Microsoft's Lumia line offered some unique and powerful devices. Today, we're pitting two of their flagship models against each other: the Lumia 1030 and the Lumia 950 XL. Both phones boasted impressive features for their time, but which one ultimately delivers a better experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Lumia 950 XL edges out the 1030 thanks to its significantly faster processor, modern Snapdragon 810 chipset, and support for wireless charging. While the 1030's camera was legendary, the 950 XL's overall performance and future-proofing make it the slightly better choice.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40 - EMEA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 2, 4, 5, 17 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2015, October. Released 2015, November |
| Status | Cancelled | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | - | 151.9 x 78.4 x 8.1 mm (5.98 x 3.09 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 165 g (5.82 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~518 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 | 5.7 inches, 88.5 cm2 (~74.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| | PureMotion HD+ ClearBlack display | ClearBlack display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) |
| Chipset | - | Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (20 nm) |
| GPU | - | Adreno 430 |
| OS | Microsoft Windows 8.1 | Microsoft Windows 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR | Zeiss optics, triple-LED RGB flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, 1/1.2", AF, OIS | 20 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/2.4", 1.12µm, AF, OIS |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 4x lossless digital zoom | 4K@30fps, stereo sound rec., 1080p@30/60fps (after SW update) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP | 5 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX | 4.1, A2DP |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Iris scanner, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, sensor core |
| | - | Microsoft Continuum support |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired
Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) |
| Music play | - | Up to 75 h |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 288 h (2G) / Up to 288 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 25 h (2G) / Up to 19 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2600 mAh battery (BV-F4A) | Li-Ion 3340 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Gray, Silver | Black, White |
| Price | - | About 350 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -91.6dB / Crosstalk -89.3dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 62h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.837 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 74dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 84dB
|
| Performance | - |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 1472Basemark X: 32178 |
Microsoft Lumia 1030
- Exceptional 41MP PureView camera
- Excellent low-light performance
- High-quality display with great contrast
- Compact design
- Older processor and platform
- Limited app availability
- No wireless charging
- Slower charging speeds
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
- Faster Snapdragon 810 processor
- Larger display with higher resolution
- Wireless charging support
- More modern software features
- Better multitasking performance
- Camera not as impressive as the 1030
- Larger size
- Battery life, while good, not significantly better than 1030
Display Comparison
Both devices feature displays with a remarkable contrast ratio of 'Infinite' (nominal) and 3.837 in sunlight, indicating excellent outdoor visibility. The 950 XL has a larger 5.7-inch display compared to the 1030's 5.5-inch screen, offering more screen real estate for media consumption and multitasking. Resolution is also higher on the 950 XL, resulting in a sharper image.
Camera Comparison
The Lumia 1030 was renowned for its exceptional 41MP PureView camera, capable of capturing stunning detail and producing impressive images even in low light. While the 950 XL's camera is also capable, it doesn't quite reach the same level of photographic excellence as the 1030, particularly in terms of detail and low-light performance. However, the 950 XL benefits from newer image processing algorithms.
Performance
The Lumia 950 XL's Snapdragon 810 chipset with its octa-core processor (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) provides a substantial performance boost over the 1030's quad-core processor. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user experience. The 950 XL handles demanding games and applications with greater ease.
Battery Life
Both devices boast an endurance rating of 62 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under typical usage. The 950 XL's larger battery capacity likely contributes to this impressive longevity. The 950 XL also supports 18W wired charging and Qi wireless charging (market dependent), offering greater charging flexibility.
Buying Guide
The Lumia 1030 is for photography enthusiasts who prioritize camera quality above all else and don't mind an older platform. The Lumia 950 XL is for users seeking a more powerful and versatile device with a modern processor and wireless charging, even if it means a slight compromise on camera performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Lumia 1030 still worth buying?
If you're a serious photography enthusiast and can find one in good condition, the 1030's camera is still impressive. However, be aware of the limitations of the older Windows Phone platform.
❓ Which Lumia has better performance?
The Lumia 950 XL has significantly better performance thanks to its Snapdragon 810 processor and octa-core CPU.
