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Topic: Mobility

Hands-on with the AT&T Nokia Lumia 820

Summary: While much of the focus for enthusiasts is on the Lumia 920, the Lumia 820 is actually a solid device priced at just $49.99. The removable battery and microSD card slot are welcome additions too.

Matthew Miller

By for Smartphones and Cell Phones |

 |  Image 1 of 10

The photo of the Lumia 820 is on the back of the box

The high end Nokia Windows Phone 8 device for the US, the Lumia 920, is currently only available on AT&T. Nokia does have the 8xx series on T-Mobile (810), Verizon (822), and AT&T (820) and I have spent the last week with the AT&T Nokia Lumia 820. This is the model that is also currently available outside the US.

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Topics: Mobility, Nokia, Reviews, Smartphones, AT&T

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14 comments
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  • Very nice

    I picked one up at the end of November. I had just gone through 2 yrs of force close problems with Android so wasn't going with one of those and had already owned an iPhone 3.
    I was worried at first about the lack of apps but found all the major ones and some others that were an upgrade to the previous ones. Android does have many many more apps but in my case what's the point if every time you try and use the phone it locks up with force close?
    I was skeptical about the live tiles at first but now I like them as I get updated without having to open anything. This feature does use more battery life so be prepared. I can generally get through a work day on a full charge. I do alot of data and email on it though.
    Still getting used to WP8. There's alot of good with this UI I have found. There are some shortcomings' also but by and large very happy with it so far.
    Slambusher
    Reply 2 Votes

  • Lumia 820

    Fair review. I am a huge Nokia fan, currently own an 800, a superb smart phone. The 920 -although spectacular- is too big for my taste as is the Samsung Galaxy III.
    The 820 seems like the perfect upgrade for me.
    Ernesto Ledesma
    Reply 3 Votes

  • Actually Lumia 820 is listed as one of the entry level Smartphones

    but it is comparable to many higher end smartphones. At $49, it challenges the quality of some of the mainstream Smartphones.
    Rama.NET
    Reply 2 Votes

  • "Solid" Seems To Be The Adjective Du Jour For Dimdows Phone

    I think it's code for "I can't think of a single reason why you'd choose this over Android".
    ldo17
    Reply 2 Votes

    • Its not too

      Hard to make the switch from Android when the damn Androids force close and lock up all the time. I went through 2 yrs and 4 different phones trying to make the phone work. Oh they were great for a few months with only the occasional force close then it was straight downhill.
      How bad was it ? I started with a Droid X and Verizon gave me 3 different phones after that. Verizon!! Holy shyte. The last one the gave me was Razr MAXX running 4.0. Worked fine for shoot I got 6 months outta that one then force close. Not just apps I had added but basic things on the phone like Google search etc.
      I'm not the only one having these issues either. Just do a search. Androids force close issue is so bad it reminds me of Windows 98.
      Is WP better? Well in the couple weeks I've had it I haven't had anything crash on me. Nor have I had to do the battery removal restart dance. Android does have many more apps etc but if the damn phone won't work what's the point??
      Slambusher
      Reply Vote

    • Its not too

      Hard to make the switch from Android when the damn Androids force close and lock up all the time. I went through 2 yrs and 4 different phones trying to make the phone work. Oh they were great for a few months with only the occasional force close then it was straight downhill.
      How bad was it ? I started with a Droid X and Verizon gave me 3 different phones after that. Verizon!! Holy shyte. The last one the gave me was Razr MAXX running 4.0. Worked fine for shoot I got 6 months outta that one then force close. Not just apps I had added but basic things on the phone like Google search etc.
      I'm not the only one having these issues either. Just do a search. Androids force close issue is so bad it reminds me of Windows 98.
      Is WP better? Well in the couple weeks I've had it I haven't had anything crash on me. Nor have I had to do the battery removal restart dance. Android does have many more apps etc but if the damn phone won't work what's the point??
      Slambusher
      Reply Vote

    • Its not too

      Hard to make the switch from Android when the damn Androids force close and lock up all the time. I went through 2 yrs and 4 different phones trying to make the phone work. Oh they were great for a few months with only the occasional force close then it was straight downhill.
      How bad was it ? I started with a Droid X and Verizon gave me 3 different phones after that. Verizon!! Holy shyte. The last one the gave me was Razr MAXX running 4.0. Worked fine for shoot I got 6 months outta that one then force close. Not just apps I had added but basic things on the phone like Google search etc.
      I'm not the only one having these issues either. Just do a search. Androids force close issue is so bad it reminds me of Windows 98.
      Is WP better? Well in the couple weeks I've had it I haven't had anything crash on me. Nor have I had to do the battery removal restart dance. Android does have many more apps etc but if the damn phone won't work what's the point??
      Slambusher
      Reply Vote

    • Its not too

      Hard to make the switch from Android when the damn Androids force close and lock up all the time. I went through 2 yrs and 4 different phones trying to make the phone work. Oh they were great for a few months with only the occasional force close then it was straight downhill.
      How bad was it ? I started with a Droid X and Verizon gave me 3 different phones after that. Verizon!! Holy shyte. The last one the gave me was Razr MAXX running 4.0. Worked fine for shoot I got 6 months outta that one then force close. Not just apps I had added but basic things on the phone like Google search etc.
      I'm not the only one having these issues either. Just do a search. Androids force close issue is so bad it reminds me of Windows 98.
      Is WP better? Well in the couple weeks I've had it I haven't had anything crash on me. Nor have I had to do the battery removal restart dance. Android does have many more apps etc but if the damn phone won't work what's the point??
      Slambusher
      Reply Vote

    • Its not too

      Hard to make the switch from Android when the damn Androids force close and lock up all the time. I went through 2 yrs and 4 different phones trying to make the phone work. Oh they were great for a few months with only the occasional force close then it was straight downhill.
      How bad was it ? I started with a Droid X and Verizon gave me 3 different phones after that. Verizon!! Holy shyte. The last one the gave me was Razr MAXX running 4.0. Worked fine for shoot I got 6 months outta that one then force close. Not just apps I had added but basic things on the phone like Google search etc.
      I'm not the only one having these issues either. Just do a search. Androids force close issue is so bad it reminds me of Windows 98.
      Is WP better? Well in the couple weeks I've had it I haven't had anything crash on me. Nor have I had to do the battery removal restart dance. Android does have many more apps etc but if the damn phone won't work what's the point??
      Slambusher
      Reply Vote

    • Now that was really strange.

      why do people feel they need to come up with an excuse everytime somebody chooses Windows Phones or iPhones over Android? If they say it's solid, or that they prefer it, why would you need to say its actually a code word of some sort, because they can't find a real reason to choose Windows 8 over Android? It sounds like a pretty valid reason to me.

      if it wasn't a valid reason, they wouldn't have chosen it: they would have bought an Android phone.

      I've read replies from many people here describing exactly what reasons they want it over Android, yet it seems so hard for some people to understand that Android just isn't what everybody wants.
      Challenger R/T
      Reply 2 Votes

      • Re: why do people feel they need to come up with an excuse everytime somebo

        Yeah, I wonder about that, too. If Windows Phone was a serious alternative, you could choose it on the basis that it's best for your needs. But no, you need to make a big song and dance about it, as though supporting Microsoft has become a religious act.
        ldo17
        Reply Vote

        • Meh

          I see people saying the same thing about choosing android over IOS and vice versa. Nothing new, nothing to see. I purchased a windows phone 2 years ago and never looked back. I've never owned an iPhone or an Android phone and don't feel like I've missed a thing.
          mikedees
          Reply 1 Vote

        • From what I'm reading here that isn't the case

          you say that if Windows Phone was a serious alternative, you could choose it on the basis that it's best for your needs. And people are doing just that. I bought my Windows Phone because of what it does for me, I didn't base my purchase off of what Android does for you.

          Yet the same hand full of people post excuses as to why I, or some other person "really" bought the iPhone or Windows Phone over the Android Phone, and they are far from flattering. Even you said it really means I can't think of a single reason why you'd choose this over Android.

          To me that's a code for I can't find any good reason to have him buy an Android phone over something else, so I'll just make it sound like the shortcomings lie with him, and not the phone
          Challenger R/T
          Reply 1 Vote

    • I can

      For starters, the os isn't developed/bought by a company which sole activity is advertisement and data mining. And it is made by a company that does have a clue about design. This one is going to teplace my company supplied symbian smartphone, Android is not even an option .
      sjaak327
      Reply Vote
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