Nokia’s first tablet - the Nokia Lumia 2520 - is the sixth tablet released for the Windows RT operating system.
Nokia has taken visual cues from its smartphones and offers either a matte or glossy finish depending on the color. Expert consensus leans more towards the matte finish as the glossy back leaves behind grease and fingerprints and can be difficult to hold one-handed.
Thanks to its 2.2 GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of memory, the Lumia 2520 is, as Trusted Reviews states, “zippy” and “smooth and...fluid.” The tablet comes with 32GB of onboard storage and also gives users the option to store data on SkyDrive storage.
In addition to the internal hardware, reviewers are also impressed with the tablet’s display. Although the resolution - 1080p - is not as good as the iPad, experts find that the Lumia 2520 offers better viewing angles and brightness. Under bright light conditions, V3 reviewers noticed that it also performed better than the iPad.
The display itself is also protected from scratches with a coating of Gorilla Glass 2. Nokia claims that the screen is 10% less reflective than other tablets and experts back this claim. Techradar, however, mentions that in general use the screen is highly reflective due in part to the Gorilla Glass 2.
Although the camera pales in comparison to the 41MP Lumia 720, most critics agree that it is better than other tablet cameras currently. The 2520 uses the same interface as the 720 with its auto-focus ability and aperture of f/1.9. It does not, however, come with an LED light so most reviewers do not suggest using it in low light situations.
In general, experts approve of the Lumia 2520. Trusted Reviews states that it’s a “strong first effort” with Pocket Lint concluding that this tablet is a “success for Nokia.”
On the other hand, Phone Arena believes that the tablet might struggle due to the underwhelming number of apps in the Windows RT library.
The Good: Excellent display viewing angle and brightness, fast processor speed, decent rear-facing camera.
The Bad: Highly reflective screen, few quality apps for Windows RT.
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Romain Thuret, Digital VersusNow a member of the Microsoft family, the "Nokia" Lumia 2520 doesn't offer much that the Surface 2 doesn't already—other than higher brightness and 4G. Plus, the materials aren't as nice, and it generally isn't as convenient to use. More than anything, we have trouble imagining Redmond promoti...
- Daniel Schmidt, NotebookcheckNokia's first and last tablet with Windows RT 8.1 has an incredibly bright display, a fast processor and the ability to access the internet via LTE -- but it also has some unusual weaknesses.
- Agent Andrews, Geek SquadAll things considered, the Nokia Lumia 2520 is one of the most impressive tablets we’ve yet to see when it comes to its tactile, glossy design and that undeniably statement screen. Where it falls behind, as ever with Windows devices, is with its lack of apps and storage. Having said that, its...
- Helena Stone, Chip ChickIf you can’t wait for the Surface to come out with a 4G LTE version, well, you really don’t need too. The Nokia 2520 is a solid alternative that offers a beautiful design with fun color choices, along with plenty of performance and a top of its class display. Overall, this is a really ni...
- Paul Briden, Know Your MobileNokia’s venture into the tablet space isn’t very far removed from its smartphone efforts: a confusing blend of excellent exterior design and hardware with questionable software. It’s not unusable by any means, but it does lack the pick-up-and-go usability of Android and iOS, the ex...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Nokia Lumia 2520 Manual (PDF)
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