In terms of hardware, there are only a few smart phones which manage to beat the Lumia flagship devices in their price range. These devices often encase some of the best hardware available on the market but are often overlooked due to their Windows OS. However, with time Microsoft is slowly traction thanks to them streamlining the ease of use of Windows 10 and coupling it with the new Continuum feature that allows users to essentially use their phones as mini computers. A great example of this feature in action can be seen in the newly released Lumia 950 XL and Lumia 950 DS.
The Continuum feature basically allows users to connect their phones to a display as well as a keyboard and a mouse by using the Microsoft Display Dock. Once connected the phone’s user interface switches to one similar to the Windows 10 interface complete with the Start Menu and other items.
Apart from the amazing Continuum feature, the 950 XL is a great device on its own. The phone packs a 5.7-inch QHD (1440×2560 pixels) ClearBlack Amoled display with a pixel density of 518ppi. It is powered by a 2GHz octacore Snapdragon 810 processor with 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage, which is expandable via a microSD card (up to 200GB). The phone also features a 20 megapixel rear camera along with a 5 megapixel front one as well as a large 3340 mAh battery. If this wasn’t enough to make you drool, the phone also has liquid cooling to ensure that it doesn’t overheat or lose in terms of performance in the long run.
The 950 DS on the other hand, features a 2-inch QHD (1440×2560 pixels) ClearBlack Amoled display, offering a pixel density of 564ppi and also featuring Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The handset itself is powered by a hexacore Snapdragon 808 chipset clocked at 1.8GHz with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage which like before can be expanded to 200GB via a microSD card. All other specs of the phone are same as the 950 XL apart from it lacking a liquid cooling system as well as a smaller battery of 3000 mAh.
All in all, both of these devices in terms of specs and features are amazing. While I myself prefer the 950 XL due to its larger battery, I can still see the beauty of the 950 DS. This is truly the step in the right direction from Microsoft and if they keep pumping out devices like these, pretty soon Windows phones will be back to top of the list.
