The Lumia 950 XL utilizes one of the first
smartphones an iris scanner, which also works in the dark. The photos of the
PureView camera in dim light are among the best we've seen so far. Currently
annoying Windows 10 Mobile but still with several interruptions and problems.
The Lumia 950 XL is a premiere in two
respects: It is the first Lumia flagship, which is marketed as a Microsoft
smartphone since its acquisition by Nokia, and in addition to the slightly
smaller Lumia 950 with Windows 10 for the first Mobile. In the test, it
convinced us - particularly the display, the camera and Windows Hello are clear
USPs. On top of that, the smartphone uses a USB Type-C terminal, which is
important for the new Continuum function of Windows 10 Mobile.
With dimensions of 152 x 78 x 8.3 mm with a
weight of 167 grams, the Lumia 950 XL turns out quite large. Thanks to rounded
edges it grabs better than the angular Lumia 930. The processing is no cause
for criticism. For viewing photos or videos, the screen size of 5.7 inches is
good - with one hand operation is limited, however. A long press on the Windows
logo under the display activates a one-handed mode. The 4 protected by Gorilla
Glass screen is not very sensitive to fingerprints and dissolves with 2,560 x
1,440 pixels on what sharp 518 ppi corresponds.
Thanks to OLED technology, the screen on
excellent black levels and excellent contrast, the maximum average brightness
of 291 cd / m² is for the panel technology used high. In Flash sunlight the
Lumia 950 XL switches thanks to the brightness sensor optional on a high
contrast mode to, which increases the readability clearly. Can permanently
activate the user this setting is not. Another new feature is the function of a
wiper hide the icon bar of Windows Mobile 10 from the bottom to get a few
pixels more display area.
Above the display sit three cameras: One
takes photos at 3.7 megapixels in 16: 9 or 5 megapixels in 4: 3 format and
videos in 1080p30 or 1243p30 on. A photo light or an image stabilizer is
missing - only intervenes autofocus. In addition, ISO, brightness, shutter
speed and white balance can be adjusted. The picture quality is good for
self-portraits and video calls, for everything else the rear model should be
used.
A second front camera works with 2 megapixels
and is supported by a third with infrared, together they enable Windows Hello.
In the case of the Lumia 950 XL is, according to Microsoft, an iris scan, the
beta version can be activated by assigning a PIN. The biometric authentication
method apparently combines iris with a face detection. Hello Windows works with
several stored images with normal, and wearing sunglasses and even in the dim
light, but not in absolute darkness.
If the Lumia locked and turned on the display
again, the 2-megapixel camera and the infrared activate. Mostly we have been
recognized and logged in less than one second. Occasionally failed to capture,
then the PIN must be entered. Sometimes took the process but also longer, or we
were asked to keep this smartphone closer to his face. Windows Hello is
convenient, but not increased security, and significantly faster than with a
PIN entry not logged us the iris scanner also.
Zeiss optics Camera
Back to the main camera on the back of the
Lumia 950 XL: The model is based on a Zeiss optics with six lenses, fixed focal
length is 26 mm and a large f / 1.9 aperture allows a comparatively large
amount of light falling on the sensor. Quite useful are the Optical Image
Stabilization and three differently colored LEDs for flash photography.
Nominally triggers the camera photos with 20 megapixels - practically there
are, however, 16 megapixel (16: 9 aspect ratio) and 19 megapixels (4: 3 aspect
ratio). By default, the images will be saved as a JPEG file. Optional features
the Lumia 950 XL at the photos in DNG raw format and parallel as 8-megapixel JPEG
photos.
In direct comparison reveals that Microsoft's
algorithms compared to the RAW image adjust the color temperature warmer,
selectively brighten the photo and be destroyed due despite significantly
higher resolution through artifacts fine details. The JPEG and DNG image
quality are outstanding for a smartphone camera - it is one of the best that is
currently available on the market. With plenty of natural light, the Lumia 950
XL achieved, at least initially, the detail and sharpness of a midrange system
camera with kit lens, although the focus point cannot be so precisely set.
At dark, as the night scenes, the quality of
the PureView camera is particularly clear. The image quality is significantly
higher than that of other smartphones, only in full-screen on a 4K monitor or
high magnification, the noise is visible. The theoretical maximum ISO
sensitivity of 3200, we were unable to persuade the automatic. Who does not
want to rely on, has a variety of options: ISO, brightness, shutter speed and
white balance can be adjusted. To post Microsoft provides with the Lumia-app
Creative Studio. Thus, the color temperature can be adapted, various filters,
lights and shadows and selective blurring apply or remove red-eye.
Like most Lumia devices also has the 950 XL a
dedicated photo button, which is a bit shaky, like all keys, but crisp
triggers. If we draw the Lumia from his pocket and press the Photo button, the
camera will start in less than one second and needed to focus a little bit
less. Images thus succeed in a very short time. For good video a steady hand or
the slow-motion function is recommended. The latter is symbolized by a small
turtle and takes in 720p with 120 fps. Playback is at 30 fps, ergo a quarter of
the original speed.
Normal video records the Lumia in 1080p30
(full HD), optional stand upwards and 1080p60 and 2160p30 (Ultra HD) as well as
a minimum 720p24 available. Any moving material is stored in MPEG4 format and
H.264 encoding. The built SoC, a Snapdragon 810, although could also record
with the newer and more efficient H.265 codec videos. However, then get in
decoding older smartphones or slow computer problems, which is why Microsoft
has probably waived.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 CPU
Inside the Lumia 950 XL used Microsoft
technology current Qualcomm: a Snapdragon 810 namely the hanging on the
reputation of being quite heatedly, playing at the size of smartphones but not
important - especially since Microsoft has installed a heat pipe.. After
lengthy gaming sessions, the Lumia 950 XL is therefore noticeably warm,
indicating a good heat dissipation. After a few minutes of his throttles
Snapdragon CPU and GPU frequency slightly, the performance drops by about ten
percent. The speed of the chip is exalted in combination with Windows Mobile 10
all doubts, performance-related breaks or stutters we could not determine.
3 GB RAM LPDDR4 are lush, which is why only
from a dozen tabs in Edge-browser pages are thrown out of the cache. The flash
memory is advertised with 32 GB - when delivered about 20 GB for the users of
which are available. However, the smart phone supports micro SD memory cards,
which we photos, downloads, music or videos to outsource the storage management
apps. Practically, in this context, the Windows 10 built into Mobile File
Explorer to manage the internal or external memory or to the side of load Apps.
Although we want to deal with Microsoft's new
operating system in a separate test, here are a few words about Windows 10
Mobile: This is not done at all so delivered Lumia 950- (XL) devices running a
prerelease version (build 10586.0). Basic visual differences to Windows Phone
8.1, there is at first glance not, however, Microsoft has implemented
improvements in many places. New are the search assistant Cortana, the Outlook
calendar and -mail and much cleaner settings menu. The Edge Browser replaces
the Internet Explorer.
Small details such as the discreetly redesigned
App view the newly installed programs on request awhile attaches at the top, or
the Info Center with four freely selectable and eight additional, but fixed
shortcuts, we liked. Who turned on the Banner notifications for specific apps,
for example, can respond in Whatsapp, without having to open the program. When
texts the small pad of the keyboard is practical. We move the cursor to the
appropriate place afloat. The new display scaling is theoretically sensible to
make the New-Tab and Tab Close icons in the Edge-browser slightly larger.
However, the signature is then obscure huge in most other apps.
Annoying we find, however, that Windows
Mobile still has 10 time of trouble: Every now and then Apps can not be opened
and if they do, they hang themselves. The calendar always displays the week
numbers, regardless of whether the on or off are mixed and they also still
awake with normal appointments. Outlook mail, and thus linked accounts show in
their tiles rare, the number of messages received and on the lock screen
virtually never. In addition, the Lumia 950 XL crashed in the one-week test
phase several times, once helped only a soft reset.
Perhaps all this has an impact on the
runtime, which is basically average. The replaceable battery has 3340 mAh 3.85
V to - these are 12.9 Wh We reached maturities of about one and a half days at
work in the office and outside appointments with hourly mail synchronization,
much surfing and Whatsapp, 30 minute phone calls, Internet Tethering. ICE and
occasional photos. Loading by 15-watt power supply with permanently connected
USB 3.0 cable, thanks to Quick-Charge are 50 percent capacity in half an hour
restored. A complete cycle takes two hours.
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