When Microsoft announced their ubiquitous Windows 10 operating system for smartphones, tablets, and PCs, we here at Gadgets were pretty excited. No, that’s an understatement. We were ecstatic. Seamless transition from mobile to desktop is something we’ve always wished for, and Microsoft’s Continuum feature promises just that. We test it out using Microsoft’s latest flagship, the 950 XL. Don’t worry. We also detail the phone-by-itself experience below.
Specifications:
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10
Processor: Liquid-cooled Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor; 4x 2.0GHz Cortex-A57 and 4x 1.5GHz Cortex-A53
GPU: Adreno 430 GPU
Display: 5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLED with ClearBlack technology and Gorilla Glass 4, 1440 x 2560 pixels, 518ppi
Cameras: 20MP BSI PureView rear camera with Carl Zeiss optics, optical image stabilization, and tri-LED RGB flash; 5MP front camera
Internal Memory: 3GB RAM, 32GB expandable storage
Battery: Removable 3340mAh Li-Ion; fast charging and wireless charging compatible
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.1, A-GPS, LTE, nanoSIM, USB-C
Physical Dimensions: 151.9 x 78.4 x 8.1 mm (H x W x D)
Weight: 165g
Design: 4/5
I daresay Microsoft’s design language with their smartphones is right up there with Apple in terms of sleekness and consistency. However, as opposed to the colorful and quirky back plates of its Nokia predecessors, the 950 XL is limited to two color options—black and white—to reflect the phone’s status as a corporate device.
Hardware: 4/5
Some of the things you’d immediately notice about the phone are actually its greatest aces: the gargantuan 5.7-inch AMOLED display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and the circular 20MP camera and tri-LED RGB flash modules. As expected, ClearBlack technology and Carl Zeiss optics again anchor the display and the rear shooter.
Underneath the hood is an updated version of the controversial Snapdragon 810 processor which keeps its temperature to more manageable levels. In order to be doubly sure that their flagship won’t be melting anyone’s hands, Microsoft has seen it fit to liquid cool the beast. Yes, you read that right.
User Experience: 3.5/5
The phone-by-itself experience is mostly great. Day-to-day performance was buttery smooth, with apps launching almost instantaneously. Additionally, the Lumia 950 XL made easy work of multi-tasking thanks to its powerful processor and generous serving of RAM. Whether doing work, playing games, browsing social media, or watching a movie, rest assured the 950 XL would breeze through your needs.
Colors are crisp and you’d be hard-pressed to pinpoint a single pixel because of the Quad HD resolution. Contrast, outdoor visibility, and viewing angles were also spot on thanks to ClearBlack coating.
Even through all these, though, the best part about this particular Lumia is its camera. Like the ones before it, the 950 XL is capable of producing outstanding shots right out of the gate. The Rich Capture mode takes this even further. When enabled, shots are automatically edited in the gallery for greater detail, colos, and white balance. Meanwhile, the 5MP shooter is decent enough. Just don’t expect it to rival the outputs from selfie-centric phones.
And now the meat of the matter: Continuum. Though the UI on the big screen looks like Windows 10 on the desktop, the experience is closer to Windows RT. Except you’re limited to the apps on your phone and on the store; and you can’t run apps side by side; and peripherals that require drivers won’t work; and apps don’t look at all like their desktop counterparts. Perhaps a longer time with the feature will allow me to better appreciate what it offers, but for now, I’ll just say “Continuum, you were supposed to be the chosen one!”
One last thing. The phone gets noticeably warm even during light use. It’s not as searing hot as the last-gen 810, but it is something to consider if you’re thinking about getting the 950 XL.
Value: 3.5/5
With a whopping directly converted price tag of around PHP 33,000, the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL is a difficult pill to swallow. Though it performs well, other phones in the same price range—and even those that are much more affordable—can easily keep up. Continuum, the feature that made this phone exciting on paper, was also a bit of a letdown. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a good first step towards ubiquitous computing on the Windows platform. I’m eagerly waiting for what Microsoft’s mobile division will be cooking up next.
What’s Hot
- Beautiful screen
- One of the best smartphone cameras out there
- Blazing fast no matter the task
What’s Not
- Continuum doesn’t meet expectations
- Gets warm even during light use
Bottomline
- Great pick for loyal Lumia users. Hard sell for the rest.
Final Score: 15/20
