Nokia Lumia 1520: A 6-Inch Windows Phone with PureView and Full HD
The Nokia Lumia 1520 arrived in late 2013 as a bold statement from the Finnish company and its partner Microsoft. It was the first Windows Phone to feature a six-inch display, pushing the platform into the emerging phablet category that Samsung had popularised with the Galaxy Note series. With a 20-megapixel PureView camera and a full HD resolution, it offered specifications that rivaled the best Android flagships of the day, all wrapped in Nokia's signature polycarbonate unibody.
Australian consumers got their hands on the device in early 2014. It launched through major carriers including Telstra and Optus, and was available unlocked at retailers such as JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman. Priced at around AUD $899 for the 16GB model, it was positioned as a premium alternative for buyers who wanted something different from the ubiquitous Android and iOS offerings. The device quickly became a favourite among photography enthusiasts in Sydney and Melbourne who appreciated its manual controls and Zeiss optics.
| Model | Display | Processor | RAM | Rear Camera | Battery | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nokia Lumia 1520 | 6.0" 1080p IPS LCD | Snapdragon 800 | 2 GB | 20 MP PureView | 3400 mAh | Windows Phone 8 |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 3 | 5.7" 1080p SAMOLED | Snapdragon 800 | 3 GB | 13 MP | 3200 mAh | Android 4.3 |
| Sony Xperia Z Ultra | 6.4" 1080p LCD | Snapdragon 800 | 2 GB | 8 MP | 3050 mAh | Android 4.2 |
| HTC One Max | 5.9" 1080p LCD | Snapdragon 600 | 2 GB | 4 MP UltraPixel | 3300 mAh | Android 4.3 |
| LG G2 | 5.2" 1080p LCD | Snapdragon 800 | 2 GB | 13 MP OIS | 3000 mAh | Android 4.2 |
Design, materials and handling
The Lumia 1520 carried forward Nokia's design language seen on the Lumia 920 and 1020, but scaled up significantly. The unibody chassis was crafted from a single piece of polycarbonate, which felt sturdy in the hand despite the phone's generous dimensions. At 162.8mm tall and 85.4mm wide, it was a sizeable device, weighing 209 grams. That weight was balanced well by the curved edges, which made it easier to grip during long phone calls or when watching videos on the train from Flinders Street Station to Southern Cross.
Colour options played a big role in the phone's appeal. Nokia offered the 1520 in red, yellow, white, and black, with the matte finish providing good grip and resisting fingerprints better than glossy alternatives. The physical buttons were clustered on the right edge, including a dedicated camera shutter button that felt mechanical and precise. While some users in Brisbane's humid climate found the smooth polycarbonate a bit slippery, others appreciated that the back cover was sealed, keeping dust and moisture away from the internals.
The 6-inch full HD display
For the first time, Windows Phone users could enjoy a 1080p resolution on a 6-inch IPS LCD panel. The 1920x1080 resolution translated to a pixel density of around 368 pixels per inch, which was sharp enough for reading fine text in ebooks or browsing desktop versions of websites. Nokia's ClearBlack technology improved outdoor visibility by reducing reflections, a feature that came in handy during bright summer days at Bondi Beach.
The display used an RGB stripe matrix rather than the PenTile arrangement found on some Samsung AMOLED screens, which meant text and icons looked crisp without any fringing. Colours were accurate, though some reviewers noted that the panel leaned slightly towards cooler tones compared to the vibrant SAMOLED on the Galaxy Note 3. The touchscreen was highly responsive, and the large surface area made it ideal for typing long emails or editing documents on the go, tasks that appealed to business users in Perth's mining sector.
PureView 20MP camera and imaging
The camera system was the star of the show. The Lumia 1520 used a 1/2.5-inch 20-megapixel sensor paired with a Zeiss Tessar lens and optical image stabilization. This was a scaled-down version of the technology found in the 808 PureView and Lumia 1020, but it still delivered exceptional results. In good light, the camera captured images with plenty of detail, and the high pixel count allowed for lossless digital zoom up to 2x without significant degradation.
Low-light performance was particularly strong. The wide f/2.4 aperture and OIS allowed the camera to use slower shutter speeds without introducing camera shake, making it easier to capture nightlife in Melbourne's laneways or dimly lit restaurants. Nokia's Pro Camera app gave users manual control over ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and focus, a level of control that was rare on smartphones at the time. Video recording topped out at 1080p at 30fps, with smooth stabilization that made handheld footage look surprisingly professional.
Processor, RAM and real-world speed
Under the hood, the Lumia 1520 ran on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset, the same processor powering the Galaxy Note 3 and the Sony Xperia Z Ultra. This was a significant step up from the Snapdragon S4 Pro found in earlier flagships like the LG Optimus G, which was one of the first devices to use that older chip. The 800-series brought faster Krait 400 cores and a more powerful Adreno 330 GPU, resulting in smooth performance across the Windows Phone interface.
With 2GB of RAM, the device handled multitasking well, though it was outgunned by the 3GB found in the Note 3. Apps launched quickly, and games like Asphalt 8 ran without frame drops. The transition from the Snapdragon S4 Pro generation to the 800 series marked a major leap in efficiency, which helped extend battery life on the 1520 despite its large display.
Windows Phone 8 software and the app gap
The Lumia 1520 launched with Windows Phone 8, which later received the 8.1 update with Cortana and a notification centre. The Live Tiles interface looked stunning on the full HD display, with crisp typography and smooth animations. Microsoft Office integration was a major selling point for enterprise users, allowing seamless editing of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.
However, the platform still suffered from a noticeable app gap compared to its rivals. Popular services like Snapchat, Instagram at the time of launch, and various banking apps were missing or arrived much later than on Android. For users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, the lack of iMessage and certain premium apps made switching difficult. Many readers interested in the platform differences explored our iOS coverage to compare ecosystems before committing to a Windows Phone device.
Battery life and connectivity for Australian users
The 3400 mAh battery was one of the largest in any smartphone at launch, and it delivered excellent endurance. Most users could get through a full day of heavy use, including streaming music, navigation, and photography, with battery to spare. Wireless charging was supported via the Qi standard, and Nokia sold colourful charging accessories that matched the phone's back cover.
On the connectivity front, the device supported Australian 4G LTE bands, including Band 3 (1800MHz) and Band 7 (2600MHz), which were used by Telstra and Optus for their initial 4G rollouts. This meant users in regional areas around Adelaide and Hobart could access faster data speeds where coverage was available. The phone also included NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, and Wi-Fi calling support on certain carriers. Under the Australian Consumer Law, buyers were protected by mandatory warranties that covered defects for a reasonable period, a safeguard that applied to devices bought from local retailers.
Price, competitors and lasting influence
At launch, the Lumia 1520 competed directly with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and the Sony Xperia Z Ultra. The Note 3 offered a stylus and 3GB of RAM, while the Z Ultra had an even larger 6.4-inch display and water resistance. The Lumia 1520's edge was its camera and the integration with Microsoft services, which appealed to a specific audience. In the Australian market, pricing fluctuated, but it often dropped below AUD $700 on contract by mid-2014.
The device played a key role in legitimising Windows Phone as a contender in the phablet space. It proved that the platform could scale to larger displays and offer competitive hardware. While Microsoft eventually retired Windows Phone, the Lumia 1520 remains a cult favourite among retro tech enthusiasts. For those who appreciate the hardware, it represents a high point for Nokia's mobile division before its acquisition by Microsoft was fully realised.
Share your memories of the Lumia 1520 and the early days of Windows Phone phablets in the comments below. Readers who used this device as a daily driver or compared it directly to a Galaxy Note often highlight its camera and battery life as standout features. For more deep dives into the smartphones that shaped the early 2010s, visit New Mobile Arrivals and subscribe to the newsletter for weekly retrospectives and buying guides.