Can Nokia’s Lumia 920 compete with the iPhone 5?

The 920 is the Nokia flagship for Windows 8 phone OS and comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor for no-lag, smooth operation.

The handset is slick and glossy but with a super-tough case that comes in a selection of contemporary new colours including red, yellow and grey.

Its 4.5” WXGA LCD screen with PureMotion HD+ is clear and flicker-free and an updated version of Nokia’s ClearBlack technology improves viewing in bright sunlight.

The upgraded start screen allows for more effective use of space, giving users the flexibility to add more live tiles to increase the scope for constant updates. The tiles are updated in real time and the ‘People Hub’ combines contacts so that Facebook, Twitter and other social media feeds can be checked in a single view.

Features

Other new features include voice-guided navigation with mapping technology which cleverly calculates journey times for commuters and suggests what time they should leave based on traffic information.

It also boasts a Pureview 8mp camera which contains floating-lens, image stabilisation for higher quality pictures and technology so intelligent that it can detect when someone has walked in front of your shot.

In terms of accessories, the fresh new feature is a range of wireless charging including a night-stand dock and oval flat plate. But the highlight of these is the JBL Power Up speaker system which broadcasts music while charging the phone, allowing users to make and receive calls in one room, while the speakers continue to play music in another.

So does the 920 have the capacity to be a leading Windows phone?

Reviews

TechRadar concludes that there’s “not enough of an evolution to take the Windows phone to the next level” in the new Lumia - highlighting the absence of a memory card slot in the phone as a particular low point, despite the 32GB of internal storage.

But PC Advisor argues that that the new technology of the 920 “will set the Lumia apart from other handsets” with particular focus on the City Lens feature - an augmented reality tool which views the street that users are on to highlight places of interest and also links to maps to guide them in the right direction.

With good looks, smooth performance and a high-spec camera, the Lumia 920 is looking promising for those already tied to their Windows phone and looking to upgrade. Whether it’s enough to eat into Apple’s market share is another matter.