Windows Phones with less powerful dual core processors run consistently and quickly because of the excellent software optimization of Windows Phone. As a result the 1520 with the first quad-core processor for Windows Phone runs just as smoothly but quicker.

The 1520's display is pretty close to perfection. The screen is 1080p with a dense PPI of 367. Colors are bright and vibrant. The display is super sensitive and can be used with gloves. The viewing angles are fantastic and the whites are truly white. The colors (temperature and saturation) can even be adjusted in Nokia's color profile application. The display is also protected by Gorilla Glass 2. Lastly Nokia's ClearBlack technology allows for better outdoor readability with built-in polarization filters.

The camera on the 1520 is fantastic even if it is a little bit overshadowed by the 41 megapixel camera on the 1020. The camera uses Carl Zeiss optics and has OIS (optical image stabilization) for photos in low light conditions and minimal vibration during videos. Image capture responsiveness is somewhat slow but the overall image quality is excellent. Nokia's camera apps also offer powerful levels of manual control and even RAW support.

The massive size of the Lumia 1520 allows for a massive, 3400 mAh battery. As a result the 1520 easily makes it through the day but because of it's powerful specifications any more would be difficult. Unfortunately though the battery is non-removable.

The 1520 comes with either 16 or 32GB of internal storage but also for MicroSD card support. With the upcoming Windows Phone 8.1 update applications will also be able to be installed on the MicroSD card.

The 1520 supports wireless charging with the optional accessory cover.