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Nokia Lumia 620 Review

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Posted: , by Victor H.

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Camera:

The Lumia 620 features a 5-megapixel rear camera with auto-focus and LED flash, capable of recording 720p HD videos. There is also a front-facing VGA camera for video calls.

Given its affordable price, you shouldn’t expect wonders from the 5-megapixel camera on the device. But while it lacks in fine detail and clarity, it delivers with pleasing and true-to-life saturated colors. That is especially true for well-lit scenes where the device performs on par or better than many of its peers. Images also turn out a bit on the soft side.


The 5-megapixel camera is challenged by environments requiring ample dynamic range, where there is a stark contrast between objects in the picture like say a bright sky and darker buildings. The sensor doesn’t handle that particularly well. It also has troubles with noise in under-lit scenes, but that’s all to be expected from a device in this class.

The camera experience is helped by a variety of lens effects (things like Cinemagraph animating parts of videos as GIFs) and settings to tweak including ISO adjustments, scenes and others for those who want to manually control their shots.

The video recorder can’t brag with such a variety in settings, but the captured footage is definitely decent. Among the limited settings in the camera are white balance and choosing whether or not to have continuous auto-focus, and that’s about it.

Nokia Lumia 620 Sample Video:



Nokia Lumia 620 Indoor Sample Video:




Multimedia:

With such a good looking 3.8-inch display, the Lumia 620 has what it takes to entertain you with videos on the road. The phone supports most popular codecs and plays back Mpeg4, H.264, H.263 and WMV files at 720p with ease.

The built-in music and video hub conveniently stores a history of the content you’ve seen and heard. While there is no built-in YouTube application, MetroTube offers all the functionality of YouTube in an interface that looks native to Windows Phone and is great.

When it comes to music, the Xbox Music Store has pretty much everything you need. Nokia Music is one application that we really love having with its free Mix Radio streaming service. It does pretty much what paid services like Rdio and Pandora do, and it’s a perfect tool for music discovery. We had fun playing songs from the playlists offered, plus you can build your own playlists based on as many as three artists you mention. You can even cache playlists for offline listening. The only downside is that you can only skip not more than 6 songs each hour.

Xbox Music Store - Nokia Lumia 620 Review
Xbox Music Store - Nokia Lumia 620 Review
Xbox Music Store - Nokia Lumia 620 Review
Xbox Music Store - Nokia Lumia 620 Review

Xbox Music Store


Overall, the music experience on the Lumia 620 is very rich and visual, you get a full-screen background image of the artist in the music player and in Mix Radio you can also see a biography and additional info which we appreciate.

The loudspeaker on the back is really loud which we appreciate but sound gets a bit tinny when you crank it up. The speaker is also strangely positioned in the bottom where usually you hold your hand and can easily accidentally muffle it.

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1. raunak posted on 08 Feb 2013, 06:30 18 1

really nice phone for its price. might buy the black version.

9. tusshharish posted on 08 Feb 2013, 08:36 15

its a great phone ......... looks best in lime green version....

14. Starscream9 posted on 08 Feb 2013, 11:54 13

I Like the Blue one.

Let the Racism begin....

2. Bappy posted on 08 Feb 2013, 06:47 7 1

Looking forward to buy it

3. pookiewood posted on 08 Feb 2013, 06:49 2 1

I'm grabbing one of these if it comes to the stats. It would compliment my 920 just fine.

4. rusticguy posted on 08 Feb 2013, 06:56 3 11

I find Xperia Acros S far better than this ... in almost similar price band.

5. predator93 posted on 08 Feb 2013, 07:01 8 1

Doesn't the Sony Acro S costs more than twice the price of this?

6. henrys posted on 08 Feb 2013, 07:15

micro usb not sd in design

7. Gaijin_Xiao_Pao posted on 08 Feb 2013, 07:36 1

Its a really good phone,920 or this surely in Yellow :)

8. baza58 posted on 08 Feb 2013, 08:09 1

That dead space under sensors is killing it.

22. skinny95black posted on 11 Mar 2013, 11:15

Me To Man But I'am Still Gonna Get This Phone

10. Nathan_ingx posted on 08 Feb 2013, 08:39 1

Victor, 2nd picture, 4th row, page 1... "MiniUSB port" should be right.
I think this would fit me just fine.

11. windroid posted on 08 Feb 2013, 09:28

1G RAM and would be perfect for this class of phones.

20. Piotrek007 posted on 11 Feb 2013, 03:10 1 1

WP don't need as much ram :) Phones with 512 mb are working equal as 1G ram at android. Different system, different needs ;)

12. freebee269 posted on 08 Feb 2013, 10:36 7 1

this is what engadget had to say as their conclusion to their review...

" The Lumia 620 represents a new high-watermark for entry-level smartphones, regardless of OS. Ignoring the app drawbacks, the phone provides a great web browser experience alongside the full Windows Phone 8 feature set. It could be a very exciting phone for Nokia — it’s an exciting one for us. We’ve mentioned the price several times during the review, but for a new smartphone with the latest version of its respective OS, it’s a steal. The phone might house a less-capable camera, but for anyone sick of oversized, unwieldy, expensive smartphones, Nokia now has an entry-level Windows Phone to lure the bargain-hunting crowds away from Android, if the Nexus 4 proves too expensive.

What’s more, it’s arguably more attractive than most Google-powered phones around the same price point and could prove to be a huge hit among smartphone beginners. There’s also a good chance that the more-gadget obsessed might pick up the Lumia 620 as a second device to give Microsoft’s mobile OS a try — and with compatibility on two US networks, it might be worth an import. It delivers real-world performance as good as Windows Phones that cost more than double. If anything, it’s making us reconsider whether those other rivals are worth the extra outlay."

this is CNET's conclusion to their review....

" The Lumia 620 provides a lot of the best features from Nokia’s top-end phones, but with a significantly lower price tag. Its colourful cases not only make it more fun, but help take the worry out of damaging your mobile.

It’s not only a great option for enjoying your first taste of Windows Phone 8, it’s a superb choice for younger users wanting a slick phone in your pocket that’s a bit different from the swathes of budget grey Android phones their mates are running."

and here is pocketlint's conclusion...

" For anyone looking for the right Windows Phone to buy, we honestly think this is the handset for you. We loved pretty much everything about it – the battery is a concern though – and Windows Phone 8 is a more mature and enjoyable OS than any previous version of Windows on a phone.

While Windows Phone gets some stick it’s only when you spend any time using it that you realise it’s a complete and competent mobile OS. Apps can be an issue, but if you honestly think about the software you use on your Android or iOS phone in any given day, it’s a fair bet that Windows Phone has apps that do the same.

Nokia is struggling right now, but phones like this have the skills to appeal to all manner of people. It’s sensibly priced, while having more than enough hardware features to make it flexible and versatile. If you’re looking for a good mid-range phone, this little Lumia deserves some real consideration."

lots of good reviews for this little device.

13. freebee269 posted on 08 Feb 2013, 10:43 3 1

expansys USA best seller list for this week, the 620 is #1.

http://www.expansys-usa.com/top20/?f=1765

15. mew7946510 posted on 08 Feb 2013, 16:29 1

It's major downside is the lack of Gorilla Glass. Some other cheaper smartphones have Gorilla Glass, well, anyway, you can always buy a casing. LOL

21. Stoli89 posted on 13 Feb 2013, 01:51 1

Gorilla Glass is a trademark; the tech has been around since the mid 1960's. Nokia...and Apple for that matter...use HARDENED Glass on certain devices. The hardening process uses the very same basic tech as Corning does with its Gorilla line. More specifically, ion exchange (potassium salt bath at hi temp) is used to replace sodium ions with heavier potassium ions at the glass surface, thereby creating higher stresses.

24. Geimsss posted on 09 May 2013, 12:27

Then Sir, could you explain why the lumia 720 and 920 use gorilla glass? do you think nokia has fun throwing away money?!

16. jameshoe posted on 08 Feb 2013, 19:44 2 1

It is selling good in my country - Malaysia

17. MC1123 posted on 09 Feb 2013, 01:07 1 5

oh so this one got an 8 while Z10 just got a 7? what a bias review!!!

18. jlp34876 posted on 09 Feb 2013, 05:57 4 1

Lumia 620 is very good in its low-mid category. While Z10 is a mehh compare to current high end phones.

19. DerryAhmad posted on 10 Feb 2013, 20:50 1 1

Saw this little fellow on Launching date last weekend. I'd recommend the Lumia 620 if anyone seeking smartphone under $300. The backcover colors are funky and fun!!

23. sven.hassel posted on 21 Apr 2013, 15:55

This "lack of apps" thing has to end. The alternative to google´s youtube (metrotube), is better than the one that you find in android or iOS.

I never had problems to find the app I was looking for, or a suitable alternative.

There are some exceptions, of course (of apps I don´t need), but give the ecosystem time!! Apple took years to put a simple native clock app to the iPad.

This phone covers the basics extremely well, and is excellent for working. Has very good safety measures.

I cannot speak about games... I don´t care about them in the cell phone, but there seems to be an acceptable amount of them.

ps: I´ve been an owner for a month.

25. shreyasmhatre posted on 18 May 2013, 03:05

Please do not buy this phone. It has a terrible battery life. On a 3G network, auto brightness, with 1 email syncing on push and average use, it lasts only 14 hours. You have to charge the phone twice in a day. I thought only I had issues, but when i searched, seems that every one has this problem. Worst! Nokia doesn't even acknowledge the problem.

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