Nokia Lumia 1320 review

A capable phablet, but is it already obsolete?

Nokia Lumia 1320 review
Nokia wants us to enjoy this budget moment

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Whilst the Nokia Lumia 1320 is a perfectly capable phone, it's essentially just a chunkier and all-round less desirable version of the Nokia Lumia 1520, and I'm not sure that's good enough.

With a number of merely average components and a price tag that's not as cheap as it should be, it's tough to see who the Nokia Lumia 1320 will appeal to.

We liked

That 6-inch display is big, bright, and sharp enough to show off an expanded Windows Phone 8 OS in all its colourful glory.

Despite such an in-your-face screen, the Lumia 1320 is a real power sipper, making it well suited to long-haul public transport trips. Download the Xbox Video app and you're laughing.

While its 5MP camera is quite ordinary compared to others in the Nokia stable, it's a reasonably capable – and appreciably snappy – unit that can be depended upon in a pinch.

We disliked

The Lumia 1320's build quality isn't quite up to Nokia's usual standards, with a cheap-feeling rear plastic cover that's prone to creakiness.

While the 6-inch 720p display is more capable than I was expecting, Windows Phone 8 still doesn't seem to have caught up. It's poorly optimised for the whole phablet form factor.

With the Lumia 1520 now within a similar price range to the Lumia 1320, its whole reason for continued existence seems questionable.

Verdict

The Nokia Lumia 1320 is positioned as budget alternative to the all-powerful Nokia Lumia 1520, but there's a problem. The Nokia Lumia 1520 has dropped in price significantly, making the 1320 seem surplus to requirements.

Comparisons aside, it's an extremely hefty phone that lacks Nokia's usual design flair, with a workmanlike plastic construction that's prone to creaking.

This middle-of-the road feeling continues with its underwhelming processor, average camera, and lack of any stand-out software that really marks the Lumia 1320 out as unique.

You'll be getting a strong Windows Phone 8 experience here, but that can be had for less money and in a more desirable package these days.

First reviewed: March 2014