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Here’s how Nokia’s Lumia Icon stacks up with the Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5S

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Today, Nokia took the wraps off its Lumia Icon phone. The Lumia Icon is Nokia’s latest Verizon phone, which also happens to be the first 5-inch Windows Phone with a full 1080p display.

Here, we compare it with a couple of competing smartphones: the iPhone 5S and the Galaxy S4. Pictured above are shots of it next to both phones (though it’s worth noting that that’s a Google Edition GS4), as well as the Lumia 1520. You can read our full Lumia Icon review for an in-depth look at the new phone.

 

iPhone 5S 

iPhone5S
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Galaxy S4 

GS4
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Nokia Lumia Icon 

nokia-lumia-icon
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Size 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 (mm) 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 (mm) 136.9 x 70.8 x 9.9 (mm)
Weight 112g 130g 166g
Screen 4.0-inch LCD 5.0-inch Super AMOLED 5-inch OLED
Resolution 1136×640 pixels 1080×1920 pixels 1080×1920 pixels
OS iOS 7 Android 4.2 with TouchWiz UI Windows Phone 8 with Nokia Lumia Black
Storage 16/32/64GB 16/32/64GB 32GB
SD Card Slot No Yes No
Processor 64-bit A7 chip Quad-core Snapdragon 600 Quad-core Snapdragon 800 
RAM 1GB 2GB 2GB
Connectivity Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+, NFC
Camera Front 1.2MP, Rear 8MP Front 1.9MP, Rear 13MP Front 2MP, Rear Dual Capture 5MP+19MP
Bluetooth Yes, version 4.0 Yes, version 4.0 Yes, version 4.0
Fingerprint sensor Yes No No
Battery 10 hours talk, 250 hours standby  2600mAh 2420mAh
Charger Lightning connector Micro USB Micro USB
Marketplace Apple App Store Google Play Store Windows Phone Store
Ave. Price $200+ $200+ $200
Availability AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon AT&T, Sprint, T-Mob, Verizon Verizon
Related

 

Spec for spec, Lumia wins

When it comes to pure specs, the Lumia Icon wins hands down. The only phones out right now with a comparably fast processor are the Galaxy Note 3, Lumia 1520, LG G2, Nexus 5, and Sony Xperia Z1S. Of the phones in this group, only the G2 and Note 3 are available on Verizon. 

Beyond the numbers

It’s not uncommon for consumers to prefer stuff that they’re already accustomed to using. For instance, if you’re on an iPhone, it’s tough to switch to Android, and vice versa. Unfortunately for Windows Phone, almost anyone making the switch to Microsoft’s smartphone platform will have some trouble adjusting.

Simply put, the Lumia Icon’s weakness is its operating system, which is what has harmed Nokia since it partnered with Microsoft. However, if you’ve never owned a smartphone before, the Lumia Icon is a great place to start. It doesn’t have the game or app selection found on iOS and Android phones like the Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5S, but it’s not barren of apps either, and many of them function quite well.

Here are some random notes about each phone:

  • If you want the best apps and games: Buy the iPhone 5S
  • If you want the best free apps and games: Buy the Galaxy S4
  • If you need Google services: Avoid the Lumia Icon
  • If you hate notifications: Buy the Lumia Icon
  • If you want the best Chat apps: Buy the Galaxy S4
  • If battery life is your biggest concern: Avoid the iPhone 5S
  • If call quality is your top concern: Avoid the Lumia Icon
  • If you want the best photos: Buy the iPhone 5S
  • If you keep going over your texting limit: Buy the iPhone (iMessage)

We hope this helps paint a clearly picture of the Nokia Lumia Icon as well as its competition. If you can justify making the Windows Phone leap, the Icon is the phone to buy.

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Jeffrey Van Camp
Jeffrey Van Camp
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…

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