Nokia Lumia 820 and shells (Photo credit: appsmanila)
Since December I've been using Nokia's 'second best' Windows Phone 8 device, the Nokia Lumia 820. I know that a lot of people will mark it up as second, purely because of the better camera and larger screen size on the Lumia 920, but the Lumia 820 has two key advantages for me that make it a better smartphone for my life. The first is a removable battery, and the second is support for a MicroSD card, expanding storage and allowing me easy access to the pictures and videos I take, without having to rely on any fancy connectivity or cloud solutions.
And it has nice round corners which don't catch in my pocket. With the size of an average smartphone physically increasing, that's a rather important point.
So as a bit of a contrast to the normal look at a handset, here are five reviews from a number of the top technology and smartphone sites online, and their thoughts on a device that I personally rate rather highly… the Lumia 820.
Rafe Blandford (All About Windows Phone)
It's not just about the cost. For example, we think, because of the hardware mix, that many of Nokia's more traditional users, especially those coming from a Symbian device, will prefer the Lumia 820. And, in a way, that's really the best compliment we can pay the Lumia 820. It's a device that deserves to exist based on its own merits, not just because it's a cheaper version of the flagship.
Tom Warren (The Verge)
There are some great aspects to the Lumia 820, including its exclusive apps and loud speaker, but if you can deal with the extra bulk and weight of the Lumia 920 then that seems like the obvious choice here. The Lumia 820 will serve you well, but if it's wow factor you're interested in then Nokia's Lumia 920 will suit you better.
Mat Smith (Engadget)
The display is smaller than the Lumia 920, but the hardware doesn't feel all that much lighter for it. In its favor, there's a replaceable battery for power users and the inclusion of microSD storage. Again, Nokia's propensity for eye-catching color schemes will help these phones stand out from duller safer hardware designs and the inclusion of a free wireless charging plate and case (both in the UK and from AT&T) is a welcome extra.
Chris Burns (Slashgear), note that he has reviewed the Lumia 822, Verizon's variant of the handset.
This device works with a body that's not going to blast past the top smartphone tier as far as outright beauty goes, nor is it about to keep your iPhone 5 friends at bay with a more high-class feel. What it is going to do is offer you Windows Phone 8 in just about as perfect a combination of hardware and software as you're going to see on the market today… Nokia has always been known for their high-quality builds and long-lasting equipment, and this device is no exception to the rule.
Andrew Orlowski (The Register)
From my experience, there are question marks over the muffled calls and loudness issues with the Nokia Lumia 820. Likewise, the pace of evolution of the WP8 ecosystem, gives pause for thought. Hopefully a firmware fix will sort the call audio out, which impacts on its review rating a little here. It's a pity because overall I found the handset surprisingly comfortable and reassuring. With the Lumia 820, Nokia has made a solid (no pun intended) mass market phone, looking for a mass market.
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