Category: Microsoft

  • Microsoft Lumia 650 Review

     2016_lumia550_1
    Welcome to the 2016 Microsoft Lumia 650 review. The newest entry in the new four model Lumia range is the 650 and it is arguably the best looking of the range too. The main reason is the high end styling and materials that sets it apart from the any other phone in the Lumia range. The Lumia 650 is essentially the mid range model priced under $300 AUD outright and as a result probably the best value in the range. We like the Lumia phones as they usually have the latest hardware on the inside and a solid operating system and reasonably priced. They are also the most secure, since few would target a essentially unique and a relatively small number of phones. The only problem with the Lumia is that there are not very many main stream Apps in the store. In terms of construction the Lumia 650 is just as good as any other phone in price and and beyond which is great selling point. The removable panel fits perfectly and the screen glossy and hard. There are no complaints about how its built. In terms of hardware the Lumia 650 doesn't have any standout features bellying its mid-range positioning. Unfortunately the world has moved one and what was mid-range is no longer. So the Lumia 650 is mid-range in basically the Lumia range rather than the competition. In the real world the 650 goes up against Android OS phones above entry level. In this context there are a few surprises in the specification that includes the option of dual SIM, expandably memory up to 256Gig, 5 inch OLED display withe Gorilla glass 3 and an FM radio. If you take into account the sub $300 price tag the 650 packs a lot of hardware for the price, bettering most Android OS based phones in the category. In terms of use the Lumia 650 is standard Windows 10, so everything is there and easy to use. Performance is good although apps do take longer to load if you've used a faster phone. Despite the relatively low powered CPU it works very well and smoother than like specified Android phones and the iPhone 5s. The Microsoft Lumia 650 is a very good phone just missing 3rd party Apps. That said if you are into the Microsoft Office, Skype, Onedrive, Minecraft, XBOX  and so forth but can't afford the top end Lumia 950 than the 650 is for you. The best model to get is the Dual SIM version especially if you travel so you can still use you normal number and a local SIM for data and call savings. great phone for those who don't want to get distracted by Pokemon GO! Specifications
    • Microsoft Lumia 650
    • Network Quad-band GSM - All Tri-band 3G - All Tri-band 4G - All
    • Design Touch screen L142 x W70.9 x D6.9 mm
    • Weight  122 grams
    • Display 5 inch 720 x 1280
    • Camera 8MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing video call camera 2MP
    • Video Camera 720p 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Quad-core 1.3 Ghz Snapdragon 212 Separate Andreno 304 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 1Gig RAM Up to 16 Gig for user Up to 256Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features FM Radio with RDS Li-Po 2000 mAh battery Up to 26 Days Standby Up to 16 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx under $300 July 2016 (Outright)

  • Microsoft Lumia 550 Review

     2016_lumia550_1
    Welcome to the 2016 Microsoft Lumia 550 review. We like the Lumia phones and Windows phone OS, it is simplest of all the operating systems to use and amazingly powerful yet doesn't use much power. The new Lumia 550 uses Windows 10 Phone OS which enhances the core features of the Windows Phone 8.1 this interface is more modern and resembles the desktop PC version. The Lumia 550 priced under $199 outright is one of the cheapest and nicest 4G capable smartphone for sale at the moment. In terms of construction the Lumia 550 is really good, nice and solid and feels like it will take daily punishment without a phone case. Mind you a screen protector would probably help. It's a cheap entry level phone so you don't expect much and you'll be impressed. There is not much on the spec list that's for sure but it is an inexpensive phone. In terms of hardware the Lumia 550 has only one standout out feature and that is the 4.7 inch HD screen. The screen resolution and quality gives it a look that impresses even when compared to phones in the mid-range category.  Apart from that all the usual features including FM radio with RDS is built in along with an expandable memory. The quality of the camera images are really quite good, better than the Samsung Galaxy J1 for example. In terms of use the Lumia 550 is standard Windows 10. It can do anything that other operating systems can do with ease. We think it is the easiest phone to use. Since you can improve functionality by installing the various apps it matches any other phone you can think of. There are lots to choose from but less in number than other other phones. Although the operating system is pretty slick the slower CPU will mean it will take longer to open any App that said it no different to any other phone in the entry level category. Speaking of Apps,while there are plenty to choose from you will still be missing some the key ones and often the latest releases it just a matter of time and marketing. The Microsoft Lumia 550 is a good entry level phone. The key selling point is that the screen makes it look like a more expensive phone. Windows Phone 10 OS means it works great with any Windows 10 PC and is seamless if you use Skype, OneDrive to hotmail/live/outlook email accounts, be it emails or pictures or any other document you've created on your phone. We highly recommend it if you're just starting out with 'smart phones' and not into Apps. Specifications
    • Microsoft Lumia 550
    • Network Quad-band GSM - All Tri-band 3G - All Tri-band 4G - All
    • Design Touch screen L136.1 x W67.8 x D9.9 mm
    • Weight  141 grams
    • Display 4.7 inch 720 x 1080
    • Camera 8MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing video call camera 2MP
    • Video Camera 720p FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Quad-core 1.1 Ghz Snapdragon 210 Separate Andreno 430 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 1Gig RAM Up to 8 Gig for user Up to 200 Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features A-GPS, Accelerometer, Proximity, Ambient Light FM Radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 2100 mAh battery Up to 28 Days Standby Up to 17 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx under $200 March 2016 (Outright)

  • Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL Review

     2016_lumia950_1
    Welcome to the Nokia Lumia 950 and 950 XL review. The Lumia 950 was released over the Christmas 2015 break and a welcome addition to very small Lumia lineup. We counted 6 models the last time which is fine although the specs don't truly differ much until the 950 and 950XL release! The Lumia 950 and 950XL are also assumed to be the top range phone in the lineup which is an interesting assumption. The 950 XL has the larger screen but the same internals. In terms of construction the Lumia 950 is very well made. It should be simple since there are only two parts and that includes the removable back cover which hides the replaceable battery, SIM and microSD expansion. Clearly the 950 and the larger screen 950 XL are not premium to hold but replacing the rear with custom cover will help immensely with in the look and feel department. Since 99% will purchase some sort of cover for the phone it's a kinda of practical and reduces construction costs. Regardless it is a short fall considering how much the Lumia 950 or 950XL models costs. In terms of hardware specifications the Lumia 950 and 950 XL has the lot - multiple CPUs and separate GPUs, AMOLED displays and better then 1080p HD screens with pixel densities that exceed andy Apple or Samsung has to offer, only the Sony Z5 have better resolutions and densities. Standout features include and Iris scanner and even and still useful FM RDS radio!  The best feature is of course the 20MP camera. There are plenty of side by side comparisons of the camera and video quality and the 950 or 950XL to us is the most consistent and realistic results and probably the best out of all current phones. Apart from that the other killer feature is that you can get Dual-SIM versions! In terms of use, like all Windows phones the Lumia 950 and 950 XL runs the latest Windows 10 and yes it is a significant visual upgrade from the version 8 that came before. The difference is that the interface is simple to use, genuinely looks professional aka a genuine graphics designer did. Makes iOS and Android look a little toy like. Using Windows Phone is very similar to the desktop version but closer to the tablet mode version. The interface is genuinely buttery smooth even with the data sucking 'widgets' or live tiles accessing data. To conclude we like the Lumia 950 and 950XL but there are two things that let the side down 1-the case but clearly that can be rectified and customised. 2 - Then there is still the shortage of Apps but then most can be accessed through the web browser. Both are great phones and easily recommended better than the competition is many regards if you can afford them. Specifications
    • Microsoft Lumia 950
    • Network Penta-band GSM Penta-band 3G & 4G & LTE.
    • Design Touch screen
    • L145 x W73.2 x D8.2 mm
    • Weight 150 grams
    • Display/s 5.2 inch External 1440 x 2560 pixels
    • Camera Main - 20MP Face - 5MP
    • Video Camera 2160p HD @ 30 fps main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Dual-Core1.82 Quad core CPU 1.44 Ghz Adreno 418 GPU
    • Memory Up to 32 Gig on board Up to Unlimited cloud storage Up to 200GB MicroSD
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features DUAL-SIM, wireless charging, USB Type C connector. MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint A-GPS, GLONASS, Accelerometer HERE maps Free off-line navigation FM Radio with RDS
    • Power Li-Po 3000 mAh battery Up to 12 days hours Standby Up to 23 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Lumia 950 Approx $950 AUS 2016 (Outright)
    • Price history Lumia 950 XL Approx $1100 AUS 2016 (Outright)

  • Microsoft/Nokia Lumia 830 Review

     nokia830_1
    Welcome to the Nokia Lumia 830 review. The Lumia 830 was released in early 2015 is one of the first branded as Microsoft mobile phone. The Lumia 830 recommend retail price has dropped into the $300 - 400 range (outright) at the time of this review which we think is the current sweet spot in terms of pricing. If it can't sell at this price there is clearly more to selling phones than price. Of course you can also purchase a 830 with a phone plan at minimal cost. In terms of construction the Lumia 830 is very well made. It's real metal surround with real glass screen. The removable back has been designed really well and you would't expect that it could be taken off. Overall the 830 looks pretty good, not quite top end but better than it's price suggests. It feels substantial in your hand without the feeling delicate so common these days. In terms of hardware specifications the Lumia 830 is well equipped with a decent spec camera, CPU, battery, 4G capability and fantastic screen for a reasonable price. The screen is notable in that the images are sharp and its black and very bright when colours are displayed. The picture quality is better than most in the price range too.  The only issue 'may' be the seeming mere 1.2Ghz Quad-core CPU but in reality it is smooth as and fast enough. In terms of use like all Windows phones the Lumia 830 works well, quickly and smoothly, easy to use and logical controls. There is nothing to complain about the way the system is designed. Sure the availability of Apps is still limited but all the key ones and there. It is simpler than the iPhone and Android. To conclude we like the Lumia 830 and think it is one of the best specified and value mobile phone currently available (mid-2015). Easily recommended if you still haven't got a smart phone yet... The 830 is also a great accessory if you have an Xbox! In fact we highly recommend it above the other entry level Lumia or Andriod and even iPhone purely for ease of use, it is the value for money choice at the moment! Although the recommend retail price for the Lumia 830 is quite high you can easily find one for less than $350. Specifications
    • Nokia Lumia 830
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Dual-band 3G & 4G (Dependent on country)
    • Design Touch screen
    • L139.4 x W70.7 x D8.5 mm
    • Weight 150 grams
    • Display/s 5 inch External 1280 x 720 pixels
    • Camera 10MP
    • Video Camera 720p pixel main video camera 30FPS
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Quad core CPU 1.2 Ghz Adreno GPU
    • Memory Up to 16 Gig on board Up to 15G cloud storage Up to 128GB MicroSD
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features Micro-SIM, wireless charging, MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint A-GPS, GLONASS, Accelerometer HERE maps Free off-line navigation FM Radio with RDS
    • Power Li-Po 2200 mAh battery Up to 22 days hours Standby Up to 14.9 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Lumia 830 Approx $380 AUS 2013 (Outright)

  • Microsoft Lumia 530 Review

     2015_lumia530
    Welcome to the Nokia Lumia 530 review. The new Lumia 530 released globally in early 2015 is the latest Windows OS based phones designed to complete with the low end of the smart phone/mobile phone market. The Recommend Retail Price of the Lumia 530 is $150 outright which is significantly lower than it's predecessor the Lumia 520 which we actually bought! In terms of construction the Lumia 530 very well made - let's face it there are only two parts for the 530, the rear plate and the main body which is the screen and frame of the phone. Yet the plastic or polymer back doesn't feel completely down market. Overall quite good to hold and weights nicely in the hand. In terms of hardware specifications the Lumia 530 is quite well equipped with a quad core CPU and GPU largish battery and reasonable sized screen (for the price). Windows 8.1 IS the smoothest interface currently available out of all the three main operating systems. Since it works just was well on the prior 520 you can expect the 530 even better. The screen resolution is not exactly high end but is as good as any other in the class. The only disadvantage - if you can it that in the price range is that it can't do 4G. Other than that there are no additional hardware features to comment on, which is not surprising since it is one of the cheapest windows smart phones you can currently buy. In terms of use the Lumia 530 works well, quickly and smoothly, easy to use and logical controls. There is nothing to complain about the way the system is designed. However the biggest problem  is still the lack of Apps in the Microsoft store which is a separate issue however the situation is improving as the other have had a noticable head start. In the end the Lumia 530 is just like any other Windows Phone, although a base model it works quickly and can do 90% of what the top range phone can of a faction of the price.  Furthermore unlike cheap entry level phones notably Android OS ones in the past the Luima 530 is a great buy for anyone wanting to try a Windows Phone. So give the Lumia 530 a go you may actually like it. Specifications
    • Nokia Lumia 530
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Dependent on network) Dua-band 3G 850/2100
    • Design Touch screen
    • L119.9 x W62.3 x D11.7 mm
    • Weight 129 grams
    • Display/s 4 inch External 480 x 854 pixels
    • Camera 5MP
    • Video Camera 848 x 480 pixel main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Quad core CPU 1.2 Ghz Adreno GPU
    • Memory Up to 4 Gig on board Up to 15G cloud storage Up to 32GB MicroSD
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features Micro-SIM MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint A-GPS, GLONASS, Accelerometer HERE maps Free off-line navigation FM radio with RDS
    • Power Li-Po 1430 mAh battery Up to 22 days hours Standby Up to 13 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $150 AUS 2013 (Outright) Under $80 AUS 2013 (Pre-paid)