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Jan 23, 2016

Last of the Nokia — Lumia 830 review

Design? Check. Hardware? Check. Camera? Check. Apps? Ummm…that’s a good question! The Lumia 830 is a sneaky great smartphone, and the only negative thing about this smartphone is app support. But more on that later. Read on to find out why this “Last of the Nokia” is still sneaky good.

The Lumia 830 has great size. Even though it has a 5″ Display, the frame and its narrow profile make it easy to use with one hand! To tell you the truth, it kind of reminds me of the newer iPhones.

Design wise, this Lumia is actually pretty awesome. And even though I don’t like white devices, this Lumia 830 pulls it off. I’ve seen this version of white matte before, but after actually using it for more than a week, the white matte grew on me. The Lumia 830 comes in different colors and can be swapped out depending on what you want. No matter what color you choose though, you’ll be alright. I feel like Nokia has mastered the plastic matte look. It may feel cheap in your hands, but at least it doesn’t look cheap!

The camera module on the back is reminiscent of the Lumia 1020 for sure, just not as insanely big. The Lumia 830 camera module fits with the overall design of the device without creating a distraction, and I like that.

The Lumia 830 also moves the USB charging port to the top of the device. It’s a little different, but it does make the device easier to use while it’s charging.

What a difference a metal frame can make on a device! A metal frame can make a mid range device feel like a flagship for sure, and it’s much appreciated here. The Lumia 830 looks great mainly because of it’s metal frame. The slightly raised display that tapers off to the metal frame is a nice touch as well. It kind of reminds of the legendary Nokia N9.

The Hardware:

Operating System

Software release: Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim

Cellular connectivity4

Connectivity basics

Main camera

Front-facing camera

Video recording

Despite it’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, the only area where performance seemed to be an issue was when I used the Rich Capture feature with the Lumia Camera app. It’s a compromise, but it’s manageable. Besides, you won’t always be using the Rich Capture feature. But for the most part, performance wasn’t an issue. I noticed some lag while playing Asphalt 8, but it wasn’t anything too serious. It’s a known fact that Windows Phone can run smoothly without the most up to date hardware specs, and with the Lumia 830, that fact still holds true.

For a NON-flagship device, the camera is actually really good. Whether on auto or manual, the camera exceeded my expectations. I had a blast taking photos while walking around Roosevelt Row here in Phoenix. Check out this album on flickr to view what the Lumia 830 is capable of.

The shutter is a little slow at times, but mainly when using the Rich Capture feature which I already talked about. Also, there are times where taking just one picture wasn’t enough. There seemed to be a lot of hit and miss photos. Especially indoors on auto mode. If you’re outdoors, then there’s no problem. But when you’re indoors and the lighting isn’t ideal, that’s where you can run into some problems. On the other hand, if you know what you’re doing, you can go full manual and take control of any situation you’re in! Having the option to go full manual on a budget device like the Lumia 830 is really valuable. That alone is worth the price of this inexpensive smartphone.

As with most Lumia devices, battery life is stupendous. And although it only carries a 2200mAh battery, it can handle a full day of work. The battery is removable, so all you power users know wassup!

And since the battery is removable, what you’re treated with is a removable back cover. The removable back cover is like a running back in the NFL. Everybody thinks that the running back is dead, but we all know how important it is to have one. Especially in the playoffs! The removable back cover is a throwback to what smartphones used to be. I swear, I think Microsoft released all of these midrange devices as hardware beta’s to see how important it was to have a removable back cover. With the recently announced Lumia 950/950 XL, you can see that Microsoft went with what works, and that’s a removable back.

Despite a 720p HD display, The clear black IPS LCD is actually better than I expected. And at 5″, the display is large enough where it doesn’t feel too cramped. Viewing web pages and videos looked and felt just right. Sometimes the photos I was editing even felt like I was working on a high end smartphone!

The Lumia 830’s display wasn’t too aggressive in the sharpness department and the colors were fairly accurate. But if for some reason you find the colors on the Lumia 830 display a little off, then you can fix that. Windows Phone comes with a color adjustment app so “color nerds” can adjust the color output according to their preferences. It’s a valuable feature that comes stock on a Windows Phone that probably no one really appreciates.

A detail that’s also commonly overlooked with a smartphone display is the capacitive buttons. With the Lumia 830, the buttons aren’t part of the display but in the bezel of the device instead. It’s a little design feature I really appreciate.

Being a fan of Windows Phone is like being a fan of a football team that has yet to win a Super Bowl. Every year you’re hoping for something different to only be disappointed at the end of a season. And as a fan of the Windows Phone ecosystem and hardware, when the app support does finally come, for me, it’ll be comparable to the time the Seahawks finally won a Super Bowl. #GoHawks

If you’re not a Windows Phone user currently, then you’re probably not looking at a Windows Phone device now. To be honest, the Lumia 830 is a great Windows Phone. Especially at it’s price point. Yes, it lacks the 20MP pureview of it’s bigger brothers the Lumia 930/Icon. And you also won’t get a 1080P display or a high end mobile CPU. But even without those specifications the Lumia 830 performs really well. It does what you need a smartphone to do minus some key apps that you might’ve already been accustomed to on Android or iOS.

If you don’t live in an app centric world, then a Windows Phone is probably a really good device for you. The Lumia 830 is a device that does all of the basics really really well. I can’t stress that fact enough. The only thing really holding it back are items that maybe anyone over the age of 30 won’t really care about. Apps like Snapchat, or a full fledged Instagram app are things you’ll be missing. Bank apps like Chase and Bank of America are missing too. Not to mention most of the popular games on Android and iPhone (if you’re not a gamer then that really isn’t a big deal). But, that’s pretty much it. I honestly believe if you give Windows Phone a try, you’ll actually enjoy it. And guess what? You’re not bombarded with pre-installed Samsung, LG, Sony, Motorola and HTC apps like on Android. I mean who needs apps that do the same thing twice? I still don’t know why companies like Samsung and Sony try to create the same apps that Android already has pre installed. Just dumb if you ask me. Another big plus in the Windows Phone column is that you’re not held hostage to Apple’s iTune store like the iPhone. And that’s a big plus if you ask me. If you haven’t given One Drive, One Note, Cortana and Bing a try, then you’re missing out.

App support is coming, especially w/ Windows 10 Mobile around the corner. I know we’ve heard this song before, but you’ve got to hope that with the new leadership Microsoft has, they’re going to do it right this time.

Even though Microsoft has recently announced their latest flagship devices the Lumia 950/950 XL, the Lumia 830 is still a great device. Especially if you’re not a spec-whore. The Lumia 830 is a mid-range device for sure, but it’s Lumia Camera features and design keep it at the top of the Lumia device hierarchy. And since the new flagships are arriving soon, you’ll be able to find a Lumia 830 for dirt cheap online!

In the end, the Lumia 830 will hold a special place in my heart since it’s the last Nokia device ever made. Although there are rumors about Nokia’s resurgence in the mobile world, an era has definitely ended. Last of the Nokia, indeed.