The fans of Windows Phones have been eagerly waiting for the comeback of a Windows phone phablet and their wait is now over with the introduction of 950 XL. Microsoft Lumia 950 XL DualSim packs one of the best of available hardware and is a perfect demo of how Microsoft sees the future. Compared to Lumia 950, the 950 XL includes a bigger screen and a more powerful chipset. The newcomer also features liquid cooling system to take off the extra heat produced while playing heavy games or putting the Windows Phone under a lot of stress. The phablet also features the latest Microsoft Windows Phone 10 which offers a lot of improvements over previous versions of the OS.
Let us have a look at some of the key features before digging any deeper:
Specs and Features
- Operating System: Windows 10 with Continuum Support using HDMI adapter, dock or Miracast
- Display: 5.7-inch Quad-HD (1440X2560) AMOLED Display @518PPI protected with Gorilla Glass 4 and featuring ClearBlack Technology and Glance Screen
- Chipset/CPU/GPU: Snapdragon 810 featuring liquid cooling, octa-core (4×2.0 Ghz Cortex A57 + 4×1.5 Ghz Cortex A53), 3 GB RAM and Adreno 430 GPU
- Rear Camera: 20 Megapixels BSI PureView Camera with ZEISS optics, OIS, tri-LED RGB Flashlight, RAW & Rich Capture, Dynamic Flash, 50MP Panoramic shots and lossless zoom in the 8MP snaps
- Video Recording: 2160p recording at 24, 25 and 30 fps, 1080p recording at 24, 25, 30 and 60 fps, slow-mo capturing, lossless zoom (720p @ 4x and 1080p @ 3x), rich audio recording using 4 directional microphones
- Front Camera: 5MP supporting 1080p@30fps recording
- Storage: 32GB of internal storage, expandable through the microSD card slot
- Communications: Dual SIM, LTE, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1. GPS/GLONASS and Beidu, FM Radio, USB Type C port
- Security and ease of use: Windows Hello with iris scanner
- Battery: 3,340mAh removable battery supporting wireless charging (depending on the market)
After having a look at the specs, one thing is obvious and that is the fact that Microsoft has left nothing to chance and equipped the phone with the best of everything. The only thing that may bother potential buyers is the hefty price tag and lack of a fingerprint scanner (which is not a necessity for many users anyway).
Design and Build Quality
Microsoft opted for a subtle and simple design instead of being fancy or shiny and the phone actually looks quite decent with its matt finish: it is a simple, yet stylish phone. Although 950 XL includes a huge screen, it fits nicely into most pockets as it is slim and light. Use of matt plastic makes it easy to grip and use with one hand.
Display
The Quad-HD AMOLED display is simply a beauty to look at. With a pixel density of 518ppi, the images and text appear as crisp and vivid as it can possibly get. Contrast and viewing angles are superb, as is the case with most AMOLED and outdoor visibility is also excellent. Colors popup and tiles appear to be floating on the screen.
Battery Life
Unlike the Lenovo ideapad flex 10 with a 24Wh Li-ion non-removable battery, the 950XL is equipped with a 3,340 battery supporting fast charge @ 50% charge in just 30 minutes. For most users, the battery should last for around 2.5 days of use including some web browsing, calls and videos.
Camera Quality
Lumia 950XL features the class-leading 20 Megapixels ZEISS Optics and produces some excellent images with great detail and colors. Cameras are equipped with all the features a user could ever want and simply deliver the quality which people expect from a Windows Flagship. With the help of OIS, the videos are also detailed and sharp with very little noise and color distortion.
Conclusion
Considering the hefty price tag of the phone, not all users will like the idea of using plastic all over the phone at that price. Also, the lack of a fingerprint reader also is not something that can just be ignored. Microsoft’s store also lacks all the bells and whistles that other platforms have to offer, but it at least covers all the basics.
Lumia 950XL poses a serious threat to all the Android and Apple flagships out there. The phone is also capable of being connected to a PC or TV screen, keyboard and mouse through the use of a Display Dock. It is there to make a strong statement about what Microsoft is capable of doing. Microsoft may have been slow in adopting the latest technologies, but it made sure that no box is left unchecked with the release of 950XL. Top notch hardware and cameras, enhanced operating system and solid design, all make the phone a tempting package.
