Nokia Lumia 720: A Mid-Range Windows Phone Camera Classic
The Nokia Lumia 720 arrived in 2013 as a polished mid-range smartphone for people who wanted a modern Windows Phone without paying flagship prices. Its most distinctive feature was a 6.7-megapixel Carl Zeiss rear camera, supported by a wide f/1.9 aperture that made the handset unusually capable in low light for its class.
At launch, the Lumia 720 sat between affordable Lumia models such as the 520 and more powerful devices including the Lumia 820 and 920. It combined a slim polycarbonate body, a bright AMOLED display, solid battery life and Nokia’s camera software. The result was a balanced handset rather than a specification leader.
For Australian buyers revisiting early Windows Phone devices, the 720 is interesting as a piece of mobile history and as a practical second-hand phone. Its limitations are now clear, particularly around app support, network compatibility and software updates, but its design and imaging hardware still explain why it gained attention when new.
Design And Display
The Lumia 720 used Nokia’s familiar unibody polycarbonate construction, with a gently curved rear cover that made the phone comfortable to hold. Available colours included white, black, yellow, red and cyan in different markets. At roughly 9mm thick and weighing about 128 grams, it felt light without seeming fragile. The finish also avoided the slippery glass surfaces common on some competing smartphones.
Its 4.3-inch AMOLED ClearBlack display offered an 800 by 480 pixel resolution. That was modest compared with high-end Android phones, yet the screen delivered strong contrast, deep blacks and good outdoor readability. ClearBlack technology reduced reflections, which was helpful under bright Australian sunlight in places such as Brisbane or Perth.
The screen was large enough for maps, messages and casual web browsing while keeping the handset easy to use with one hand. Nokia also included a sensitive touchscreen mode that could work with gloves, a practical detail for cooler mornings in Melbourne or Canberra. The display was not especially sharp by current standards, but it suited Windows Phone 8’s clean typography and colourful tile interface.
Camera Performance And Imaging Tools
The headline camera specification was a 6.7MP rear sensor paired with a Carl Zeiss Tessar lens. Megapixel count alone did not make it a flagship camera, yet the wide f/1.9 aperture allowed more light to reach the sensor. In daylight, the Lumia 720 could produce detailed images with pleasing colour, while indoor photos often looked brighter than those from cheaper phones.
Nokia’s camera application provided familiar controls for exposure, focus and white balance, although the experience was simpler than a modern smartphone camera. The dedicated physical shutter button made launching the camera and taking photographs faster. It was particularly useful for quick street scenes, family photos or holiday snapshots along the Great Ocean Road.
The front-facing camera was a 1.3MP unit capable of 720p video, suitable for early video calls and basic self-portraits. Rear video recording reached 720p rather than Full HD. That limitation mattered to buyers comparing it with premium handsets, but the Lumia 720’s still-image performance remained one of its strongest selling points.
Nokia also offered useful imaging applications through the Windows Phone Store. Creative Studio, Cinemagraph and Panorama added effects and shooting modes that made the camera more enjoyable. These apps helped the phone feel more distinctive than a generic mid-range Android handset, even though the platform’s smaller app catalogue eventually became a serious disadvantage.
Windows Phone Software And Everyday Use
Windows Phone 8 gave the Lumia 720 a clear visual identity through Live Tiles, an uncluttered Start screen and contact-focused People Hub features. The interface was responsive on the phone’s hardware, and common tasks such as calling, texting, calendar management and navigation felt straightforward. Nokia Maps and Nokia Drive were valuable additions for Australian users travelling between suburbs or planning longer drives.
The handset used a dual-core 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor with 512MB of RAM. That combination was adequate for the operating system and ordinary applications, though demanding games and heavy multitasking exposed the hardware’s limits. The 8GB of internal storage was similarly tight, but a microSD card could expand storage by up to 64GB for music, photographs and compatible applications.
Microsoft later delivered Windows Phone 8 updates, including the GDR2 and Black update packages for supported Lumia devices. These brought refinements such as improved camera handling, storage management and Bluetooth support. Windows Phone 8.1 added further changes on compatible hardware, but app availability and developer support were already moving in other directions. Readers comparing its software heritage with Apple’s platform can explore the iOS mobile archive for a broader view of the period.
The platform’s strengths were consistency and simplicity. Notifications were less fragmented than on some Android skins, and the interface looked fresh compared with older smartphone designs. Its weaknesses included fewer banking, transport and social applications. In Australia, where many users rely on apps for Opal, Myki, rideshare services and mobile banking, that gap became increasingly inconvenient as the years passed.
Battery, Connectivity And Australian Compatibility
A 2,000mAh battery was a strong feature for a phone of this size. The efficient AMOLED display and modest Snapdragon processor helped the Lumia 720 last through a full day of calls, messaging, music and occasional photography. Light users could often reach well into a second day, although an aged original battery will perform very differently today.
Some versions supported 4G LTE, while other regional models were limited to 3G and HSPA+. Buyers in Australia need to check the exact model number and supported frequency bands rather than assuming every Lumia 720 has identical connectivity. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone used different combinations of 3G and 4G bands, and imported variants may not perform equally well across Australian networks.
This point is even more important after Australia’s staged 3G network shutdown. Telstra closed its 3G network in 2024, with Optus and Vodafone also retiring legacy services around the same period. A Lumia 720 that cannot use local 4G bands may now lose mobile data or voice functionality, even if it works perfectly on Wi-Fi. VoLTE support is another concern, because older Windows Phones were not designed for today’s emergency-calling and voice-network requirements.
Australian consumer law can also affect second-hand purchases. A private sale generally offers fewer protections than buying from a business, while a retailer must provide products that are safe, fit for purpose and match their description under Australian Consumer Law. A used Lumia 720 with a weak battery, carrier lock or incompatible network bands should be priced accordingly. A charger may be included, but buyers should verify that it is a safe Australian-compatible unit rather than an unsuitable overseas accessory.
Value Against Contemporary Phones
When new, the Lumia 720 appealed to shoppers seeking a refined alternative to entry-level Android devices. It was generally more expensive than the Lumia 520 but cheaper than the Lumia 920. The camera, battery and build quality justified that middle position, while the limited RAM and lower screen resolution kept it away from flagship territory.
Its closest rivals included the Lumia 820, Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and older iPhone models. Android offered a much larger application ecosystem, while Apple provided longer-term software consistency at a higher price. The Lumia 720 countered with a distinctive interface, excellent ergonomics and Nokia’s imaging expertise. Buyers searching for affordable devices from the same broad era can also browse these budget phone options.
| Phone | Main strengths | Main limitations | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nokia Lumia 720 | Carl Zeiss 6.7MP camera, AMOLED display, long battery life, light body | 512MB RAM, limited apps, ageing network support | Windows Phone fans and collectors |
| Nokia Lumia 820 | Faster processor, removable cover, 4G support, expandable storage | Heavier body, lower battery endurance, LCD display | Buyers wanting more performance |
| Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini | Android app access, compact design, expandable storage | Plastic build, modest camera output, fragmented updates | Users prioritising Android applications |
| iPhone 4S | Strong app ecosystem, good build quality, reliable camera | Small display, older hardware, limited modern support | Users wanting a compact Apple handset |
| Nokia Lumia 920 | Better camera stabilisation, sharper display, premium features | Thick and heavy, shorter battery life | Photography-focused Windows Phone users |
The Lumia 720 remains most attractive as a collector’s handset, an offline music player or a nostalgic backup phone. Its camera can still produce characterful images, and the design feels more distinctive than many anonymous budget smartphones from the same period. It is less suitable as a primary Australian mobile because network shutdowns and discontinued applications create practical obstacles.
Readers comparing its platform with Google’s ecosystem can review the Android phone archive, especially when weighing app availability against the Lumia’s simpler interface. Android and iOS became the safer long-term choices for Australian consumers, while Windows Phone developed into a niche platform with a loyal but shrinking audience.
For anyone buying a Lumia 720 today, inspect the battery condition, test the camera, confirm the model’s LTE bands and check whether the handset is carrier-unlocked. A clean screen, working physical buttons and an intact charging port matter more than the original box. It is also wise to treat cloud services, app downloads and Windows Phone Store access as uncertain rather than guaranteed.
The Nokia Lumia 720 deserves its place in smartphone history because it balanced a genuinely capable camera with attractive design and dependable battery life. Its 6.7MP Carl Zeiss camera was not a marketing detail alone; it shaped the phone’s identity and gave mid-range buyers a reason to choose Nokia. For a historical purchase or collection, find a verified Australian-compatible unit and enjoy one of the most personable Windows Phones of its generation.