Reviews for the Nokia Lumia 928 are trickling in and they are not creating the positive stir that Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) executives were certainly hoping to be basking in this week. While I’ve read no less than three, Troy Wolverton’s at the Mercury News seems to be the most comprehensive that I’ve found and having not had the phone in my hand yet I will defer to his opinion, an opinion that I’ve found spot on in the past.
The Nokia Lumia 928 has finally been released to the public and while Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) has had six months since they released the Lumia 920, they don’t appear to have used that time terrifically wisely.
Nokia Lumia’s Features Less Than Luminous
Rather, the two phones appear to be the same phone. There are changes, no question, but nothing that is going to make users and reviewers rave. The devices share the same processor, have the same amount of storage space, the same basic camera and have the same-sized displays. They are also using the same operating system that Mr. Wolverton opines, is “starting to feel dated and under-featured.”
The two phones vary physically. The Lumia 928 is both thinner and lighter than the Lumia 920, but in an age where we expect lighter and thinner it remains a bit of a brick when compared to the iPhone 5 or the Samsung Galaxy S4. While the OLED display is a big improvement over the Lumia 920, it remains smaller than the OLED screen on the Galaxy S4.
It must be said that the xenon flash incorporated into the Lumia 928 is a big improvement over the dual-LED flash in the 920. But for a camera that is being touted as the ultimate in smartphone camera set-ups it still doesn’t push it over the top. Granted it takes nice pictures, but enough to purchase it, the jury is still out.
Attractive Pricing May Be Nokia’s Best Feature
On a positive note, or for those who prefer Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) and Windows phones, its price of $50 with a two-year Verizon contract is attractive and considerably less than you will find yourself walking out of a Verizon store with a Galaxy S4 or iPhone 5.
The phone is, of course, equipped with standard Windows Phone apps and Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) has bundled a few additional mapping features into the Lumia 928 including Nokia Drive and Here Maps.
Mr. Wolverton was especially impressed with the Live Sight feature in Here Maps. Live Sight allows you to point the phone in the direction you are walking and will superimpose business information and walking distance, essentially augmented reality for the few of us who walk.
In the three reviews I’ve read including Wolverton’s, the consensus is…..this is not good enough to be a flagship phone. Simple.