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Nokia Lumia 830 review

7.3/10 AVG.
RATING
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Nokia Lumia 830
Nokia Lumia 830
Nokia Lumia 830
Nokia Lumia 830
Nokia Lumia 830
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7.3/10
Informr score
The Nokia Lumia 830 currently has an Informr score of 7.3 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 28 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Excellent camera quality
  • Lag free performance during basic tasks
  • Bright display with excellent viewing angles

What's bad

  • Frame rate issues for more intensive apps
  • Not full HD display
  • Poor viewing angles in bright light

The Lumia 830 will be the one of last Lumia phones to sport the Nokia label now that Microsoft has taken over the Finnish company. Marketed as an "affordable flagship" the 830 offers many of the same features as on the 930 such as an aluminum frame and colorful, interchangeable plastic back panels. Where it differs though is its size. It is slightly smaller and thinner measuring in at 5.5x2.8x0.3 inches and weighs grams. On paper the difference might be small, but reviewers noticed a significant change when switching from the 930 to the 830. Anand Tech states, "The 930 would slightly dig into my hands…the Lumia 830 does not…In hand feel is very good."

Nokia has opted to keep the same 5-inch screen size, but in their quest for affordability they had to go without a full HD screen and instead opting for 720p. While this offers a slightly lower pixel density of 294ppi, most critics had no issues with pixilation thanks to the ClearBlack IPS technology. They describe the overall panel as "punchy" with excellent viewing angles, deep blacks and good bright light legibility, though CNET did notice a significant drop off in legibility when changing angles.

On paper, the 830 doesn't seem impressive with only a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM. With that said experts add that its performance didn't leave much to be desired as apps launched and closed quickly, navigating the UI was fluid and most games played stutter-free. Battery-life as well impressed reviewers, especially since Nokia opted for only a 2,200mAh battery. When put through the battery draining tests, it lasted a little over 10 hours and real-life usage got most experts through a full day of moderate usage. Just in case you do run out of juice, the battery is removable so you can swap out if necessary.

Like the other Lumia phones, the 830's main event is the camera. At 10MP, it might not offer the same sharpness as the 1020's 41MP camera, but it still holds its own against its competitors. Branded as PureView, the 830 comes equipped with Optical Image Stabilization for clearer pictures. When put to the test, experts were able to take high quality pictures with accurate colors and plenty of detail in bright light situations. Unfortunately, they also experienced a significant quality dip once the lights dimmed in the form of noise, loss of detail and muted colors though the images weren't necessarily unusable.

While reviewers generally enjoyed the Lumia 830, they are hesitant to recommend it outright. Trusted Reviews states, "The Lumia 830 is, mostly, a very good phone, but before you buy you need to make peace with some tricky weaknesses." TechRadar adds, "With a cheaper price tag than its flagship brother, the Lumia 830 can be forgiven for taking a few cuts in performance...[but] I really struggle to see how the Lumia 830 will compete."


Windows Phone
Operating system
Operating system
Windows Phone
1.2 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.2 GHz
5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5"
10+ MP
Camera
Camera
10+ MP
2200 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

The Lumia 830 is a camera lover's dream smartphone. We would even go as far as to say that it negates the need to invest in a digital camera. Calling this smartphone an 'affordable flagship' might actually be okay considering its camera performance and price of Rs. 28,799. For those who argue that t...

- Ershad Kaleebullah, Gadgets 360
PhoneArena
PhoneArena

While a very decent Windows Phone device, the Nokia Lumia 830 has a steep hill to climb against midrange Androids with its current price bordering on 300 USD or EUR. Windows Phone 8.1 is now a better mobile OS, and the Lumia 830 is promised for a Windows 10 update, too. We certainly can't complain a...

- Daniel P., PhoneArena
Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor

There's nothing shockingly wrong with the Lumia 830, but it does feel like a slight opportunity lost. It is a mediocre performer, with a not-great camera. But it is well priced, nicely built and stylish. Better value can be found by dropping down to the Lumia 630, but if you want a 5in Windows phone...

- Matt Egan, Tech Advisor
iTechTriad
iTechTriad

Overall, I enjoyed using this phone even though (like I said) many of the apps I use on a day-to-day basis are basically non-existent in the Windows Store world. but other than that, the Nokia Lumia 830 feels sturdy in build and smooth in software performance. This is perfect for someone who isn&rsq...

- Andrew Romero, iTechTriad
Phone Scoop
Phone Scoop

The Nokia Lumia 830 is an all-around solid performer. It may be a mid-range handset, but it acts more like a flagship smartphone. It boasts Nokia's classic design and solid build quality in a phone that's compact and a pleasure to use. The Lumia 830 handles the basics with ease. The screen looks gre...

- Eric M. Zeman, Phone Scoop


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Nokia Lumia 830 user manual here.


Nokia backs up the Lumia 830 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Lumia 830 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Nokia support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Nokia's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
5"

The Nokia Lumia 830's screen size is 5 inches with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.2 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 Quad core 1.2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Windows Phone 8.1 (Update Available: 10) operating system (OS).

Camera
10+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 10+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera useful for video chat and self portraits.

Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2200mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2200 mAh battery. Nokia's performance ratings are 888 minutes, 840 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Lumia 830 Specs

Overview
Release Date October 7, 2014
Regions Available Canada
Operating System Windows Phone 8.1 (Update Available: 10)

Compare Windows Phone Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 Quad core 1.2 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.87 W/kg
Body: 0.83 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery, Headset, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
10+ Megapixels
Zoom
4x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Image stabilization, ISO, Multi-shot, Night mode, Panorama, Self-timer, White balance
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
Additional Front Camera Info
0.9 Megapixels
Video Recording Parameters
HD (1280 x 720 pixels)
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels
Pixel Density 296 pixels
Size 5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, ClearBlack
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2200 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging Yes
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 600 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 840 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 888 minutes
Standby Time Up to 22 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black, White, Green, Orange
Dimensions [H x W x D] 13.9 x 7.1 x 0.8 cm (5.5 x 2.8 x 0.3 in)
Weight 150 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Nokia Lumia 830 Reviews
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