Nokia Lumia 900 vs. Galaxy Nexus
For quite some time now, smartphone enthusiasts have only two choices: an Android or an iPhone. This has led to the declining popularity of once market-ruling brands like Blackberry and Nokia. And while RIM is still struggling to release another unit, Nokia has already released its card with the Lumia 900.
The Lumia 900 represents several firsts for the Finland-based company. Besides being the first 4G-capable phone from Nokia, it is also their first top-of-the-line smartphone to arrive in the U.S. We had already compared it with an iPhone more than a month ago. How would it stand against an Android device such as the Galaxy Nexus? Let us find out.
Contents
Performance
Inside the Lumia 900 is a single-core Qualcomm processor clocked at 1.4 GHz. This is the same one found on older Lumia devices such as the 710 and 800. Single-core processors look primitive when compared to a dual-core TI OMAP 4460 — the one found on the Nexus. But the processor handled the Windows 7.5 OS very well; navigation is smooth and transitions are fast enough. The only trouble is in opening third party applications where opening takes a longer time than expected.
Maybe the biggest challenge for a 4G/LTE phone is to last long enough for its user to enjoy it. The Lumia 900 managed to stay on for 12+ hours on moderate LTE use which is comparable to the Galaxy Nexus. The phone conforms to the trend of having a non-replaceable battery. But that would not be a concern as the Lumia 900 can last long enough as needed.
Looks
Display
AMOLED displays are easy to love but unfortunately, the one on the Lumia 900 is hard to accept. The 480 by 800 pixel resolution is overmatched by the Nexus’ 720 by 1280 screen. Thankfully, the phone utilizes Nokia’s ClearBlack technology which allows the phone to be used outside without glare problems. It is also the technology responsible in giving the screen of the Lumia 900 great viewing angles, accurate colors and very deep blacks.
Software
The Windows 7.5 Mango with Metro interface gives users a new flavor when it comes to phones. The tile-interface doesn’t take that much time to learn. This OS has several features and covering them all will be hard to do here. Hopefully we could do a Windows 7.5 Mango, iOS and Android comparisons in the future.
The issue with the Windows 7.5 is the apps. If you are an ex-Android or ex-iPhone user, shifting to the Lumia 900 means you will be missing some of your favorite applications. One example is Google Docs which has yet to have a WP version and no third party is able to create one as of now. Some versions of apps are also less desirable on the Windows phone as compared to their Android or iOS versions, like Twitter. The good thing is that Microsoft has increased the number of apps available for this device (around 80,000) so you might find some alternative for the apps that you left behind.
Take a look at the Nokia Lumia 900 in action:
Camera
As a Nokia phone, the Lumia 900 is supposed to have a good camera and it really does. Its 8 MP rear shooter is better than the 5 MP one on the Nexus. This is not only because of the difference in resolution but also because of the Carl Zeiss optics utilized by the Lumia 900. Another positive is the dedicated camera key; press it when the phone is sleeping and you’ll go directly to the camera app. However, the Lumia 900 wouldn’t be able to record 1080p videos, something that the Galaxy Nexus can.
Connectivity
The Lumia 900 could easily reach 20 MB/s of download speed and 5 MB/s of upload speed when connected to AT&T’s LTE network. If there is not LTE coverage then you’ll have to settle with HSPA which is around 5 MB/s to 8 MB/s. The Lumia 900 also supports mobile hotspot which allows you to share your internet connection to up to five simultaneously-connected devices in the same platform. NFC is also added – a function once only found on the Galaxy Nexus.
Price
Nokia Lumia 900
| Merchant | Product | Price | Buy Now | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | Nokia Lumia 900 4G Windows Phone, Cyan (AT&T) | $399.99 |
Go to Store |
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
| Merchant | Product | Price | Buy Now | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Buy |  | Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4G Mobile Phone - Black | $799.99 |
Go to Store |
Summary of Specs
Nokia Lumia 900 Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Processor, RAM Single-core Qualcomm APQ8055 Snapdragon, 512 MB Dual-core TI OMAP 4460, 1 GB
Dimensions 5.03" x 2.70" x 0.45", 160g 5.33" x 2.67" x 0.35", 135g
Operating System Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 Mango Android 4.0/4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich
Camera 8 MP rear Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, dual-LED flash
1.3 MP front VGA
720p video recording5 MP rear, autofocus, LED flash
1.3 MP front 720p
1080p video recording
Display 4.3" AMOLED, 480 x 800 pixels 4.65" AMOLED, 720 x 1280 pixels
Connectivity LTE, HSPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, NFC LTE, HSPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, NFC
Other Features - MicroSIM card support only
- SNS integration
- Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
- MP3/WAV/eAAC+/WMA player
- MP4/H.264/H.263/WMV player
- Document viewer/editor
- Video/photo editor
- Voice memo/command/dial
- Predictive text input- Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
- TV-out (via MHL A/V link)
- MP4/H.264/H.263 player
- MP3/WAV/eAAC+/AC3 player
- Organizer
- Image/video editor
- Document viewer
- Google Search, Maps, Gmail,
YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk, Picasa integration
- Voice memo/dial/commands
- Predictive text input
Verdict
The Nokia Lumia 900 offers something fresh for anyone who is fed up with Androids and iPhones. The camera is great, the price is favorable and its design is eye-candy. Its specs, however, can’t amaze people today as it could have months ago. I don’t see the Nokia Lumia 900 matching up with the giants of the game, including the Galaxy Nexus or the iPhone 4S. But it is a smartphone worth considering.
Video credits: Windows Era
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