The age of phablet is here, with everyone going super-size with their mobility products. Latest to join the phablet race is Nokia and Microsoft with the new Lumia 1520, which is indeed the first Windows Phone-based phablet. It may appeal to those who like their smartphones big and of course, it will not fit into many pockets.

The Lumia 1520 features a boatload of new hardware and software features, with the latter introduced with the third Windows Phone update. The phone runs Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 with Lumia Black and comes with the third Live Tile column in the Start menu.

In addition, what’s new with the Nokia Lumia 1520 is that it comes with full version of the Microsoft’s Office mobile suite free for life. In addition, the Lumia 1520 is the first Windows Phone to come with a Snapdragon 800 SoC, the first with a quad-core CPU, the first with a 1080p display, and the first to really compete on a hardware level with top Android devices of the same generation.

What’s more, Nokia uses its vast imaging expertise to good use by packing in a 20-megapixel PureView shooter into the Lumia 1520, which also features dual-LED flash. The Nokia Lumia 1520 also comes with 6-inch full-HD (1080×1920) LCD display, the biggest seen on a Nokia phone yet, rounding it off with Gorilla Glass 2 for minimizing damage to the screen.

Other specs include 2GB of RAM, a front-facing 1.2-megapixel HD camera, a 3400mAh battery, and a built-in wireless charging functionality. For surround-like recording and noise cancellation, Nokia has also included four microphones on the new flagship. It comes preloaded with apps such as the Nokia Storyteller app which integrates clicked images and recorded videos with HERE maps, and a new Nokia Camera app with Pro Camera UI.

Polycarbonate seems to be the material of choice for Nokia. It has once again used the same material for the majority of the Lumia 1520’s construction, giving it a very similar feel to the mid-range Lumia 720. While the polycarbonate material used is technically plastic, it shows that Nokia knows its hardware as the phone retains a high-class, high-quality feel to it.

The Lumia 1520 maintains the capacitive Back, Home and Search buttons just like other phablets. The basic layout of the other hardware controls is also unchanged – all the buttons are on the right side, starting with the volume rocker on top, the power key and finally the two stage shutter key. Those keys have been moved down so they are easy to reach with your thumb.

The left side of the Lumia 1520 holds the nano-SIM card compartment and the microSD card slot. Those have to be opened with a dedicated tool, which might be a hindrance if you swap memory cards often. Still, we’re always glad to see expandable storage, especially on devices with high resolution screens and high megapixel cameras. The bottom of the phablet features a regular microUSB 2.0 port, while the 3.5mm audio jack is smack in the middle on top.

Like previous Nokia smartphones the Lumia 1520 ships with Nokia’s much better Nokia Camera. This new camera app combines the functions of the previously separate Nokia Pro Cam and Smart Cam apps and launches by default when you long press the shutter button on the phone.

Basic shooting is straightforward if you’ve used a smartphone camera before. A half-press of the shutter button locks the focus but, unlike on compact cameras or DSLRs, not the exposure. The latter is linked to the focus point which can be moved by tapping on the screen. Face detection is on by default and makes sure faces are in focus. The Nokia Camera app is indeed one of the best pre-installed camera apps we have come across in recent times.

With a 6-inch display, watching videos on the Lumia 1520 is a real treat, even if there still isn’t a native YouTube app. The on-screen controls for videos played on Windows Phone 8 are very bare as you’ll be able to pause & play your content as well as fast-forward and rewind.

The Lumia 1520 is also an awesome gaming machine. We tried a wide range of games – some light and some resource intensive. The Lumia 1520 was able to perform really well during our gaming sessions.

The overall experience using the phone was excellent. The call quality was good and so was the reception. If you are on the market for a device that runs Windows Phone 8, has a brilliant screen, and can perform well, the Lumia 1520 should be on your shopping list.

Price: AED 2599

Specifications:
Display: 6-inch, 1080p IPS screen (368 ppi)
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 2.2 GHz quad-core processor
Internal Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 32GB internal storage
Battery: 3,400 mAh
Memory Slot: Up to 64GB microSD support
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, built-in wireless charging
Camera: 20-megapixel primary camera, 1.2-megapixel front camera.