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Nokia Lumia 1520 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs HTC One max specs comparison: in a world of phablets

posted by Victor H. / Oct 22, 2013, 3:06 AM

Nokia Lumia 1520 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs HTC One max specs comparison: in a world of phablets

The Nokia Lumia 1520 is here and it’s the first Nokia phablet, the name of a category of large-screened smartphones that came to be with the first Samsung Galaxy Note. Three years after Android kickstarted the phablet wave, Nokia has finally joined in with a large phone of its own, the Lumia 1520.

The Nokia Lumia 1520 comes with a gigantic 6” display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and it supports Sensitive Touch technology so you can operate it with your gloves on in the winter. It also features the latest Snapdragon 800 system chip putting it on par with phablets like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

Its biggest advantage seems to be the combination of that large screen with a very promising 20-megapixel PureView camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and dual-LED flash.

Unlike the Note series, the Lumia 1520 does not have an S Pen, nor are the apps there, so it is not exactly optimized for stylus use. On the flipside of things, the Nokia Lumia 1520 is the phablet with the largest battery of all latest phablets. It packs a 3400mAh battery, larger than the 3300mAh cell on the HTC One max and the 3200mAh on the Galaxy Note 3.

The 5.7” Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and the 5.9” HTC One max are understandable its biggest rivals. Take a look at how it rates against the best phablets out there right below.

Nokia Lumia 1520 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs HTC One max

Display

Display size

6.0 inches

5.7 inches

5.9 inches

Resolution

1080 x 1920 pixels

Pixel density

368 ppi

386 ppi

373 ppi

Technology

IPS LCD

Super AMOLED

S-LCD 3

Screen-to-body ratio

70.95 %

74.78 %

70.63 %

Colors

16 777 216

Peak brightness

600 cd/m2 (nit)

Camera

Rear

Yes

Main camera

20 megapixels

13 megapixels

4 megapixels

Hardware Features

Optical image stabilization, Autofocus, Back-illuminated sensor (BSI)

Autofocus, CMOS image sensor, Back-illuminated sensor (BSI)

Autofocus, Back-illuminated sensor (BSI)

Specifications

Aperture size: F2.4; Focal length: 26 mm; Sensor size: 1/2.5"; Pixel size: 1.12 μm

Aperture size: F2.2; Focal length: 31 mm; Sensor size: 1/3.06"; Pixel size: 1.12 μm

Aperture size: F2.0; Focal length: 28 mm; Sensor size: 1/3"; Pixel size: 2 μm

Flash

Dual LED

LED

Software Features

Face detection, Digital zoom, Self-timer, Touch to focus, Geo tagging, Exposure compensation, ISO control, White balance presets, Shutter speed control, Burst mode, Panorama, Effects

Digital image stabilization, Touch to focus, Smile detection, Face detection, Self-timer, Digital zoom, Geo tagging, Exposure compensation, ISO control, White balance presets, Burst mode, HDR, Panorama, Scenes, Effects

Digital image stabilization, Digital zoom, Geo tagging, White balance presets, HDR, Panorama, Effects

Video recording

3840x2160 (4K UHD) (30 fps), 1920x1080 (Full HD) (30 fps), 1280x720 (HD) (30 fps)

3840x2160 (4K UHD) (30 fps), 1920x1080 (Full HD) (60 fps), 1280x720 (HD) (120 fps)

1920x1080 (Full HD) (30 fps), 1280x720 (HD) (60 fps)

Features

Optical image stabilization, Video light

Continuous autofocus, Video light, Digital image stabilization, Video calling

High Dynamic Range mode (HDR), Continuous autofocus

Front

1.2 megapixels

2 megapixels

2.1 megapixels

Video capture

1280x720 (HD) (30 fps)

1920x1080 (Full HD) (30 fps)

Design

Dimensions

6.41 x 3.36 x 0.34 inches (162.8 x 85.4 x 8.7 mm)

5.95 x 3.12 x 0.33 inches (151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm)

6.48 x 3.25 x 0.41 inches (164.5 x 82.5 x 10.29 mm)

Weight

7.37 oz (209 g)

5.93 oz (168 g)

7.65 oz (217 g)

Materials

Back: Aluminum

Biometrics

Fingerprint (swipe)

Features

Stylus, Interchangeable covers

Touch sensitive control keys

Hardware & Performance

System chip

Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974

Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T

Processor

Quad-core, 2200 MHz, Krait 400

Quad-core, 2300 MHz, Krait 400

Quad-core, 1700 MHz, Krait 300

GPU

Adreno 330

Adreno 320

RAM

2 GB LPDDR3

3 GB LPDDR3

2 GB LPDDR2

Internal storage

32 GB

64 GB

32 GB

Storage expansion

Slot Type

microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC

microSDHC, microSD

microSDXC, microSDHC, microSD

OS

Windows Phone, 8.1, 8

Android (5.0 Lollipop, 4.4.4, 4.4, 4.3)

Android (4.4.2, 4.4, 4.3), HTC Sense UI

Battery

Capacity

3400 mAh

3200 mAh

3300 mAh

Talk time

27.40 hours

25.00 hours

28.00 hours

Stand-by time

32.0 days (768 hours)

22.0 days (528 hours)

16.4 days (393 hours)

Talk time (3G)

25.10 hours

21.00 hours

25.00 hours

Stand-by time (3G)

17.5 days (420 hours)

24.4 days (585 hours)

Stand-by time (4G)

15.8 days (380 hours)

Music playback

124.00 hours

84.00 hours

Video playback

10.80 hours

13.00 hours

Cellular

LTE (FDD)

Bands 20, 8, 3, 1, 7

Bands 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 17, 18

Bands 3, 7, 8, 18

UMTS

850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz

900, 1900, 2100 MHz

GSM

850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz

Data

LTE Cat 4 (150/50 Mbit/s), HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s, HSUPA 11 Mbit/s

LTE Cat 4 (150/50 Mbit/s), HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s, HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s, UMTS

LTE, HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s, HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s, UMTS

Multimedia

Screen mirroring

DLNA, MHL

DLNA, MHL, TV-out

Shopping information

MSRP price

$ 749

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42 Comments

1. wicpromd

Posts: 266; Member since: Aug 20, 2013

for me Galaxy Note 3

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 3:07 AM 21

3. pokharkarsaga

Posts: 545; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

Galaxy Note 3 is the undisputed king of the phablets 2013 with great features

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 3:10 AM 22

10. woodshop20

Posts: 459; Member since: Sep 14, 2013

The 1520 will be faster because of the light OS though. It's a shame that WP8 doesn't have many graphically demanding games to test the great hardware on!

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 3:31 AM 9

15. Gemmol

Posts: 793; Member since: Nov 09, 2011

yep with the light os this phone should trump anything

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 3:56 AM 5

42. himaz

Posts: 1; Member since: Oct 31, 2013

what about xbox ??!! :)

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 9:40 AM 0

18. rd_nest

Posts: 1656; Member since: Jun 06, 2010

It's not just the hardware and large screen that makes a Note great. It's the software enhancements and S-Pen. What is there in 1520 and One Max to make use of that huge screen? Is there anything that makes them different from One or a 920? None at all. They are just phones with 6-inch screen and nothing to take advantage of that. Look at Note -- tons of features, S-Pen, multi-window etc., And don't forget the release dates. Nobody knows when One max will start selling. 1520 will start selling "later this year". LOL By that time Samsung would have shipping 5million phones and they would have reduced the price of GN3 by that time.

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 4:01 AM 10

21. Gemmol

Posts: 793; Member since: Nov 09, 2011

I do not care which sell more thats for the company to think about.....but its like I wrote in the other articles only thing note have over 1520 is a pen that is it.....do not care for multi windows...and if you want to be real nokia have a ton of nokia features on its phones too so you make it seem like it have none....you forget about the driving app, camera app, and some other stuff, these are not created by microsoft this is by nokia.....plus im sorry to say it but our galaxy note got beat in all category.......1520 use real colors since it use ips and I love real colors......it have a bigger battery peep the specs music playback on note 3 is 80 something hours while the 1520 last 120 something hours.....since they both use same chips 1520 benefit more because droid need more power to keep from lagging but windows could run on low power and still not lag, so you could say this lumia phone using the full power of the chip.....I could keep going on and on but its true lumia 1520 win in all category except stylus......its time for me to say bye to my note

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 4:30 AM 5

35. wilsong17 unregistered

lmfaoooo you are smoking you dont even know what you can do on the note 3 you dont even owned one spec wise the nokia win so what you not getting anything that the note has no to mention all the games and apps that android has but life is free do we you want

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 5:13 PM 2

39. heyhi

Posts: 137; Member since: Feb 19, 2013

spec wise? 1520 has the camera and battery Note 3 has the ram and the S pen i dont see why specs wise Nokia wins a guy said android lags...every review i saw about Note 3 all the reviwers said lag free....also a user oh this thread said the same. windows phone?? no thank you...if a windows phone were that good as some guy here is whining about, why almost every OEMs use android??

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 8:26 PM 1

27. androiphone20

Posts: 1654; Member since: Jul 10, 2013

I don't really have any device (in discussion) that I favor but the man has a point -> Gemmol

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 6:31 AM 2

28. androiphone20

Posts: 1654; Member since: Jul 10, 2013

I don't really have any device (in discussion) that I favor but the man has a point -> Gemmol

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 6:33 AM 0

25. UrbanPhantom

Posts: 949; Member since: Oct 30, 2012

Samsung = Cheap Build Quality

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 4:50 AM 2

29. shuaibhere

Posts: 1986; Member since: Jul 07, 2012

really???? note 3 is durable as hell...go and search for note 3 drop test...then comment here...

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 7:25 AM 6

36. wilsong17 unregistered

we dont care its the motor that count beside i have mine in a case

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 5:14 PM 1

40. SleepingOz unregistered

Is that all you can come with? Haven't you seen the drop test yet? The GNOTE III is a tank man! Camera and battery asides, the lumia got nothing on the GNOTE III. Not to mention that Android's miles ahead WP in term of features, productivity and support !

posted on Oct 23, 2013, 3:44 AM 0

2. emadshiny

Posts: 1144; Member since: Dec 05, 2012

My new lineup: Note3 lumia 1520 Xperia ZU

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 3:09 AM 12

11. PapaSmurf

Posts: 10457; Member since: May 14, 2012

Note 3 Xperia Z1 1520

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 3:34 AM 6

4. saffant

Posts: 274; Member since: Jul 04, 2011

Damn! That Lumia 1520 is STACKED! Companies need to understand the real value of a phone like the Note 3 tho. It's pushing the limits of a smartphone yet it's still a smartphone. A 5.5-5.7" phone with the same slim dimensions of the Note 3 with a Lumia camera running Android would be perfect lol. In a perfect world.

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 3:11 AM 0

5. Shenoy

Posts: 22; Member since: Jun 16, 2013

LOVE THE LUMIA 1520

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 3:12 AM 10

6. pyradark

Posts: 895; Member since: Jun 10, 2012

wheres Z ultra???

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 3:13 AM 1

41. almostdone

Posts: 421; Member since: Sep 25, 2012

With the tablets...

posted on Oct 24, 2013, 10:57 AM 0

7. adit38

Posts: 25; Member since: Jul 02, 2013

749 before vat??

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 3:16 AM 0

26. itsdeepak4u2000

Posts: 3718; Member since: Nov 03, 2012

Yes..but this thing is just gorgeous...

posted on Oct 22, 2013, 5:05 AM 1

8. Doakie

Posts: 2465; Member since: May 06, 2009

Wow. The One max looks pathetic now. I knew it's specs were down compared to the Note 3 but now this Nokia is a spec beast. Now it's only issue is Windows Phone. Google needs release Google apps for it in exchange for royalty breaks for Android OEMs. I'll still just go Note 3 personally.