Review: Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Nokia's Lumia 900 Windows Phone is currently the best device running the Windows mobile OS. For Nokia, it is a flagship product and a showcase of their focus on design and engineering. Winner of CNET's "Best of CES 2012" Award, the Lumia 900 is a highly anticipated device that's showcasing the result of Microsoft and Nokia's smartphone union.

The Nokia Lumia 900 ($100 on a three year plan from Rogers) is almost identical to its smaller sibling the Lumia 800. Both phones share the same unibody design and polycarbonate case.  This particular design, which orginated in the Nokia N9, is a modern classic, something unique and stylish enough that it has inspired other smartphone makers in their own designs.

The result of the tough polycarbonate finish and the layer of Gorilla Glass on for the display is a smooth yet utilitarian minimalist design. In terms of materials and construction, the Lumia 800 and 900 both feel superior to many of the so called super smartphones in the market which feel cheap because of the flimsy plastic that they use.The Lumia 900 and the Lumia 800 side by side. Photo from Anandtech.com

The Lumia 900 improves on the Lumia 800 not just in terms of size, I liked  the increased 4.3” ClearBlack AMOLED  display with 800x400 capacitive display.  Plus the Lumia 900 also introduces a front facing camera which is a first for a Windows Phone device, at least in Canada. The Lumia 900 is also compatible with faster 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks.

The Lumia 900 also sports a larger  battery to better manage performance under LTE, which is notorious for draining battery life.

Microsoft and Nokia worked hand in hand to create the ultimate Windows Phone device. Think of the Lumia 900 as the Windows Phone version of the Google Galaxy Nexus which is the ideal example  of the best hardware and software for a particular OS.

The ‘Metro’ tiled interface is already intuitive and suited to that ‘glance and go’ style of navigation that Microsoft has made the cornerstone of its mobile and soon desktop operating systems.

This translates nicely on the larger screen. This is most evident when you are taking pictures using the 8 Megapixel Carl Zeiss camera or looking at photos or videos on that super bright AMOLED screen.

The Lumia 900’s smooth sculpted lines and matte finish are a welcome departure to the plastic overload we’ve been seeing in many of today’s ‘premium’ smartphones

Nokia has added its own software to the Windows Phone OS. Aside from the Nokia Drive turn-by-turn navigation app, Nokia curates various apps that enhance the smartphone experience.

Being a Nokia device, call quality and function is superb and reasonably clear.

The Lumia 900 runs the latest Mango variant of Windows Phone and it is both elegant and efficient. The tough polycarbonate body and slick design makes this a work of art.

For users who want the best hardware on Windows Phone they now have a flagship 4G smartphone. The solid polycarbonate body, unique design make the Lumia 900 feel like a premium smartphone that's competetive with what is out there on other platforms.

The Lumia 900 is the ultimate Windows Phone device and offers users power and simplicity. It is a great option for a first smartphone and a sign of things to come for Windows 8. The big question is whether it will be enough to keep Microsoft and Nokia afloat in the rising tide of competition.

Rating 4.5 out of 5