Unless you’ve been living in a social media-free bubble over the last year, you’ve no doubt heard all about Nokia’s Lumia 930. It’s a smartphone that, upon its release, CNET dubbed “the best Windows Phone device to buy right now.” While that quote was tossed about last year, the 930 is still a solid smartphone, particularly for those traveling internationally. Check out this review:
Vagabondish is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Read our disclosure.
Not content with the typical, staid black/white color options, Nokia decided to seriously up the phone’s BLING factor. It’s now offered in very limited edition Black Gold or White Gold options, with anodized gold colored accents around the bezel.
Coincidentally, I’ve been looking for a new smartphone to match my teeth and my Bentley. And, since I’m part of this year’s Microsoft Bloggers initiative, the good folks in Redmond were kind enough to send me a Black Gold version of the phone.
The Skinny
So, what is it? Under the hood, it’s identical to a standard Nokia Lumia 930 which means it offers:
- 32GB mass memory
- 4G/LTE network
- 5″ HD display
- 20MP main camera
- HD 1.2MP wide angle front camera
- Dual LED flash
- Quad-core 2.2 GHz processor
- Built-in wireless charging
- Nearly 18 hours talk time (via 3G)
- 16 days max standby time
… but, since we’ve never posted about the standard 930, I figured this was a golden opportunity (get it?) to publish two reviews in one.
© Windows Central
The Traveler’s Take
In short, the above list is pretty damn enticing and should tick almost every box on the “must-have” list for travelers. The big wins here are: a large display, LTE network (which is pretty much the worldwide standard outside the U.S.) compatibility, stunning 20MP (!) main camera with Zeiss Optics, and solid battery life. It also seamlessly integrates Skype, OneDrive, OneNote, and Microsoft’s new personal digital assistant, Cortana.
Straight up, I’m an iPhone user and have been for at least four years now. But I’m definitely intrigued by the Windows Phone interface. It’s unique — markedly different than anything else on the market. While it takes some getting used to, I rather enjoy the cool, minimal simplicity of it.
Yeah, yeah, but what about the look? Well, I may not be the target market for blinged-out gold accessories, but the accents on this phone are surprisingly tasteful. I won’t go so far as to say that I’m a Gold Phone-convert, but I’m surprised at how much I like the look of this special edition 930. It’s understated in a way that’s less “Kardashian glitz” and more “I have money and I very subtly would like others to know it”.
On the downside, the Lumia 930 Special Edition offers limited compatibility with cell networks in the U.S., save for AT&T and T-Mobile 3G. Although, for frequent international travelers, this is likely a moot point.
Pricing + Availability
Now for the bad news: Nokia fans in the U.S. may have a hard time getting their hands on one. The best place to look right now is Amazon