Nokia Lumia 800 review

Let’s go back in time, to the end of 2010. Nokia has had to endure some heavy blows. The company makes one loss after another, the profits are under great pressure and managers are leaving the sinking ship en masse.

On the high point of the crisis, even the top executive is replaced by former Microsofts Stephen Elop. It turned out to be the starting point of rigorous changes. The development of Symbian was turned low, MeeGo was regarded as experimental and Nokia arranged a marriage with Microsoft. It was to be either death or glory.

The company announced the release of Windows Phone 7-devices and little more than a year after Elop took office, the moment was there: the Lumia 800 saw the light of day, together with the Nokia Lumia 710. The company surprised friend and foe by having the device on the store shelves in a matter of weeks. By way of comparison: the last showpiece, the Nokia N8, was only available after 5 months.

For Nokia, the question isn’t whether the 800 is going to be a success: it simply has to. Huge advertising budgets are allocated, the press is spoiled with facility trips to London. We don’t take part in things like that: we’ll stay critical, as we always have. Did Nokia succeed in her plans of making a new start with Microsoft, that is supposed to turn the tide? Was the alliance between the two companies nothing but a forced marriage? Or, to put it differently: is the Nokia 800 worth it?

Unboxing

The Nokia Lumia 800 is delivered in a rectangular cardboard box. Clearly, it’s bigger than previous devices. By pulling a lip, one opens the box in which the Lumia 800 is waiting for you. It reminds us of the iPhone box (and that of the Galaxy S2). Underneath, there is a rubber protective case, that is hardly big enough for the 800. Likewise, there is a Quick Guide that contains, among others, all the information about the placing of the SIM-card and, finally, there’s a short manual. All the other accessories are places underneath this: a head phone, a data cable and a plug that forms a charger when put together with the cable. Especially the plug stands out: it’s a small, round design plug. It reminds us of a checker piece.

All in all, the set looks quite complete and of high quality. More importantly, it all looks fresh and not Nokia-like. Even the design of the box and that of the accessories are used to renew the brand’s image.