Nokia Lumia 1020 Review and Specification

Nokia has launched the Lumia 1020, the first Windows Phone handset to use the company's 41-megapixel Pureview camera.

Having previously only been available in Nokia's Symbian-powered PureView 808, the camera sensor can capture 38-megapixel still images, or supersample 5-megapixel shots for greatly improved noise reduction and low-light With an F/2.2 lens, optical image stabilisation, a lossless 3x zoom, Xenon flash and six different lens effects, the PureView camera should be capable of some impressively detailed shots. It shoots full-resolution and supersampled photos at once, saving both to the camera roll, and will "zoom" up to three times without losing quality, by cropping a full-resolution shot. It can also record video at 1080p, zooming in without losing quality by using the extra pixels. More advanced photographers will appreciate the Nokia Pro Camera mode, which lets you customise ISO, white balance and shutter speed.

If the sensor specifications weren't enough, Nokia has also introduced a camera grip accessory to convince customers of the Lumia 1020's photography credentials. It adds a chunky hand grip, two-stage shutter button for focusing and shooting, an extra battery and a tripod thread.

When we compared the PureView 808 to an Olympus compact system camera late last year, we were impressed with its ability to capture high quality images, but were less thrilled with the operating system. Nokia has finally resolved this by switching to Windows Phone 8, a far more modern OS which is much easier to use.

Looking very similar to existing Lumia smartphones, albeit with a protruding camera module at the back, the Lumia 1020 has a 4.5in OLED display with a 1,280x768 resolution. It doesn't match the Full HD screens found on the Samsung Galaxy S4 or HTC One but that's hardly surprising - Windows Phone doesn't currently support 1080p resolutions. It is, however, an OLED display, meaning blacks are incredibly deep and colours appear vibrant. It uses Nokia's ClearBlack technology and is protected by Corning's ultra-tough Gorilla Glass 3.

The handset is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, with 2GB of RAM to power the latest version of Windows Phone 8 - otherwise known as Lumia Amber. There's 32GB of internal storage, but no MicroSD card slot for adding extra capacity later. It's fully LTE-compatible, so will work on EE's 4G network here in the UK, and also includes Bluetooth, NFC, A-GPS and the Russian GLONASS navigation system.

Wireless charging isn't included as standard, with Nokia opting to sell an optional Wireless Charging Cover instead.

Available in white, black and yellow colour variants, the Lumia 1020 will go on sale later this year, although we have yet to learn any official pricing. So far, O2 is the only confirmed network, but we expect all the major providers to carry the handset when it launches in the coming months.

Nokia Lumia 1020 : Camera

The Nokia Lumia 1020 takes photos and video that no other smartphone can match with a 41 megapixel camera sensor, PureView technology, Optical Image Stabilisation and amazing high-resolution zoom. The only smartphone with a 41 megapixel camera sensor, Full HD video and Nokia Rich Recording for incredible audio capture. Capture high resolution photos, zoom into details and reframe them as new images. Adjust focus, white balance and exposure with easy, intuitive controls. Nokia Pro Camera on the Nokia Lumia 1020 lets you shoot in super high resolution, which means you can zoom in close to your shot after you’ve taken it. Then rotate, reframe, crop and share new images as many times as you want. Capturing stunning images is easier than ever with Nokia Pro Camera. Take your photos to a new level by adjusting focus, shutter speed, white balance and more with easy and intuitive controls. Capture sharp, detailed HD video, and zoom in up to six times without losing quality. And with Nokia Rich Recording, you can capture distortion -free, stereo sound – so you can relive the moment as if you were there again.

Nokia Lumia 1020 : Specification

Display
Display size: 4.5 ''
Display technology: ClearBlack, AMOLED
Touch screen technology: Super-sensitive touch

Photography
Main camera sensor: 41 MP, PureView
Flash type: Xenon flash

Power management
Maximum 2G talk time: 19.1 h
Maximum 3G talk time: 13.3 h
Music playback time: 63 h
Wireless charging: Yes, with accessory cover

Processor
Processor name: Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4
Processor type: Dual-core 1.5 GHz

Nokia Lumia 1020 : Video Review