Does the Lumia 950 live up to all expectations?

“It’s our no.1 phone!” It is certainly a bold claim. Microsoft is effectively saying that this device contains its most advanced technology and most innovative design. So it would be a shame if this performance was greeted with a sceptical “well yes, but....”

Surprisingly light, but beautifully designed

When we first take the brand-new Microsoft Lumia 950 out of the box, our first impression is that it’s a stunning-looking device. We are immediately struck by its lightweight feel and ease of handling.

Let's be honest though, there is always that sneaking suspicion that lightweight means flimsy. This is definitely not the case with this Lumia. Not just beautifully designed and pleasingly solid, it also has a high-quality finish.

A remarkable screen

The 950’s remarkable 5.2in screen is the real stand-out feature here. Its screen resolution brings us to the first technical term here: WQHD (Wide Quad High Definition). It has market-leading pixel-per-inch density (564 ppi).

Its AMOLED screen gives sparkling colour, as the ClearBlack technology really creates the deepest darkest black. The Glance Screen includes movement sensor, highly responsive touch screen, ambient light correction, a Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 screen and a wide angle lens.

A pleasure to use

We could blind you with science and give you all the technical terms like Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 808, HexaCore, 1.8 GHz, excellent graphics processor. But we won’t.

All you need to know is that the Windows 10 Lumia 950 is a technological gem. It delivers everything you would expect from a top-of-the-range smartphone, along with a host of other features that we didn't even know existed. Easy to use, flexible and exceptionally powerful, it's the details in this veritable pocket computer which make it stand out.

So many great features, so little space to list them all!

•     20 MPX camera with triple flash, optical stabilisation and more
•     Front-facing 5 MPX camera for 1080p resolution images (full HD)
•     Iris-scanning screen-unlock feature
•     Memory slot capacity of 200 GB 
•     Removable battery, for considerably enhanced battery life
•     Fast, wireless charging