integrates with Windows Explorer on my computer, and makes it easy to manage files."

Cwalker1984 has "mixed feelings. The phone is fast and the screen is very good but battery life is inconsistent, one day it last all day and the next day just few hours using it the same way + you need to turn off Nokia drive, location, and nfc or the battery will run down in 2-3 hrs defeting the point of having a smartphone."