Camera, Music, Battery, Decision

While get-go generation Windows Phones shipped with 5 megapixel cameras, Nokia'south Lumia 800 comes equipped with an 8 megapixel lens - even though information technology still only records video at 720p HD resolution. The photographic camera on the Lumia is good, and shoots loftier quality photos almost of the time. I discover that the focus tin can be a bit dull at times, but the images information technology produces are more often than not sharp and attractive, even if the colors are somewhat subdued.

Video quality is also quite good, and I really but admire the swipe-accessed filmstrip view of photos and videos that the camera offers. It's much more convenient than having to switch modes into a viewer section of the application. Photos and video recorded with the Lumia are synchronized automatically to a personal computer through the Zune software when you lot connect via USB, but can likewise be uploaded to Facebook or Microsoft'south SkyDrive, or shared via e-mail using a wireless connexion.

Music

The Lumia 800 is odd in that it comes equipped with dual music players. Microsoft'due south cute and slightly confusing Zune Player is bachelor, but Nokia besides installed its own Nokia Music app on the Lumia.

Both apps share the same playback mechanism and groundwork playback option, simply Nokia's app adds a new Gigs feature that lets users find bands that are playing in their local area. Nokia's thespian also offers back up for the Nokia Music shop, which offers music in 20 countries.

Microsoft's Zune Player tin sync over Wi-Fi with Zune on the desktop, and users with a Zune Laissez passer can access unlimited streaming and downloading of music as well. An FM radio is available for those times when you want to tune into NPR or run a risk offending your sensibilities with over the air music. A pair of wired headphones (included) must be plugged in for the radio to function.

Battery

Since it shares some of its restricted multi-tasking roots with Apple'due south iOS platform, it'due south no surprise that the Nokia Lumia 800 can survive significantly longer on a total charge of its 1450mAh battery than Android phones. Nokia rates the phone'southward battery as being good for up to ix.5 hours of 3G talk time or 14 days of standby time. In my feel, it was piece of cake to get a twenty-four hours and a one-half out of the telephone with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and a few email accounts configured on the device and Wi-Fi enabled. People that live and work in a strong indicate surface area could often be able to go 48 hours between charges.

Final Thoughts

In that location is, quite just, no better Windows Phone smartphone on the market than the Nokia Lumia 800. It features wonderful hardware in terms of both design and quality, and Microsoft'due south operating system runs more smoothly on the Lumia than on whatsoever other Windows Phone to date. This telephone is a flat out winner, and a great culling for those that wish to rise to a higher place the flood of iPhones and Android smartphones that we wade through daily.

While there has been no official announcement of the Lumia 800 coming to the U.S. as of the time that I write this, rumors have surfaced near a 4G LTE version of the phone that could be headed to AT&T. We can simply hope.

Pros: Near-perfect design, solid camera, excellent AMOLED display, fast and silky polish.

Cons: Non-swappable battery, no 1080p HD video recording.