Here in Vegas for CTIA 2013, Nokia continues to go all in on Windows Phone 8. The Lumia 928 is its latest plastic rectangle sporting Microsoft's mobile OS. It's a 4G LTE device exclusive to Verizon and it's available now for $99 with two...
Here in Vegas for CTIA 2013, Nokia continues to go all in on Windows Phone 8. The Lumia 928 is its latest plastic rectangle sporting Microsoft's mobile OS. It's a 4G LTE device exclusive to Verizon and it's available now for $99 with two-year agreement.Actually, you can get it even cheaper than that. Amazon currently has it on sale for $49. Off contract its $500.The Lumia 928 boasts specs that make it competitive with other WP 8 devices: a 4.5-inch 720p HD display, a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. The main camera is 8.7-megapixels, and Nokia claims that it offers excellent low-light performance.You've last some weight, haven't you?It's also one of the thinnest Lumia's we've seen, especially when compared with last year's Lumia 920. It's just 0.40-inches thick, 5.24-inches tall and 2.71-inches wide.Like a lot of Lumias, the 928 feels very slick in the hand. We were actually a bit worried about it slipping from our grip. While we've always liked the size and shape of Lumias, there's something to be said for the rubbery grippiness of HTC's 8X and 8S. We also wondered if it might be the last plastic Lumia we see, since the metal Lumia 925 coming to T-Mobile is making quite a splash.This is a carrier exclusive for Verizon, so there is some branding. There's a Verizon logo at the top of the display, and a 4G LTE logo on the rear.Subdued, for a Lumia anywayWith both the 925 and 928, it seems Nokia is dialing back some of its bright color choices. The 928 comes it just black or white. Quite a change from the taxi cab yellow and lime green we often see from Nokia; we're personally missing the bright blue and deep red they usually offer.The 928 sports a signature Lumia feature: wireless charging. It also brags about another Lumia trademark, a strong low-light camera. We weren't able to test this, as the showroom was too bright, but it's something we'll be looking at in our full review.Early VerdictLike a lot of Windows Phone 8 devices, Nokia's Lumia 928 looks sharp and it's priced to move. Even without the Amazon promotion, $99 gets you a lot of phone.Our biggest concerns stem not from the 928 itself, but from from the whole Lumia line, which is becoming bloated and unwieldy. Nokia has a lot of Lumias on the market. There's the 900, the 920, the 925 and now 928. It's getting to the point where its hard to keep them all straight, let alone remember what phone is available on which carrier.Still, if the Lumia 928 truly does have as a good a camera as it claims, that combined with its good looks, thin frame and nice price should help it stand out. We look forward to getting the 928 in for a full review.