Anyone who has been following Nokia over the last few days will have realised they have recently announced 2 new devices: the 928 (Verizon only release) and the 925 which is due to be released on Vodafone.
I don’t know where to start here… I’m just feeling seriously frustrated on behalf of Nokia and their fans.
Let’s not bother mentioning the 928 at this point as it’s just a slight updated 920 USA only Verizon flagship model and won’t really be a worldwide release.
Instead, let’s focus on the 925 which is supposed to be Nokias next flagship device replacing the Lumia 920. Photo courtesy of MyNokiaBlog:
Nokias next flagship ?
First of all my question is why announce the 925 now ? The Lumia 920 has only been out really for just over 6 months and supply has been sketchy to say the least so why is it necessary to release a replacement flagship now ? Take your time Nokia to do something really special, no ?
Especially a new model that appears quite underwhelming when put alongside the original Lumia 920. What does the 925 improve over the 920 I ask ?
Well it has an aluminium body and is slimmer at the expense of wireless charging which will now be included with an extra cover and the low light photography is supposed to be slightly better.
Ok so those are the main so-called ‘improvements’, but what has it lost in the process? Well the onboard storage has been cut in half (from 32gb to 16gb), and there is no sd card option to add extra storage (like 820;720;620). On top of that they’ve removed the standard wireless charging in an attempt to slim the phone down, so what you’re left with is a hump for the camera and a stripped down 920.
So essentially you’re giving us a stripped down aluminium version of the 920 with a hump…errr YAY ?
Nokia what are you doing???
Let’s look at the Lumia range all running Windows Phone:
Windows 7.8 – 510; 610; 710; 800; 900
Windows 8 – 520; 620; 720; 820; 822; 920; 925; 928
So at least 5 models running Windows 7.8 and now a further 8 models running Windows 8 making a total of 13 all-touchscreen models that will have been in production over a period of around 18 months. The problem is, aside from a few different specs here and there, they all essentially do the same thing – that is run Windows Phone. There isn’t for instance one that is more finely tuned for business (eg. QWERTY version) or one that is better for media (faster processor) – the main distinguishing features between the models seems to be the quality of the camera modules, either the lack or addition of sd card slots, and whether it is unibody or has a removable back. There is of course the different screen options to consider, but ultimately you cannot argue that Nokia could have saved a lot of time and money by cutting the range at least in half and still cover the price points they wanted to cover.
I am completely dumbfounded that the 925 was the best Nokia’s relatively big R&D department could come up with as an ‘upgrade’ to the 920… are Nokia head honchos so disconnected from reality? I think they did a great job with the recent slimline Lumia 720, the 620 before and both the 820 and 920 are deserving of the Flagship title. But the 925 for me seems to be taking a huge step back or at least not the same step forward they had made when they first announced the 920.
The truth is, I was expecting big things from Nokia by now in 2013… the promise of a Lumia phone to rival the fabled 808 pureview’s 41px, perhaps a slider business phone to rival them all or hell just a phone that retained some of the great hardware we got from Maemo/MeeGo and Symbian like HDMI/TV out, FM transmitter (FM receiver will now apparently be activated in the amber update according to MyNokiaBlog).
Apologies for the Nokia related rant – I only do it because I feel so passionately and really want them to succeed, so yeah I can be ultra critical, but that is how Nokia’s decision makers should be! It just seems every time you start thinking Nokia might be winning, they go and drop a lame bomb.
At this point I have to say I’m more excited about the Asha 501 which genuinely looks like they put some real thought into that handset and seems a nice upgrade from previous Asha models at the lower end.
Maybe you see it differently to me about the latest flagship addition to the Lumia family – would love to hear your thoughts!
Sail On….
EDIT: Since writing this, it appears that the European Vodafone edition of the Lumia 925 will definitely have 32GB of onboard storage which is a good thing although we’re still unsure if the regular 925 will maintain the stock 16GB (which IMO is not enough for a flagship update given no SD slot). It also appears that the 925 is not a replacement as such to the 920 as originally reported, but will complement Nokia’s Lumia range by adding a slimmer, aluminium framed handset although the rear is still manufactured from polycarbonate.
Latest posts by jollatides (see all)
- Jolla: Weekly News Roundup V2 - October 30, 2013
- Jolla: Weekly News Roundup - October 21, 2013
- Sailfish: The App Story To Date - October 18, 2013
Hahaha Jollatides don’t be surprised I have lost my temper after traumatic experiences with Nokia possessed by Windows-evangelists. This is FUBAR, but paid by MS. Unfortunately Nokia suffer for luck of comfort in user experience with all Lumias and over all general weak performance of WP8. Waste of time IMHO. With sorrow but I have finished with Nokia, perhaps for ever.
Come on. Did you sincerely believe that a Microsoft-based phone could do something special, in a positive way?
High resolution? No way, you are bound by Windows limits.
Great camera? See above.
Nokia-specific improvements to the UI? None. Microsoft only here.
Multicore CPU? What is the point of it on a phone that runs one task at a time? The current dual core is overkill.
I would have expected more RAM, but it looks like I was too optimistic too.
And I agree with you, the Asha 501 is an exciting little phone, much more than this Microsoft rubbish. That is what Nokia is capable of. If it were able to multitask it would be perfect.
What a camera, I’ve heard that WP8 is unable to serve camera from PV808 so 41Mpix camera. For me the final cat was that it is unable dualsim – I think I don’t need to explain that that was far far far beyond acceptable…? ;)
Nokia need to sign up with some real thirsty innovators aka Jolla pronto – the two partners could work small wonders together – just like smarterphone have helped revive Nokia’s Asha line up with the 501. Microsoft aren’t doing big enough things with the software quick enough to accomodate Nokia IMO. WP8 has been out over 8 months and people are still awaiting simple updates to use for example the FM receiver while the hardware has been in the Nokia handsets all along – it’s just not good enough especially from a big multi-national like MS! MS = lumbering giant. Jolla = fastest fish in the sea.
Nokia unfortunately is limited by Microsoft and Windows phone. So the most they can do is offer various colours and screen sizes/resolutions. Symbian and Asha are theirs so they can do what they want, that’s why that 41 megapixel monster is untouchable, even by themselves. If Nokia had an android device, am sure we would have gotten that real pureview beauty already.
Nokia is trying to recover market share. I can go a get a Lumia 920 today if I wanted; which I do not want now or ever. So it is not as constrained as they appear to be. Nokia just can’t shift phones running an OS that no one wants.
As for being disconnected from reality. Of course they are disconnected from reality. WP was a disaster waiting to happen and Nokia jumped on-board. 2009 Nokia sold 100 million Symbian powered smartphones. In 2010 they sold 134 million Symbian powered smartphones; so an increase of 34 million unit and 34%. Sure their market share dropped, but selling 134 million phones was more than Samsung was doing. That 34 million increase alone; the Lumia has yet to sell that many a year. How wise was it to go to WP? Not wise at all. Symbian was still outselling Lumia up until recently. That really says something about how the market has rejected WP. The dismal sales before Nokia jumped on-board was a clear indicator it was not going to go anywhere.
Out of interest, I wonder how many N9/N900/Symbian users have tried windows phone 8 here ? As an objective writer, I’ve now finally had a good chance to run a Lumia 620 which for all that’s missing in hardware (compared with N9/N900/N8), it’s a solid phone for the average user considering IOS/Android. Of course it won’t live up to Linux power users but it still has it’s merits – certainly for average smartphone users. IMO the OS runs smoothly and much faster and more stable than Symbian without the laggyness, constant freezing and ‘critical memory’ problems I had on my N8 after using it for a relatively short time.
If Nokia had stayed with Symbian, they should have at least matched it with higher ram and processor to do it justice because my experience at the end was one of frustration. While the selling stats were good for Symbian initially, I’m sure over time Symbians reputation would have been tarnished being plagued by these instabilities and sales would have plummeted as users jumped ship to IOS/Android.
I agree. Wp8 runs much better than the n8 and e7 did (mainly due to hardware restrictions). My only problem with it is how apps freeze in the background (even Skype) and how Microsoft hasn’t included some of the basic functions that Nokia invented 10 years ago. At the moment I’m using a nexus 7 tablet because my n9 broke. I won’t purchase another phone until I’ve seen the first Jolla device. After just 2 weeks of no Meego I’m really, really missing it. Everything is just messy and disorganised after using a Meego/Sailfish device.
Dirtymoon you make the best point here: ‘how Microsoft hasn’t included some of the basic functions that Nokia invented 10 years ago’.
It’s all about the simple things and the continued implementation of those (that Nokia used to do so well): alarm clock that rings even when device is turned off; fm transmitter; tv/hdmi out; qwerty keyboard option; fm receiver; USB OTG etc etc. None of these basic functions feature with WP8 and should!!
You might be interested to read a post I made on this topic last year (just to warn you it’s quite a long rant lol): /2012/11/05/the-continuum-theory/
But inevitably nothing else matters now what’s done is done, and I also am with you and believe Sailfish is the only OS that will satisfy me after MeeGo/Maemo now.
I had a Lumia 800 as part of the Nokia Developer program at about the same time as the N9. I paid for the N9 personally. You’d have to pay me to use the Lumia.
The main problem for me was the lack of multitasking which ruled out whole classes of applications which rely on running in the background. Eg an SSH terminal needs to maintain a connection and continue to collect output from a server, VOIP apps have to keep running to respond to calls or when you switch apps in the middle of a call, a long running process on a web page would get killed as soon as you switched to another app.
If you’re used to keeping many apps on the go, the constant tomb stoning of apps and restarting them gets tiring fast.
And then there’s the awful ui and dismal Mac compatibility.
Almost all of these issues have not been fixed in WP8 either two years on. Yeah, the lumia was pretty nippy compared to other phones but that’s not surprising since it’s rarely running more than one task.
I dont really care either way…. I bought my N9, and that will probably be my last Nokia purchase for a long long time. They dropped the ball with MeeGo, and just the other day at work I randomly met a dude that used to work for Nokia and helped on the N9, his face when he saw someone in TEXAS of all places using one blew his mind. I am looking forward to the Jolla phone, but Ill keep my N9 for a while to come. Does everything I need it to, easily and just works. Downside is no expandable SD memory…. that probably the biggest and nearly only disappointment with it.
MicroKia can just go away MEH!
I think you forgot one key element in your appraisal of the differences between the new Lumias 928 and 925 over the 920, that is OLED display. The Lumia 920 has a IPS LCD display because when it was released, WP had no plans to include always-on clock and notifications. Now that these features are being released with GDR2, Nokia needed flagship devices with OLED displays.
So agree with you ! Completely befuddled with the Nokia approach here. Yes the 720 is a nice one though.
Really looking forward to the Jolla phone, till then, I will keep my N9. The N9 simply works ..what a shame it got canned…
I think since 2009 (N97), Nokia started to under-spec their products. Like, not giving their best on their product spec.
IMO, their slogan is you can’t have it all in one, got to buy several models !
N97 – lack of RAM
6303 (2009) – AF camera.
6303i (2010) – non-AF camera (???)
N8 – AF camera but somewhat non-removable battery
E7 – business phone with EDOF camera and no microSD slot (what the…?)
N9 – using micro SIM, non-removable battery
L800 – same as N9 but according to GSMArena with “poor audio quality for a flagship product”
X2-00 – LED torch.
X2-02 (dual-SIM) – no torch – VERY nice !
In my shopping requirement, any touchscreen phone must be protected (coated) with Gorilla Glass.
L920 – non-removable battery but with Gorilla Glass. Poor audio quality
L820 – I was tempted to buy it but heck, no Gorilla Glass protection!
501 – no Gorilla Glass, non AF camera, and no torch. The 6303 and X2-00, with the same price, is equipped with 3,2MP AF camera and (LED flash) torch, respectively!
I really begin to lose hope and trust in Nokia. Their product build is superb, but with half-hearted product spec, I guess I will SWITCH to another brand. But no, no Android and no iOS. Guess I’m counting on Jolla. Go Jolla !!
Forgot to add:
L820 – almost perfect for me. Removable battery, AF camera, BUT no Gorilla Glass
L720 – cheaper than 820. AF camera, BETTER low-light photo than 820, AND screen coated by Gorilla Glass.
But – non removable battery.
Very nice, Nokia. Very nice !
I’m with you Panther – seems there is always something lacking… gorilla glass is not 100% necessary for me though (let’s be honest it still scratches) and there are always ways to replace batteries on unibodies with the right tools so I feel the N900; N9; 808; 620/720 are the best through the last few years (the 720/620 for price point alone). I have the E7 as well but was also put off by lack of sd slot and the fixed focus camera… for a highend business phone this is unforgiveable! By far the biggest problem with my N8 (+E7) were serious lack of RAM and slow processor and poor memory management which lead to grievances all round. :-(
Add the lack of a LED light on the N8. And unsatisfactory camera performance for the price tag on L920 and L820 (L920 may perform well in low light, but “yucks” in daylight).
Wanted to get a N9 but then got turned off because of the poor camera and loudspeaker.
I would have been ready to “switch” if any WP8 device had a camera that at least came close to the N8. But no, Nokia stick with the tiny 1/3″ sensors, just because people want thin devices. So I’ll patiently wait for the EOS, hoping that by then WP8 will have been polished a bit further.
Nokia said themselves during the announcement that the 925 was not meant to be a 920 replacement. They just wanted to refresh their flagship line so that it would also appeal to a larger target market. Imagine how many potential sales they lost because a businessman (for instance) didn’t want a large and brightly coloured 920.
maybe Nokia have a need to fill a gap in the market for fans of windows mobile, and the lumia series, who don’t want a heavy plastic phone.
i think the 925 should be seen as an extension of the 920 family. Not a replacement.
the EOS device (41mpx) is due to be announced “this summer”
Nokia has shown a small but steady growth in market share, so its not all doom and gloom :)
/2 cents
Thanks for your 2 cents… okay 925 is good if not a full flagship replacement – seems less underwhelming then and I guess the price point reflects that. Still seems an excessive number of phones to release running one platform but I guess they are trying to cover all bases and if they can get more users over to buy Nokia phones by doing this then that can only be a good thing for them. :-)
Kinda agree with the blog… but. The 920:s greatest “faults” from a market perspective seems to be fixed in the 925. The 925 isn´t for current 920 users but is probably meant to make the average joes “leap” to a WP phone easier. Metal body and a light weight is what the current trend is so it figures that Nokia is trying to meet that demand. Nokia / MS could also be adopting the Apple style “upgrading” of devices in mid season. My personal opinion is that Nokia makes great phones, Microsoft crappy software. Really hope that the GDR2 update for WP will fix most of the missing features in my 920 this summer. … Lets see.
Good points there – I read somewhere that the 925 isn’t in fact all aluminium (as I’d originally thought) but has a polycarbonate back. Seems also that the Vodafone edition of the 925 will have 32GB onboard and not the standard 16GB so that’s another good thing if you can get it from them. :-)
WP is so damn restricted, can’t believe that a Flagship mobile doesn’t have USB on the go,Fm radio,HDMI,Full Notification support,Real task manger,Standalone apps installer it doesn’t even have a custom profile or themes! I know that WP phones are selling good but come on Nokia this is not the way to make profit you’re killing yourself!
We’ve waited to much to bring PureView tech. to WP and I really doubt they did! it’s just a market propaganda look at the result from PV of 920 and the Real PV mode in 808?!! obviously they did a good job in Image processing algorithm BUT this is not Pureview tech.
So, making a WP flagship phone with 41MP sensor and PV technology is possible but looks hard and it seems that Nokia doesn’t want to go hard and make profit!
The 925 launch was a disappointment for me. Just a new outside minus wirless charging and with less memory. The only plus is the AMOLED to allow the usage of a sleeping screen in an efficient way. I think that the colourful polycarbonate unibodies gave Nokia’s Lumias a distinctive identity. Nokia phones are visible and recongizable again, they stand out. It would be stupid to give this up. Nevertheless, some people have a problem with the somewhat bulky and heavy appearance of the 920. Maybe it’s a good addition to the Lumia line, but can it be the new flagship? And why only 16MB??? I have only 13 GB free on my 920 with a couple of offline music mixes and some photos. The Nokia Smart Camera takes 10 pictures with each shot, so why oh why did they half the memory? Maybe to amke users more dependent on Skydrive? Maybe to boost operators data traffic? There might be this kind of hidden agendas in the MS partnership.
I bought the 920 because of the good camera, the outstanding design and to try WP. My trial period is almost over, I will pre-order the Jolla phone as soon as possible.
wp devices disappointing, Anna devices refreshing
isn’t it obvious where this is going?
Flop getting fired (at good last) and NOKIA starting seriously to look into a new platform
possibly Sailfish, either as an ODM partner or by bringing its lost children back home (i.e. buying Jolla)
Bringing the lost children back? Jolla should buy Nokia, or those parts usable for them! :)
it is unfortunate but there seems to be a lot of ignorance in this forum. i see where you are coming from and agree the 925 does not make any sense. but to these morons they need to realize the windows constraints are mostly lifted for blue. nokia is able to make the phone you want but they are trying to make it without a huge bulge on its back. that means finding a way to decrease the size of components.
as for windows, there is nothing wrong with the platform and if you do not have a 920 then you are missing out.
now where is my sailfish port for the n9?
If Jolla comes for N9, I`ll buy mine right now!
I almost got a L620 as my second phone just to give a chance for WP, but my 808 don’t let me do it. Since I bought my PV808 I couldn’t back for any Android devices or try any other OS, this Nokias`s Master Piece is perfect to me!
No lag, no bug, full multitasking, useful widgets, USB OTG and of course the AMAZING camera. The nHD screen and the lack off app don’t bother me. I`ll stay with this Symbian for a long time `til the release of news Jolla Phones outside Europe.
Go Jolla!
Hi Guys,
I am from India. Over here NOKIA had a quite a good following with N-series (n8 n73 etc) and Xpress Music line. I transistioned from 5130 to 500. On seeing Nokia use WP it is bad, its like selling your family silver. I tried my friends Lumia 710, it did not have multi-tasking and worst no torrent client. Over here people use their mobile as MODEM and PC. None of these are present in Lumia 710. Also release of WP8 bad-mouthed a lot of fans as the Kernel of 7.5 and 8 are entirely differrent. On a side note Lumia 900 is still sold here for $300 to $400. Thier arrogance is mind-boggling as they assume people here will thnk WP7.8 and W8 are same.
Was really impressed with N9 hw and sw.
I have also tried Android, but its interface is suffocating!!
Have pre-ordered the Jolla device, hope Jolla succeeds by selling more devices in the emerging markets!