• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950 XL announced: "Windows Phone is back" (The Verge)

Status
Not open for further replies.

Jzero

Member
Warning to any potential buyers: don't go Windows Phone. Just don't. You'll regret it. The apps are never going to come.

I would agree but you are going to be able to use Windows 10 (universal) apps on these new phones.
 

Tregard

Soothsayer
God this looks so cool, especially the Continuum stuff. However, without an app store like Google Play or the Apple app store, I just couldn't see myself getting what I want out of a Windows phone.

I'll be watching.
 

neorej

ERMYGERD!
Warning to any potential buyers: don't go Windows Phone. Just don't. You'll regret it. The apps are never going to come.

I think I can live without Snapchat and whatever latest game the developer of Candy Crush Saga came up with.

Seriously, I've been using my Lumia 930 for 2 years now and the only thing that's lacking in terms of apps compared to other phones is NFC payments and a decent Wallet for e-tickets and I consider those things as cutting edge tech that most venues and stores don't support anyway.

This is the first smartphone I've had that wasn't aching to be replaced after 18 months, nor did it require a factory reset every 2 months because of all the bloatware slowing it down. It's also the only smartphone I've owned that hasn't had a notable loss in batterylife over time. I bought this thing and it did 2 days on one full charge, and it still does. Every iPhone and Galaxy phone I've owned quickly went from 36 hours tops to maybe 18 hours if you're careful.
 

Denton

Member
Continuum is awesome. I want it for my x86 Intel Zenfone 2, running x86 stuff as well would be so good..
 

Funky Papa

FUNK-Y-PPA-4
Is it just me or are these phone really over priced?

QHD OLED displays, top of the line cameras, high end chipsets, 3GB of RAM, expandable storage... They really aren't. They are very much in line with ofer flagships.

With that said, only fools buy high end Lumias at launch. Watch prices drop like an anvil in a couple of months.
 

Paganmoon

Member
QHD OLED displays, top of the line cameras, high end chipsets, 3GB of RAM, expandable storage... They really aren't. They are very much in line with ofer flagships.

With that said, only fools buy high end Lumias at launch. Watch prices drop like an anvil in a couple of months.

But I'm going to buy the 950 at launch... damnit :(
 

OEM

Member
Is it just me or are these phone really over priced?

They are not overpriced looking at the specs. But Microsoft should have sold these at loss tbh. They need more people to get on WP period. With this price, comparable to high end Android phones. I am not too sure if it will convince lot of people.
 

Paganmoon

Member
They are not overpriced looking at the specs. But Microsoft should have sold these at loss tbh. They need more people to get on WP period. With this price, comparable to high end Android phones. I am not too sure if it will convince lot of people.

Yeah, Specwise it holds up, but to get people to switch to the platform, they should've lowered the price.

But the second problem with the price is the look, they just don't look "premium" enough for the price. It's a silly thing to get stuck on, but it is an important part of the phone for many.
Just seeing the third party back plates, with the metal rim around the phone makes it look much more premium right away, a very small detail that they should've had on it out of the box.
 

JaggedSac

Member
But I'm going to buy the 950 at launch... damnit :(

You and me both :D

Yeah, Specwise it holds up, but to get people to switch to the platform, they should've lowered the price.

But the second problem with the price is the look, they just don't look "premium" enough for the price. It's a silly thing to get stuck on, but it is an important part of the phone for many.
Just seeing the third party back plates, with the metal rim around the phone makes it look much more premium right away, a very small detail that they should've had on it out of the box.

I'm not even going to go for one of those nice backplates. I will need a case that offers some screen protection. Which really makes me not give a poop about what the device actually looks like.
 

n64coder

Member
It's cool, man. More prudent people could always use the help of more debugg... early adopters like you :)

I will probably be one of them. I have a $100 coupon for the Microsoft store that I need to use by Dec 15 from my purchase of Surface Pro 3 last year. So that will ease the price pain.
 

Paganmoon

Member
It's cool, man. More prudent people could always use the help of more debugg... early adopters like you :)

Thing is, being in Sweden, buying "at launch" could very well mean sometime 2016 if we're unlucky. Nordic countries being Tier 2 and all :)

You and me both :D



I'm not even going to go for one of those nice backplates. I will need a case that offers some screen protection. Which really makes me not give a poop about what the device actually looks like.

Never liked screen protectors or cases, makes the phones bulky imo. Then again, I've never liked having to switch back plates or shells either.
 
Can't wait
I had my Lumia 1020 for 3 years now and love it. Running kind of slow now because I'm running Windows 10 on it.

Girlfriend has a Galaxy S5. Played around with it for a bit and wasn't satisfied. The OS seemed unorganized and the slow down...
Sure it has appeared but honestly never used any of them. Loved the display of the Galaxy though. Hoping the new Lumia will be as good
 

JaggedSac

Member
Never liked screen protectors or cases, makes the phones bulky imo. Then again, I've never liked having to switch back plates or shells either.

I was like that too, until I dropped my 1020 on its corner and it shattered. It is the reason why I am stuff with a crappy M8 for the time being. Cases for me from now on.
 

Paganmoon

Member
I was like that too, until I dropped my 1020 on its corner and it shattered. It is the reason why I am stuff with a crappy M8 for the time being. Cases for me from now on.

Actually dropped my 1020 during this summer as well, screen shattered as well, but then again, first phone that I've broken by dropping it, and it took quite a few drops for it to break. So it's not a common thing for me, that I'm going to actively do something about

I mean the 950 and the XL are big as they are, I can just imagine them being bulky as hell with cases.
 

Exile20

Member
They are not overpriced looking at the specs. But Microsoft should have sold these at loss tbh. They need more people to get on WP period. With this price, comparable to high end Android phones. I am not too sure if it will convince lot of people.

QHD OLED displays, top of the line cameras, high end chipsets, 3GB of RAM, expandable storage... They really aren't. They are very much in line with ofer flagships.

With that said, only fools buy high end Lumias at launch. Watch prices drop like an anvil in a couple of months.

Compared to the 6p

500 vs 649
4.2 vs 4.1 Bluetooth
8MP, f/2.4, 1.4µm pixel size vs 5mp f/2.4 ffc

20MP Pureview, OIS, triple LED flash vs 12.3MP, f/2.0, dual tone flash, 1.55µm pixel size
The rear camera is up for debate I think but at least the lumia will take bigger pics

Slightly bigger battery for the 6p
Slightly higher ppi for the screen for the 6p

The 950xl does have an SD card, ir blaster and wireless charging.

The 6p has fingerprint, NFC, mobile payments

Is that worth a 150 price difference?

The app situation is also a problem.

Am I missing something?

Oh I forgot. 6p metal body compared to the plastic 950xl.
 

Visual Studio code is aimed at web development. Using VSC to do application development (cross platform at that) is like using stickie notes to write your dissertation. I mean sure it can be done…but why put yourself through that? And even then Atom and Sublime are better than VSC. Hell can you even compile objective-c with VSC? Hell does VSC have a compiler at all D:

An IDE VSC is not.
 

Magni

Member
The 6p has fingerprint, NFC, mobile payments

Both the 950 and 950XL have NFC unless I'm mistaken?

Visual Studio code is aimed at web development. Using VSC to do application development (cross platform at that) is like using stickie notes to write your dissertation. I mean sure it can be done…but why put yourself through that? And even then Atom and Sublime are better than VSC. Hell can you even compile objective-c with VSC? Hell does VSC have a compiler at all D:

An IDE VSC is not.

Correct. VSC is a text editor. VS is an IDE. Two completely different beasts.
 

Frog-fu

Banned
My iPhone 5 needs replacing sometime soon. Looks like I'm jumping back into Windows. I've only got one concern and that's podcasts. I got a bunch that I listen to on iTunes and it'd be an annoyance to have to manually DL and prep them. I suppose if they have a soundcloud app that could work?
 

ajim

Member
I want this... I love windows phones.. But I think I'll wait for the new Xperia compact which is sexy and has apps...
 

Azih

Member
My iPhone 5 needs replacing sometime soon. Looks like I'm jumping back into Windows. I've only got one concern and that's podcasts. I got a bunch that I listen to on iTunes and it'd be an annoyance to have to manually DL and prep them. I suppose if they have a soundcloud app that could work?

There are podcast apps on Windows Phone. They're not great but they work.
 

ElNino

Member
My iPhone 5 needs replacing sometime soon. Looks like I'm jumping back into Windows. I've only got one concern and that's podcasts. I got a bunch that I listen to on iTunes and it'd be an annoyance to have to manually DL and prep them. I suppose if they have a soundcloud app that could work?
There is a built in podcast app, but I use Podcast Lounge or Pocket Casts.
 

JaggedSac

Member
Actually dropped my 1020 during this summer as well, screen shattered as well, but then again, first phone that I've broken by dropping it, and it took quite a few drops for it to break. So it's not a common thing for me, that I'm going to actively do something about

I mean the 950 and the XL are big as they are, I can just imagine them being bulky as hell with cases.

Yeah, this M8, already a heavy device, is a brick with this case on it. Unfortunate reality for me since these devices are expensive and expensive to repair/replace. I actually think the M8 is a nice looking device too, so covering it up is a shame.
 

JaggedSac

Member
Compared to the 6p

500 vs 649
4.2 vs 4.1 Bluetooth
8MP, f/2.4, 1.4µm pixel size vs 5mp f/2.4 ffc

20MP Pureview, OIS, triple LED flash vs 12.3MP, f/2.0, dual tone flash, 1.55µm pixel size
The rear camera is up for debate I think but at least the lumia will take bigger pics

Slightly bigger battery for the 6p
Slightly higher ppi for the screen for the 6p

The 950xl does have an SD card, ir blaster and wireless charging.

The 6p has fingerprint, NFC, mobile payments

Is that worth a 150 price difference?

The app situation is also a problem.

Am I missing something?

Oh I forgot. 6p metal body compared to the plastic 950xl.

Camera is not up for debate when the 6p does not have OIS.

950Xl has NFC as well, iris scanner instead of fingerprint, mobile payments is a software thing since it has nfc.

It has a removable battery which is important for some.

Don't see how pixel density is different since they have same display size and res.
 

Exile20

Member
Camera is not up for debate when the 6p does not have OIS.

950Xl has NFC as well, iris scanner instead of fingerprint, mobile payments is a software thing since it has nfc.

It has a removable battery which is important for some.

Don't see how pixel density is different since they have same display size and res.
Was looking at engadget's chart which seems to have incorrect information. My bad.

Isnt the lack of the ois due to the increase pixel and sensor size? I will wait for reviews on that one. I doubt Google to leave out ois on their premium device for no reason.

Iris scanner is horrible compared to a finger print scanner IMHO. Will have to see it in action. Distance from face,speed,low light should not be a problem because of the infared. Even if all that works perfectly I still think finger print scanner is better.

Never was into juggling batteries and if doze works as intended then we will have not only a slightly bigger battery but better performance. Plus quick charge. Can't see removable batteries being a huge issue for most.

Even with the corrections $150 seems like too much for a price difference at least for me especially when the ecosystem is a gamble compared to others.

Anyway thanks for the responses.
 

JaggedSac

Member
Visual Studio code is aimed at web development. Using VSC to do application development (cross platform at that) is like using stickie notes to write your dissertation. I mean sure it can be done…but why put yourself through that? And even then Atom and Sublime are better than VSC. Hell can you even compile objective-c with VSC? Hell does VSC have a compiler at all D:

An IDE VSC is not.

Seems silly to have a debugger if you can't compile :D

But no, it does not have an objective c compiler as of yet.

And it is leveraging Electron, which is what Atom is now called.
 

this_guy

Member
Price is higher than what I would like, and I need to see more on the app situation before I can get another Windows Phone. It's great that Android apps will work but that only matters if devs care enough to put their apps on Windows Phone.

No Snapchat is a deal killer for a lot of people, and so is the lack of banking apps from smaller banks and credit unions.
 

Alchemy

Member
I hope Microsoft keeps pushing Windows mobile, eventually I'll probably switch. The app ecosystem is too much of a bummer to bother right now but the hardware and OS features are pretty cool.
 
Other than Snapchat what major apps is Windows missing?

I mean, 95% of ANY new major apps that are out, and pretty much any Google-owned app/company. We used to have Waze but Google's acquisition took that. MS even made their own great Youtube app, but Google forced them to remove it. Their "official" Youtube app is just a shortcut to the mobile site now, per Google's requirements.

6snap was killed by the douchebags at Snapchat. A number of banking apps were lost over the past year (RIP Bank of America app).

Not to mention, the apps that we DO have almost always lag behind the official iOS and Android ones.

Honestly, it's not that dire for me--everything I NEED, I have access to...but no one really knows what the hell is going on with the app scene for Windows Mobile. It used to be something that the WP team put a lot of resources into, but this past year has been radio silence, basically.
 

Borman

Member
The one thing to keep in mind is there is currently a way to sideload Android apps. No word on if that will remain for release, and it is far from perfect, but Ive had luck with my banking app.
 
The one thing to keep in mind is there is currently a way to sideload Android apps. No word on if that will remain for release, and it is far from perfect, but Ive had luck with my banking app.

They announced official support for porting/using iOS and Android apps to Windows 10 a while back, but ever since that announcement (where they mentioned how Candy Crush was ported very easily from iOS), we haven't really heard anything. Hopefully that changes in the ramp-up to launch of W10 Mobile.
 
So how much better is the camera to a iphone? Whats a good comparison? I have realized I use my phone mostly for taking photos and instagram. The HTC M8 turned out to be horrible. I am just not sure if I should jump into the windows 10 phone space? Windows phone can run all android apps too though right?
 

Azih

Member
So how much better is the camera to a iphone? Whats a good comparison? I have realized I use my phone mostly for taking photos and instagram. The HTC M8 turned out to be horrible. I am just not sure if I should jump into the windows 10 phone space? Windows phone can run all android apps too though right?

Camera is very good. Can't run Android apps. It's just easy for Android devs to port.
 

HowZatOZ

Banned
Is this sarcasm?



I still remember getting the HD7 on T-Mobile a while back. It was so slick, Microsoft really dropped the ball. Should've been earlier
Oh sorry, forgot about the iPhone elitism and not being allowed to want a different phone. So far my experiences with returning to iPhone have been utterly atrocious, and I regret moving away from my previous Android phone. Coupled with the laughable iOS 9 update that has caused me nothing but trouble, I'm ready to embrace Windows again l, especially with my mobile usage shifting from power to browser-based and texting usage.
 

UberTag

Member
I'll believe it when I see it when it comes to the app ecosystem.
Windows Phone lost me to Android and I'm willing to be very patient before entertaining going back.
 
BTW, the YouTube experience on WP using a 3rd party app like tubecast is phenomenal. Far superior to an official YouTube app. I cringe when friends with android/iphone show me vids and I have to wait through ads. Tubecast is ad free, cast to any device (Xbox, PlayStation, roku, fire tv, chromecast, etc), allows downloading of videos, and is an elegant looking app.

Edit: You can say the same for 6sec and 6tag being superior to both official Vine and Instagram.
 

hankster

Member
But I'm going to buy the 950 at launch... damnit :(

Too close to Black Friday. I'll hold out for the deal or bundle that will surely be coming.

Also want to see some improvement in the app situation. My Nexus 7 will get Marshmellow so I can also compare that with W10Mo.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom