First Look: Nokia Lumia 2520 Tablet, 1520, 1320 and Asha Smartphones

by Michelle Maisto

Nokia CEO Stephen Elop took the stage at Nokia World 2013 to introduce six new devices, including Nokia’s anticipated first Windows-running tablet, the Lumia 2520.

The 2520 is undoubtedly a Lumia device. It will come in glossy choices of red and white; those who prefer a matte finish can choose between cyan and black.

The Lumia 2520 measures 267 by 168 by 8.9mm. This is thinner than the fourth-generation iPad with Retina display, which is 9.4mm, but not thinner than the iPad Air (7.5mm) that Apple introduced hours after the Nokia event.

The 2520 features a 10.1-inch full-HD display with 1920 by 1080 pixels or 218 pixels per inch. It’s covered with Gorilla Glass 2, and has enhanced outdoor readability and capacitive multipoint-touch capabilities.

A Power Keyboard gives the 2520 laptop-like functionality and, because it wraps around the tablet, additionally acts as a cover. The Lumia 2520 has a starting price of $499 and will arrive in time for the holidays. The Power Keyboard is priced at $149.

Here, another view of the Power Keyboard, which doubles as a protective envelope for the tablet.

Samsung and LG have nudged up device display sizes from 4 inches to 5 inches and counting. Nokia went further, giving the high-end 1520 a 6-inch ClearBlack, In-Plane Switching (IPS) LCD display. It has a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels and features super-sensitive touch technology, enabling the display to respond to even a gloved finger.

Given its phablet stature, the 1520 can be used with a cover that’s protective, offers privacy and can prop up the smartphone for better viewing. Another Nokia-like perk: wireless charging is on board.

Like the Lumia 1520, the 1520’s cover comes in a number of colors.

The 1520 measures 6.4 by 3.36 by 0.34 inches and weighs 7.4 ounces. It can open and edit Windows documents, as well as business applications such as Microsoft Exchange, Office 365 and Lync.

The 1520 boasts a 20-megapixel PureView camera on the back and a 1.2-megapixel camera up front. Users will benefit from Nokia Camera, a single app that does what Nokia (confusingly) relied on three apps to do in the Lumia 1020. The 1520 also boasts the Nokia Rich Recording app and four built-in microphones.

The Lumia 1520 will arrive during the fourth quarter, priced (before subsidies and taxes) at $749.

For markets in Asia and Europe, Nokia also introduced the 1320. This phone features a lower-resolution 6-inch display and slightly scaled-back specs all around. The 1320 will arrive during the first quarter of 2014, priced at $339.

For emerging markets, Nokia showed off the Asha 500, 502 and 503. All feature a colorful case inside a shiny, clear shell, and Nokia Fastlane, a new way of navigating the device and accessing what’s important to users. The three differ in the sizes of their displays, their cameras, their connectivity speeds and their ability to support single or dual SIMs. Prices range from $69 to $99.