Technology analysts believe that Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK)’s flagship smartphone, the Lumia 920 is better than the previous Lumia smartphones produced by the company. Despite the improvement, the mobile device needs more shine to defeat its rivals.
The research analysts from Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) Merrill Lynch noted the mixed reviews on the Nokia Lumia 920’s hardware. According to the analysts, the consensus reviews center around the dimension, heaviness, and the performance of the camera of the Lumia 920.
The Lumia 920 appeared to be thicker than the Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) Galaxy S III and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 5 by 24 percent and 41 percent, respectively. It is also heavier than the iPhone 5 and the HTC Corp (TPE:2498) Windows Phone 8X by 65 percent and 44 percent respectively.
In terms on camera performance, the Lumia 920 received positive feedback particularly its capability in capturing images under low light conditions, image stabilization, responsiveness and quality of the screen. There are some reviews noting problems on the tinting and sharpness of the camera, but Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) can easily correct the issue through software upgrades.
Consumers have mixed feedback regarding the performance of Lumia 920’s battery. In comparison with the battery of the HTC Corp (TPE:2498) Windows Phone 8, Lumia 920 has a better battery life; however, it is weaker than the Galaxy S III and iPhone 5.
In terms of software, the research analysts noted that the primary concern in the Windows Phone 8 operating system is the lack of apps, despite the availability of 125K apps. They noted the absence of the Dropbox and Instagram on Windows Phone 8. The two were previously available in the Windows Phone 7. The research analysts also cited that some of the feedbacks suggested that the available apps do not provide comprehensive experience, compared with the available apps offered by other platforms.
The research analysts said, “While the presence of Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) specific apps, such as City Lens and Viber, is likely to help Nokia differentiate against WP8 phones from other manufacturers, the general conclusion seems to be that the absence of apps available on other platforms (Android, iOS) does not provide a compelling proposition to attract users to WP8 from iOS and Android.”
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is expected to launch the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 in the United States on November 9. The telecommunications carrier is offering the Lumia 920 (32GB) for $99 and Lumia 820 (8GB) for $49 with a two-year subscription contract.
The price of the Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) Lumia 920 is more affordable compared with the HTC 8X (16GB) for $199 and the 8GB for $99. The price of the 16 GB iPhone 4S is $99 while the price of the 16GB iPhone 5 is $199.
The research analysts remained unconvinced that the Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) Lumia 920 provides a compelling case for users to shift from iOS and Android ecosystems. They maintained the “underperform” rating for Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) stock.
