Nokia Lumia 800 : In the annals of mobile phone history, few devices have left as indelible a mark as the Nokia Lumia 800.
Launched in November 2011, this sleek and stylish smartphone represented a pivotal moment for Nokia, marking the Finnish giant’s first serious foray into the world of Windows Phone devices.
Let’s dive deep into the story of this iconic handset, exploring its features, impact, and legacy.
Nokia Lumia 800 The Birth of a New Era
The Nokia Lumia 800 didn’t just appear out of thin air. Its genesis was rooted in a series of strategic decisions and market pressures that had been building for years.
Nokia, once the undisputed king of mobile phones, found itself struggling to compete in the new smartphone landscape dominated by Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android platform.
In a bold move, Nokia’s then-CEO Stephen Elop penned the now-famous “Burning Platform” memo, acknowledging the company’s precarious position and hinting at drastic changes to come.
The fruit of this new direction was a partnership with Microsoft, and the Lumia 800 was to be its flagship offering.
Nokia Lumia 800 Design: A Visual Masterpiece
From the moment you laid eyes on the Lumia 800, it was clear this was no ordinary smartphone.
Nokia had always been known for its hardware prowess, and the Lumia 800 was a testament to this legacy:
Unibody Polycarbonate Shell: Available in eye-catching cyan, magenta, and black, the phone’s seamless body was a marvel of industrial design.
Curved Glass Display: The 3.7-inch AMOLED screen seemed to melt into the body, creating a smooth, pebble-like feel in the hand.
Minimalist Button Layout: With just power, volume, and camera buttons, the design exuded simplicity and elegance.
The Lumia 800 borrowed heavily from the design of the Nokia N9, a short-lived MeeGo-based phone that had won critical acclaim for its looks.
This design language would go on to define the entire Lumia line, setting Nokia apart in a sea of rectangular slabs.
Nokia Lumia 800 Under the Hood: Powering the Experience
While the Lumia 800’s exterior turned heads, its internals were tasked with delivering a smooth, responsive user experience:
Processor: A single-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 clocked at 1.4 GHz
RAM: 512 MB
Storage: 16 GB internal (non-expandable)
Battery: 1450 mAh
By today’s standards, these specs might seem quaint, but in 2011, they were more than capable of running the efficient Windows Phone 7.5 operating system.
Nokia Lumia 800 Camera: Carrying the Nokia Legacy
Nokia had long been associated with superior mobile photography, and the Lumia 800 aimed to continue this tradition:
8 MP Carl Zeiss optics: Known for their quality and color accuracy
f/2.2 aperture: Allowing for good low-light performance
Dual LED flash: For even illumination in dark scenes
720p video recording: High-definition video capture
While not groundbreaking, the camera was a solid performer, often producing results that rivaled or exceeded those of its contemporaries.
Nokia Lumia 800 Software: Windows Phone 7.5 “Mango”
The real star of the show was the operating system. Windows Phone 7.5, codenamed “Mango,” was Microsoft’s latest attempt to break into the smartphone market dominated by iOS and Android. Its unique features included:
Live Tiles: Dynamic, updating squares that displayed real-time information
People Hub: A central location for all social networking and contact information
Office Integration: Seamless compatibility with Microsoft’s productivity suite
Xbox Live: Gaming features that tied into Microsoft’s console ecosystem
The interface was a breath of fresh air in a world of grid-based app layouts.
Its fluidity and typography-focused design language, known as Metro, would go on to influence Microsoft’s design across all platforms.
Nokia Lumia 800 Market Reception: A Mixed Bag
When the Lumia 800 hit store shelves, it was met with a mixture of excitement and skepticism.
Critics praised the hardware design and the fresh approach to smartphone UI that Windows Phone offered.
However, concerns lingered about the nascent app ecosystem and whether Nokia and Microsoft could truly compete with the established players.
Sales were respectable, particularly in European markets where Nokia’s brand remained strong.
However, the device struggled to gain significant traction in the crucial US market, where carrier relationships and subsidy models played a major role.
Nokia Lumia 800 The App Conundrum
One of the biggest challenges facing the Lumia 800 and the Windows Phone platform as a whole was the app ecosystem.
While Microsoft worked hard to court developers, the platform struggled to attract the same breadth and quality of apps found on iOS and Android.
This “app gap” would continue to be a thorn in the side of Windows Phone devices, including subsequent Lumia models, for years to come.
Nokia Lumia 800 Impact on Nokia’s Future
The Lumia 800 represented more than just a new phone for Nokia; it was a harbinger of the company’s future direction.
The success (or lack thereof) of this device would set the tone for Nokia’s smartphone strategy in the coming years.
While the Lumia 800 didn’t single-handedly reverse Nokia’s fortunes, it did establish the company as the premier Windows Phone manufacturer.
This position would eventually lead to Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia’s mobile phone business in 2013.
Nokia Lumia 800 Legacy and Influence
Though the Lumia 800 may not have achieved the commercial success Nokia and Microsoft hoped for, its influence on smartphone design and user interface cannot be overstated:
Design Language: The bold colors and unibody design influenced not just future Nokia/Microsoft devices, but competitors as well.
User Interface: The Metro design language and concept of Live Tiles found their way into Windows 8 and beyond.
Photography Focus: Nokia’s emphasis on camera quality in the Lumia line pushed competitors to improve their own imaging capabilities.
Nokia Lumia 800 Technical Specifications in Detail
For the tech enthusiasts, here’s a deeper dive into the Lumia 800’s specifications:
Display: 3.7″ AMOLED ClearBlack glass touchscreen, 800×480 pixels
Processor: Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon, 1.4 GHz Scorpion
GPU: Adreno 205
RAM: 512 MB
Storage: 16 GB internal (no microSD slot)
Camera: 8 MP rear with Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, dual-LED flash
Video: 720p@30fps
Connectivity: HSDPA 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1
Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery: Li-Ion 1450 mAh (BP-5JW)
Dimensions: 116.5 x 61.2 x 12.1 mm
Weight: 142 g
Nokia Lumia 800 The Competition: How Did It Stack Up?
To truly understand the Lumia 800’s position in the market, it’s worth comparing it to its main rivals at the time:
Apple iPhone 4S:
Pros: Established ecosystem, Siri virtual assistant
Cons: Smaller screen, higher price
Samsung Galaxy S II:
Pros: Larger screen, more powerful processor
Cons: Plastic build, less distinctive design
HTC Sensation:
Pros: Dual-core processor, higher resolution screen
Cons: Less premium feel, shorter battery life
The Lumia 800 held its own in terms of build quality and design, often surpassing its rivals in these areas.
However, it lagged behind in raw processing power and screen size, which were becoming increasingly important to consumers.
Nokia Lumia 800 The User Experience: A Day in the Life
To truly appreciate what made the Lumia 800 special, let’s walk through a typical day with the device:
Morning: The ClearBlack display makes checking notifications a joy, even in bright sunlight.
Commute: The People Hub aggregates social media updates, making catching up on news effortless.
Work: Seamless Office integration means editing documents on the go is a breeze.
Evening: The Carl Zeiss lens captures vibrant photos of dinner with friends, easily shared via the intuitive interface.
Night: A quick game on Xbox Live before bed, with achievements syncing to your console account.
This cohesive, integrated experience was something that set the Lumia 800 apart from its more fragmented Android competitors.
Nokia Lumia 800 Software Updates: The Promise of Improvement
One of the advantages of the Windows Phone ecosystem was Microsoft’s commitment to updates. The Lumia 800 received several significant updates during its lifetime:
Windows Phone 7.5 “Mango”: The OS it shipped with, bringing multitasking and IE9.
Windows Phone 7.8: A consolation update bringing some Windows Phone 8 features to older devices.
These updates helped keep the device feeling fresh, though the inability to upgrade to Windows Phone 8 due to hardware limitations was a sore point for many users.
Nokia Lumia 800 The Cultural Impact
The Lumia 800 wasn’t just a phone; it became something of a cultural icon, particularly in Europe:
Its distinctive design made it instantly recognizable.
The bold color options became a fashion statement.
It featured prominently in Nokia’s marketing campaigns, often focusing on its low-light photography capabilities.
For a brief moment, carrying a Lumia 800 was a statement – a sign that you valued design and were willing to try something different in a world of iPhones and Android devices.
Nokia Lumia 800 Conclusion: A Beautiful Beginning
The Nokia Lumia 800 may not have single-handedly saved Nokia or propelled Windows Phone to market dominance, but it accomplished something perhaps more important: it showed that there was room for innovation and fresh thinking in the smartphone space.
Its influence can still be felt today, from the emphasis on industrial design in modern smartphones to the tile-based interfaces that have proliferated across various operating systems.
The Lumia 800 was more than just a phone; it was a bold statement about what smartphones could be.
As we look back on the Lumia 800, we’re reminded of a time when the smartphone market was still young and full of possibilities.
While Nokia’s journey with Windows Phone would eventually come to an end, the Lumia 800 stands as a testament to the company’s ability to create beautiful, functional devices that pushed the boundaries of what we expected from our mobile companions.
In the grand tapestry of mobile phone history, the Nokia Lumia 800 holds a special place – not as the best-selling or most powerful device, but as a beautifully crafted piece of technology that dared to be different. And for that, it will always be remembered.