And, in many ways, the Nokia Lumia 800 is the phone that helped define smartphones, through a bold switch from Nokia’s ailing Symbian to Microsoft’s fledgeling Windows Phone.
Launched October 2011, this phone kicked off a union that would shape Nokia smartphone strategy for years.
In order to comprehend the importance of the Lumia 800, it’s worth considering both its cutting-edge specifications as well as the missed opportunities that defined its market fortunes.
Design and Build Quality
It is such a breath of fresh air then to be introduced to the Lumia 800, which although is the ‘lesser’ of the two handsets in terms of market position, is nevertheless a glimpse of what’s yet to come from Nokia, mainly the Nokia 900.
The profile was smooth and finished. No seams or screws to disturb the sleek lines and its look stood out in an age dominated by plastic and metal tonics.
In cyan, magenta, black, and white, the Smoke could be personalized with color choices that practicably represented the users’ unique aesthetic.
The hardware felt all of a piece; It looked (and felt) like, this solid quality. A polycarbonate shell that was as protective as it was resilient to wear and tear.
They felt like premium materials despite being plastic, which goes to show what a little thoughtful engineering can do for perceived quality.
Its weight was balanced in such a way and its curves shaped up so ergonomically that it was comfortable to hold even for longer periods of time — a sensible design choice many manufacturers had no regard for the sake of thinness.
But the ethos of the design also set some parameters. The battery pack was sealed, and replacement was an issue as the battery wore out. The unique charging cradle could be a bit cumbersome for those accustomed to a standard micro-USB connection.
Windows Phone 7.5 Experience
The Lumia 800 arrived with Windows Phone 7.5 “Mango,” which would be users’ first exposure to Microsoft’s tile-driven interface, designed to foreground information over traditional app icons.
It was truly a new user experience for the smartphone: Live updates and personalized content were displayed on the home screen, no need to launch an application.
Hardware and software integration was wonderfully smooth, and animations and transitions seemed to dance their way across the screen.
Microsoft’s concentration on typography and visual hierarchy resulted in an interface that simply worked, and looked great. The People Hub compiled social media contacts and communication in ways that made it easier for daily use.
Yet the pain of the platform was felt more broadly in the lack of customization and small collection of applications.
Although the underlying system was solid, the app selection was less than sterling and people were too used to extensive app catalogs from other systems.
Camera and Imaging Performance
The 8MP Carl Zeiss camera remains one of the Lumia 800’s great assets, managing to produce better images than we’d expect of a phone in this price range.
With Nokia’s imaging know-how, the device offered consistent auto-focus operation, accurate coloring reproduction and decent low-light handling.
The dedicated camera button was the perfect feature; it made the camera always accessible and provided physical feed back to the user.
The camera app features different scene mode and setting options to adjust the capture based on the surrounding environment.
The video recording wasn’t anything to write home about, but it generated stable footage for a bit of casual content creation.
The tighter integration with Windows Phone’s photo management system made it easier to share and organize your photos.
But the lack of front camera did not make the device desirable anymore in the age of video calling and selfies.
The fixed-focus setup was good enough for most circumstances, but was no match for the flexibility provided by rival variable-focus devices.
Performance Evaluation: Pros and Cons
Nokia Lumia 800 Pros:
The device was a standout on several markers that distinguished good smartphone experiences. It also had ridiculous battery life (at the time), with its 1450mAh battery lasting the average day without issue.
The logicalness of the Windows Phone interface may also have played a part in preserving battery life, as many of the first-gen smartphones were suffering under woeful battery life.
The Lumia 800 was built like a tank and durable, the plastic polycarbonate enclosure prevented this device from being scratchy or breakable like other phones.
The premium look and unique design language ensured they stood out in a category filled with many similar-looking devices.
Operation was smooth slick with little in the way of navigation or multitasking lag or stuttering, thanks to a responsive and flowing user interface.
However, their focus on platform optimization paid off on Microsoft’s end since a single-core processor felt like it was at least holding its own to a more powerful system.
Key limitations and challenges:
Unfortunately, even though it had a lot going for it, the Lumia 800 was hamstrung by obstacles that ultimately left it with a very small footprint.
There were no essential applications in the Windows Phone ecosystem so popular services like social networks and productivity apps were never there when users needed them. This app disadvantage was a major hurdle for users migrating from the iOS and Android platforms.
Storage restrictions became a problem and 16GB storage could not be expanded through memory cards. As programs and multimedia files became bigger, users soon found capacity-fiiting hardware limitations.
Lack of front camera and limited video calls were features that made the device lag behind in terms of new ways of communication. In addition, the exclusive charging adaptor used by that module was a nuisance and extra cost for its owner.
Market Context and Legacy Effects
The Lumia 800 hit a smartphone market that already had iPhone and growing Android to contend with, and it had a job on its hands to make Windows Phone a viable third option.
Despite being lauded for its overall design and user experience, the Lumia 900 has not been a sales success, continuing a trend in which manufacturers of Windows Phone devices seem unable to challenge the iPhone and various Android devices.
The impact of the device went beyond sales, with design philosophies and user interface elements carried over to subsequent Nokia devices, and into the wider design of future industry phones. Design and software became the calling cards of successful smartpst development.
Nokia Lumia 800 is launched in market with Dhansu look
The Nokia Lumia 800 is an interesting case study in smartphone innovation, a case study that shows that great design and engineering can still deliver great things in less-enthusiastic ecosystems.
Market forces and platform constraints never allowed the device to gain widespread adoption, but it set key design, user experience and brand differentiation precedents that still play an important role in the smartphone market today.
For tech geeks and industry watchers, the Lumia 800 is still a touchstone in the progression of mobile operating systems.
