Introduction
It may be a new house, new rules - but no sharp movements just yet. In the aftermath of Microsoft's recent acquisition of Nokia's devices and services department, it's really anyone's guess what will happen with the Finnish company that was once at the apex of the industry. There's no question marks hanging over the Lumia lineup though - it is going strong, and the Lumia 930 alongside the Windows Phone 8.1 update is proof that it's here to stay, be it under a new leadership.The Lumia 930 was released in the US as the Nokia Lumia Icon this past February running Windows Phone 8, and after working the kinks out with the Windows Phone 8.1 update for it, Nokia is launching the international version right to the latest software.
Nokia Lumia 930
Besides supporting some different LTE bands, the Lumia 930 is identical to the Icon. It does come with some nifty extras, however, as Nokia is trying to entice users by throwing in a wireless charging pad with dedicated A/C adapter, as well as some different paint jobs. Here's a look at what you get with the Nokia Lumia 930:
Key features
- 5" 16M-color ClearBlack AMOLED display of FullHD resolution, Gorilla Glass 3
- 2.2 GHz quad-core Krait 400 CPU, Adreno 330 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 chipset, 2GB of RAM
- Windows Phone 8.1 OS with Nokia Cyan
- 20MP PureView camera with 1080p@30fps video recording, Carl Zeiss optics, optical image stabilization
- 1.2MP front-facing camera with 720p video recording
- 32GB of inbuilt storage
- Free offline lifetime voice-guided navigation worldwide with Drive+
- Nokia Music streaming service
- 15GB of free OneDrive storage
- FM Radio
- Li-Ion 2,420 mAh battery
- Wireless Charging Plate DT-900 included in retail package
- Aluminum frame
Main disadvantages
- No 2160p video recording
- No microSD card slot
- No headset included in the retail package
Windows Phone 8.1 has finally caught up to the competition and offers some long-awaited features such as Action Center with notification and quick toggles, customizable tile size and Start screen background, the Cortana voice assistant, Quiet Hours mode, and a swipe-able keyboard among many others. We'll get into the details in a bit.
Nokia Lumia 930 in our studio
We'll be looking at the updated software interface a bit further on in the review. Up next, we get things underway with our traditional hardware examination, including a look at its stylish metal frame and 1080p ClearBlack AMOLED display.
20MP PureView camera with Carl Zeiss optics
The Nokia Lumia 930 comes with a 20MP PureView shooter with Carl Zeiss lens. If you're unfamiliar with Nokia's PureView technology, it's a feature that the company debuted as a way to increase image fidelity by downscaling the 20MP images to 5MP .JPEGs by default.Nokia has created a proprietary app for all Lumia smartphones called Nokia Camera.
The (Nokia) camera interface is very familiar - it offers white balance, focus, ISO, shutter speed up to 1s and exposure settings. Expanding the top settings menu puts the camera in Pro mode, which lets you adjust such things as ISO, exposure, shutter speed, white balance, and more, via a nifty slider interface that pops up on the right side of the frame. Your adjustments show up real-time so you can easily set up the exact shot parameters that you're looking for.
Nokia Camera UI
The resulting 19MP samples on the Lumia 930 are of high quality, with accurate exposure and colors. There were minimal traces of noise or overly-aggressive de-noising filters, which means that you get crisp images without having to sacrifice anything. Corner-to-corner sharpness is excellent. The white balance sometimes strays into the red and green channels, but is for the most part it is spot on.
Nokia Lumia 930 19MP camera samples
There are also 5MP PureView samples, which is the default shooting mode of the Lumia 930. They are identical to the 19MP samples, but downscaled to 5MP.
Nokia Lumia 930 5MP camera samples
Additionally, you can get more camera functionality via Lenses. Our Lumia 930 came only with Bing Vision, Vine and Twitter modes, but you can also download numerous other free and paid lenses which enhance the camera functionality. Highlights include Nokia Cinemagraph, Panorama, and Refocus lenses, but there's a whole bunch more that can be downloaded directly from the lenses interface.
The Lumia 930 also has a macro shooting mode called close-up, which provides some very good results when shooting in nature.
Macro samples shot in 16:9 mode
You can also set the Lumia 930 to provide you with 19MP .DNG raw images, if you want to perform some advanced post-processing of your own. Here's a sample (you will need a viewer that supports RAW files).
Photo quality comparison
We've added the Nokia Lumia 930 to our dedicated photo compare tool, where you can compare its 20MP shooter to other smartphone flagships. You can also see how its 5MP PureView samples stack up from within the tool's interface.
Nokia Lumia 930 in our photo quality comparison tool
FullHD video recording
The Lumia 930 camcorder can record video at 1080p@30fps, with a solid 19Mbps bitrate and an unwavering 30fps. By default, videos are recorded with dual-channel AAC audio at 256 Kbps, but you can also enable Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 recording, which will up the bitrate to 384 Kbps and record in six channels under the AC3 audio codec.The camcorder interface is pretty much the same as the still camera. It offers only white balance and manual focus settings, and also allows you to choose the audio bass filter (off, 100 Hz or 200 Hz). Opting for 200 Hz (Strong) will capture much better sound in concerts or clubs.
Camcorder UI • Settings
In video recording, the Lumia 930 doesn't perform as well as when shooting still images. The level of detail in 1080p videos is not comparable, and the dynamic range isn't as good either. Otherwise, the colors are still accurate, and there are no issues with white balance or contrast, either. There were some issues with the autofocus, however, as the camcorder keeps refocusing on certain moving objects in the frame.
Here is a 30s sample we've uploaded on YouTube.
Also here is an untouched 1080p@30fps video for you to download.
Video quality comparison
The Nokia Lumia 930 is ready to stand up against the competition in our video comparison tool. Its page will give you information on what to look for.
Nokia Lumia 930 in our video quality comparison tool
Internet Explorer 11 is your web browser
Internet Explorer 11 is the newest version of the Microsoft's mobile web browser. You bet it went through an extensive upgrade and is a marked improvement over previous versions. IE 11 is what the Windows Phone browser should have been from the get-go.
Internet Explorer 11
Microsoft took several cues from the competition and now provides private browsing, reader mode, unlimited tab support with new UI, saving passwords, tab and bookmark sync across devices and support for inline videos to name a few. Back and Forward gestures have been added too - just swipe from the left or right edge of the screen. Yes, just like in iOS.
The first new feature you'll notice is the unlimited tab support in IE 11. The tab manager has a new UI too, plus a dedicated shortcut right next to the address bar. InPrivate browsing is available too, you can launch a separate incognito tab from the tab manager.
The tab manager • InPrivate browsing
Once you open an article on the web you'll notice a small book icon appearing in the address bar. If you tap it you'll activate the so-called Reader mode. It does the same as its iOS namesake - it strips down everything but the article itself and its pictures. This way you can enjoy seamless reading of long articles without any unnecessary content or ads. You can configure the Reader background color and font size from the IE 11 settings.
Reader mode • Reader settings
IE 11 also supports inline video playback. In case the browser is capable of playing an embedded video, you will be able to do it right from within the article. No external players or pop ups are needed.
Much like its Android and iOS counterparts, the new web browser supports tab and bookmark sync across devices. This means you can start exactly where you left off on IE on Windows PC or slate.
By the way you can pin web pages to your start screen. You'll get a Live Tile, which will show the latest updates to this website.
You can pin webpages to display the latest updates on the homescreen
Another important upgrade in IE 11 is the option to remember passwords and sync them to other devices. You no longer need to type in the same usernames and passwords over and over again.
The Internet Explorer 11 web browser, just like the overall UI, seems to be faster, with excellent page loading times and scrolling performance. We've enjoyed the new version and we think you'll like it too.
Pre-installed apps
Office is one of the key selling points of Windows Phone. Document/Excel/PowerPoint viewing and editing is absolutely free and integrated into the OS. OneDrive integration is available as well. Docs are automatically synced between the phone and your computer through OneDrive.
MS Office
OneNote is Microsoft's collaborative note taking tool. It has great (and easy to use) support for lists of multiple levels, and you can add photos and voice memos or send notes via email when you're done. OneNotes can be synced with your OneDrive as well.
One Note
The Calendar app can view sub-calendars for each account you have and can color-code them to make them easier to tell apart. It offers day and agenda views for more comprehensive hour-by-hour browsing of your appointments.
Weekly view makes the days expandable in case you have more events than the small square can show. This mode even searches for weather forecast and displays it with small icons on each day.
Calendar's weekly view • other views
Naturally, Lumia 930 comes with Alarm, Calculator, and Weather apps pre-installed.
Weather • Alarms
Microsoft's Travel, Sports, Finance, Food & Drinks and News apps are available, too.
Travel • Food & Drinks
With the Lumia 930 you get a few Nokia exclusive apps - Storyteller interactive diary, Creative Studio for advanced photo enhancements, and, of course, HERE Maps and HERE Drive+.
Storyteller • Creative Studio
HERE Drive+ offers free, life-time voice-guided navigation anywhere in the world. All you have to do is download a voice in your language of choice and you're good to go. Of course, to make use of the key selling point of Drive - offline navigation - you have to download a map for a country of your choice, too.
HERE Maps takes on other duties - instead of navigation, it's more of a replacement for paper maps that you can take as you explore a city. It will help you discover new places, read a quick description, see photos, read reviews and check what renowned guides like Lonely Planet, Insight Guides and Qype have to say.
HERE Drive+ • Here Maps
Windows Phone's traditional Games app is present - it carries over many features from the similar Xbox profile - from your avatar to your scores and achievements. It is also your gaming hub - here you can find all of your pre-installed games, spotlight news and store links.
Games hub
Finally, Windows Phone 8.1 introduced a couple of new apps: Storage Sense and Battery Saver. Storage Sense tracks your internal memory and allows you to configure which content will be saved where. Battery Saver now not only shows you the battery percentage and allows you to configure when the battery saver goes on, but it can now track battery usage too. You can also allow or restrict apps to run in the background while the battery saver is turned on.
Storage Sense • Battery Saver
By the way, the Microsoft Store now supports automatic app updates. You can choose whether those happen only when connected to a Wi-Fi network, or if cellular data is allowed as well. Check for updates button is available, but now the Store checks for available updates quite a few times a day, so you probably won't need to use this key regularly.
Windows Phone 8.1 on the Lumia 930 supports motion data collection in the background. This process runs on the background and collects data to track your movement and location. Supposedly, this won't affect battery life. It's a useful feature for fitness fans and can be used by various health-related apps including the pre-installed Health and Fitness app.
Health and Fitness • motion settings
Final words
Never mind the minor numerical difference from the Lumia 925, the Nokia Lumia 930 is a whole new step ahead for Windows Phone. With a pocketable size, Nokia's trademark design language and capable camera alongside Microsoft's latest Windows Phone 8.1 update and the best benchmark performance we've seen from a Nokia device yet, it's perhaps Nokia's most all-round solid offering to date. But is that enough?Competition in the smartphone market is fierce to say the least. Capable Android offerings from the likes of Sony, Samsung, LG, and Oppo, among others, offer robust Snapdragon 801 processors, expandable storage, larger displays, premium build, and even QHD displays and 2160p video recording. All those Android trump cards already in play raise the question of whether Nokia's best is good enough to compete.
Windows 8.1 brought with it a slew of improvements on the software side - you get a new
With the Lumia 1020, many would say that Nokia did enough to outdo the Android and iOS crowd by introducing arguably the most capable smartphone camera to date (one that still hasn't been topped). The Lumia 930 has plenty of things that it does well, but nothing that exactly sets it apart like its 41MP sibling.
Key test findings for the Nokia Lumia 930:
- The ClearBlack AMOLED display is gorgeous, sunlight legibility is exceptional
- Battery life is below average, especially in web browsing and watching videos
- The benchmarks are the best we've seen from a Nokia Lumia device
- The still camera is very good and resolves plenty of detail
- Video recording isn't as good and doesn't go as high as 2160p
- It has the best audio recording in business, complete with six channel Dolby Digital Plus
- The speaker is of adequate loudness
- Managed to play almost every video format we threw at it, except MKV files or those with AC3 audio encoding
- Robust retail package including wireless charging pad, but no headset (market dependent)
- Good build quality, although the polycarbonate back panel slightly detracts from it
- The phone heats up unpleasantly when charging, using the camera or playing a game
If you're in the US, the Lumia 930 is available as the Lumia Icon for Verizon (previously known as Lumia 929).
Nokia Lumia 930 • Nokia Lumia Icon
Nokia does have a few other offerings available that don't have the drawbacks of the Lumia 930. The Nokia Lumia 1520 has largely the same performance found on the 930 due to its identical chipset and processor. Thanks to its robust 3,400mAh battery, it almost triples the battery life, and there's a microSD card slot to build upon the internal storage.
Camera performance is on par as the 1520 has the same 20MP/1.2MP front-rear camera combo, but you're also looking at a much larger device due to its 6-inch diagonal. The aluminum frame is also gone, which means that you'll have to settle for a simpler, more rounded polycarbonate design aesthetic as well.
Nokia Lumia 1520
The Nokia's Lumia 1020 and its robust 41MP camera is a photographer's paradise, and is the go-to device if you're looking for a capable camera to go with your smartphone. It's a more compact device thanks to its 4.5-inch diagonal, but is nonetheless thicker due to its protruding camera module. The display is not as sharp at 768 x 1280px resolution, and you won't get as good a performance out of the slower 1.5GHz dual-core Krait CPU with Adreno 225 graphics. Battery life is more acceptable, however.
Nokia Lumia 1020
If it doesn't have to be Windows Phone, HTC's One (M8) flagship is another offering with a 5-inch 1080p screen and premium build quality. The M8's all-metal unibody is superior to that of the Lumia 930, and you get expandable storage, an IR-port, and a larger 2,600mAh battery to boot. The M8 is at a serious disadvantage in the camera department, however, and the droid will also be more expensive than the Lumia 930 in most markets. The other top droids fetch an even higher premium - but then again, you'll be getting 2160p videos and even a couple of QHD screens.
HTC One (M8)
The Nokia Lumia 930 is undoubtedly one of Nokia's top offerings, which is particularly significant considering the message it sends. The Nokia spirit still lives after the Microsoft acquisition. The Lumia 930 isn't in the best position, being the first flagship following the transition, but what's more significant is that even at its best, a Lumia flagship stops just short of matching its Android peers. The WP8.1 update is certainly a step in the right direction, but one question still looms: what if Nokia had gone with Android?
Nokia Lumia 930 review: Iconic once again