Microsoft Lumia 950 XL review: The Master Chief

Telephony and contact management

People Hub hasn't changed much since Windows Phone 8.1 It is the phonebook that you'll find on any Windows device and supports multiple accounts, including social ones, and has multiple pages like the rest of the WP interface. The first page is your contacts list with slightly update looks, the second one is What's New with all of your friends' social updates (Facebook and Twitter), and Groups.

The People app • Quick Search • The Social page • Viewing a contact • Editing a contact

Some of the complications are gone for good such as the social updates for each contact and its complete history.

The cell reception and call quality are very good and we had no receptions issues or unpleasant sound problems.

The Dialer app

The speaker on the Lumia 950 XL scored Excellent in terms of loudness and indeed it's very loud even in the noisiest of environments. Its audio quality is OK, but not impressive, the sound isn't very deep.

Speakerphone test	Voice, dB	Pink noise/ Music, dB	Ringing phone, dB	Overall score
Apple iPhone 6s Plus	65.8	65.1	64.6	Below Average
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium	66.6	65.2	66.9	Below Average
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+	65.8	64.8	70.4	Average
Meizu Pro 5	67.7	66.6	68.7	Average
Samsung Galaxy Note5	65.3	64.6	73.5	Average
HTC One M9	65.2	64.6	76.1	Average
Nokia Lumia 1520	73.7	67.7	74.7	Good
Microsoft Lumia 950	71.9	73.0	77.2	Very Good
OnePlus 2	75.7	73.5	80.7	Excellent
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL	74.9	75.7	84.3	Excellent

Messaging with Skype integration

Windows 10 Mobile now fully integrates with Skype and once you sign in, you actually don't need the Skype app at all. The Messaging hub now supports Skype IM messaging and you can sent and receive Skype messages as they were texts/MMS. Attachments are available, too.

The messaging app with Skype integration • Skype video app

Microsoft has made the QuickType keyboard even faster and smarter, plus there is a new dot, which acts as a virtual D-pad and allows you to move quickly through the text.

Microsoft's QuickType keyboard

If your Skype is too active though, as ours are, your phone will keep syncing all messages and chats, and even if you mute the notifications, your battery will drain more quickly than usual. We suggest using the Skype messaging sync with caution.

Skype Video app comes pre-installed too, and this is the place where you can actually disable the Skype messaging and video integration. The Skype Video app is very similar to what FaceTime does in iOS - it's a native video call app, lighter than the actual Skype app, and will allow you to do video calls really quick and easy.

The native email client is the mobile version of Outlook Mail. It looks a lot like its desktop app and works like a charm. It supports multiple accounts, and syncs across all your Windows devices. It is available on Android and iOS as well and we often prefer it over other solutions.

Outlook Mail