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Nokia Lumia 900 Hands-on

By on January 12, 2012 at 4:23pm in Mobile News


Canada isn’t currently slated to get the LTE-powered Nokia Lumia 900 — at least not yet — but that doesn’t mean we can’t lust after it. TELUS will be releasing the Lumia 800 soon, and Rogers the 710 in early February, but what I really want is the 4.3-inch goodness of those devices’ bigger brother.

I had a chance to play with the Lumia 900 briefly, and it’s a doozy. Certainly bigger than the 800, its weight is evenly distributed and the body is slightly thinner. The curved “2.5D” glass of the Lumia 800 is eschewed for a flatter smattering of Gorilla Glass, but it’s no less attractive as a result. Besides the addition of an LTE chipset, the Lumia 900 comes with a 1MP front-facing camera. The rest of the specs are the same: 1.4Ghz Snapdragon MSM8255 processor, 512MB RAM, 16GB internal storage and an 8MP camera with Carl Zeiss lens. Happily, the 800×480 pixel ClearBlack AMOLED display is not Pentile like the 800, but more like the Super AMOLED Plus of the Samsung Galaxy S II.

Nokia has had an incredible reception here at CES. The Lumia 900 won tons of “Best of Show” awards, and the booth on the show floor has been constantly busy, with hundreds of new and old fans huddling around the various devices for some hands-on time. Windows Phone has been embraced in the last few weeks in ways I couldn’t have imagined six months ago: Nokia has not only brought more attention to the platform, but to other Windows Phone vendors like HTC and Samsung.

While the Marketplace is still fairly short on quality apps, an increasing number of dev houses are recognizing the importance of having Windows Phone apps and that bodes very well for Microsoft in 2012.

Related posts:

  1. Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone rumoured for North American launch in Q1 2012
  2. Nokia Lumia 900 specs leak: 4.3-inch WVGA screen, front-facing camera and LTE
  3. Nokia to reveal the Windows Phone Lumia 800 and Lumia 710
  4. Hands-on with the Nokia Lumia 710: mid-range Windows Phone on the cheap

Discussion

37 comments for “Nokia Lumia 900 Hands-on”

  1. C’mon bring this phone to Canada. It is arguably the best smartphone on the planet right now.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 87 Thumb down 30

    Posted by Keith | January 12, 2012, 4:35 pm
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  2. Re-thinking the 900, it’s pretty large for my smallish hands!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 14

    Posted by Alyssa | January 12, 2012, 4:40 pm
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  3. Why do I have a feeling Bell will get this, they always get the high end phones and AT&T probably wants this to seem exclusive for a little while

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 29 Thumb down 2

    Posted by Sean | January 12, 2012, 4:41 pm
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  4. Nice read! They did seem to fix most of the issues with the rushjob in the 800. The front facing camera is nice. The non Pentile display is a major change, if Daniel mentions it being on the level of the SGS2′s super amoled plus, I am quite impressed.

    It’s certainly not the best smartphone on the planet right now, but its probably the best WP7 handset and I really hope they bring it to Canada.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 41 Thumb down 0

    Posted by Dalex | January 12, 2012, 4:46 pm
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    • Ever had a time where you feel like you don’t wanna know which carrier has it, and you just wanna buy it out straight or buy an unlock version somewhere? Yea, this phone gives me that feeling.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 1

      Posted by Wia | January 12, 2012, 7:39 pm

    • 2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
      3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
      4G Network LTE 700 / 1700 / 210

      I asked Nokia when this will be launched in Canada and I was told the announcement would be made soon. So I believe Canada will get it :)
      I am waiting for this baby and will buy it as soon as it is launched.
      Tired of seeing same looking mobile phones everywhere. This is different and this is the best (in CES there was an open challenge to all mobile owners to compete with this, 21 lost (including dual core and iphones4s), one was tally and this lost to only one iphone4s with a friction which we could easily call a tie. I was in favor of MeeGo but WP7 decision was not wrong either.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0

      Posted by AsadRaza | January 13, 2012, 5:42 am

    • Any phone that wins CNET’s Best Smartphone at CES is automatically a strong contender for best smartphone period.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 1

      Posted by Keith | January 13, 2012, 7:25 am

  5. Oh so it’s not Pentile and close to Super Amoled Plus. This is great news as a Pentile WVGA on a 4.3inch screen would look shitty but just fine on anything under 4 inches.

    Bring this to Canada with LTE please!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 1

    Posted by JL | January 12, 2012, 4:47 pm
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  6. Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 26

    Posted by T1MB1T | January 12, 2012, 4:48 pm
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    • Funny, I thought it was Wind’s small number of customers compared to the BIG 3′s due to their limited coverage and poor customer service that was making the handset makers ignore them.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 11

      Posted by CADDMan | January 12, 2012, 7:12 pm

  7. Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 31

    Posted by Paynus Uranus Chite Phoque | January 12, 2012, 4:55 pm
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  8. I actually don’t think the snapdragon they used supports pentaband so it really has nothing to do with locking WIND out

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 3

    Posted by np8989 | January 12, 2012, 5:06 pm
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  9. Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 41

    Posted by sYn | January 12, 2012, 5:33 pm
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  10. It’s a shame. Most Nokias since the N8 had pentaband radio. Most sold directly from Nokia unlocked as well. Did Microsoft put an end to that? If you Want freedom from carrier, stick with Nexus Galaxy or HTC Amaze.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 11

    Posted by cheenachatze | January 12, 2012, 5:45 pm
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  11. Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 31

    Posted by kenypowa | January 12, 2012, 5:47 pm
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    • I heard somewhere that’s also why Brad Pitt broke up with Jennifer Aniston.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 4

      Posted by Another_CADDMan | January 12, 2012, 7:18 pm

  12. Rogers, you better get this!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 11

    Posted by wtv | January 12, 2012, 5:54 pm
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  13. I REALLY hopes this comes to bell, I’ve been waiting for a good WP7 on their network since it came out!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 4

    Posted by Kevin | January 12, 2012, 6:22 pm
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    • We went with Bell because of the HD7, which we’ve been very happy with… it’s one of the most distinctive looking Gen1 phones, 4.3″ screen. But I’m hoping that because Rogers has the 710, and Telus the 800, that Bell will get the 900.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 4

      Posted by Lowell | January 12, 2012, 7:51 pm

  14. Hopefully Nokia will release a unlocked hspa+ version

    The 800 is pentaband so this should be as well

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 2

    Posted by Andy c | January 12, 2012, 8:07 pm
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  15. Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 16

    Posted by Paul Q | January 13, 2012, 9:10 am
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  16. Lumia 900….I would drop my iphone4s for this distinctive looking device…I dont care if its penta band or not..but must be quad band. Can’t wait for device to be availble in Canada…imagine..sititng around a table with all your friends…they all pull out Apply, Android…and BAM!…you pull the Lumia 900.

    Brings back nostalgic memories of Nokia 5190 / 3390 and when i changed the entire casing and antenna etc…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1

    Posted by Silentbuddha | January 13, 2012, 9:50 am
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  17. Microsoft Stores will be selling the Lumia 800 unlocked soonish. The Lumia 800 will be optimized for AT&T Networks, ie: Rogers in Canada, and support 3G bands: 850, 1900, 2100. The Lumia 800 (RM-819) will run at HSPA+ (14.4Mbps) speeds; which is sometimes branded as 3G+ or 4G-Lite.

    If you were one of the ‘must have it’ crowd and picked up a UK edition (RM-801) then you will be pleased to know that the XDA-Developer community is going to be testing the flashing the US Lumia 800 RM-819 ROM on to the UK Lumia 800 phone to enable the 850 MHZ band. They’ve already flashed multiple UK/FR/DE firmware between phones and have successfully unbranded the phone from European carriers.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0

    Posted by frederick edwards | January 13, 2012, 2:01 pm
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    • Thanks to trading martna for giving me such ahigh efficiency trading call.I recall that i was paid for 6 month in new year offer which you give on jan/2011 and i get one 3G mobile phone i.e. micromax A60. I really like this offer .and i’m waiting again for any offer like that ..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

      Posted by XRIS | July 25, 2012, 5:07 am

  18. I have a question. That said I’m not saying anything negative about this device, Nokia or windows phone OS. I have owned Nokia devices in the past and been satisfied with the experience.

    I just don’t understand how this phone could be garnering so much attention with what I perceive to be “run of the mill” specs. Aside from it being a Nokia device and running WP OS it’s specs are either equal to or inferior to current counterpart devices offered by other companies. Are there special features on the phone that aren’t being talked about? Basically I’m asking what is making this device so interesting? I feel like I’m out of the loop here.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 5

    Posted by Jongie | January 13, 2012, 6:24 pm
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    • The trick is the OS. WP7 is slick, fast & smooth. YouTube the “my phone for smoked by a windows phone” challenge from CES. Even with significantly lower specs than most of it’s competition, the WP7 device outperformed most devices in real world exercises. (postic pics to social networks, checking weather in a specific cities, etc.) The only loss the WP7 device (a Titan, I believe) suffered was to an iPhone 4s, and the challenge was posting a pic to Twitter. It also had 3 ties and over 20 wins, facing even top new devices like the Galaxy Nexus.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0

      Posted by freestaterocker | January 13, 2012, 9:20 pm

    • It is hard to compare specs of phones that are on different platforms. The operating system on windows phone is completely different than android therefore it has different needs for hardware.

      Honestly, windows phone doesn’t need the extra power to be fast or smooth and that is exactly how Microsoft intended it. 1.4Ghz single core with 512mb of ram would probably still be faster/smoother than most high-end android phones.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0

      Posted by np8989 | January 16, 2012, 12:55 am

  19. I really hope you guys are right about it coming to Bell. I am on Bell with an HD7. I’m happy with it, but I want a WP with a ffc for tango.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2

    Posted by freestaterocker | January 13, 2012, 9:22 pm
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  20. Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 12

    Posted by Tyrone | January 14, 2012, 1:45 pm
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  21. I would have love this phone more if it had a 12MP camera (Since the N8 had it and most new phones at the CES will have 12MP or more…) and a SD Micro card slot… Unless they create a 32GB version… Good to know that Nokia is back.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1

    Posted by Chris | January 14, 2012, 4:42 pm
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  22. Sorry for my part 2 of my posting.. Curious does anyone know if the Lumia 900 will come with 32GB and 64GB memory like the N9? Or is it too early to know?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1

    Posted by Chris | January 14, 2012, 5:21 pm
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  23. Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 11

    Posted by Daniel AJ | January 16, 2012, 1:13 am
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  24. Rogers, please please get this one on your line of WP7 phones! We were all expecting Rogers to get Lumia 800, but Telus got that one! I thought Rogers has a good relationship with Nokia. What happened there!? I hope Rogers won’t loose this one to another carrier!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0

    Posted by Nino | January 24, 2012, 7:32 pm
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  25. Looks like Bell will NOT be getting this beauty… My inside source has seen their latest roadmap, and no new WP7 through June. Best hope for Bell devotees is Apollo devices… :’(

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0

    Posted by freestaterocker | January 28, 2012, 10:49 am
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