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."
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Ershad Kaleebullah, Gadgets 360The 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...
- Daniel P., PhoneArenaWhile 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...
- Matt Egan, Tech AdvisorThere'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...
- Andrew Romero, iTechTriadOverall, 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...
- Eric M. Zeman, Phone ScoopThe 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...
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.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Nokia Lumia 830 Manual (PDF)
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