Nokia Lumia 1520 vs Nokia Lumia 1020

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.

The 1020 offers a powerful 41 megapixel camera that for some maybe a point and shoot replacement. The camera offers powerful OIS (optical image stabilization) to allow for slower shutter speeds in low light conditions and smooth video. The camera has no optical zoom but with 41 megapixels and oversampling software, software zooming is much improved. Nokia also offers powerful manual controls and other camera applications to take advantage of the camera. One disadvantage of the 41 megapixels is the shot to shot time. In normal camera operation without burst mode the camera takes its time to save the image before you can take the next shot.

Although it is made out of plastic, the plastic is a high quality polycarbonate plastic. The weight adds to the premium feel.

The camera grip is a great accessory for the photography focused 1020. The case connects through Micro-USB and offers a tripod mount for shots with a slow shutter speed. The grip even has a built 1020 mAh battery to give the 1020 an extra 55 minutes of shooting time.

At first glance this 2,000 mAh battery is a bit unimpressive. Fortunately though the 1020 defies its specification and offers impressive battery life. Making it through the day should be no problem with normal usage. Although one disadvantage is the battery is non-removable. The optional camera grip with the battery expansion should be used for long days of photography.

A dual-core chip on a Windows Phone was flagship hardware until 2014 with the release of the 1520. The 1020 uses the somewhat outdated dual-core chip but because Windows Phone 8 is so well optimized and lightweight the 1020 handles all tasks with speed and smoothness.

The 4.5'' 1280 x 768 screen on the 1020 is an AMOLED display with 334 PPI. Viewing angles are excellent and blacks are very black. The 1020 also features Gorilla Glass 3 and Nokia's super sensitive technology. The display is very saturated but Nokia offers the Color Profile application for different tastes.