Nokia's Lumia series was a standout in the smartphone landscape, particularly for its Windows Phone operating system and impressive camera capabilities. The Lumia 928 and 1020 were flagship devices, but which one offered the better overall experience? Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Nokia Lumia 1020 wins this comparison, primarily due to its significantly superior camera and slightly better battery life. While both offer a solid Windows Phone experience, the 1020's imaging prowess makes it the clear choice for photography enthusiasts.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-875, RM-877 |
| 4G bands | 4, 13 - Verizon | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 - RM-875 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 | 2, 4, 5, 17 - RM-877 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, April. Released 2013, May | 2013, July 11. Released 2013, July 22 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 133 x 68.9 x 10.1 mm, 92.8 cc (5.24 x 2.71 x 0.40 in) | 130.4 x 71.4 x 10.4 mm, 96.9 cc (5.13 x 2.81 x 0.41 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 162 g (5.71 oz) | 158 g (5.57 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 2 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 768 x 1280 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~332 ppi density) | 768 x 1280 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~332 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.5 inches, 57.6 cm2 (~62.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.5 inches, 57.6 cm2 (~61.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| | PureMotion HD+ ClearBlack display | PureMotion HD+ ClearBlack display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait | Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus | Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus |
| GPU | Adreno 225 | Adreno 225 |
| OS | Microsoft Windows Phone 8, upgradable to 8.1 | Microsoft Windows Phone 8, upgradable to 8.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 32GB 1GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM (Telefonica exclusive) |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Carl Zeiss optics, xenon flash, panorama | Carl Zeiss optics, Xenon & LED flash, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, 1/3.2", 1.4µm, AF, OIS | 41 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/1.5", 1.12µm, AF, OIS |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec. | 1080p@30fps, 4x lossless digital zoom |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 1.3 MP | 1.2 MP |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE/ aptX after WP8 Denim update | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE/ aptX after WP8 Denim update |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Wireless (Qi) | - |
| Music play | Up to 80 h | Up to 63 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 606 h (2G) / Up to 541 h (3G) | Up to 384 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 11 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 16 h 20 min (3G) | Up to 19 h (2G) / Up to 13 h 20 min (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2000 mAh, non-removable (BV 4-NW) | Li-Ion 2000 mAh, non-removable (BV-5XW) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White | Yellow, white, black, red (AT&T exclusive) |
| Price | About 380 EUR | About 400 EUR |
| SAR | 1.44 W/kg (head) 1.38 W/kg (body) | 1.23 W/kg (head) 0.97 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.88 W/kg (head) | 0.76 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -82.5dB / Crosstalk -80.7dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 41h
|
Endurance rating 61h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 2.103 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 72dB
|
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -82.5dB / Crosstalk -80.7dB | - |
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 41h | Endurance rating 61h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 2.103 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 72dB |
Nokia Lumia 928
- Slimmer design
- Wireless charging (Qi)
- Good overall performance for its time
- Weaker camera compared to 1020
- Shorter battery life
- Limited app ecosystem (Windows Phone)
Nokia Lumia 1020
- Exceptional 41MP PureView camera
- Excellent image quality
- Good battery life
- Superior outdoor display visibility
- Thicker design
- No wireless charging
- Limited app ecosystem (Windows Phone)
Display Comparison
Both devices feature 4.5-inch IPS LCD displays with a resolution of 1280 x 768 pixels. The Lumia 1020 boasts a contrast ratio of Infinite (nominal) and 2.103 in sunlight, suggesting superior outdoor visibility and potentially richer blacks, although real-world differences might be subtle. Color accuracy is generally good on both, typical of the era.
Camera Comparison
This is where the Lumia 1020 truly shines. It features a groundbreaking 41-megapixel PureView camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and impressive low-light performance. The Lumia 928 has a respectable 8-megapixel camera, but it simply can't compete with the 1020's detail and image quality. The 1020's oversampling technology allowed for excellent results even when shooting at lower resolutions.
Performance
Powered by the same Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus chipset and dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait CPU, performance is largely comparable. Expect smooth navigation and app usage for everyday tasks, but demanding games might show some limitations. Neither phone is a powerhouse by today's standards.
Battery Life
The Lumia 1020 holds a slight advantage in battery life, with an endurance rating of 61 hours compared to the 928's 41 hours. However, both phones used relatively small batteries by modern standards, and heavy usage would still require frequent charging.
Buying Guide
The Nokia Lumia 928 is a good choice for users prioritizing a slightly slimmer design and wireless charging. The Lumia 1020 is ideal for those who demand the best possible camera performance and don't mind a thicker device.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Nokia Lumia 1020 worth buying in 2023?
While outdated, the Lumia 1020's camera remains impressive. If you're a photography enthusiast and can find one in good condition, it's a unique piece of tech. However, be aware of the limitations of Windows Phone.
❓ What operating system did these phones use?
Both the Nokia Lumia 928 and 1020 ran Windows Phone 8.1. Support for this operating system has ended, so updates and app availability are extremely limited.
