Microsoft is of course still releasing Windows Phone devices, and the Lumia 950 is one of their latest and greatest devices. If you still happen to be in the market for a Windows Phone, this might be an option for you. However, it is important to remember that if you are looking for a large eco system of applications, it might be better to go with an iPhone or Android device. But, the Lumia 950 is cheaper than some other devices, so keep reading to see our full thoughts.
The Lumia 950 is running on AT&T’s 4G LTE network and it performs pretty well. With a solid network across the nation, AT&T provides a constant and reliable connection wherever you might be. For speed you will find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor with 3GB of RAM inside that powers the Windows 10 experience.
The experience is a unique one, Windows 10 was great for the desktop as it brought many fixes to the sub par experience that Windows 8 brought. It performs well on the device, but on the phone it performs well and the processor is more than enough to power it. With that being said, Windows 10 is still the same Windows Phone experience with tiles that make up the display. When Microsoft first launched the mobile operating system, it was differentiator, but it never truly caught on. And at times the experience with the Lumia 950 felt frustrating and confined, especially when it comes to the application store.
It’s not that Windows Phone is a brand spanking new operating system, but it has been around the block a few times. Unfortunately, the applications tore is still missing a few key applications and developers haven’t really been drawn too it. Hopefully developers will be more inclined to port there applications, as one application will work for the phone, tablet, and the desktop.
A big software feature is Continuum, which turns your smartphone into a low power Windows desktop computer. You can literally plug your phone into a desktop and attach a keyboard and mouse. From there the experience will be quite similar to what you can expect from a Windows 10 computer. It will most likely be not as fast as a full powered PC from Lenovo or HP, but it can still give you a similar experience. Hopefully, Microsoft will make updates to continuum in the future, which will enhance the experience.
One neat feature of the Lumia 950, would be that you can unlock the phone with your eyes. It takes a few times to get it setup and for the unlocking to work exactly every time. It is a neat piece of technology, similar to the face unlock that Android has offered, but the fact that it uses the human eye is pretty cool.
In terms of hardware you get a 5.2″ WQHD OLED display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and 546 pixels per inch. It has a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top that will give you some extra durability. In terms of storage you get a micro SD card slot, along with 32GB of internal storage.
The battery life is not the best feature of the device, and it should last you around half of the day with average use. Luckily, it is a 3,000mAh user removable battery, so you can get an extra battery or bring a charger with you. The front of the device has a 5 megapixel 1080pHD camera that will come in handy for taking selfies. On the back you have a 20 megapixel with a triple LED flash. The back camera can record video at up to 4K resolution at 30 frames per second.
Overall, the Lumia 950 from a far way seems like an average smartphone. And it is that, but it falls short in several key areas, one of the biggest ways would have to be the Windows 10 operating system. It is not nearly as robust as Android or iOS, but the more concerning fact would be the small adoption of Windows Phone. If it is not a major player in the mobile world, developers will not come to the system. The Lumia 950 is exclusive to AT&T in the United States and comes in at $598 with no contract or for $19.97 a month on AT&T Next. However, I would recommend looking at an Android smartphone or an iPhone, for instance the iPhone 6s is an all around great smartphone.
