The Nokia Lumia 810 is a Windows Phone 8 device which is exclusive to T-Mobile is the United States. The device has a 4.3 inch WVGA display, 8GB of internal storage which can be expanded through microSD, an 8 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics which is capable of 1080p HD video capture, a secondary camera for video calls, Qi-based wireless charging and is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM.The device is available in the exclusively through T-Mobile in the U.S. and generally costs $150 with a two-year contract. The Lumia 810 is quite similar to the Nokia Lumia 820 on AT&T and Nokia Lumia 822 on Verizon, but has specific features which set it apart.
We were fortunate to get our hands on a Lumia 810 and we will be providing a full review of the device. Meanwhile we have put together our first impressions of each of the features of this device to help anyone who is hoping to purchase this device as their next smartphone.
Display
[PROS] The display features Nokia’s ClearBlack technology and has a 480 x 800 pixel resolution. The ClearBlack display makes blacks blacker and allows you to use the Lumia 810 under direct sunlight quite comfortably. The display also features Nokia’s Super Sensitive touch technology which allows it to be interact with the display even with while you are wearing gloves. This is a very useful feature which most other smartphones including the iPhone don’t have, and will be very useful during the cold seasons.[CONS] The resolution of 480 x 800 pixels is reasonable, but not the best. We would have liked to see a slightly higher resolution on the Lumia 810, but we have to admit its good enough for general day to day use.
Storage
[PROS] For those who aren't satisfied with the 8GB of internal storage, the Lumia 810 features a microSD card slot which has hold up to 32GB of additional storage. It doesn’t look like you can store your apps on your microSD, but you can save your photos, video and music on your memory card and leave your internal storage for your apps.
[CONS] Even though the Lumia 810 has a microSD slot, we would have preferred slightly higher storage. In an era driven by HD content, its always good to have a device with at least 16GB onboard. However given that the Lumia 810 is a mid level entry and users can always store most of their content on their SD cards, we don’t think this is a big complaint.
Camera
[PROS] The Lumia 810 features an 8 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and dual LED flash. Nokia is renowned for producing amazing camera phones and the Lumia 810 doesn’t disappoint. The camera is also capable of capturing full HD video at 1080p which can be enjoyed with your family and friends on an HD TV. Another neat feature is the lenses which allows third party developers to add features to the camera. You can read about lenses in detail in our full review of the Lumia 810.
[CONS] Nokia has actually done a pretty good job with the camera on the Lumia 810 and we couldn’t find any complaints. However given Nokia’s background with smartphone cameras, we would like to see the quality improved some more.
Battery Life
[PROS] Battery life is a main concern for many users these days and the Lumia 810 takes care of you in that department. The device features a generous 1800 mAh removable battery. So you can easily replace it if you need to. The battery life seemed quite impressive and lasts around two days with vigorous use. Considering that modern smartphones sometimes don’t even give you a day of battery life, we were very pleased with what the Lumia 810 offers.
[CONS] Apps are currently the biggest strain on the Lumia 810 battery, we notices this especially with games. Be sure that you close the game you are playing by pressing the back button or you may suddenly find a huge chuck of your battery life missing. Windows Phone 8 is still a relatively new operating system, and we hope that Microsoft will work on improving battery life in future updates.
Performance
[PROS] The Lumia 810 is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor and 1GB of RAM. If you are wondering why this device doesn’t have a quad-core processor, its simply because it doesn’t need one. Windows Phone like Apple’s iOS has been built from ground up. This makes its performance fluid and smooth and you will probably never see your Windows Phone lag. In fact the Lumia 810 even feels smoother to operate that the newest iPhones.
[CONS] While the overall performance of the operating system and navigation is smooth, we did notice that apps sometimes take longer to load than their Android counterparts. As developers continue to improve their apps for other platforms, the apps will require better hardware to operate. While this may go unnoticed by most users, hardcore gamers may want to watch out for this.
Connectivity[PROS] The Lumia 810 runs on T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network. We tested the device on T-Mobile’s unlimited plan and saw good reception and 4G connectivity almost consistently. The connection is very capable and we were able to enjoy music streaming on XBox Music and video streaming through T-Mobile TV without any choppiness or delays.
[CONS] T-Mobile unfortunately doesn’t offer the much faster 4G LTE which is available to Windows Phones on other carriers. The HSPA+ connection can go as high as 42Mbps which should take care of most of your tasks. But certain users may find LTE a requirement for their devices.
NFC
[PROS] NFC (Near Field Communication) allows you to share content with your friends by simply touching devices. NFC is also quickly becoming an easy way of making payments using your mobile phone. NFC is also used to quickly pair the Lumia 810 with several supported Nokia accessories.
[CONS] NFC is still a fairly new technology and its not used much in the U.S. While it is still a fun way to share files, not all devices still feature this technology.
Wireless Charging
[PROS] The Lumia 810 features wireless charging, which allows you to place your device on a wireless charging mat to charge it. This means you don’t need to look for your charger or your microUSB cable and makes charging your device quite convenient.
[CONS] T-Mobile and Nokia don’t provide a wireless charger with your device and it would require a separate purchase to use this feature. Hopefully if this standard becomes widely used in devices, you maybe able to easily charge your device at your friend’s place. But we feel it’s a little too early for that at this moment.
App Store and App ecosystem
[PROS] Windows Phone apps are gorgeous and you will definitely enjoy them on the beautiful display of the Lumia 810. You can download the apps through the Windows Phone Store with exclusive apps provided by Nokia and T-Mobile. Windows Phone apps make use of the Metro UI which is now available on Windows 8 and allow you to easily span through the app by swiping.
[CONS] The Windows Phone Store has a limited selection of apps compared to iOS and Android. However you can find most apps you need for your day to day use. Certain apps like Instagram has not been ported for Windows Phone but you may find alternates on the Store.
Nokia Apps
[PROS] Nokia apps add great value to the Lumia 810. You have apps like Nokia Drive with turn-by-turn navigation, Nokia Transit which helps you take maximum advantage of your public transportation and Nokia City Lens which helps you discover the best places to visit, dine in and shop all around you. Nokia continuously brings new apps and content through the Nokia Collection in the Windows Phone Store which is only available to Lumia Windows Phones like the Lumia 810.
[CONS] This may be a limitation of Windows Phone, but we would like to see better integration of Nokia apps with the Windows Phone OS. If you use multiple Nokia apps, we found that you have to sign into each app separately. We hope that Microsoft will allow better integration of apps from partners like Nokia in future.
The Nokia Lumia 810 is definitely not the best Windows Phone in the market, but it is a strong contender. It has a beautiful display and a great camera. We feel it’s a little on the pricey side, but once you hold this device in your hand, you will feel you have gotten good value for money. We will continue testing the Lumia 810 in the coming weeks and have an in-depth review of the device soon. So if you are still on the fence on the decision to purchase the Lumia 810 be sure to follow us on Twitter or Facebook for updates.
[DISCLAIMER] This review unit and wireless connection were provided to DJ’s Mobiles on trial for FREE by T-Mobile.