Lumia 2520 hands-on, a distinctive Nokia product

This year at the Nokia World Conference, Nokia unveiled six new products at once, among which the most attention-grabbing was undoubtedly the Lumia 2520, Nokia's first-ever tablet. As a phone manufacturer, rumors about Nokia making tablets have been circulating for years, but today, Nokia finally put an end to these speculations with the launch of the Lumia 2520.

As one of the few Windows 8.1 RT system tablets available, the Lumia 2520 carries high expectations from Microsoft. So, how exactly does this much-anticipated Lumia 2520 fare? What is its hands-on experience like? Following its release, several foreign media outlets quickly provided their initial impressions. Overall, as a piece of hardware, the Lumia 2520 is commendable.

**Design**

In terms of design, we can all say that the Lumia 2520 is both familiar and novel. The design language established since the N9 era, the unibody construction, the excellent polycarbonate material with great feel, and the vibrant color options have all been carried forward. However, this is the first time this design language has been applied to a tablet. The final result is that, whether from official renderings or media experience photos, the Lumia 2520 stands out as a meticulously crafted piece among tablets.

Compared to the Surface 2, the Lumia 2520 is less angular; its tapered edges make it easy to pick up and put down. Due to its craftsmanship and materials, the whole device gives off a robust and premium quality feel. Additionally, compared to the Surface 2, the Lumia 2520 appears more compact and slimmer.

The Lumia 2520 features a 10.1-inch 1920×1080 full HD screen (218ppi). Thanks to the ClearBlack display filter, it only reflects 5% of light, significantly reducing outdoor glare. Given that Windows 8.1 RT devices emphasize productivity, factors such as long-term office work and reading place higher demands on screen quality. From this perspective, the Lumia 2520 is quite suitable for outdoor use.

The volume keys and power/unlock button are located on the top edge of the device, while the USB port and HDMI port are on the right side. On the left side are the headphone jack and dedicated charging port, and in the top-left corner of the back is a 670-pixel camera.

It is claimed that the Lumia 2520 has a battery capacity of 8000 mAh, ensuring normal usage for 10 hours without any issues. Notably, the Lumia 2520 does not use the common Micro-USB interface for charging; instead, it employs Qualcomm's QuickCharge technology, supporting fast charging through a dedicated interface. The Lumia 2520 can charge to 50% in just half an hour and reach 80% in an hour, demonstrating satisfactory charging efficiency.

This time, the Lumia 2520 also comes equipped with Qualcomm's top-of-the-line Snapdragon 800 processor, allowing it to support the latest LTE network. Supporting both LTE and Wi-Fi dual-network systems greatly expands the applicability of this tablet.

**System and Software**

Equipped with an ARM-based processor, the Lumia 2520 runs on the Windows 8.1 RT system. We have already discussed this system extensively; convenience for office work but a lack of entertainment options are its basic realities, and these cannot be easily changed in the short term. However, Microsoft's pre-installed Office suite, email, music programs, and SkyDrive continue to hold considerable appeal for those who prefer or depend on Microsoft services.

Besides Microsoft's system and pre-installed applications, Nokia has also left its mark on the Lumia 2520. The Pro Camera and Smart Cam, exclusive to Lumia flagship series, have now made their way onto the tablet, potentially setting a benchmark for the currently underwhelming tablet photography capabilities.

Another prominently introduced app is Video Director, a video editing application that allows users to add titles, sound effects, and music to videos. This app will not be available on the Windows Phone platform, but there is a dedicated app to map videos from Windows Phones to the tablet for editing. StoryTeller is a cross-platform app that conveniently manages videos and photos based on time and location and is already integrated with Facebook, HERE Maps, and SkyDrive.

Since the Windows Phone era, Nokia has consistently invested effort into app development, and this is no exception.

**Keyboard Cover**

As a productivity tool, input efficiency and battery life become crucial aspects to evaluate. This time, building on previous experiences with the Surface, Nokia took things a step further by adding a battery to the keyboard cover, providing an additional 5 hours of battery life for the Lumia 2520. Combined with the device’s own 10-hour battery life, ensuring a full day's use is not a problem. Based on the on-site pictures, this keyboard cover is not a touch-sensitive type but a physical keyboard with individual keys, though the key travel should be relatively short.

In summary, although the Lumia 2520 is Nokia's first tablet product, it is satisfying from a hardware standpoint. Its craftsmanship and configuration show sincerity. Features such as fast charging, a keyboard with an extended battery, and Nokia's signature software add more value to this tablet. Even as Nokia's Devices & Services division becomes part of Microsoft, what we still perceive from the Lumia 2520 is a legitimate and distinct Nokia heritage.

Lumia 2520 Hands-On Video: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNjI0ODk5MTk2.html

Screenshots from the Lumia 2520 Hands-On Video:

Main image source: CNet

In-article images source: The Verge, Engadget