I’m a long-time Windows Phone fan and an owner of the Lumia 1520, viewed as the operating system’s flagship handset since late 2013. In July last year, the 1520 was joined by the Lumia 930, a device which is virtually identical in terms of hardware but drops the massive six-inch phablet design in favour of a more manageable 5-inch display.
Since then, there have been no more top-tier Windows Phones. Microsoft stopped selling both the 930 and 1520 months ago and the line has been left hanging without any real premium offering. That changed on Tuesday — or rather it should have.
Microsoft’s Panos Panay took to the stage to unveil the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL. Already revealed in numerous detailed leaks months before the event, many fans had already made their minds up about these devices: interesting, but just a tad boring.
The pair are undoubtedly powerful and premium handsets but they just aren’t as powerful and premium as people had wanted. The design is uninspired and devoid of character and the specifications decidedly “average” for 2015. The 950 sports a 5.2-inch display and hexa-core processor while the 950 XL packs in a larger 5.7-inch panel over an octa-core powerhouse. Capable, yes, unique and head-turning… no.
Microsoft Lumia 950 at the #Windows10 devices launch event.
Microsoft
The only truly unique hardware is the 20MP, sixth-generation camera and iris scanner for Windows Hello, but both of these features are powered by Windows 10. Everything else has been seen before in phones that will undoubtedly outsell anything Microsoft creates in the near future.
The real differentiating factor between the Lumia 950 and 950 XL and their contemporary Android counterparts is that fact: these phones are Windows, those phones are Android. The true magic in the Lumia 950 and 950 XL lies with Windows 10 Mobile and not with the hardware inside.
At the time when the company needs an all-new, inspired mobile design more than ever, it under-delivered and upset even the most passionate fans. What’s more, Microsoft knows it.
File photo: Lumia 950 demo at #Windows10 devices event 6/10/15.
Microsoft
At this point, I’ll admit this article may appear to be an exact reversal of everything I’ve previously written about Microsoft’s event. Yesterday, I published over 2,500 words of praise for the new “enthusiasm” and “excitement” shown by Microsoft whereas today I’m saying it under-delivered. I stand by both articles. The event was exciting and the team was enthusiastic — about Surface, Band, Xbox and HoloLens. Love for Lumia was conspicuously restrained.
Panos Panay introduced the new phones but quickly glossed over the details. Indeed, the only points that were highlighted were the things I’ve already identified as comparatively unique: camera, Windows Hello and the all-important Continuum technology. Of these three spotlights, Panay only covered the first while Bryan Roper — who quickly became recognised as the star of the event for his enthusiastic, self-confident presenting style — took over for the software.
Panay, head of Microsoft devices, opted to stay as uninvolved as possible with the phones that could make or break Windows 10 Mobile. At the very end of the announcement, one more handset was revealed: the budget-oriented Lumia 550. The details appeared on a presentation behind Panay for less than 15 seconds.
Microsoft Lumia 550
Microsoft
There seems to be a reason for these oddities. Panay actually gave it as he walked on stage holding the 950 and 950 XL, saying “remember, I’ve only worked with this team for a very short time.” He was referring to how he has only just been promoted to overall head of the Microsoft devices group and is now responsible for both Surface and Lumia. Reading between the lines and interpreting what he meant, it seems like the phrase was a disclaimer of sorts. Panay disowned the phones, saying they aren’t what he wanted, they aren’t his designs and they aren’t like what he is already working on.
The “new” Lumia 950 and 950 XL aren’t actually all that new, as far as their exterior designs go. Originally, they still date from creations built by Nokia before Microsoft bought the company’s devices division. Although they may wear Microsoft badges and carry the standard for Microsoft’s mobile software, they aren’t Microsoft at heart. They are Nokias and it is Nokias they resemble.
This is what Panay wanted to tell the audience. The various recent leaks of images of the phones meant fans had already voiced their own opinions on the designs weeks before the event. Panay acknowledged the neutral reception and offered an explanation. They aren’t what he would have done and it can only be assumed he is working on something better. Something that takes the stunning design of Surface and puts it into a phone form-factor. Could that something be Surface Phone?
Continuum on Windows 10 Mobile – when connected to a display, the phone powers a Windows 10 desktop experience via a dock
Microsoft October 2015 Live Event
Certainly, it seems likely. Several news sites with inside sources at Microsoft have been writing as much for months. If true, it will be this device that gives fans what they have been wanting. The last remnants of Nokia will be finally dismissed and replaced with the work of Panay and the partners that have already built Surface into the success it is today. It isn’t hard to imagine the meticulous design of the Surface Pro 4 being condensed to fit a device in the 5-6-inch range.
Surface Phone will be the first “true” Microsoft Mobile product and the first to have standout hardware and software. If there is one thing Surface hardware is known for, it is power courtesy of Intel processors. A Surface phone would almost certainly be Intel-powered too, giving it a unique advantage that no other manufacturer could ever achieve and the same advantage that has allowed Surface tablets to dominate in the productivity sector: the ability to run any Windows program ever written.
Being able to run desktop programs on a relatively small phone screen is of course illogical and doomed to failure due to the small, mouse-friendly UI elements of traditional Windows. But when combined with Continuum for phones it begins to make a lot more sense.
Windows Hello on Windows 10 Mobile Lumia 950, 06/10/2015
Microsoft October 2015 Live Event
The Lumia 950 and 950 XL can be connected to external displays and used in a similar manner to the desktop edition of Windows 10. Universal apps resize to their desktop variants and an essentially-complete Windows working environment is created. Imagine that happening with the Intel x86 processor architecture under the hood.
It’s speculative at best but, in theory, an actual desktop could appear. Not the limited, basic one that currently displays on Continuum for phones but the exact same interface as is used on tablets, laptops and PCs. The processor would certainly be capable of powering it but it remains to be seen whether Microsoft could ever make it possible. If it can be done then we could be just months away from a day when you can take your phone out your pocket, connect it to a display and use any Windows program you like.
That is a phone I would buy and that is a phone it seems Panos Panay would enjoy demonstrating. It may be months away or it may never happen but Panay is clearly keen to warn that he knows the 950 and 950 XL haven’t got the “wow” factor fans had expected. Indeed, he seems to feel the same way himself. It will be interesting to see how Lumia progresses with Panay at the helm, evolving the ethos of Surface to suit smaller screens.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL press image
Microsoft
In the meantime, it should be noted the new phones haven’t been met with only negativity even if many people have been left wanting more. There are many fans of the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL and I do not believe these phones are a “failure.” Although they haven’t inspired me as much as I’d hoped, I haven’t had the chance to try or even see either of the devices and have based my opinion solely off of pictures, videos, the spec sheet and the attitude of Panos Panay at the #Windows10devices event.
Personally, I’m sticking with my Lumia 1520 but now also have an order placed on a 930 to join it. The hardware in both may be aging but they are more than capable of running Windows 10 Mobile and I’m confident Microsoft is working on something much more exciting than the 950-series, whether it be Intel-powered or otherwise.
