This comparison aims to bring against each other two less popular phones. One is currently not setting the Windows Phone 8 powered device market on fire, but is just as great when it comes to its maker’s flagship model and the other is the flagship Windows Phone 8 model, lonely in an otherwise Android-heavy lineup.
Meet the Nokia Lumia 820 (the little brother to the flagship Nokia Lumia 920) and the Samsung Ativ S.
Under the hood
The Samsung Ativ S is powered by the Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1.5 GHz processor. A 1 GB memory and storage of 16/32 GB completes the core specifications of this powerful workhorse. The Nokia Lumia 820 is also powered by the dual core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon processor and the Adreno 225 GPU. Additionally the Nokia also comes with a 1 GB memory.
Dimensions and weight
On first look the Samsung Ativ S looks like a near image of the very popular Samsung Galaxy S III. However look closely and there are plenty of differences between the two. There is a dedicated Windows button at the lower end of the phone right in the middle of the capacitative back and search buttons on either side.
The Nokia Lumia 820 on the other hand is very different to its cousin the Nokia Lumia 920 and definitely the Samsung. An important difference is the removable plastic back cover feature that comes with the Nokia Lumia 820. This is something that even the unibody Nokia Lumia 920 does not have. Comparatively the Samsung Ativ S may appear an aluminum bodied gladiator.
The dimension of the Nokia Lumia 820 is 124 x 69 x 10mm and it weighs 160 grams (less than its flagship cousin the Nokia Lumia 920).
Display and Camera
Just like the Galaxy S III the Samsung Ativ S also comes with an 8 megapixels rear camera with LED flash; something to bring a smile on the faces of the Windows Phone 8 fans. Nokia has always been one of the best makers of mobile cameras and this trend has continued with the Nokia Lumia 820 and its 8 megapixels camera and the f/2.2 Carl Zeiss Tessar lens.
The Nokia Lumia 820 comes with a 4.3” AMOLED screen with a resolution of 800 x 480. However it is nowhere nearly as impressive as the big 4.8” AMOLED screen of the Samsung Ativ S. Additionally the Samsung screen is of Gorilla Glass 2 quality which should give it more toughness.
Battery
The Samsung Ativ S comes with a 2300 mAh battery. Compared to that, the battery of the Nokia Lumia 820 is a meager 1620 mAh.
What it means is that with all the power hungry apps and tools, it is highly likely that you’re going to see your Nokia Lumia 820 limping to the charging point towards the end of the day, everyday. At the same time you’re likely to see through the day with one full charging of your Samsung Ativ S.
Nokia has incorporated a wireless charging functionality with this phone which should ensure some respite for uses who can grab hold of a universal Qi standard plate somewhere.