Nokia Lumia 928 review: Guiding light

Final words

The Nokia Lumia 928 really is a memorable character. Thanks to its top-end spec sheet (by Windows Phone 8 standards), headed by the hugely capable camera with xenon flash, the handset outshines every competitor, which runs Microsoft's mobile OS.

The camera's lowlight performance is expectedly impressive. Thanks to the optical image stabilization on board, the snapper can pull off impressively low shutter speeds and therefore great low-light photos without using a flash. The xenon flash itself on the other hand, adds further to the photography credentials of the Nokia Lumia 928 in dark places.

The presence of an AMOLED display on board of the Lumia 928 is a welcome sight. It has helped the smartphone shave some weight, compared to the Lumia 920, while improving to UI experience.

The smartphone is far from being the perfect WP8 offering though. We can't help but feel that the design and the ergonomics of the handset have been seriously overlooked, especially considering Nokia's track record in this particular field. The Nokia Lumia 928 neither looks, nor feels as desirable as the rest of the high-end Lumia range.

There's also the question of the device's internals. Camera unit aside, the Nokia Lumia 928 is no different than the Windows Phone 8 flagships which broke cover in September of 2012. With a fresh batch set to be released any moment now, the Lumia 928 is bound to soon feel even longer in the tooth than it does already.

The Nokia Lumia 928 is priced at $99.99 with a two-year commitment to Verizon, after a mail-in rebate. To sweeten the deal even further, Microsoft offers a $25 gift card for its app store to users who purchase the device.

If you are a Verizon customer, looking for top-end Windows Phone 8 hardware, or a mobile photographer who absolutely must have a xenon flash and decent smartphone functionality in one package, then the Nokia Lumia 928 is the device for you. Otherwise, here are some other options available at the moment.

If xenon flash does not sit high on your list of desired features, then the Nokia Lumia 925 is clearly a better choice than the Lumia 928. The Lumia 925 looks better by our not-so-modest opinion, and has superb ergonomics, while keeping the same functionality as the 928. The Nokia Lumia 925 will hit the shelves of T-Mobile US any moment now.

Nokia Lumia 925

The Nokia Lumia 920 is also worth considering if you're not keen on having a xenon flash. It's heavier than the Lumia 928, but again, looks better no matter how subjective that might be. It is also more pleasant to hold. Finally, because it has been on sale for a while, the Nokia Lumia is available for less than the 928.

Nokia Lumia 920

Finally, if you want to break away from Nokia's hold of the Windows Phone 8 realm, you can consider the HTC Windows Phone 8X. A xenon flash it has not, but the Taiwanese offering is cheaper, lighter, and gorgeous looking.

HTC Windows Phone 8X

As you can see above, there are plenty of alternatives to the Nokia Lumia 928 out there. Curiously, the bulk of them are made by Nokia - a fact, which proves yet again that Microsoft Windows Phone is already all but synonymous with the products of the Finnish company. As a member of the aforementioned group, the Nokia Lumia 928 will further help the cause of its manufacturer, while also fulfilling the Big Red's need of a Windows Phone flagship.