Microsoft lumia 950 review comparison. Prices in online stores

I have always been attracted to Windows smartphones. In such phones, you were provided with a clear, captivatingly simple interface, which could not be said about devices on iOS and Android.

That is why I was very disappointed with the release of Lumia 950 with Windows 10: the operating system did not show all the promised trump cards. The electronic filling was not so bad, but the software did not make the most pleasant impression. Particularly disappointing is the Continuum app, which is supposed to turn your smartphone into something like a desktop computer, but in reality only shows how toothless Microsoft is when it comes to competing with the iPhone and Android.

Yes, the phone got a great screen. Yes, its camera takes quite high-quality pictures, especially in low light. I can even safely close my eyes to the plastic case of the Lumia 950, because the gadget has a microSD slot and a removable battery - which you will not find in many modern smartphones with an iron case during the day with fire. The Cortana voice assistant also seems to be preferable to Apple's Siri in my opinion.

Microsoft Lumia 950 - Overview of the new flagship from Microsoft

However, when it comes to scoring the operating system, things don't look so rosy anymore. Mobile payments, unlimited access to applications, extensions for software - all this in Windows 10 looks as unattractive as in previous versions of the OS from Microsoft. I sincerely hoped that Windows 10 smartphones would get a significant advantage over other platforms due to the Continuum option, which promised to increase productivity. In fact, alas, this did not happen.

Sales Start Date and Price Lumia 950

The cost of a regular Lumia 950 will be $550 without reference to any cellular operator. There will also be an enlarged version of the smartphone, the Lumia 950 XL, with a 5.7-inch screen, with a launch date starting in late 2015.

Continuum in Lumia 950: Smartphone becomes PC (TV)

What if your smartphone could double its functionality and also double as a desktop computer? This is the idea behind the Continuum option. This is exactly what should have distinguished smartphones on Windows 10 from phones on other platforms - you will not find this on Android and iOS yet.

How to turn your phone into a PC? Connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to your Lumia and use your desktop monitor or TV screen as your main display. The idea sounds tempting, but there is one "but".

There are only two ways to connect your smartphone to a big screen, and both options are not so simple. In the first case, the TV to which you are connecting must have support for the Miracast video standard, which will allow you to wirelessly transmit the signal from your smartphone to the TV screen using the installed Continuum application. Alternatively, you can make a more secure wired connection using the $80 Microsoft Display Dock (you'll also need additional cables).

The idea looks pretty tempting, but it was not without its inconvenience. First, you need specific specifications and a set of special cables, including HDMI and USB Type-C cables. Wired or wireless keyboard and mouse are optional as the connected screen can be controlled from the smartphone display.

So, when using Microsoft Office documents, keyboard shortcuts did not work, so you will have to do all the text formatting work using the toolbar or mouse drop-down menu. For example, the quick copy and paste functions using keyboard shortcuts did not work during my testing, which noticeably slowed down the work with text.

Lumia 950 - connecting to a monitor

It should also be noted that with fast typing, the cursor on the screen began to slow down, which also noticeably complicated and slowed down the work with text. Overall, again, Microsoft's idea of a hybrid smartphone-PC looks tempting, but its implementation is very lame, and I would still prefer a traditional laptop when working on large projects and complex tasks.

Other Windows 10 software in Lumia 950

In addition to Continuum, Windows 10 has a number of other advanced features. For example, if other modern smartphones are endowed with a fingerprint scanner, then Microsoft decided to endow its iris-scanning smartphone with software called Windows Hello, which had previously been used in Surface tablets. This option recognizes the owner of the smartphone by scanning his eyes, which, like fingerprints, are unique and inimitable for each person. In terms of speed and convenience, iris-scanning software looks no better than fingerprint scanning. At the same time, the accuracy and correctness of eye scanning very much depends on the quality of illumination. In a word, this is a unique way to access your smartphone data, but not always the best.

Windows 10 has given the Lumia 950 a cleaner and simpler look in every menu, from operating system settings to choosing a theme. In the app store, everything is in its place, although, as mentioned above, it lacks a variety of programs (when compared with the Android and iOS stores). I also liked the ability to turn off the screen by double-clicking on the navigation bar (alas, a similar double-click does not turn it back on), and the option to download offline maps, especially if you are heading out of town where mobile Internet is not so good, and sometimes not at all.

Achilles Heel Lumia 950: Number of Applications

While Windows 10's features are enticing (or promising) for the most part, all Microsoft's mobile phone operating systems have had and still have one big drawback: the small number of available apps.

For example, Google refused to support this platform, which means that it is impossible to work with such popular worldwide services as Gmail, Google Maps, Google Drive, Google Docs (or rather, the services will be available, but only through a browser). Despite the fact that Microsoft has put a lot of effort into creating alternative software like OneDrive, for people who have been working with Google services for a long time, this is a significant drawback.

At the same time, Microsoft managed to get hold of such popular applications as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagramm, Twitter. At the same time, it should be noted that updates, as a rule, for Windows phone applications come with a big delay, as developers give more preference to Android and iOS platforms.

Lumia 950 design: Good old plastic

You don't have to be a jack-of-all-trades to notice that the Lumia 950's appearance leaves a lot to be desired. The body of the phone is made of plastic, which, in principle, we should already get used to. Although, on the other hand, last year's Lumia 930/Icon had an all-metal body. At the same time, the Lumia 950 received a removable battery and a slot for microSD memory expansion cards. The novelty will be sold in white and black, all sorts of exotic shades - such as lime, red or orange - are not available for the new Microsoft smartphone.

The screen size of 5.2 inches allows you to comfortably hold the phone in your hand and fully control it. The Lumia 950 has a dedicated camera button, which I like because you can double-tap to open the capture app even if your phone's screen is in lock mode at the time. By clicking again, you can already take a picture.

USB Type-C is still a unique and new connector that makes the Lumia 950 a very special phone in this regard.

Camera Lumia 950

Microsoft decided not to change their camera app much, which I think is more of an oversight. Photos are of good quality in almost all levels of illumination, however, manual adjustment can sometimes be difficult, since not all options are intuitive.

The Lumia 950 has the ability to shoot 4K video, but by default, video is recorded in 1080p quality. I really liked the manual setting of the macro mode, also in the camera application you can set the timer shooting, as well as set the continuous shooting mode. In addition, you can create so-called "live photos", which are 100% analogous to Live Photos in iPhone 6s.

On November 24, 2015, a presentation of smartphones developed jointly by Nokia and Microsoft took place in Moscow. These are the long-awaited additions to the Lumiya line. Recently, the named company has pleased fans of the Windows Phone platform only with models from the middle and budget price segments. But the subject of our today's review - the Nokia Lumia 950 smartphone, the price of which is from 36 to 45 thousand rubles, diversified the company's trading range.

What did users expect from Lumiya 950?

Many fans of the platform believed that sooner or later, Microsoft should release a real "bomb", which will have a considerable number of subtleties and chips. And in fact, the company succeeded. How did the company please its fans? Everything is very simple. Microsoft took the desktop and mobile versions of Windows and merged them into one system called Windows 10. This is exactly what fans of the platform expected, and they took it with a bang, as they say. By the way, the 950th model came out with the addition of XL.

950: specifications

The smartphone model we are considering received a display with a diagonal of 5.2 inches. At the same time, its improved version boasts a larger screen. Its diagonal is 5.7 inches. The resolution here is WQHD, and if we talk about screen matrices, then this is the OLED type. The pixel density of the 950 and 950XL models is 564 and 518 pixels per inch, respectively.

The compact version is equipped with a Qualcomm family processor (Snapdragon 808 model). Recall that its clock frequency is 1.8 gigahertz. But the phablet version is based on the Snapdragon 810 processor, at a frequency of 2 GHz. Both models are equipped with 3 gigabytes of RAM (a lot, right?). The volume of the internal flash drive is 32 GB. The device supports the possibility of installing an external memory card up to two terabytes in size. These are MicroSD devices.

The cameras are powerful enough. The main module has a resolution of 20 megapixels. It has a built-in six-element optics. To obtain high-quality images, fifth-generation optical stabilization is used. You can use the triple LED flash to take photos and videos in low light conditions. It will also help you take photos and shoot videos even in the complete absence of lighting. On the front side, we can find a camera for taking selfies. It has a resolution of 5 megapixels. I remember that there was already a similar device in the Lumi series. "Frontalka" shoots video in Full HD quality. But the main module writes already in 4K.

Two models are equipped with devices for working in cellular networks of the fourth generation. We are, of course, talking about LTE modules. Autonomous operation is provided by batteries with a capacity of 3,000 (for 950) and 3,300 (for 950XL) milliamps per hour. The so-called fast charging technology is fully implemented in the device. There is also the possibility of charging the device using wireless devices. This is where the Qi standard comes into play. In talk mode, the device lasts up to 18 hours. In standby mode, the smartphone will be able to work 12 days.

The subtleties of the software of the 950th model

Although the manufacturer stated that one of the fundamental factors used in the development of the device was the combination of stationary and mobile versions into one, a single one - Windows 10, installed on board the subject of our today's review, still carries the Mobile prefix. And this only means that Microsoft will continue to work in this direction. We just have to wait for the moment when the problems (can we call them that?) in the software part will be solved by the company's specialists, and we will get what we have been waiting for so long. Nevertheless, buyers who dare to purchase a phone with a price of up to 45 thousand rubles get a really powerful solution for this money, which leaves the feeling of using a real portable computer enclosed in a compact smartphone case. By the way, during the presentation in Moscow, the representatives of the company focused on such opportunities. Nokia Lumia 950, reviewed in this article, instantly became the embodiment of the motto: "Works like a personal computer."

Conclusion

The device is supplied to the international market in two, one might say, classic color schemes. These are white and black colors. An interesting fact is that during the leak of information to the Web, we had the opportunity to see the third option - blue. However, there are no such devices on the market.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of a particular device, if any.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Used materials, suggested colors, certificates.

Width Width information refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	73.2 mm (millimeters) 7.32 cm (centimeters) 0.24 ft 2.88in
Height Height information refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	145 mm (millimeters) 14.5 cm (centimeters) 0.48 ft 5.71in
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement.	8.2 mm (millimeters) 0.82 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft 0.32in
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	150 g (grams) 0.33 lbs 5.29oz
Volume Approximate volume of the device, calculated from dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.	87.03 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 5.29 in³ (cubic inches)
Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale.	Black White
Housing materials The materials used to make the body of the device.	Polycarbonate Metal

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analogue mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often referred to as a 2G mobile network. It is enhanced by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies.	GSM 850 MHz GSM 900 MHz GSM 1800 MHz GSM 1900 MHz
UMTS UMTS is short for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is based on the GSM standard and belongs to 3G mobile networks. Developed by 3GPP and its biggest advantage is to provide more speed and spectral efficiency with W-CDMA technology.	UMTS 850 MHz UMTS 900 MHz UMTS 1700/2100 MHz UMTS 1900 MHz UMTS 2100 MHz
LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as fourth generation (4G) technology. It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA to increase the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent development of technologies is called LTE Advanced.	LTE 700 MHz Class 17 LTE 800 MHz LTE 850 MHz LTE 900 MHz LTE 1700/2100 MHz LTE 1800 MHz LTE 1900 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz LTE-TDD 2300 MHz (B40) LTE-TDD 2600 MHz (B38) LTE 700 MHz (B28) LTE 700 MHz (B12)

Mobile technologies and data rates

Communication between devices in mobile networks is carried out through technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

The operating system is the system software that manages and coordinates the operation of the hardware components in the device.

SoC (System on a Chip)

System on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device in one chip.

SoC (System on a Chip) System on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation.	Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 MSM8992
Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is made. The value in nanometers measures half the distance between the elements in the processor.	20 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The main function of the processor (CPU) of a mobile device is the interpretation and execution of instructions contained in software applications.	2x 1.8 GHz ARM Cortex-A57, 4x 1.44 GHz ARM Cortex-A53
Processor bit depth The bit depth (bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance than 32-bit processors, which, in turn, are more productive than 16-bit processors.	64 bit
Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands by which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.	ARMv8-A
Level 0 Cache (L0) Some processors have an L0 (level 0) cache that is faster to access than L1, L2, L3, etc. The advantage of having such a memory is not only higher performance, but also reduced power consumption.	4 kB + 4 kB (kilobytes)
First level cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently accessed data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small and much faster than both system memory and other cache levels. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for them in the L2 cache. With some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.	16 kB + 16 kB (kilobytes)
Second level cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1, but in return it has a larger capacity, allowing more data to be cached. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or RAM.	2048 KB (kilobytes) 2 MB (megabytes)
Number of processor cores The processor core executes program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing many instructions to be executed in parallel.	6
Processor clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	1800 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The graphics processing unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is used most often by games, consumer interface, video applications, etc.	Qualcomm Adreno 418
GPU clock speed Speed is the clock speed of the GPU and is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	600 MHz (megahertz)
The amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost when the device is turned off or restarted.	3 GB (gigabytes)
Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.	LPDDR3
Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels means higher data rates.	dual channel
RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its speed, more specifically, the speed of reading / writing data.	933 MHz (megahertz)
	liquid cooling system

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has a built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed amount.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the image quality of information directly depends.	AMOLED
Diagonal For mobile devices, the screen size is expressed in terms of its diagonal length, measured in inches.	5.2in 132.08 mm (millimeters) 13.21 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate Screen Width	2.55in 64.75 mm (millimeters) 6.48 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate Screen Height	4.53in 115.12 mm (millimeters) 11.51 cm (centimeters)
Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side	1.778:1 16:9
Permission Screen resolution indicates the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means sharper image detail.	1440 x 2560 pixels
Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be shown on the screen in clearer detail.	565 ppi (pixels per inch) 222ppm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for the color components in a single pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen area Approximate percentage of screen space on the front of the device.	70.46% (percentage)
Other characteristics Information about other functions and features of the screen.	capacitive Multitouch Scratch resistance
	Corning Gorilla Glass 3 ClearBlack display Glance screen technology

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that are recognized by the mobile device.

Main camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the case and is used for taking photos and videos.

Sensor type Digital cameras use photo sensors to take pictures. The sensor, as well as the optics, is one of the main factors in the quality of a camera in a mobile device.	CMOS BSI (backside illumination)
Sensor size Information about the size of the photosensor used in the device. Typically, cameras with a larger sensor and lower pixel density offer better image quality despite lower resolution.	5.76 x 4.29 mm (millimeters) 0.28in
Pixel size The smaller pixel size of the photosensor allows more pixels to be used per unit area, thus increasing resolution. On the other hand, a smaller pixel size can have a negative impact on image quality at high light sensitivity (ISO) levels.	1.071 µm (micrometers) 0.001071 mm (millimeters)
crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the size of a full-frame sensor (36 x 24mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35mm film) and the size of the device's photosensor. The number shown is the ratio of the diagonals of the full frame sensor (43.3 mm) and the photo sensor of the specific device.	6.02
Diaphragm	f/1.9
Focal length Focal length is the distance in millimeters from the photosensor to the optical center of the lens. There is also an equivalent focal length that provides the same field of view with a full frame camera.	4.32 mm (millimeters) 26.01 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame)
Flash type The most common types of flashes in mobile devices cameras are LED and xenon flashes. LED flashes give a softer light and, unlike brighter xenon flashes, are also used for video shooting.	Triple LED
Image resolution One of the main characteristics of mobile device cameras is their resolution, which indicates the number of pixels in the horizontal and vertical direction of an image.	5376 x 3744 pixels 20.13 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution for video recording by the device.	3840 x 2160 pixels 8.29 MP (megapixels)
Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at the maximum resolution. Some of the main standard shooting and video playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p.	30 fps (frames per second)
Specifications Information about other software and hardware features related to the main camera and improving its functionality.	autofocus Burst shooting digital zoom Digital Image Stabilization Optical Image Stabilization geo tags panoramic shooting HDR shooting Touch focus Face recognition Adjusting the white balance ISO setting Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene Selection Mode Macro mode RAW
	Carl Zeiss optics 5th gen OIS 6-element lens Lossless zoom

Additional camera

Additional cameras are usually mounted above the screen of the device and are used mainly for video calls, gesture recognition, etc.

Diaphragm Aperture (f-number) is the size of the aperture opening that controls the amount of light reaching the photosensor. A lower f-number means the aperture is larger.	f/2.4
Image resolution Information about the maximum resolution of the secondary camera when shooting. In most cases, the resolution of the secondary camera is lower than that of the main camera.	2592 x 1936 pixels 5.02 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum resolution supported when shooting video with the optional camera.	1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels)
Video - frame rate/frames per second. Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the optional camera when shooting video at the maximum resolution.	30 fps (frames per second)

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about navigation and location technologies supported by the device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for short distance data transmission between different devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between different types of devices over short distances.

Version

There are several versions of Bluetooth, with each subsequent one improving communication speed, coverage, making it easier to discover and connect devices. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device.

4.1

Specifications

Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols for faster data exchange, energy savings, better device discovery, and more. Some of the profiles and protocols that the device supports are shown here.

A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile)
AVRCP (Audio/Visual Remote Control Profile)
EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
GAVDP (Generic Audio/Video Distribution Profile)
GATT (Generic Attribute Profile)
HDP (Health Device Profile)
HFP (Hands Free Profile)
HID (Human Interface Profile)
LE (Low Energy)
MAP (Message Access Profile)
OPP (Object Push Profile)
PAN (Personal Area Networking Profile)
PBAP/PAB (Phone Book Access Profile)
HOGP

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to communicate.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, which is also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by the device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Browser

Information about some of the key features and standards supported by the device's browser.

HTML
HTML5
CSS 3

Audio file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support various audio file formats and codecs that store and encode/decode digital audio data, respectively.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support various video file formats and codecs, which store and encode/decode digital video data, respectively.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge they need to function.

Capacity The capacity of a battery indicates the maximum charge it can store, measured in milliamp-hours.	3000 mAh (milliamp-hours)
A type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more specifically, by the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used in mobile devices.	Li-polymer (Li-polymer)
Talk time 2G Talk time in 2G is the period of time during which the battery is completely discharged during a continuous conversation in a 2G network.	23 h (hours) 1380 min (minutes) 1 days
2G standby time The 2G standby time is the amount of time it takes for the battery to fully discharge when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network.	288 h (hours) 17280 min (minutes) 12 days
3G talk time Talk time in 3G is the period of time during which the battery is completely discharged during a continuous conversation in a 3G network.	18h (hours) 1080 min (minutes) 0.8 days
3G standby time The 3G standby time is the amount of time it takes for the battery to fully discharge when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network.	288 h (hours) 17280 min (minutes) 12 days
Fast charging technology Fast charging technologies differ from each other in terms of energy efficiency, maintained output power, control over the charging process, temperature, etc. The device, battery and charger must be compatible with fast charging technology.	Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0
Specifications Information about some additional features of the device's battery.	Wireless charger fast charging Removable
	Qi wireless charging

Chief Editor of the Windows Central Portal Daniel Rubino shares his impressions of the long-awaited flagship Microsoft - Lumia 950.

Specifications

OS - Windows 10 Mobile;
Screen diagonal: 5.2 inches;
Resolution: 1440 x 2560 (564 ppi);
Matrix: AMOLED;
Processor: 6-core 64-bit Snapdragon 808 clocked at 1.8 GHz;
RAM: 3 gigabytes;
Built-in memory: 32 gigabytes;
Support for microSD memory cards: yes;
Security: Windows Hello iris scanner;
Main camera: 20 MP, f/1.9, PureView, triple LED flash;
Front camera: 5 MP, wide-angle lens;
Battery: removable, 3,000 mAh;
Charging: USB Type-C, Fast Charging, Qi wireless charging;
Dimensions: 145 x 73.2 x 8.2 mm;
Weight: 150 grams.

The latest flagship smartphone from the Lumia line was introduced in April 2014 - it was the Lumia 930, the European version of the Lumia Icon for the American mobile operator Verizon. The first "big" smartphone on Windows Phone - Lumia 1520 - was released even earlier, in November 2013.

During this time, a lot has changed. On the one hand, today we have Windows 10 Mobile, another attempt by Microsoft to satisfy its mobile ambitions. On the other hand, WP's presence in the global smartphone market has declined, both due to the lack of a lack of new top-end devices, and because of the age-old problem with applications.

The new flagship is finally out. Does it live up to expectations and save Windows Phone from oblivion, or just delay the inevitable end?

Daniel Rubino tested the AT&T version of the Lumia 950, which differs from the carrier-free variant with a small AT&T logo on the back, carrier software (can be removed) and support for PMA wireless charging in addition to traditional Qi. The device runs Windows 10 Mobile build 10586 and comes with an optional Display Dock for Continuum mode.

What's new?

In terms of characteristics, there are really a lot of changes. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 6-core processor is a real performance leap over the old 4-core Snapdragon 800 in the Lumia 930. The new display is impressive - it's 5.2 inches, 2560 x 1440 resolution, OLED, ClearBlack, Gorilla Glass 3 and incredible 564 dpi.

The Lumia 950 has everything a fan could wish for a flagship on their favorite OS:

32 GB of internal memory + support for microSD memory cards (up to 200 gigabytes);
High resolution display with Glance support;
USB-C fast charging, Qi wireless charging;
Capacious and removable battery;
The world's best mobile camera;
Small dimensions and weight for a device of this class. Case thickness is 8.2 mm, weight - 150 grams.

Microsoft is also asking for the Lumia 950 for less than any other comparable brand at just $550. You can also use your smartphone as a computer (Continuum function). And in order to unlock the device, just look at it - the novelty is the first in the world to implement a Windows Hello iris scanner. All this allows us to call the Lumia 950 a desirable device not only for Windows Phone fans, but also for any user who is looking for a top-end device.

The smartphone has a new type of connector - USB Type-C. Its advantages include higher data transfer speed and faster battery charging. Microsoft claims that the Lumia 950 charges from 10 to 50 percent in just half an hour (Daniel checked - in general, this is true). It is also double-sided, which means that now you will always insert the charge with the “correct” side.

Both Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL support USB OTG technology. This means that when using a special adapter, you can connect USB peripherals to new Microsoft smartphones, incl. and external hard drives. Windows 10 Mobile already knows how to recognize them. After connecting through the built-in file manager, you get access to all files stored on an external drive.

The only downside to the Lumia 950 is the looks. The smartphone looks rather modest. Apple and Samsung offer a sleek and premium design with lots of metal and glass, while the Lumia 950 only has a matte polycarbonate body, so it certainly won't be a design premium. Microsoft, Rubino laments, will have to understand, following Samsung, that plastic looks “too cheap” to some people, even though there is excellent hardware inside, and they simply won’t buy it. Some will like polycarbonate, while others will be more likely to be disappointed.

Of course, plastic has its advantages. Thanks to this choice of material, the Lumia 950 is lighter, and when dropped, the body will not shatter into millions of pieces. The smartphone is very comfortable in the hand, it is pleasant to work with it. This is a device that you can simply take and safely carry with you, without wrapping it in all sorts of protective cases.

Now let's take a closer look at the three key features of the Lumia 950 - the camera, Windows Hello and Continuum.

Camera - setting new standards

Fans of Lumia smartphones are used to the fact that Nokia offers them one of the best mobile cameras in the world. The same was expected from the 20-megapixel camera Lumia 950.

Microsoft photo technologies are united under the PureView brand. These include ZEISS optics, optical image stabilization (OIS) and high-quality flash. Competitors represented by Samsung and even LG, however, have already caught up and even surpassed Redmond, and now they themselves set the tone in mobile photography. Microsoft was in the role of catching up.

“I can confidently say that the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL have the best camera you can find on a mobile phone, or at least one of the best. Photos are incredibly sharp, colors are vibrant, and the new triple LED flash produces bright, natural light like nowhere else. The updated Rich Capture only kicks in when you need it, and even lets you adjust the brightness of the flash after you've taken the shot."

Like most semi-professional photographers, Daniel does not like to use flash and prefers natural light. But with the new triple flash, he changed his old habit - it's now easier to take a picture, and then set the desired flash intensity. The same is true for HDR.

The Lumia 950 also features 5th generation optical image stabilization. As before, it compensates for the effect of "shaky hands" when shooting photos and videos.

Microsoft Camera and the new Snapdragon processor have finally made taking photos fast. Starting the camera, shooting, post-processing Rich Capture - everything now happens noticeably faster than before.

Rubino noticed that the Lumia 950 had trouble focusing - sometimes the shots came out with a little "blur". The journalist attributes this to the large f / 1.9 aperture and the fact that the camera does not have laser autofocus. This technology is used in Android smartphones LG G4 and Nexus 5X, where it has proven itself very well - Daniel writes that the difference between pictures on devices from LG and Microsoft can be big.

There is also a bug in which Windows Hello is already to blame - problems appear when working with an image, after starting the camera from a locked screen. There is no way to shoot panoramas - a glaring fact for 2015. Finally, while we wait for the official Instagram app for Windows 10, we still need to use the excellent - but still third-party - 6tag client.

Lumia 950 records 1080p video at 60 frames per second. Sources at Microsoft told Rubino that the company will add 120 fps filming early next year. In 4K mode, the speed can be changed to 25 or 30 frames. What can I say - impressive!

Apple pretends that it was she who came up with “live photos” - but we know that the Lumia team was the pioneers of the new feature. The new version of Living Images runs in the Windows 10 Universal Photos app, and Rubino says it's "smarter." Now a live photo is taken only when there is movement in the frame. This is logical - there is less space for such pictures, and what's the point in a "live" photo, is there nothing moving in the frame?

If you are a fan of mobile photography, Lumia 950 is definitely worthy of your attention. But, in fairness, competitors in the face of Apple, Samsung and LG offer comparable image quality.

“I can say with confidence that most of the time the Lumia 950 takes better pictures, but the difference between it and the competition is much less noticeable than two or three years ago. In other words, if you post photos to Instagram or Facebook, both of which reduce the size and quality of the image, I don't think the Lumia 950 will be noticeably better than other flagship smartphones. But I think the physical camera button is a big plus, and I still get frustrated with iPhones and Android phones that have to swipe. This is, of course, personal preference, for most people this is a small problem.

The 5-megapixel front camera also supports the creation of Living Images, and takes very high-quality selfies even in poor lighting conditions. Unfortunately, video chats via Skype leave much to be desired in terms of picture transmission. This will certainly be corrected in the future.

“The Lumia 950's camera is phenomenal and the new algorithms bring out and preserve details better than ever. But I'm not sure it's as important in 2015 as it was in 2013 when the Lumia 1020 came out."

The iris scanner and Windows Hello are great, but is it necessary?

In modern computers, biometric data - the unique physical characteristics of a person - are used for security purposes. This is a big trend in the mobile industry, Microsoft is actively using it in advertising Windows 10. In Redmond they call their proprietary technology “on the topic” Windows Hello. These include face recognition, an iris scanner, and a fingerprint sensor.

The latter has become the most popular technology for smartphones. It is used in iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, HTC One, Nexus 5X and 6P, LG V10 and many other devices. In 2014 they were still rather slow, but in 2015 the new generation is already very fast.

However, for some reason, Microsoft decided not to follow the beaten path and opted for an iris scanner for the Lumia 950 and 950 XL. An infrared camera next to the front camera allows you to unlock your smartphone ... just by looking at the display for one or two seconds. You can also set up Windows Hello to only wake up the screen, and unlock it yourself, which is ideal when you just want to see notifications. Luckily, with Glance enabled, you don't even have to do that.

Windows Hello does not take a photo of the user's eyes or irises and send them to the cloud. Instead, an encrypted partition is created on the smartphone - all the necessary information is stored there.

Is Windows Hello better than a traditional fingerprint scanner? In some moments, yes, but it's hard to call Microsoft's new technology a clear winner. Of course, you don't have to take off your gloves in winter - but the iris scanner can be very finicky. For example, for it to work, you need to bring the Lumia 950 to your face at a distance of about 30 centimeters. In a public place, you will not look strange, but you will have to look directly at your smartphone to unlock it. Also, sometimes - after all, we have a “beta” before us - recognition does not work, so the good old pin code is still more reliable. Alternatively, you can lock and then unlock the display again.

Rubino compares the iris scanner in the Lumia 950 to the first fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5s. In general, it works, but problems occur in 30-40% of cases. The “Improve recognition” settings item helps partly, but only partly. Second-generation fingerprint sensors work quickly and flawlessly, which can not be said about the iris scanner.

A few nice features of Windows Hello on the Lumia 950 that you might not know about:

Works in poor lighting conditions and even in the dark;
Glasses—even sunglasses—are no problem;
Gemini cannot fool Window Hello;
…as well as a photograph of your eyes;
With Windows Hello, shopping in the Windows Phone Store is now a breeze!

Even despite its "test" status, Windows Hello already looks very solid today. Glitches happen, but you can't call them catastrophic. The scanner does not have a big impact on the operating time, and successfully does the main thing - it provides a higher level of security. Despite the failures, Daniel strongly recommends that everyone activate Hello on their smartphone immediately after purchase.

“It is not bad, it is not a revolution. It's just different... makes the Lumia 950 unusual and even futuristic. Your friends will surely talk about it. I would like to tell you why it's better than the fingerprint scanner, but I don't know yet."

Continuum - has your smartphone become a computer?

Another Microsoft idea for Windows Phone is the Continuum feature. The idea is simple: connect your smartphone to an external display and use it like a PC. Universal apps for Windows 10 automatically adjust to the new resolution. You can even connect a mouse and keyboard! The output is a real computer. At the same time, the smartphone does not cease to be a smartphone - it still receives calls and notifications. And if there is an outlet nearby, then you don’t have to think about the operating time - we connect the charging (especially since we now have Quick Charge) and use it as much as we need.

In the case of Continuum, there are two connection options. The first one is the Microsoft Display Dock ($99), the second one is a wireless connection via Miracast. For non-Miracast displays, Microsoft recommends a third-party adapter called the Actiontec ScreenBeam Mini2 - Continuum Edition ($67). Recommendations should be followed - as you know, in the case of Miracast, the adapter is different for the adapter.

Continuum works very well. Rubino connected the Lumia 950 XL to a 4K display (though output is limited to Full HD) and a wireless ergonomic keyboard from Microsoft. Now you can use the following applications:

Office (Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Excel);
Mail and Calendar;
Microsoft Edge browser;
MSN News, Weather, Sports, Money;
Photos, Groove Music, Movies & TV, Shop, Messaging, Skype Video, People.

Continuum also runs third-party apps that use the Universal Windows Platform (UWP). These include: a beta version of the new Windows Central app, Tweetium, Homeboy, Baconit, and Trakter. Classic Windows apps are not yet supported, but that may change as early as next year.

It is worth noting that typing on a Bluetooth keyboard is accompanied by a slight delay. If you type directly from the screen of the Lumia 950, everything will be fine.

You can find fault with various little things exactly until the moment when you realize: in fact, your phone has just brought a desktop operating system to your monitor, you can connect a Bluetooth keyboard to it, and use your smartphone as a trackpad! At least from a technical point of view, this is just fantastic.

Of course, the question inevitably arises: "And who will use it?". Rubino is sure that there can be quite a few use cases.

Presentations in the office;
You need to work on a business trip (in a hotel room, but you don’t have a laptop with you or you want a big screen);
Students who want to save money;
People returning from work who want to always have the right applications and data at hand;
Internet cafe (this, of course, is already sometime in the future).

“But I can't call Continuum a serious argument for the average user. This is not a killer feature for most people; it is a powerful but niche tool. There is no need for it - for many years all data is stored in the cloud, so you can work from any computer ... I am sure that the Continuum model is the future. I can imagine a world where our smartphones are our main computers and everything else is just displays. But that time has not yet come. Today Continuum is a potential innovation, but only in theory and only for a few.”

Application problem

Unfortunately, writes Rubino, at the end of 2015, the situation with available applications in some sense became even worse than before. Large banks and popular services are abandoning the platform. True, there is also a replenishment - Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pandora, FitBit, and Ring settle down on WP.

Windows 10 and its Universal Windows Platform (UWP) should - in theory - fix things. Developers will be able to write one application and offer it immediately on PC, smartphones, tablets and even Xbox One (in 2016). The popular Baconit app even works on HoloLens! But for now, everything is just beginning with UWP - and whether it will work out in the end, we don’t know.

Daniel reminds that the problem with applications on Windows Phone is not their number.

“Can Windows 10 Mobile offer the right just for you applications?"

Everyone has one or more programs, without which a person cannot imagine his life. Rubino himself is a fan of mixed martial arts and is eager to get a universal UFC app, also without Snapchat [messaging app with attached photos and videos, after 1-10 seconds the “snap” message disappears]. If you also like this, it is very difficult for you to recommend the Lumia 950.

“As an operating system, Windows 10 Mobile is very good, but there is still a lot missing here. There is no panorama in the camera, no native payment system like Apple Pay, and some interface inconsistencies make Windows 10 Mobile, ahem, incomplete. Even Microsoft Edge has no more than 75% of the features compared to Safari or Chrome.”

The good news is that now we do not have to wait for the next update for six months or a year. The new “Windows as a service” software distribution model assumes that the operating system is constantly evolving and receives frequent updates. Windows 10 desktop just received a major update just three months after launch - that's impressive. The same is likely to happen with Windows 10 Mobile. It remains to be seen how often Microsoft is willing to release updates, and what role operators will play in this.

“I love Windows 10 Mobile and feel that Microsoft Design Language (MDL) is moving in the right direction. The OS is minimalistic and still places a lot of emphasis on information and content… But I don't know how Windows 10 Mobile will be received by the general public.”

The new version of Microsoft's mobile OS, writes Rubino, is still a mystery. Microsoft has a unique vision of the market and the corresponding tools - one operating system "for everything", a single platform for applications. All this is already working, all this can already be held in your hands. But most of the strengths of Windows 10 will only really come to light in the future.

“Guys, this is just the beginning, but you have to decide if you want to come on board now or wait to see how things work out in the next six months. Unfortunately, iOS and Android are relentless express trains that are constantly innovating and improving their systems, so it's very hard to recommend the Lumia 950 to switchers right now. ed.]".

20 interesting facts about Microsoft Lumia 950

The smartphone ships with Windows 10 Mobile build 10586;
Visual voicemail is quite finicky, requiring a few attempts to get into it;
There is no double-tap to wake up, but there is a double-tap to turn off;
Glance is supported, Peek is gone, now only intervals can be set;
To record video in Rich Recording, the smartphone has 4 HAAC microphones;
Qi-charging is supported, the version for the AT&T operator additionally supports the PMA standard;
Hey, Cortana is enabled and works when the display is off;
Now you can record telephone conversations;
The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 (Lumia 950 XL has GG 4);
The amount of free space out of the box is about 29.5 GB;
38 apps will ask you to update them;
Works great with Microsoft Band 2 (including Cortana support)
The Lumia 950 doesn't have liquid cooling;
During operation, the smartphone does not get hot, but with very active use, you will feel a noticeable warmth in your hand; the temperature is distributed very evenly;
There are third-party covers from Mozo;
The external speaker is decent, but far from ideal;
The quality of telephone conversations is acceptable;
It was not possible to connect to the 2013 Honda Accord audio system via USB, but everything worked via Bluetooth;
Daniel saw the "resume" screen only when working with Skype Video;
In terms of performance, the smartphone is similar to the Lumia 1520 and Lumia 930 on Windows 10 Mobile. "Heavy" use cases like Rich Capture, of course, work faster on the Lumia 950.

Should I take it?

Potential Lumia 950 buyers are divided into two groups: fans of Windows Phone and Windows 10, who share the views of Microsoft, and everyone else.

The first ones don't have much to think about - the Lumia 950 is the device they've always dreamed of. She knows how to do everything (well, except that she doesn’t make coffee). Support for microSD memory cards, wireless charging, a fast processor, a capacious battery, a great display and perhaps the best mobile camera to date, four Rich Recording microphones, call recording ... There are a lot of arguments in favor.

The negatives include the lack of a double-tap to wake up, Windows Hello's beta status, the fact that Hello has no special advantages on the fingerprint scanner, and the loudspeaker clearly leaves much to be desired. Well, honestly, the design as a whole turned out to be very insipid. It's not bad, no, it's just not inspiring and very pragmatic.

"Like work pants."

The battery life of the Lumia 950 is very good. Compared to Android, the smartphone has excellent battery life in standby mode. If you forget to charge the device at night, then in the morning you will not be met by a “killed” device. Rubino has a BlackBerry Priv - one day at 8 pm he (even without a SIM card) had 95% of the charge, and the next morning he had only 7% left.

If you are thinking about waiting for something more interesting, then keep in mind that there will be no more top-end smartphones on Windows 10 Mobile until the end of next year (except from third-party manufacturers).

As a Windows Phone user and a fan of Windows 10 Mobile, Rubino strongly recommends that people buy the Lumia 950—if they love Microsoft, of course.

"I've been using it as my main device for the last week and I'm sure I'll continue to use it in the future."

For iOS and Android owners, Daniel offers to understand what exactly is important for them in their device. If apps matter—the newest, the most exciting, the most valuable—then moving to Windows 10 Mobile will be very difficult. For her, banking applications are reluctant to release; besides, there is no Snapchat, as well as a universal application for the UFC and the Five Guys restaurant. Maybe the situation with applications will change for the better - or maybe not.

For the sake of the camera, of course, you can buy a Lumia 950 - the result will impress you. But in practice, few are guided by such a criterion when choosing. The same can be said about Continuum. While Windows Hello and the iris scanner are cool, they are no better than the fingerprint sensors in the new iPhone 6s and Nexus. And, of course, the design is practical, but without a hint of beauty.

“I encourage you to take a closer look at the Lumia 950 live. Look at the pictures that people will definitely share. Evaluate how useful Continuum might be for some people. But ultimately the Lumia 950 is still a very bold choice for someone who isn't a Microsoft fan."

Final Thoughts

The Microsoft Lumia 950 takes the best of Windows 10 Mobile and is 100% made for the fans - they got exactly what they got in July from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

Lumia 950 is a very good smartphone. Its only drawback is the lack of applications (and some services, for example, payment services like Apple Pay). A stunning display, a great camera, and a long-lasting battery let you do a lot. But in 2015, when choosing a new device, you can no longer discount the app ecosystem.

“The Lumia 950 is a top-notch smartphone, but not the best, and in 2015, it takes just that to beat the competition. Microsoft fans will love it, but the rest of the world will look at it with curiosity and nothing more.
On the other hand, if Microsoft just wants to please its fans, the Lumia 950 will succeed. I myself will use the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL since I'm all about Windows 10, but I realize that I'm part of an ever-dwindling user community. Microsoft has great ideas, but they can still do better."

The announcement of Microsoft's flagship stirred up everyone who is at least somehow interested in smartphones: a camera tested by a professional National Geographic photographer, one of the best screens on the market, the latest Windows 10 Mobile operating system with a ton of innovations, and the ability to turn into a desktop PC. Is this not enough? Looking back at the sales of smartphones on Windows, we can say that the release of the Lumia 950 XL and the active PR campaign around it is the last attempt of a drowning man to save himself.

Thanks to the Russian representation of Microsoft, we managed to get a serial copy of the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM device and see with our own eyes whether the rescue was successful.

Equipment

The smartphone came to us in a bright box. Inside - the device itself, user manual, as well as a box with accessories. There are few of the latter (which is even somewhat sad for such a cost), but they will really come in handy.

And how could it be otherwise, because the Lumia 950 XL smartphone is equipped with the still uncommon USB-C. So the bundled AC-100E charger with a built-in cable and a USB 3.0 data cord will come in handy.

The wires are made to last: high-quality braid, thickness - 4 mm, without memory effect. This is necessary, because the smartphone is being charged with a non-standard current with parameters of 5 V and 3 A.

Separately, you can purchase Qi standard wireless charging and a Microsoft Display Dock module (we'll talk about the latter in more detail) to connect your smartphone to standard computer peripherals - a monitor and USB devices.

Appearance and usability

Among other Microsoft devices, the Lumia 950 XL model stands out for its strict style and refined forms. Nothing superfluous, just matte soft-touch plastic and glass. The rear panel has nice curves, and the camera protruding a couple of millimeters, hidden together with the flash in a separate glass-protected unit, does not spoil the impression.

Thanks to design solutions, the 5.7-inch device is very comfortable in the hand. For those who don’t think so, the one-handed mode, called by a long press of the central button, will help.

The front panel is covered with a one-piece flat protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 4. Protective sides are not provided. The side fields of the screen are allotted about 3.5 mm. Above the screen is a speaker grill, a front camera window and five points: two additional microphones and three sensors for implementing Windows Hello. There are no LED indicators. On the top edge is also empty - a mini-jack for headphones.

At the bottom of the smartphone is a hole for the microphone. The buttons are located on the screen. If necessary, they can be collapsed (swipe up) or returned back (repeated swipe up). At the bottom is a symmetrical USB Type-C with support for USB 3.1 and USB Dual Role mode. All port capabilities are available in client and host mode.

All mechanical control keys are made of metal and are concentrated on the right edge of the gadget. Three buttons are assembled in one block: the top one - volume up, the central one - power on, the bottom one - volume down.

Below them is a two-stage button to start. This is what millions of users have been waiting for. The first click launches the capture app (even from the locked state), the second one takes the picture.

There is no fingerprint sensor; Windows Hello is used for authentication instead. What is behind this name? An iris scanner implemented with separate sensors (iris scanners exist in many Chinese and Japanese smartphones, but they use the front camera).

In fact, the Lumia 950 XL is replete with practical solutions. In addition to the hardware camera button, the flagship’s pluses include a removable back cover (it has an NFC antenna and a wireless charging receiver built into it). Separate nanoSIM slots (two pieces) and microSD are hidden under it. The battery is removable. Backlash, squeaks are not noticed. The quality of assembly and manufacturing of elements is excellent.

Specifications

CPU	SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, 2 GHz, 8 cores, 64 bits
video chip	Adreno 430
Operating system	Microsoft Windows 10 Mobile
Display	5.7″, AMOLED, ClearBlack, WQHD 2560 × 1440
RAM	3 GB
Inner memory	32 GB
Slots	microSDXC (up to 200 GB), 2 nanoSIM, USB-C (with Display Port support), 3.5 mm
cameras	Main - 20 MP (autofocus, flash, 4K video), secondary - 5 MP (Full HD video)
Wireless connection	Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth 4.1, BLE, NFC; 2G GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), 3G WCDMA (850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz), 4G/LTE (bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40)
Sensors	Compass, position sensor, accelerometer, proximity sensor, light sensor, barometer, gyroscope, magnetometer
Navigation	A-GLONASS, A-GPS
Battery	3 340 mAh, removable
Dimensions	152×78×8mm
Weight	166 g

Hardware performance and operating system

The performance of the Lumia 950 XL is based on the capabilities of the recently flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 platform, which has eight cores, each of which runs at a clock frequency of 2 GHz. The Adreno 430 video processor supports the DirectX 11 interface, and is also capable of decoding modern video codecs such as H.264 and H.265.

Such a bundle provides excellent performance and no freezes in the menu, as well as in games or applications, despite the QHD resolution. The amount of RAM is sufficient, especially given the quite moderate resource consumption of the operating system. The operation of Windows 10 Mobile is smooth, and in general, only positive emotions remain when using a smartphone. Tiles are much more convenient than regular Android icons. Management is intuitive, there are no inconveniences during the transition.

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to adequately compare the performance due to the lack of competitors in the market. There is enough power to play 4K video both on the screen and when displaying an image through the Display Port. Playing Asphalt also shows that the resources of the Lumia 950 XL are quite adequate. If compared with other devices, then in the "parrots" the following results are obtained:

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Of the 32 GB of internal memory, only about 25 GB is available to the user, the rest is taken by the system. Unlike the latest creations of other companies, the Lumia 950 XL smartphone is not equipped with a combined SIM / microSD slot - a separate slot is available for memory cards supporting the SDXC standard up to 200 GB. True, to remove the card, you will have to remove the battery. Access to internal memory is possible from a computer using the MTP protocol, and this applies to both a flash drive and internal memory.

The operating system is replete with settings. There is everything you might need. The main flaws of the Windows 10 Mobile beta have been fixed, so you can just look at the screenshots again - that's enough.

Display

The screen of the Lumia 950 XL is truly flagship. Diagonal - 5.7 inches. AMOLED technology is used, so the black color is really black. With the display of other colors, as in some Samsung devices, there are no problems. In addition, the screen resolution is 2560 × 1440 (WQHD), which corresponds to a pixel density of 515 ppi. This will allow you to use the gadget as a display of budget devices to view 360-degree video and 3D content. It is worth recalling that a variety of universal devices for VR content require a high-quality screen from a smartphone. From a distance of half a meter, it is unlikely that the average user will be able to distinguish Full HD from QHD. But from a distance of 5 cm, the difference is obvious. And the resolution is less than the Lumia 950 XL, not enough for viewing.

The screen has excellent viewing angles. An oleophobic coating is applied over Gorilla Glass 4. Judging by the image quality and the absence of ghosting of reflected objects, the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL uses an OGS display (without an air gap between the protective glass and the screen).

In the advanced settings of the smartphone, you can select a color profile or manually specify the color temperature, hue and saturation. In addition, the smartphone uses ClearBlack technology, which significantly improves visibility and readability in bright ambient light. You can also enable automatic brightness control.

The touch screen supports 10 touches. It works perfectly: you don't have to tap your fingers on the screen, the sensitivity is high.

Sound

The main speaker is located near the camera on the rear panel. The volume is average, low frequencies are rather weak, but there are no overloads and wheezing. Enough for a ringtone, but no more. The vibrating alert is unobtrusive; for some, its work may seem insufficient.

In headphones, the sound is pleasant, quite high quality. There is a built-in equalizer with which you can draw out the lack of low frequencies. Then the gadget can be used as a player for public transport. The equalizer has several presets and custom settings, and most importantly, it works independently for the main speaker and for headphones. The operating system can automatically detect the connection of headphones or a headset. There is no autorun of certain programs, but it can be configured through the "Accessories" utility.

There is no noise cancellation for either the speaker or the microphone. However, the speaker provides a high quality of telephone conversations: the volume is sufficient for noisy places, the interlocutor's voice is not distorted. A microphone located on the front panel is used to transmit voice. Medium quality. Another thing is the additional microphones located at the ends of the rear panel and next to the speaker. They and the front are used when recording videos. The manufacturer claims four speakers used simultaneously as part of Lumia Rich Recording technology.

Connection

The Lumia 950 XL is equipped with support for all 2G, 3G and most LTE bands. SIM cards work in Dual SIM Standby mode, since there is only one transmitter.

Since the device is the flagship brainchild of Microsoft, it has a lot of communication interfaces. For example, the Wi-Fi controller supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and MIMO (Dual Antennas and Higher Speed) technology to communicate with wireless displays.

The Bluetooth 4.1 adapter supports BLE and NFC technology. There is support for GPS and GLONASS. The set of built-in sensors consists of light, proximity, orientation, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, barometer and magnetometer sensors. Present in a smartphone and FM radio, connected headphones are used as an antenna.

Camera

The main camera of the smartphone has very good data for mobile shooting. It uses a 20 megapixel matrix and a 1 / 2.4 ″ sensor. There is autofocus and optical stabilization. PureView technology is also supported. Three-LED flash. The maximum resolution of the resulting still images is 4992 × 3744 (19 MP, 4:3) and 5344 × 3008 (16 MP, 16:9). Video is shot in formats from 1280 × 720 to 3840 × 2160. The frame rate can be 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps (maximum 30 fps in 4K).

The front camera has a 5 MP matrix, and its maximum resolution is 2592 × 1936 (5 MP, 4:3) and 2592 × 1456 (3.7 MP, 16:9). In video recording mode, shooting is possible in 720p30, 1080p24, 1080p30 and 2208 × 1242 format at 24 and 30 fps.