Lumia 1520 vs Lumia 950: A Comprehensive Comparison

Lumia 1520 and Lumia 950 were both popular choices in the Windows Phone lineup. To help you make an informed decision, this article will delve into the key differences and highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each phone.

Overview of Lumia 1520 and Lumia 950

The Lumia 1520 and Lumia 950 were both high-end smartphones from Microsoft's Nokia era. Both phones come with unique features and design choices, but which is the better choice? Let's break it down.

Device Specifications

Lumia 1520

Display: 6 AMOLED, 1080p (1921080) resolution, 423 PPI Battery: 3400 mAh, not removable Processor: Snapdragon 800, 2.26 GHz quad-core, Adreno 330 GPU Operating System: Windows Phone 8.1 Camera: 20 MP, f/2.2, 3x Carl Zeiss Optical Zoom, dual LED Flash Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Proximity, Barometer, Ambient Light Sensor, Ultrasonic Sensor, Hall Effect Sensor, NFC Additional Features: Windows Hello Facial Recognition, Ambient Audio Recorder

Lumia 950

Display: 5.2 AMOLED, 1440 x 2560 resolution, 534 PPI Battery: 3000 mAh, removable Processor: Snapdragon 810, 2.33 GHz quad-core, Adreno 430 GPU Operating System: Windows 10 Mobile Camera: 20 MP, f/2.0, 3x Carl Zeiss Optical Zoom, dual LED Flash Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Proximity, Barometer, Ambient Light Sensor, Ultrasonic Sensor, NFC, Infrared Remote Repeater, and the unique Iris Scanner Additional Features: Cortana Integration, Windows Here Maps

Key Differences

Screen Size and Battery

The Lumia 1520 has a 6 screen and a 3400 mAh battery, while the Lumia 950 has a 5.2 screen and a 3000 mAh battery. Lumia 1520 wins in screen size and battery capacity on paper, but in practice, both phones offer similar battery performance.

Performance and Operating System

The Lumia 950 runs on a more powerful Snapdragon 810 processor and Windows 10 Mobile. It also offers a higher pixel density in its 5.2 AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution at 534 PPI, making it more visually appealing. Its performance is generally smoother, although subjective to individual users.

The Lumia 950 has additional features such as an Iris Scanner, making it ideal for those who prioritize security and unique biometric authentication. On the other hand, the Lumia 1520 has a high-quality Windows Hello Facial Recognition system.

Software and Ecosystem

The Lumia 950 runs on Windows 10 Mobile, offering a more integrated experience with Cortana and other Microsoft services. Cortana integration is more satisfying on the Lumia 950. Additionally, Lumia 950 has Windows Here Maps with indoor maps of various shopping malls, providing a more comprehensive and user-friendly navigation experience.

Migration Issues

While the Lumia 1520 runs on Windows Phone 8.1, the Lumia 950 runs on Windows 10 Mobile. This means that some games and apps may not support data migration from the Lumia 1520 to the Lumia 950. For example, fun games like Dungeon Hunter 4 would require you to start from level 1 again on the Lumia 950 despite having a high-level character on the Lumia 1520.

Conclusion

In summary, the Lumia 950 is a better choice over the Lumia 1520. It offers superior display quality, performance, removable battery, and more advanced features like the Iris Scanner and Cortana integration. However, the superior screen size and battery capacity of the Lumia 1520 make it a great choice for those who value a larger display and longer battery life on paper.

Which phone are you leaning towards? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!