Nokia Lumia 1520 review

Nokia goes big on specs, but can Windows Phone 8 keep up?

Nokia Lumia 1520 review
The first true Lumia powerhouse

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With all of those stand-out camera features, you might think that the Nokia Lumia 1520's video capturing capabilities couldn't have much more to add.

However, the Lumia 1520 has a technological innovation that's dedicated to shooting footage. Nokia has incorporated four microphones, enabling you to capture directional stereo sound. Nokia calls it "Nokia Rich Recording," and it really works.

Check out the sample video with the bus driving past on the left. You can close your eyes and track its progress past your left ear, while picking out the older gentleman's footsteps as he walks past to the right. It's fantastic, and is a world away from the tinny mess you might have grown accustomed to from your smartphone videos.

Otherwise you get full 1080p video capture at 30fps, as you'd expect from a modern high-end cameraphone.

Nokia Lumia 1520 review

There are fewer options to tinker with when it comes to shooting video, as you might imagine. You can turn the dual-LED flash light on or off, tinker with the white balance, and switch focus between auto, manual, and infinite.

That's your lot, and that's all you really need - although anyone hoping for a high-fps slow motion mode like the iPhone 6 will be disappointed.

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