New Lumia 830 launching on AT&T

[Hooobi]

So it looks like it's finally official that AT&T will be launching the new L830 Windows Phone this Friday, November 7th.

I'm making the jump from Sprint to AT&T and since I just picked up a Surface Pro 3, I'm thinking of trying to complete my transition to Microsoft's walled garden with this as my first Windows Phone.

I'm currently using an HTC 4g LTE and while it's been fairly reliable over the years, I've grown weary of android.

Curious to know if anyone else is considering the 830, and why...

 

[quikah]

Curious to know if anyone else is considering the 830, and why...

I was until I saw that price. They are smoking crack if they think a Snapdragon 400 based phone is worth $450.

 

[Hooobi]

I was until I saw that price. They are smoking crack if they think a Snapdragon 400 based phone is worth $450.

Yeah, I would have preferred a bit lower price, but it does include a Fitbit Flex (for whatever that's worth) and two backs with dual charging capability (Qi & PMA).

Here's the most recent announcement from windowscentral with the launch details:
http://www.windowscentral.com/att-announces-lumia-830-friday-november-7-9999-two-year-commitment

Despite the price I'm still thinking of picking it up to try. I think they give you something like 14 days to exchange, but I might be making that up.

 

[crashtestdummy]

I was until I saw that price. They are smoking crack if they think a Snapdragon 400 based phone is worth $450.

In their defense, Windows Phone runs much more smoothly on a Snapdragon 400 than Android does. At the same time, they already sell the 635 with it for only $100, so you're paying $350 for a camera, a nicer screen, and 512MB extra memory. That's, as you said, simply way too much.



I'm personally waiting for the 735 to come to T-Mobile to get for my wife, if indeed it ever does come.

 

[Harry_Wild]

I was until I saw that price. They are smoking crack if they think a Snapdragon 400 based phone is worth $450.

AT&T wants to lock you into a 2-year contract! They have no interest in sell the 830 out right! That is the purpose of the new model; have you sign a 2 year contract and offer the 830 for $99!

 

[Harry_Wild]

In their defense, Windows Phone runs much more smoothly on a Snapdragon 400 than Android does. At the same time, they already sell the 635 with it for only $100, so you're paying $350 for a camera, a nicer screen, and 512MB extra memory. That's, as you said, simply way too much.



I'm personally waiting for the 735 to come to T-Mobile to get for my wife, if indeed it ever does come.

I will be the second after you to buy the White Lumia 735 T-Mobile. But it seems like Microsoft has been boxed in again by Verizon exclusivity.
Microsoft should of learn from the Icon but they just cannot resist getting it locked to the big red. They are such suckers!

 

[IamDavid]

I'm probably going to buy this phone. Using the 1520 and love it by I'll still give it a try.

Comparing specs is pointless on phones.

 

[Red Storm]

Windows Phone model numbers are confusing. I remember the 900 series a long time ago, then the 1000 series, then a 500 series, and now the 800 series?

 

[kpkp]

Windows Phone model numbers are confusing. I remember the 900 series a long time ago, then the 1000 series, then a 500 series, and now the 800 series?

The Nokia Lumia 800 was the first Lumia, I do not get your "now" thing.

 

[Red Storm]

The Nokia Lumia 800 was the first Lumia, I do not get your "now" thing.

OP said the "new 830", I'm trying to understand how their numbering system works. Is this new 830 not as good as the 920 that came out way back when?

 

[Denly]

We went to MS store to check out the 830, was planning to get one and replace my gf's aging 830. Look at the price/spec and aspects she end up picked a BLU HD for $179, it is lighter, has 1gb ram, dual sim, Front cam..etc. The only thing she miss is the camera bottom.

 

[Belegost]

OP said the "new 830", I'm trying to understand how their numbering system works. Is this new 830 not as good as the 920 that came out way back when?

So the models are numbered, lower values in the hundreds(thousands) place indicate lower in the quality stack, so the 15XX (phablet), 10XX (high res cam), and 9XX models have been flagship level, 7XX, 8XX have been more midrange, 5XX, 6XX at the budget level.

Each generation increases the tens place, so the first Lumia was the 800, then there was an 810, and 820, and now an 830.

Within each generation there may be variants, similar hardware but small changes in terms of design, for instance the 920 was released for ATT, and a 928 went to VZW with a blockier design, a later design update came out as the 925 which was lighter/thinner with an aluminum frame.

As for whether the 830 is as good as the 920 - it's about a draw really. The dual core S4 in the 920 is probably slightly better performance than the 400 in the 830. The 830 has a similar camera and keeps the Qi charging. The 830 only has 16GB flash (the 920 has 32GB) but comes with a microSD slot. The screen on the 830 is larger (5" vs. 4.7") but the same resolution So overall brings the midrange line up to 2 years ago flagship level.

 

[Red Storm]

So the models are numbered, lower values in the hundreds(thousands) place indicate lower in the quality stack, so the 15XX (phablet), 10XX (high res cam), and 9XX models have been flagship level, 7XX, 8XX have been more midrange, 5XX, 6XX at the budget level.

Each generation increases the tens place, so the first Lumia was the 800, then there was an 810, and 820, and now an 830.

Within each generation there may be variants, similar hardware but small changes in terms of design, for instance the 920 was released for ATT, and a 928 went to VZW with a blockier design, a later design update came out as the 925 which was lighter/thinner with an aluminum frame.

As for whether the 830 is as good as the 920 - it's about a draw really. The dual core S4 in the 920 is probably slightly better performance than the 400 in the 830. The 830 has a similar camera and keeps the Qi charging. The 830 only has 16GB flash (the 920 has 32GB) but comes with a microSD slot. The screen on the 830 is larger (5" vs. 4.7") but the same resolution So overall brings the midrange line up to 2 years ago flagship level.

Thanks for the rundown, that makes sense of it for me.

 

[Hooobi]

Quick update on this device - four days in and I'm pretty happy with the L830. No major hiccups except some transition issues such as getting all my contacts straightened out since they were a combination of phone-based (on my old HTC) and gmail-based. Getting gmail set up on the phone required a web-based login into my gmail account, where I confirmed that the device should access emails, contacts, etc. and then everything pretty much synced. Think I might have prematurely merged contacts, so this will be a web-based project at some point to get them straightened out.

Only crash so far is when I tried to access a new folder in OneDrive that was filled with over 7k photos that I had uploaded from my old phone (actually, it was only 3k-ish, but somehow ended up with a bunch of dupes) - the L830 kept stuttering through the folder and eventually locked up. I guess it's too much to expect it to load that much content in its relatively limited RAM.

The fitness band that came with it lies forgotten in the box, since reviews on Amazon were pretty mediocre.

Can't figure out visual voicemail yet, but accidently learned about the text-to-speech feature today while driving, and it is pretty cool. Speaks your text messages and then lets you reply via voice.

Learning new stuff every day.

Anyone else pick one up? Impressions?

 

[sequoia464]

Anyone else pick one up? Impressions?

I got to check one out at the Microsoft store. Really liked it, the one thing that makes me hesitate is that the 830, from what I have read so far, will not support "hey Cortana" when it is released.

If I understand correctly, of the currently available phones, only the 1520 and 930 (Icon) will run 'Hey Cortana'. Looks like I'm going to be using my 920 for a while longer.

 

[Hooobi]

I got to check one out at the Microsoft store. Really liked it, the one thing that makes me hesitate is that the 830, from what I have read so far, will not support "hey Cortana" when it is released.

If I understand correctly, of the currently available phones, only the 1520 and 930 (Icon) will run 'Hey Cortana'. Looks like I'm going to be using my 920 for a while longer.

That's my understanding as well. The L830 has Cortana, but not Hey Cortana with the passive listening. Supposedly the 400-series processor is the reason.

Personally, I haven't yet figured out how to utilize Cortana in a meaningful way, and I'm not really sure how I feel about the "passive listening" required for the Hey Cortana service anyway. Next they'll develop devices with "passive viewing" to keep an eye on you in case you've fallen and can't get up, oh, and they'll upload all of their observations to "improve their service to you." Starts to get a little creepy.