Review: Nokia Lumia 800

The Nokia Lumia 800 is the best Microsoft Windows 7.5 smartphone I have used, and is competitively priced for what it offers. In my opinion, the Windows Phone OS is quickly becoming a competitor to Android and iOS, although still not quite on the same level.

I like the simplicity of Microsoft's OS; flicking your finger from side to side allows you to jump between Live Tiles and a list of applications, and its touch-screen is easily as responsive as the iPhone's.

One feature I enjoyed was the way you can link together contacts with a swish of a finger and the simple Live Tiles to help see information quickly.

The app switcher is a cool feature that is accessed by pressing and holding the back key. Newer apps can be added to the folder and unused apps are automatically killed so as not to overload the processor. However, these are easily restored by touching the relevant icon.

Unfortunately, the app store cannot hold a candle to Android or Apple, and is extremely limited, although I'm sure this will change over time. All the obvious choices are there, such as Twitter and Facebook, even games like Angry Birds.

Having said that, a preloaded app, Nokia Drive, is the first free sat nav service to come bundled on any Windows Phone device, and while not comprehensive, it does the job.

Preloaded apps include Nokia Music, Xbox Live, Office and ESPN

The phone is thinner than average Nokia devices at 12.1mm and sits really comfortably in your hand. The body is fashioned out of polycarbonate, which is a form of plastic. Instead of painting it in different colours, Nokia has coloured the casing so that even after months of continual usage, the colour won't fade.

The curved body is aesthetically pleasing, making it stand out from the plethora of snappy-looking handsets currently on the market.

The device's keys are on the right, the volume key at the top, then there's the power key that also controls the display and standby function. The power key placement is unusual since many device manufacturers place keys on top of their devices for easy access, and as it's unmarked, it took me a while to figure out its use. Lastly, the camera control key is conveniently placed, making it easy to use for happy snappers.

While I didn't exactly hurl the phone around, I could see it is sturdy, and more than capable of handling accidental drops. In addition, its matt finish makes it non-slippery and easy to handle. The solid glass also helps protect the display from damage.

The top of the phone conceals the charging and data port under a lid, with a push/slide function, and features a micro-SIM slot as well. I wasn't wild about having to use micro-SIM, as this can mean loss of all your data when transferring from an older SIM card.

As a music lover, I really enjoyed Mix Radio, new to the Lumia range. It allows for streaming music from the Internet, giving access to myriad genres including classical, jazz, rock 'n roll and everything in between.

In addition, you don't have to subscribe and the service is offered for free.

The phone is 3G-enabled, and features HSDPA download speeds of up to 14.4Mbps, as well as WiFi capabilities, ensuring I had no connectivity issues at all.

Bluetooth 2.1 and USB 2.0 connectivity ensured fast file transfers. However, there is no SD card slot, a blow as this means non-expandable memory.

Nokia has employed a clear black AMOLED display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. Even in daylight, it is easily visible. It features good contrast levels and excellent colour reproduction. It also needs only the softest touch to work, and navigation is effortless.

The 8MP camera features Carl Zeiss optics and is good, although not the best I've used. The pictures are sharp and vivid and can be easily posted to Facebook. It has an LED flash, good for close ups, less so for wider-angle shots. It can also capture HD videos at 720p. The camera button on the side is an excellent feature, as you no longer have to fumble around on the touch-screen to take a picture. It's a camera for ordinary people, taking ordinary pictures, nothing fancy.

The Lumia's media player is simple and easy to use, supporting all media formats, with a nice, simple interface.

Overall, the phone performed well. The screen is a little smaller than I would have liked, I found it a little pokey and the 1450 mAh battery life isn't fantastic, but this is not unexpected as it's completely dependent on the individual's usage patterns.