Price and specifications of Nokia Lumia 820 advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Network Capabilities

The Nokia Lumia 820 offers comprehensive network capabilities with support for GSM, HSPA, and LTE technologies, ensuring high-speed internet connectivity across various network types. Its 2G bands include GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900, while it supports HSDPA 850, 900, 1900, and 2100 on its 3G bands. For 4G, the device can utilize LTE bands 1, 3, 7, 8, and 20, providing impressive download and upload speeds of up to 42.2/5.76 Mbps on HSPA and 100/50 Mbps on LTE Cat 3. These features allow users to experience seamless browsing, streaming, and online communication.

Launch Details

Announced in September 2012 and released in November of the same year, the Nokia Lumia 820 quickly became a noteworthy mention in the smartphone market. Despite being discontinued now, it paved the way for future designs and technological advancements for Nokia and other manufacturers during its time.

Body and Design

The design of the Lumia 820 is characterized by its dimensions of 123.8 x 68.5 x 9.9 mm, making it reasonably compact and comfortable to hold. Weighing 160 grams, it strikes a balance between sturdiness and portability. The device features a Micro-SIM slot and was available in a variety of vibrant colors: Black, Gray, Red, Yellow, White, Blue, and Violet. This design choice highlighted Nokia's dedication to providing both functional and visually appealing devices.

Display

The Lumia 820 comes with a 4.3-inch AMOLED display, offering vivid color reproduction and deep contrast ratios due to the inherent qualities of AMOLED technology. With a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, the display's pixel density reaches approximately 217 ppi, ensuring decent sharpness for most everyday tasks such as web browsing, photo viewing, and video playback. The screen-to-body ratio is around 62.1%, making it a display-centric design for its generation.

Platform and Performance

Powered by Microsoft Windows Phone 8, upgradable to 8.1, the Lumia 820 incorporates a dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait CPU supported by Qualcomm's MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus chipset. This combination delivers smooth performance for multitasking and app operations. The Adreno 225 GPU enhances graphic performance, ensuring most games and visual tasks run without significant issues.

Memory and Storage

The device includes 1GB of RAM, a modest specification by today's standards but adequate for the phone's era. Internal storage stands at 8GB, with the option to expand via a microSDXC card slot, allowing users to enhance storage considerably and manage media files and additional content comfortably.

Main and Selfie Cameras

The primary camera boasts an 8 MP sensor equipped with Carl Zeiss optics, enhancing image clarity and quality. It includes autofocus and a dual-LED flash, enabling better low-light photography. The camera supports 1080p video recording at 30fps, allowing users to capture significant life moments in high definition. On the front, the VGA selfie camera serves for basic video calls and self-portraits, though it's less prominent than today’s high-resolution front-facing cameras.

Audio and Sound

The Lumia 820 includes a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, aligning with the standard audio requirements of its release period. The audio quality is supported by robust testing, providing a well-rounded listening experience for users during calls and media playback.

Connectivity

The phone supports a range of connectivity options including dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n), Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, EDR, aptX support after the WP8 Denim update, and NFC, which was quite advanced for its time. It also features full GPS capabilities with A-GPS and GLONASS for enhanced location accuracy, FM radio for on-the-go entertainment, and a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer.

Sensors and Features

The Lumia 820 integrates several sensors: an accelerometer, a gyro, proximity sensor, and a compass. These sensors aid in various applications, enhancing the overall user experience by providing essential data for apps needing physical motion details and other functionalities.

Battery Life

The device is powered by a removable Li-Ion 1650 mAh battery (BP-5T), which provides the flexibility of swapping batteries if needed. It offers a stand-by time of up to 330 hours on both 2G and 3G networks, up to 14 hours of talk time on 2G, and up to 8 hours on 3G networks. Additionally, it can support music play for up to 55 hours, making it a reliable option for multimedia consumption.

Miscellaneous

The Lumia 820 was upwards priced around 170 EUR upon release, making it an accessible smartphone option with a range of significant features and design benefits. It also features SAR values of 1.37 W/kg (head) and 0.71 W/kg (body) as measured in the US markets, with a SAR EU rating of 0.79 W/kg (head), emphasizing its safety in daily use. The device comes tested for display contrast, camera performance, loudspeaker quality, and audio fidelity, which were well-regarded during its time.

Conclusion

The Nokia Lumia 820 stands as a noteworthy example from the early days of Windows Phone 8, featuring robust hardware for its time, rich color design options, and flexible connectivity solutions. It captures a snapshot of a transitional period in smartphone history, blending traditional Nokia reliability with evolving smartphone technology. The Lumia 820's legacy is marked by its commitment to offering a comprehensive user experience at a competitive price point, making it a notable choice for users seeking functionality combined with aesthetic appeal during its heyday.