Reactions to the iPhone 5 have been mixed, with some fans getting ready to queue up on 21st September to hand over wads of cash in exchange for unlocked handsets. Meanwhile, others haven't been quite as impressed and see the upgrades to Apple's sixth-generation iPhone as necessary improvements to keep the premium phone in the running. Updated: 14th September
We take a look at one potential alternative in this comparison review: the Lumia 920. See also: iPhone 5 review.
As we've had limited hands-on time with these phones, we'll have to leave a definitive comparison for later, but for now, the specs can do the talking. See also: iPhone 5 hands-on review See iPhone 5 price in UK.
iPhone 5 vs Lumia 920 comparison review: design
There's no doubt that the iPhone 5 is stylish. It has already been compared to a finely manufactured wristwatch, and its aluminium and glass construction give it a business-like, industrial feel. Visit iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4S comparison review.
The Lumia 920, on the other hand, comes in bright yellow among other colours and has a one-piece polycarbonate body with rounded edges. In this respect, it's not doing much differently from the Lumia 800, but it's still more conspicuous and fun than the iPhone. See also Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Apple iPhone 5 comparison review.
Getting to the specs, the iPhone measures 124 x 59 x 7.6mm and weighs 112g. That's amazingly light for the size. Take a look at iPhone 5 specs and features too.
The Lumia 920 is chunkier, at 130 x 71 x 10.7mm. It weighs 185g, too, which is 25g heavier than the Lumia 900. It's a weighty phone. Take a look at iPhone 5: what you need to know too.
Lumia 920 vs iPhone 5 comparison review: screen
The iPhone 5 has a 4in screen with a 1136 x 640 resolution. It's a 16:9 aspect ratio and a pixel density of 326ppi.
The Lumia 920 has a bigger 4.5in screen and a huge resolution of 1280x768 (roughly speaking, that's a 16:10 aspect ratio). Even though it's larger than the iPhone's it still beats it on pixel density (just) at 332ppi. It's an IPS LCD screen with an anti-glare filter and, although we've yet to put the two side by side, it's entirely possible that the winner in terms of clarity, is the Lumia 920.
The 920's screen is curved like the Lumia 800's (Nokia calls this 2.5D) and also works if you're wearing gloves, something the iPhone doesn't do.
iPhone 5 vs Lumia 920 comparison review: processor
The details of the iPhone 5's A6 chip are shrouded in mystery at the moment, although it seems fairly certain that it's a dual-core chip. We don't know anything about it's speed, or even how much RAM the phone has, but these details are largely irrelevant.
More important is how the hardware handles the operating system, games and tasks such as loading web pages. Efficient software doesn't necessarily demand a faster processor than a phone running inefficient software.
The Lumia 920 will run Windows Phone 8 (see below) and has a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 chip, backed by 1GB of RAM.
iPhone 5 vs Lumia 920 comparison review: storage
There are three capacities to choose between with the iPhone 5: 16, 32 and 64GB. It isn't possible to add more.
Nokia will offer the 920 with 32GB of storage (plus 7GB free with a Microsoft SkyDrive account), but despite Windows Phone 8 allowing the option of memory expansion, the Lumia 920 doesn't have a memory card slot.
iPhone 5 vs Lumia 920 comparison review: camera
Cameras are becoming increasingly important when deciding which smartphone to buy as their quality is getting up to compact digital camera levels. Yes, they lack a zoom lens - a big disadvantage to most photographers - but they're always in your pocket ready to shoot.
The iPhone 5's 8Mp camera looks to be impressive with its back-illuminated sensor and precision-engineered lens, plus the stabilisation and new panorama features.
However, the Lumia 920 could match or beat the iPhone here as it has an 8.7Mp sensor and optical, rather than electronic, stabilisation. Nokia has also shown off the ability to add features to the 920's camera app - including augmented reality with its so-called City Lens.
Both phones can shoot 1080p video, but until we've had a chance to test both out in a variety of conditions, it's impossible to say which one is the better snapper.
iPhone 5 vs Lumia 920 comparison review: software
Although iOS 6, which ships with the iPhone 5, doesn't look much different from the original version on the first iPhone, it's a superb operating system. It's both easy to use and packed with features, and there are more than ever in this new release.
Siri is better than the voice-controlled TellMe function in Windows Phone 8, but Apple doesn't allow third-party developers to expand on Siri's capabilities as Microsoft will in WP8.
iOS 6 also has tight Twitter and Facebook integration, what looks to be an impressive new Maps app, and many other standard high-quality apps. Let's not forget, too, that the App Store now has over 700,000 apps, even if virtually all need updating to fully use the iPhone 5's bigger screen.
The Lumia 920, as we've said, runs Windows Phone 8. Unfortunately, we don't know too much about this new OS yet and there's still no release date. It's not going to be vastly different to Windows Phone 7, though, which has an intuitive and good-looking interface. It's more customisable than iOS and benefits from live tiles, just as in Windows 8.
Nokia Maps and Drive offer turn-by-turn voice-guided navigation but, until we can try the rival systems out side by side, we can't definitively say which is best.
iPhone 5 vs Lumia 920 comparison review: wireless tech
The battle heats up when we get to wireless technologies. The iPhone 5 has dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi (it works on 2.4 and 5GHz), as does the Lumia 920.
However, Nokia has also built in both NFC (Near Field communication) and wireless charging, neither of which Apple saw fit to include in the iPhone 5. These are unlikely to be deal-breakers for anyone considering an iPhone 5, admittedly.
We've yet to see how efficient the 920's Qi Wireless charging is, and there's currently not much support for NFC when it comes to paying for goods. This will change, but whether it becomes widespread before the 920 is obsolete is debatable.
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Comments
Jesus said: You cannot tell these true phones apartI personally prefer Lumia 920 The sound and video are on par with the iPhone they leave the android FAR FAR Away Android think this is about SPECSQUADSCores here and there F THAT BSIts not my friend Its Quality over specs iPhone give quality hardwareMy android crashes on me atleast7times a day the market base is so unstable and they release too much buggy firmwares some whichdrainbattery majorlyNokia vs HTC Both windows 8 Why does NOKIA Lumia 920 p over HTC 8x HARDWARE QUALITY Better Graphic CardCameraSpeakers what do you do on your phone Game Get a PCConsole best you will get on a device is PS2 Graphics Get with the timesPhones are for Quick Browsing APPSMUSICCameraBrowsersVideos Oh wait all that results around the Key factors of lumia 920 am I right If you had both in your hand you will notice both of these are Smooth in the OS Both iPhone 5 and Lumia 920has magnificent sound and graphic card though lumia 920 does feel great its a love hate thing most love itI didnt think id ever concider checking out a windows phone after the windows 7 but they have really done a good job getting back on there feet
zenobi97 said: have you not seen the photo comparison shots how do you deduct there is no difference you cant compare any of the software functions eitherunless you have secret access to WP8ohand weve seen how great apple maps is
Chukka63 said: apple brag about their apps as nothing is built into the handset like nokia doesI cant wait to trade my basic 4s in for a 920
URNumber6 said: Real NOKIAs ie not the WPx devices being made by Compal but wearing a NOKIA badge had full bluetooth connectivity to any device 35mm jacks and USB On-The-Go You didnt need any specially designed accessory pretty much anything you bought would workBesides by purchasing an iPhone you are revealing yourself as someone who is very easily separated from their money so youre bound to be targeted
URNumber6 said: Youre wrong about build quality even budget NOKIA Series 40 phones are more robust than an iPhone The flimsy materials used in an iPhone is shocking
NIck932 said: it all sounds great but is it possible to reply to an email and attach a couple files In Lumia there is no such restriction thanks to Microsoft It seems that Apple sells good looking technology from 1980s
Gavin Tom said: doesnt this have a lot to do with the operating system
Gavin Tom said: the microphone rumor is probably truehttpwwwwpcentralcomnokia and Ive also hear they are way improving on the tellme function I actually had no problems with the last one but heyimprovementisimprovement
Rich Paine said: Im sure even the most devoted iphone fan will be slightly disappointed with with version 5 People buy into Apple because they expect style stability and innovationSure they have the stability style really is nothing new and the only folks innovating are NokiaLooks like the apple might be going slightly pear shaped
simplytrue said: Why are all the nice accessories only aimed at the iPhone there are endless i-docking stations with clocks and Hi-fisome cars even have i-Docks Just try and by a compatible Nokia or Samsung or indeed any other brand docking station It really cheeses me off
Matt Egan said: And you will see exactly that as soon as iPhone 5 is out and the Lumia 920 even exists Watch this space
Love_ntt said: The comparison of Lumia 920 fails to mention many important points like using gloves for touch screen better refresh rate etc Why
Dwerp said: The Lumia 920 also has dual band 245GHz wireless technologies It support 80211 abgn a is on 5GHz Source here httpwwwdevelopernokiacom
Watchtamilmovies said: one more addition to lumia screen features u can use the phone same like other capacitive touch or even with gloves car keys stylus etc
Cavanitsolutions said: no it isnt It is a Dual-core A6 ARM cortex Def not Quad
Spitefulgod said: By that you also mean a lot of stock to recover Cant wait to cash those babies in after a few years
Spitefulgod said: Lumia 920 for me the vastly superior camera the vastly superior screen allowing me to also use it with my gloves on in winter the wireless charging and the game changer DirectX and Direct3D Its also going to be tightly integrated with XBox and windows8 so for me its going to be the lumia 920 Plus I think theyve got something up their sleeves with the microphone array and the tellme service theyve been pimping in the background
Philip Sober said: I love when tech writers do reviews of phones amp cant even bother to do enough research to get something as simple as the type of screen the phone is using correct Lumia 920 is an LCD screen
Masood said: finally nokia is back with something which is upto date and competitive in the market
GooBetBes said: Hmmm problems of transfer period I believe in future accessing a cloud will be mainstream