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Review: Is this the phone that will fix Microsoft's mobile problems?

After acquiring Nokia’s handset division, Microsoft is hoping its fortunes in mobile will improve, but is the Lumia 930 the phone that will accomplish this?

IT’S A BRAVE new world for Nokia. Now a Microsoft company and currently going through a restructuring period, it’s determined to improve its position in the smartphone market with a high-end and two mid-range smartphones, the Lumia 630 and 635.

Since the Lumia 930 is spearheading this charge, it’s worth asking whether this phone will help improve Microsoft’s position. Nokia has always made quality handsets, but has it and Microsoft done enough to convince the general public that it’s worth getting?

Main selling points

  • 20MP camera, sharp photos.
  • Pin-sharp 5-inch HD screen for photography, gaming, and videos.
  • Fast performance, virtually no slowdown.
  • Windows Phone 8.1 is a significant improvement. 

Hardware and Software

When you first pick it up, you’ll notice that it feels a little bit heavier and thicker than most smartphones. This is mostly because smartphones have become lighter over time, but it’s something you will likely forget after a few seconds.

Lumia Gif 1 TheJournal.ie TheJournal.ie

The Lumia 930 is sturdy, using a part-metal design to keep it together with a plastic backing. Combine that with a 5-inch Gorilla Glass screen, and what you have is a solid device.

The 5-inch HD screen is perfect for watching Netflix and Vimeo, and is smooth to play around when you’re navigating Windows Phone 8.1 (more on that later).

Overall, it’s quite powerful and you’re not going to have many problems with performance.

The battery, while decent, could be better. While it’s mostly fine, there can be moments where you may find it has depleted faster than you expected although activating battery saver does solve this.

Camera

Photography has always been the jewel in Nokia’s crown and the Lumia 930 is no exception. If you include a 20MP camera, you should expect great shots. When you combine it with a pin-sharp HD screen, it’s a joy to use.

Even just using the basic camera mode, you can get some fantastic images and it’s one of the few smartphones out there where you can zoom in on a subject and not experience a significant drop in quality.

Lumia 930 - Flower
1 / 5
  • Lumia 930 - Flower

    Source: TheJournal.ie
  • Lumia 930 - Graffiti 1

    Source: TheJournal.ie
  • Lumia 930 - Fountain

    Source: TheJournal.ie
  • Lumia 930 - Graffiti 2

    Source: TheJournal.ie
  • Lumia 930 - Broken Statue

Other features like Burst Mode – which takes a succession of shots and allows you to pick out the best one – are only improved by the camera’s quality.

The only smartphones that would outperform the Lumia 930 is its cousin, the Lumia 1020, which has a 41MP camera, and the Sony Xperia Z2.

The front-facing camera is probably the only disappointing element of its camera. A 1.2MP camera isn’t bad, but it’s a pity it’s not of greater quality considering how it’s pushing services like Skype.

Windows Phone 8.1

It’s difficult to talk about Nokia without bringing up the OS, but thankfully, things are much sunnier on this front.

While Windows Phone 8 had a number of good ideas, it was let down by a number of interface and design choices that would have left casual users cold. Not only does Windows Phone 8.1 fix the majority of these problems, but adds a variety of different features which makes it almost feel like it has experienced a rebirth.

Lumia Gif 2 TheJournal.ie TheJournal.ie

Elements like the notification centre, switching between apps or even choosing background wallpaper may not sound impressive on their own, but when combined with new features like Storage Sense and Battery Sense, it makes it a more fluid and complete experience. It’s really the little things that makes 8.1 so pleasant to use.

Also worth mentioning is how fleshed out the Windows Phone store has become in the past year. While there was always the argument that it hosted too few quality apps, pretty much every major app is represented.

If you use Microsoft products, then it’s an obvious choice, but those there are enough alternatives and workarounds to cater for those using Google products and other services.

Lumia 930 Gif 4 TheJournal.ie TheJournal.ie

Conclusion

Nokia has created another solid, if not revolutionary, smartphone that delivers. It does everything right, great camera, solid battery life, nice hardware, but that was never the problem.

The real problem is how it can convince regular smartphone owners settle for Apple and Samsung to it.

While it does so many things right, the Lumia 930 doesn’t have a feature that jumps out and grabs your attention.

That may be a harsh statement, but when you compare the unique features between the Lumia and the other flagship phones, there are few, if any, unique features to point out.

That’s the part that could hinder its success, but for those who don’t settle for a iPhone or Galaxy S by default, there really is a lot to like here and it’s a reliable smartphone that won’t let you down.

Give it a try, you may be surprised.

The Nokia Lumia 930 is available at Vodafone (€449), O2 (€479), Meteor (€429), and eMobile (prices given are for prepay).

Read: Microsoft expected to say ‘good riddance’ to Windows 8 >

Read: Turns out people are downloading fewer smartphone apps than before >

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33 Comments
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    Mute JoeJoe Kilbride
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    May 18th 2025, 3:30 PM

    Seems like the only ones the government feels responsible to is this Lowry group and not the general public

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    Mute thomas molloy
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    May 18th 2025, 7:17 PM

    @JoeJoe Kilbride: Elected politicians are supposed to interact. This is another case of the news media trying to create distrust of politicians as trust in the media is fast declining. They foster angst when normal essential political activity is boringly getting on with the job.

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    Mute JoeJoe Kilbride
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    May 18th 2025, 8:10 PM

    @thomas molloy: it would appear that this small group has greater access to cabinet members than their own colleagues on the backbenches.

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    Mute James Leahy
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    May 18th 2025, 3:30 PM

    The innocent face of that Troy lad .Must be a wonderful feeling to own all those properties in the midst of a housing crisis.

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    Mute James Leahy
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    May 18th 2025, 3:35 PM

    @John doe: doh! No.

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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    May 18th 2025, 3:36 PM

    @John doe: You should try it

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    May 18th 2025, 3:42 PM

    @John doe: You can’t rent the space under bridges, pīg troll.

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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    May 18th 2025, 3:43 PM

    @John doe: You can prove nothing, you’re one of life’s wasters.

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    Mute Jp Cleary
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    May 18th 2025, 3:55 PM

    @James Leahy: Thought he had done the honourable thing and resigned a few years ago.

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    Mute Jp Cleary
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    May 18th 2025, 3:56 PM

    @James Leahy: And I see the migration minister is unaware as well…. are these lads up to speed at all.

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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    May 18th 2025, 4:22 PM

    @John doe: Thought that was your level of intelligence alright

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    Mute Tired Jim
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    May 18th 2025, 4:22 PM

    @John doe: indeed, investing in several properties is a wise career move

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    Mute Jb Walshe
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    May 18th 2025, 4:24 PM

    @Joe Beirne: I’d say he hasn’t got a pit to p155 in

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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    May 18th 2025, 5:01 PM

    @Jb Walshe: To be fair, the journal facilitated it cos it encourages engagement however negative. I’m all for a bit of craic and healthy debate but this lad or whatever he is should be permanently banned.

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    Mute Dominic Leleu
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    May 19th 2025, 4:48 AM

    @John doe: because you have a iq equal to your backside temperature.

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    Mute micheal gilsenan
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    May 18th 2025, 3:32 PM

    a proven corrupt political talking about corruption. only in Ireland

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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    May 18th 2025, 3:42 PM

    @micheal gilsenan: Expecting straight dealing from that shower of shysters, is the triumph of hope over experience!

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    Mute JoeJoe Kilbride
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    May 18th 2025, 3:42 PM

    @micheal gilsenan: no, not only Ireland, look at the states, corruption at a far grander scale than could ever happen here

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    Mute Brian D'Arcy
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    May 18th 2025, 3:35 PM

    Anyone with half a brain knew that as they signed up to a pact with Fibe Garl and Fianna Fáil that they’d have access to ministers which highlights the undemocratic process to cut opposition speaking time, backed by people who saud most other countries allow government politicians to ask questions, I’d suggest look at Westminster and seeing the complete waste of time that us, turning into a nothing but a free for all. Martin and Harris have attempting to destroy democracy on their C.V’s along with their other litany of failures.

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    May 18th 2025, 4:40 PM

    @Brian D’Arcy: It’s the death Nnell for independentants anyway …can’t be trusted anymore.

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    May 18th 2025, 4:29 PM

    Sure a man that doesn’t know he owns houses wouldn’t know anything!

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    Mute Paul Byrne
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    May 18th 2025, 4:09 PM

    A joke

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    Mute Paul Byrne
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    May 18th 2025, 5:23 PM

    Ff are a joke their bank ruptured the country

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    Mute Jp Cleary
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    May 18th 2025, 6:33 PM

    @Paul Byrne: Do you think they actually giant fcuk

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    Mute Tracy Reddy
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    May 18th 2025, 3:49 PM

    How do all men stand by and allow total corruption? Gen X seem to be the only ones capable in this country and the rest of you are just a complete waste of space.

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    Mute Tracy Reddy
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    May 18th 2025, 9:36 PM

    @H Woo: Pull the other one it’s got bells on it

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    Mute J Ven
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    May 18th 2025, 4:03 PM

    Why are the comments for the City Weat Hotel closed? I know for a fact because i met people living there that they pay for a family of two children, an accommodated apartment with gym, swimming pool, all amenities for a five stars golf hotel that’s the city west for only €650 per month, they also work full time and get subsidised childcare, more than anyone would get. Where is the fairness in this? Refugee? That’s a five stars hotel turn to apartments and they get more disposable income than the rest of us. That’s why people are protesting.

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    Mute JoeJoe Kilbride
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    May 18th 2025, 8:34 PM

    @The Truth: always the lies to try to justify your agenda of hate

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    Mute Mary Wright
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    May 18th 2025, 7:41 PM

    Lowry will take down this Govt. He’ll bide his time. And make sure it happens. For his own satisfaction. He does not care about a single other person or entity except himself.

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    Mute Andrew Kenny
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    May 18th 2025, 6:56 PM

    Lowry is a corrupt wart.

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    Mute Kylie More-Rode - Ballyer Drag Queen
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    May 18th 2025, 8:28 PM

    Of course Lowry and co have access to Ministers – Lowry and Co ARE the government. This story’s narrative is to gaslight us into thinking they’re some kind of opposition.

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    Mute Jb Walshe
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    May 18th 2025, 8:09 PM

    Minister unaware…..hardly surprising news with the batch of incompetent fake politicians that we are unlucky enough to have to suffer

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    Mute Tired Jim
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    May 18th 2025, 4:23 PM

    Michael Lowry is awesome

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    Mute Matthew Gorman
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    May 18th 2025, 8:10 PM

    Up tipp.

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    Mute micheal duff
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    May 19th 2025, 1:27 AM

    Troy/Lowry dowery

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