Disclosure: As a member of the #VZWlife team, I received this device at no cost to facilitate this review. I am a long time Verizon Wireless customer. All opinions are my own.
About six months ago, I got a new iPhone 5s, and it was quite an upgrade from my iPhone 4s. I was really impressed by the design of the phone, the bigger screen, and the improved photo quality. I've been an Apple user for the past 5 years or so and was accustomed to the seamless integration of their products with my lifestyle and one another. However, as a mom (and a blogger) there are certain times when only my DSLR camera would do. That is until I was offered the chance to review the Nokia Lumia Icon 929 smartphone from Verizon Wireless (at no cost to facilitate this review). Now, I'm able to leave my bulky DSLR at home most of the time!
The tagline for the Nokia Lumia Icon is "See and hear what you've been missing," and after just simply removing the Icon from its box and turning it on, I could already see what I'd been missing. The display screen is BIG, bright, and the color are so vivid. The Icon also has the coolest home screen EVER. It's made up of customizable "Live Tiles" that are always changing and up to date. You can choose whatever is most important to you and "pin" it to your home screen. You'll never confuse your phone with someone else's because it's 100% reflective of you. I love having my social media sites readily accessible, along with my Kindle App.
Here's my home screen:
You'll get a live, updated feed of what's happening inside your apps without ever having to enter them! The Live Tiles are pretty much awesome and one of my favorite features of this smartphone, but the real thing that won me over and has made me question my entire Apple-loving existence is the AMAZING camera and video capabilities on the Nokia Lumia Icon.
The Nokia Lumia Icon features Zeiss optics (think of the same fantastic technology used in the Hubble telescope and in research microscopes throughout the world) and a powerful 20-megapixel camera (yes, I said TWENTY megapixels) to deliver sharp images in both light and dark settings. You can even {easily} modify your settings and shoot in MANUAL mode. When I saw this, I was blown away. Seriously. You have the option to control the flash, white balance, focus, ISO, shutter speed, and exposure/compensation before you take a photo.
Most photographers will tell you that megapixels don't really matter that much though, and it's all about the other specs of your camera (or smartphone in this case) and how well you're able to operate them. Well, this is true, BUT the Lumia Icon has the most awesome "Reframe" feature and those twenty megapixels are going to come in very handy! Just to show you an example, below is a photo I took on my recent trip to Sevierville, Tennessee. I was visiting an apple farm and snapped a photo of a beautiful apple blossom with my Icon. Although I focused on the blossom, there was a fly on a leaf off-center and with the reframe option I was able to zoom in and reframe the shot. Can you believe how much detail you can see on that tiny fly from a smartphone camera?!
With the Nokia Lumia Icon, I'm able to capture sweeping landscapes and even just afternoons at the park with clarity and detail. These are truly print-quality photos I'm taking, and that's why I'm opting to leave my bulky DSLR camera at home most days. This smartphone is truly simplifying my life from that standpoint.
Now, there are a few kinks I still need to work out in terms of using my Nokia Lumia Icon with my Macbook, but I think I just have to do a software upgrade or two in order for them to sync and be able to "talk to each other". Right now I'm having to email my photos to myself to upload them. I'm also missing a few of my apps that aren't available yet in the Windows store, but I'm sure I'll be able to find similar apps once I start looking around. Regardless of these little hiccups, I'm loving this phone and all of the amazing features, especially the camera. I can't wait to start making videos and recording in full HD!
What are your favorite features when shopping for a smartphone?
Is camera quality important to you?
Disclosure: I received this device at no cost as part of the #VZWLife blogging program. All opinions are my own.
Janessa says
WOW! I can not believe how good those photos are! Where you showed the zoom on that fly just blows my mind. Now I REALLY want a phone upgrade! I'm going to look into getting one. Thanks so much!
Lindsey G says
You may have just sold this Apple girl. But seriously, I love the quality my DSLR camera gives me, but honestly, it's totally bulky and I hardly end up taking it with me unless we're doing something BIG. I NEED this phone in my life... like yesterday.
melisa says
I had a windows phone 1 1/2 years ago, and while I had problems with it, the camera, in my opinion, as far as phone cameras go, was unmatched. Then we had to go back to the android and while I'm happier with other features, the camera is just awful, colors are never true. The camera aspect you reviewed is really impressive, especially the fly on the leaf!
Lara Clinton says
My sister in law got this phone and loves it for the photos -- this is pretty compelling to switch from the iPhone, although I don't know if I'm ready to let go yet. 🙂
pam shepherd says
I Would LOVE To Win This Phone.It Is A Great Phone.The Pictures Are So Good. Love It...
Lynsey says
Is this the 32 megapixel one?
Ruth V. says
This one is 20 megapixels! It ROCKS!
David Smith says
Can I say, I want one! I would love to have one of these phones. Actually, right now and for the last several years I haven't had a cell phone at all. I haven't really missed having one, but over the last year or so with all the apps and cool new features these companies have been putting in their phones, I really would like to have a good smartphone now. One thing I like about the Nokia Lumias is that they run Windows Phone and since all of our desktops and laptops are running Windows 8.1, a nice Lumia would fit right in with what we have already. So much has been written about people not liking the Windows 8 environment, but I like it and my fiance likes her Windows 8 laptop.
ANN*H says
These are beautiful pictures , very bright and clear. My son loves to take photographs of the grand kids all the time. So this would be a nice thing for him to look into buying. Thanks for the review and pictures.
Lisa says
You read my mind. I just got the Icon last week, upgraded from the iphone 4S. And I am loving it as well. I have to learn that reframe trick!!!