Nokia Lumia 2520 InDepth Review Specs & Pricing Unveiled

Overview of Nokia Lumia 2520

The Nokia Lumia 2520 is a tablet released by Nokia in October 2013, marking the company’s entry into the high-performance tablet market segment. With its hallmark colorful design, this tablet was an attempt to merge Nokia's renowned build quality and Microsoft's ecosystem. Despite its discontinuation, the Lumia 2520 is still remembered for its impressive hardware and unique features.

Design and Build

The Lumia 2520 carries Nokia's signature style - vibrant colors with a sleek polycarbonate body. It boasts dimensions of 267 x 168 x 8.9 mm and a weight of 615 grams making it both portable and robust. The available colors, including Cyan, Red, Black, and White, add a personalized touch to the device. Its design reflects a balance between durability and modern aesthetics, keeping the user in mind.

Display

The device comes with a 10.1-inch IPS LCD display, which provides excellent viewing angles and color reproduction. The 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution ensures a sharp visual experience with a pixel density of approximately 218 ppi. For protection against scratches and impacts, the tablet is equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass 2. This makes it a suitable device for both media consumption and productivity tasks.

Performance

Under the hood, the Lumia 2520 is powered by the Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 chipset, featuring a quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400 CPU and an Adreno 330 GPU. This combination provides efficient performance and smooth multitasking capabilities. The device is supported by 2GB of RAM, ensuring that applications run seamlessly, even under moderate load.

Operating System

The device operates on Microsoft Windows RT, a version of Windows 8 designed for ARM architecture. While it provides a familiar Windows experience with tile-based interface and availability of Windows Store apps, the limitation comes from its inability to run traditional x86 Windows applications, which was a key consideration for potential users.

Storage

With an internal storage capacity of 32GB, the Lumia 2520 provides ample space for applications, documents, and media files. For users who require additional storage, the device offers a dedicated microSDXC card slot for expandable memory options, catering to diverse storage needs.

Camera Capabilities

The device boasts a 6.7 MP main camera with Carl Zeiss optics, which delivers high-quality photos for a tablet. Capable of recording 1080p videos at 30fps, it allows users to capture moments with decent clarity and detail. The 2 MP selfie camera also supports HD video recording up to 720p, suitable for video calls and selfies.

Battery Life

One of the key strengths of the Lumia 2520 is its long-lasting battery. It houses an 8120 mAh Li-Ion non-removable battery, delivering up to 10 hours of talk time and a stand-by time of up to 600 hours. This makes it a reliable companion for users who require extensive use throughout the day without frequent charging.

Connectivity

The Lumia 2520 supports a range of network technologies including GSM, HSPA, and LTE, ensuring robust connectivity options. It comes with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n support and can act as a hotspot. Additional connectivity features include Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and GPS with GLONASS. The absence of a radio might be a drawback for some users, but it makes up with a USB 3.0 port with OTG support.

Audio and Sound

The device is equipped with stereo speakers that deliver quality sound output. Also, the inclusion of a 3.5mm audio jack is an advantage for those who prefer wired headphones. The audio quality tests indicate noise levels at -93.5dB and crosstalk at -94.2dB, showcasing respectable sound performance.

Sensors and Additional Features

The Lumia 2520 is equipped with numerous sensors, including an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass, enriching user interaction by enhancing the usability of various applications and features on the device.

Market Reception and Legacy

Although the device’s performance was commendable, it faced criticism due to the limitations of the Windows RT platform, which restricted app compatibility. Despite this hurdle, the Lumia 2520's build quality, vibrant design, and battery performance were widely appreciated. Its market price of approximately 360 EUR at the time of release placed it within the mid-to-high range segment, primarily targeting users who were already integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem.

Conclusion

In summary, the Nokia Lumia 2520 was a well-fabricated device for its time, delivering substantial performance and impressive display quality. While the operating system constraints limited its potential, the hardware innovation and design left a notable impression. For collectors or technology enthusiasts, the Lumia 2520 remains a testament to Nokia's craftsmanship and a reminder of the transitional phase in the tablet industry during the early 2010s.