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Nokia Lumia 820 review

7.7/10 AVG.
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Nokia Lumia 820
Nokia Lumia 820
Nokia Lumia 820
Nokia Lumia 820
Nokia Lumia 820
Nokia Lumia 820
Nokia Lumia 820
Nokia Lumia 820
Nokia Lumia 820
Nokia Lumia 820
Nokia Lumia 820
Nokia Lumia 820
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7.7/10
Informr score
The Nokia Lumia 820 currently has an Informr score of 7.7 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 25 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

Launched alongside one of the most exciting Windows Phone 8 devices ever, the Nokia Lumia 820 is not without features that make it stir up a little bit of excitement on its own. Catering to a discerning user who wants to have next-generation smartphone features but doesn’t need to be on the bleeding edge of mobile tech, it comes with a 4.3-inch 480x800 AMOLED touchscreen display, 1.5GHz dual-core S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal memory, and the latest version of Microsoft’s software for mobile phones.

Being a Nokia, you can bet that the 820 carries some outstanding hardware features.These include an 8MP auto-focus camera with dual-LED flash and 4x digital zoom, a secondary camera for numerous applications, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, support for microUSB connectivity, and support for extra storage by way of microSD cards. The standard battery is rated for up to 55 hours of music playback and up to 8 hours of talk time in 3G. And in case you’re wondering, yes, it does indeed support 4G LTE. For something that weighs only 160 grams and measures 10mm thick, it has quite an impressive list of specs.

Also noteworthy is that Nokia has decided to bring back user-replaceable Xpress-On color covers, with one extra option: you can replace a normal back cover with one that charges wirelessly. That means you can charge your phone without having to plug into a wall outlet ever again. That's pretty next-generation don't you think? If you’re wondering whether this, along with the Nokia Lumia 920, is the best that the former mobile phone leader from Finland can do, don’t hold your breath. Because clearly, Nokia is just getting started.

Need to Know: Nokia Lumia 820

1. Comes with Windows Phone 8 Apollo, the latest version of Microsoft’s mobile phone software, pre-installed. (The Good)

2. Supports all modern mobile phone networking technologies and ships with a speedy dual-core processor to handle computing needs. (The Good)

3. Amount of internal storage is limited at 8GB. (The Bad)

4. Screen resolution is quite low and lacks support for 720p HD content. (The Bad)


Windows Phone
Operating system
Operating system
Windows Phone
1.5 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.5 GHz
4.3"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.3"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
1650 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


GSM Dome
GSM Dome

Nokia bundles here the famous Nokia Maps and Nokia Drive applications, the latter branded Here Drive + Beta now and coming with free lifetime voice guided navigation. This service also works offline, it allows you to navigate with a 3D or 2D UI and gives you efficient routes and good guidance. Then...

- James A., GSM Dome
Beta News
Beta News

Nokia really improves the Windows Phone 8 experience with the Lumia lineup. The added apps bring real value to the mix, something that other manufacturers should pay attention to even in mid-range to low-end market. The Lumia 820 also never once felt underpowered or out of its element. I appreciate...

- Mihaita Bamburic, Beta News
Tech Ticker
Tech Ticker

Lumia 820 is priced around Rs. 25,0000 and it seems the price could act as a hindrance. For the same or slightly higher amount of cash, a user can walk away with a powerful Android device that can do and offer much more than Lumia 820. However, if we remove Android from the equation, Lumia 820 is a...

- Kunal Gangar, Tech Ticker
NDTV
NDTV

We found the Nokia Lumia 820 to be a decent offering and a welcome change from the Android smartphones. Though these are still early days for the Windows Phone 8 OS, we can see how the ecosystem has evolved over a period of time.We think the Nokia Lumia 820 is a well packaged smartphone from the com...

- Surbhi Chawla, NDTV
TrustedReviews
TrustedReviews

The Nokia Lumia 820 is a solid phone, but doesn’t have any of the stand-out features of the fantastic value Nokia Lumia 620, or the Nokia Lumia 920, with its excellent camera. Its screen is also a disappointment, suffering from the oversaturated colours OLED screens are prone to, while falling way b...

- Andrew Williams, TrustedReviews


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Nokia Lumia 820 user manual here.


Nokia backs up the Lumia 820 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Lumia 820 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Nokia support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Nokia's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
4.3"

The Nokia Lumia 820's screen size is 4.3 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1.5 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1.5 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
8+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 8+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with VGA (640 x 480) resolution.

Storage
8 GB

Internal memory is 8 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
1650mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 1650 mAh battery. Nokia's performance ratings are 15 days standby time, 840 minutes, 264 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Lumia 820 Specs

Overview
Release Date November 9, 2012
Regions Available USA, United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare Windows Phone Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1.5 GHz
Internal Storage 8 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 1.37 W/kg
Body: 0.71 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Data Cable, Headset, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Micro-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth Yes
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
4x digital
Flash
Yes (Dual LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, Night mode, White balance, Scene Modes
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
VGA (640 x 480)+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Self-portrait
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density 217 pixels
Size 4.3 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 1650 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging Yes
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 252 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 264 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 840 minutes
Standby Time Up to 15 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Red, Yellow, White, Blue, Violet, Gray, Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 12.4 x 6.8 x 1.0 cm (4.9 x 2.7 x 0.4 in)
Weight 160 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key No
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, MMS, Windows Live
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Themes: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Voicemail Key: Yes
Voice Commands: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Contact Groups: Yes
Voice Activated Dialing: Yes
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
DLNA Support: Yes
Audio Formats: MP3, MP4, eAAC+, AAC+, AAC, AMR-WB, AMR, WMA, WAV, M4A, AMR-NB
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: No
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Haptic Feedback: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Wi-fi Encryption: WEP/WPA/WPA2
Viewable document types: DOC, DOCX, PDF, PPT, PPTX, XLS
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable
Included Software / Apps: -
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Calculator, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA):

Music playback time: 55 hours
Related Links Manual (PDF)
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