Nokia Lumia 900 review: Europass

Final words

Launching a flagship months before a major overhaul of the platform isn't exactly a planning masterstroke. The Nokia Lumia 900 will not get Windows Phone 8 and the news breaking just about when the phone hit the stores is more than just an unfortunate coincidence.

The Nokia Lumia 900 comes at the wrong time and it sure looks like the wrong place as well. The global version cannot even dream of the success of its AT&T-branded sibling.

Well, all that is sadly true but only from a certain perspective. There're lots of politics and agendas involved. The European (and global) launch doesn't come at the best of times but the AT&T exclusivity had to be honored. The point is, the Lumia 900 is debuting in Europe but it's by no means a newly released device. The phone has had an impressive run - it probably did even better than Nokia and Microsoft expected.

So, what kind of market is the Lumia 900 coming to? The good news is it won't have a heavyweight WP7 competitor like the HTC Titan II. The bad news is the new generation of droids are at war and the Lumia 900 lands right in the middle of the carnage.

HTC One X • Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III • LG Optimus 4X HD P880

No, the Nokia Lumia 900 will not be satisfied with walkover wins against the likes of the HTC Titan and the Samsung Omnia W. It shouldn't be surprised by Nokia Lumia 800 owners giving it the cold shoulder, convinced they made the right choice several months ago. Finally, it must realize it stands little chance against the multiple-cored and HD-screened Android flagships. And the fact that it's currently priced at around their level doesn't help.

HTC Titan • Samsung Omnia W I8350 • Nokia Lumia 800

On the other hand, it's been recently released and the price will only go down. How quickly and by how much is hard to tell but the Lumia 900 is overpriced and the sooner Nokia does something about it the better. But when, and if, your carrier is ready to offer a reasonable deal, the Lumia 900 is a phone worth considering. And it doesn't even have to be free-on-contract like the current AT&T plans.

The premium build, the best screen on a Windows phone, the fluid UI and the exclusive apps are good enough reasons in our books. Not to mention, it does look like a proper flagship, and some of the new droids should take notice.

The Nokia Lumia 900 had the time of its life in America and lands in Europe in a period of transition. It will be the Nokia flagship until the next generation of Microsoft-powered smartphones come with a bang. In a way, it's like being in charge of an interim government. Still gets you a place in history. But the Nokia Lumia 900 is a phone that deserves better than being remembered for leading the coalition of the forgotten.