The Nokia Lumia 925 is a beautiful smartphone which is both sleek and powerful. It has a 4.5 inch touch display, 16GB of internal storage, an 8.7 megapixel camera and a dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM. While Android devices pack much higher specifications under their hoods, this Windows Phone 8 device is more than capable of matching all its competitors. Let's take a closer look at this handset and see what makes it stand out.
- Super Sensitive display — usable with gloves
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) camera
- 4G LTE connectivity
- No microSD card slot for storage expansion
- Rear-facing speaker muffles audio
- White polycarbonate back picks up stains
The Nokia Lumia 925 was released as a followup to the Nokia Lumia 920. Nokia wanted to show they could make their handsets both powerful and beautiful — and they greatly succeeded. The Lumia 925 is built using a combination of metal and polycarbonate giving it a beautiful industrial feel while remaining light and easy to handle.
Nokia has managed to squeeze in powerful optical image stabilization technology, ensuring the Lumia 925 captures the same gorgeous photos which made the Lumia 920 famous.
The Lumia 925 is available worldwide through various carriers and can be purchased in the U.S. through T-Mobile or AT&T. The device is available in Black, White and Gray — we are reviewing the White unit today.
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The Nokia Lumia 925 is a premium Windows Phone 8 device with an impressive camera and beautiful display, bundled with Nokia Navigation and Creative apps.
Our review unit comes from the U.K. Nokia office and is therefore unlocked for use on either the T-Mobile or AT&T network. The Lumia 925 packaging is quite moderate. Sliding the box open reveals the handset in a comfortable tray. Under it you will find the SIM tray tool, and removing the top tray reveals the manuals, a USB cable, headphones and a power adaptor.
The Lumia 925 looks and feels great in the hand. The metal band which runs around the handset feels cool to the touch and has been nicely rounded for comfort. I personally preferred the way the Lumia 920 feels because the bulkiness is easier to grip. The overall package is a well-rounded device easily capable of replacing a high-end Android or an iPhone.
The Nokia Lumia 925 running Windows Phone 8 features a 4.5 inch AMOLED HD display, 16GB of internal storage, an 8MP rear camera and a dual-core chip with 1GB of RAM.
The device has a 4.5 inch AMOLED display with a 768 x 1280 resolution offering 334 ppi pixel density. While not full HD, it is still a capable display with reasonable viewing angles and color representation. During testing however, the Lumia 925 did not perform as well under direct sunlight as expected from a Nokia handset.
Above the display you will find Nokia's branding, the earpiece and a 1.3MP front-facing camera capable of 720p video. The proximity and ambient light sensors are also hidden in this area.
Below the display are the familiar Windows Phone keys — back, Windows, and Bing search. The display neatly curves into the aluminum frame, contributing to its premium feel. This new design also makes the Lumia 925 the thinnest Lumia to date at 8.5mm, weighing a reasonable 138g compared to 185g of the Lumia 920. On the right side you will find the volume rocker, power/lock key and the dedicated camera button — well placed for one-handed use.
On the top of the device you will find the micro SIM tray, micro USB port and the 3.5mm audio port. The SIM tray tool is conveniently stored in the box.
The left and bottom of the device are void of any buttons or ports.
Turning the device over you will find the polycarbonate backplate. While the Lumia 920's polycarbonate feels premium and solid, the Lumia 925's backplate feels comparatively flimsy. The white back also easily picked up stains during testing.
The speaker is located on the back — a true inconvenience which muffles audio when the phone is placed face up or when a hand covers it during gaming. Just above the speaker are three pin points for an optional wireless charging plate. Unlike the Lumia 920 which had wireless charging built in, Nokia chose to make it optional here to save weight and thickness.
The camera is placed in the top center and slightly protrudes from the back. The placement generally keeps it clear of fingers, though the oversized lens did pick up fingerprints during testing. An LED flash is located at the top of the camera module.
Being a Windows Phone 8 device, the Lumia 925 follows Microsoft's strict hardware guidelines, utilizing a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus dual-core chip clocked at 1.5GHz with 1GB of RAM and Adreno 225 graphics. Windows Phone doesn't demand more to perform well, and the Lumia 925 breezes through everything in the Windows Phone Store.
The 16GB of internal storage may become limiting given the lack of microSD expansion. While sufficient for general use, it could be an obstacle for storage-hungry games or HD videos. During heavy gaming sessions the metal band also became uncomfortably hot — more so than other devices tested.
The Nokia Lumia 925 was released with Windows Phone GDR2 and the Lumia Amber update. GDR2 brings FM radio access, a Data Sense app for tracking and limiting data usage, and support for Google's CardDAV and CalDAV protocols.
Nokia's Lumia Amber update adds new image processing algorithms, the Nokia Pro Camera app, Nokia Glance Screen, and Call and SMS blocking.
An in-depth guide to the new features and improvements in the Windows Phone 8 GDR2 update and the Nokia Lumia Amber update.
Beyond these enhancements you get the familiar Windows Phone 8 experience — Start Screen Live Tiles, Xbox games and Office Mobile with Office 365 support.
Windows Phone 8 features Live Tiles that display dynamic information on your Start Screen. Here's everything you need to know about Microsoft's modern mobile OS.
Nokia Lumia handsets also benefit from a large collection of Nokia apps including offline Nokia Maps, Nokia Music and Nokia's Photo Lenses and camera enhancements.
Nokia has stepped forward to offer a rich experience with camera and navigation suites for Windows Phones. A detailed review of each application and how they benefit your WP experience.
New apps and games are available through the Windows Phone Store with a steadily growing catalog. With Nokia confirming Instagram and Vine will be available for Windows Phones, there is no reason not to make the Lumia 925 your next smartphone.
You get an 8.7MP PureView camera with optical image stabilization from Nokia's floating lens technology. Nokia added a sixth lens element to the Lumia 925, enabling ISO 3200 for better low-light photography — though results may vary.
The Nokia Smart Cam application debuted on the Lumia 925. It takes a series of pictures of the same scene allowing you to remove unwanted people, choose the best faces, or produce an action shot. The interface makes it easy to switch between effect modes.
A new Nokia Camera app combines Nokia Smart Camera and Nokia Pro Camera (which debuted on the Lumia 1020), offering a full Pro interface with an advanced menu for serious photography.
Nokia delivered on their image processing promises. Outdoor photos show decent sharpness and exposure, though significant noise appeared at high resolution. Indoor photos with ample lighting yielded the best results. ISO 3200 is not a reliable fix for poorly lit situations — getting close to the subject with the LED flash remains the best approach.
Panorama mode was a challenge — aligning the camera for each frame was difficult and stitching results were inconsistent even when completed.
The Lumia 925 captures 1080p HD video at ~29fps. Output is mostly fluid with no visible lag during testing.
The Lumia 925 features a single rear-facing speaker. Incoming calls and music feel muffled when the device is placed face up, and covering the speaker during gaming or video further degrades audio. Nokia would do well to take a design cue from HTC in future devices.
Call quality on the other hand was impressive. Despite reading some negative reviews elsewhere, calls were clear on both ends. Skype integration also works well, allowing Skype calls to be handled just like regular phone calls.
The Lumia 925 boasts over 12 hours of talk time over 3G and 18 days of standby on its 2000 mAh battery — a luxury most Windows Phone owners enjoy over Android users. The device can easily last two to three days on a single charge with moderate use. Gaming, however, is a quick way to deplete the battery.
Would you consider making the Lumia 925 your next smartphone? If you already own one, leave us a comment below and tell us what you like most about this handset.