Without a lot of fanfare the AT&T Lumia 830 Windows Phone hit store shelves yesterday. Affectionately named the "affordable flagship", the 830 sports a 5" ClearBlack Screen protected by Corning's Gorilla Glass 3. Add the Quad Core Snapdragon processor, 1GB of Ram, 16GB storage with expansion card slot and the 10MP Pureview camera and the 830 isn't too shabby of a Windows Phone.
There are some reservations on whether or not the Lumia 830 is a worthy upgrade and after spending a little time with the new AT&T Windows Phone I wouldn't let the 800 Series designation fool you. While there is some room for improvement, the Lumia 830 is a solid choice.
After charging up the Lumia 830, restoring all my apps and games, struggling to decide which is the better cover (green or black), and letting the "newness" of the Lumia 830 wear-off a little here are a few observations on the latest AT&T Windows Phone.
- The Lumia 830 is only .33 inches thick and weighs in at 5.3 ounces, all of which fits nicely in the hand.
- AT&T did a beautiful thing by leaving Qi wireless charging support in place. If you are currently using the Lumia 920 (or those who bought wireless charging covers for other Lumia models), all of your wireless charging accessories will work including the Nokia CR-200 car cradle.
- Five inches may be the perfect size for a Windows Phone screen. The 830's screen shines nicely with subtle colors, contrast and brightness. However, if you look at the screen from an angle it appears a little on the flat side, making the screen a little difficult to read. I don't mind this much because it will make it tougher for prying eyes to eavesdrop.
- The Quad Core Snapdragon processor makes the Lumia 830 noticeably faster when compared to the Lumia 925 or even the Lumia 1020.
- The charging port and headphone jack is located at the top of the Lumia 830. While I don't mind the headphone jack up top, the charging port needs to be at the bottom. Not a deal breaker but you will find yourself trying to plug in the micro-USB cord at the bottom of the phone.
- The side buttons are nice, responsive and raised ever so slightly to help make them distinguishable. The camera button does seem a little on the sensitive side, and I'm a tad concerned you might start the camera by accident when carrying the 830 in a pocket. More research will be needed before choosing to disable the press to launch feature.
- The battery cover is designed similar to the old Samsung Focus S with a series of hooks that firmly snap the cover into place. The cover is firm and lacks the flimsiness the Samsung covers had.
As far as call quality is concerned, I cannot find anything to complain about. The vibration feature, both as a ringer and for haptic feedback, is a little on the weak side though.
Overall, I am very happy with the Lumia 830 and in many respects, and it could have easily been a 900 series Lumia if it had a stronger processor. Is it a worthy upgrade for those looking for a new Windows Phone?
I think that if you are coming from a Lumia 920 or even a Lumia 925, you will be pleased with the 830. The decision gets more difficult for those coming from a Lumia 1020 because of the camera differences. However, the Lumia 830's camera isn't exactly a pushover. I've only snapped a few shots with the 10MP shooter but so far, I'm liking what I see.
Naturally, your best option is likely to find a local AT&T Store with the Lumia 830 in stock and go handle the new phone for yourself. The 800 Series Windows Phone might surprise you.
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