Nokia Lumia 720 review: wireless charging in the mid-range
The Nokia Lumia 720 arrived in 2013 as a polished Windows Phone 8 handset for buyers who wanted better design and camera features without paying flagship prices. It sat between the affordable Lumia 620 and the more powerful Lumia 820, offering a slim body, a bright display, a large battery, and support for wireless charging through an optional cover.
Its headline camera specification was a 6.7-megapixel rear sensor with Carl Zeiss optics. That number was lower than the 8-megapixel camera used by several rivals, yet the Lumia 720 focused on lens quality, low-light performance, and Nokia’s camera software rather than megapixels alone.
For the Indian market, the phone was aimed at users moving up from basic Android devices or older Symbian handsets. Its Windows Phone interface was smooth and distinctive, while features such as expandable storage, dual-band Wi-Fi, and optional LTE made the specifications feel more complete than the mid-range label suggested.
Design and display quality
The Lumia 720 used the rounded polycarbonate styling associated with Nokia’s Lumia family. Its unibody shell felt solid in the hand, and the curved sides made the phone comfortable to hold despite its 4.3-inch display. At around 9mm thick and approximately 128 grams, it was slim and light for a smartphone with a 2,000mAh battery.
Colour choices were an important part of the phone’s appeal. Nokia offered bright finishes such as red, yellow, cyan, white, and black, giving the Lumia 720 a more personal appearance than the largely black or grey Android phones common at the time. The matte versions also resisted fingerprints better than glossy plastic alternatives.
The 4.3-inch ClearBlack LCD had an 800 x 480 resolution and a pixel density of roughly 217 pixels per inch. It was not an HD panel, so text and images lacked the sharpness found on premium phones. However, strong contrast, useful outdoor visibility, and responsive touch performance made everyday browsing and messaging comfortable.
The display was protected by Gorilla Glass, while Nokia’s ClearBlack technology helped reduce reflections. For users who valued visibility in bright Indian sunlight, this practical advantage could matter more than a higher resolution on paper.
The 6.7MP camera in daily use
The rear camera was the Lumia 720’s defining feature. Its 6.7-megapixel sensor worked with a wide-aperture f/1.9 lens and Carl Zeiss branding, allowing the phone to capture more light than many ordinary mid-range cameras. The specification was unusual because it sat between the typical 5MP and 8MP categories of its period.
In daylight, the camera produced attractive colours and good detail for social media, travel pictures, and family photographs. Nokia’s imaging software included useful creative tools, while the Windows Phone camera application offered a simple way to adjust settings such as exposure and ISO. The dedicated physical camera key was another advantage, allowing users to launch the camera and focus without navigating through the Start screen.
Low-light photography was more impressive than the megapixel count suggested, although the sensor still produced noise when lighting became very poor. The phone did not replace a dedicated compact camera, and moving subjects could expose the limits of its processing speed. Still, it was a dependable shooter for a mid-range Windows smartphone.
The 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera supported video calls and self-portraits. It was basic by later standards, but suitable for Skype and casual use. Nokia’s camera experience gave the Lumia 720 a clear identity, much as the company’s earlier imaging-focused phones had done.
Performance and Windows Phone 8 experience
The Lumia 720 was powered by a dual-core 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor with 512MB of RAM. These specifications look modest today, but Windows Phone 8 was designed around a lightweight, controlled software environment. Menus moved smoothly, applications opened reliably, and the animated Live Tiles remained responsive during ordinary use.
The 512MB memory limit did affect application compatibility. Some demanding games and newer Windows Phone applications required 1GB of RAM, meaning the Lumia 720 could not run every title available for the platform. Buyers interested in gaming had to accept that the phone was designed more for communication, photography, music, and everyday apps than for intensive 3D entertainment.
The Live Tile interface remained one of the most distinctive elements of the device. Contacts, messages, weather, news, and social updates could be displayed directly on the Start screen, reducing the need to open separate applications. The interface was visually clean and easy to understand, particularly for users who preferred a focused alternative to Android’s more flexible home screens.
Microsoft’s ecosystem included Office, Xbox integration, OneDrive, and built-in mapping features. App selection was smaller than Android’s or Apple’s, which was a significant consideration. Readers comparing mobile platforms can also explore the broader iOS experience when deciding whether a Windows Phone interface fits their needs.
Storage, connectivity, and wireless charging
The Lumia 720 included 8GB of internal storage, although only part of that capacity was available after the operating system and preinstalled software were counted. A microSD card slot supported expansion, making it possible to carry more music, videos, and photographs without relying entirely on cloud storage.
Connectivity depended on the specific regional model. Many versions supported 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and NFC, while selected variants included 4G LTE. Buyers in India needed to check the exact model and network compatibility rather than assuming that every Lumia 720 offered the same cellular bands.
The phone’s 2,000mAh battery was one of its strongest practical features. Because the display had a modest resolution and Windows Phone was relatively efficient, the Lumia 720 could often last a full day under normal use. Light users could stretch it further, while continuous camera use, navigation, gaming, and mobile data reduced endurance.
Wireless charging was an unusual advantage in this price segment. The phone itself required a compatible charging cover, such as Nokia’s optional wireless shell, rather than including built-in wireless charging in the standard rear panel. Once fitted, the cover allowed the handset to charge on a Qi-compatible pad, making it convenient for a desk or bedside table.
| Feature | Nokia Lumia 720 |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows Phone 8 |
| Display | 4.3-inch ClearBlack LCD, 800 x 480 |
| Rear camera | 6.7MP with Carl Zeiss optics, f/1.9 aperture |
| Front camera | 1.3MP |
| Processor | 1GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 |
| RAM | 512MB |
| Storage | 8GB, expandable by microSD |
| Battery | 2,000mAh |
| Wireless charging | Supported with an optional cover |
| Mobile connectivity | 3G, with LTE on selected variants |
| Indian launch price | Approximately ₹18,999 |
Value against Android rivals
At its Indian launch price of around ₹18,999, the Lumia 720 entered a competitive segment. Android phones frequently offered larger screens, quad-core processors, and more flexible access to applications. The Lumia’s response was to provide a more refined overall experience, attractive hardware, strong battery life, and camera performance that did not depend solely on a high pixel count.
The phone also benefited from Nokia’s reputation for construction quality and after-sales presence. Buyers who wanted a colourful, well-finished handset could see the Lumia 720 as a more distinctive choice than a generic Android model. Its compact size was particularly appealing at a time when many competing devices were becoming increasingly large.
The comparison with the Motorola Moto G is especially useful for understanding the period. The Moto G launch story shows why Motorola’s phone attracted attention with aggressive pricing and strong specifications. The Lumia 720 answered with wireless charging, a more unusual operating system, and Nokia’s camera-focused hardware, while the Moto G generally offered better value for raw performance and app access.
The phone was less suitable for buyers who wanted extensive customization, a huge application library, or the latest gaming performance. Its appeal depended on appreciating the complete package rather than comparing processor cores and screen resolution in isolation.
What worked well for Indian buyers
The Lumia 720 made sense for users who prioritized dependable daily operation. Calls, text messages, email, social networks, navigation, music playback, and photography all worked within a consistent interface. The large battery reduced the anxiety associated with frequent charging, and expandable storage helped users manage media without paying for a higher-capacity model.
Dual-SIM availability was an important consideration in India, although the Lumia 720 was not universally sold in a dual-SIM configuration. Buyers should distinguish it from other Lumia models and confirm the retail version before purchase. For users carrying separate personal and work numbers, the exact variant could determine whether the phone was practical.
Nokia’s Here Maps and Here Drive services were valuable additions, particularly for navigation. Offline map support could reduce dependence on continuous mobile data, which mattered when data plans were more expensive or coverage was inconsistent. The phone’s GPS and bright display made it useful as a compact navigation device.
Microsoft’s platform also provided a clean alternative for people who found Android interfaces cluttered. Its limitations were real, especially around applications and hardware upgrades, but the Lumia 720 delivered a stable and recognizable experience. Those comparing it with Apple’s ecosystem can review the wider Apple mobile range to see how its software and hardware priorities differed.
Strengths, limitations, and buying advice
The Lumia 720 remains interesting as a snapshot of the smartphone market before Android became nearly universal. It combined a quality body, capable camera lens, comfortable size, efficient software, and a battery that was larger than many rivals offered. Wireless charging through an accessory gave it a feature usually associated with more expensive phones.
Its weaknesses were equally clear. The WVGA display was behind HD Android panels, 512MB of RAM restricted app support, and 8GB of storage required a memory card for many users. Windows Phone’s declining application ecosystem also meant that long-term ownership became less attractive as popular services reduced support for the platform.
For collectors, retro-phone enthusiasts, or readers documenting mobile history, the Lumia 720 is a compelling mid-range device. For someone seeking a practical handset today, its age makes it unsuitable as a primary phone because modern apps, security updates, network compatibility, and battery condition are more important than its original strengths.
When assessing the Lumia 720 in its original market, keep these points in mind:
- Choose it for the compact design, colourful body, and clean Windows Phone interface.
- Treat the 6.7MP camera as a lens-and-software package rather than a megapixel race.
- Confirm whether the exact model supports LTE, NFC, or dual-SIM connectivity.
- Budget for a microSD card and the separate wireless charging cover.
- Compare its original price with Android alternatives before prioritizing its distinctive features.
The Nokia Lumia 720 earned its place as one of the more balanced mid-range Windows Phones of 2013. Its 6.7MP camera, 2,000mAh battery, ClearBlack screen, and optional wireless charging made it more ambitious than its price category suggested, even though limited RAM and the smaller app ecosystem held it back. Explore more launch-era phone reviews and buying comparisons on New Mobile Arrivals to trace how these design choices shaped the next generation of smartphones.