How the Nokia Lumia 620 is bringing computing power to the people

Even though the Nokia Lumia 620 was only launched a couple of months ago, it’s already been showered with praise. The Gadget Show said, “Put simply, this is the best budget smartphone we’ve ever tested.” Top tech blog Engadget cheered, “We think this might be the best bang-for-your-buck Windows Phone we’ve ever seen.” There’s plenty of reasons why the Nokia Lumia 620 has gained such a bevvy of illustrious fans. One reason is what’s under the hood.

Processing powered up

The Nokia Lumia 620 is powered by a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ S4processor, featuring dual custom-built Krait CPUs that’s manufactured on a very power-efficient 28nm fabrication process. The processor features an Adreno 305 graphics processing unit that delivers stunning graphics for every level of gameplay, as well as a Hexagon™ DSP for high-fidelity audio. 

All in a single chip

And if that weren’t enough already, the Snapdragon processor also boasts an integrated 3G multimode modem that blankets the latest in HSPA+ technologies (21Mbps) and the full gamut of connectivity options, which include GPS, WiFi 802.11n and Bluetooth. Having all of these technologies housed in a single chip is the secret behind Nokia Lumia 620’s slim form factor.   

To get a clearer picture of what the Snapdragon processor means in terms of mobile computing power, we’ve compared the Nokia Lumia 620 with some of the Nokia flagship phones from yesteryear.

The Nokia 9500 Communicator (2004)

First up the Nokia 9500 Communicator. Launched in 2004, this powerhouse of mobile technology was virtually a mini laptop. Its clamshell body opened up to reveal a 640 by 200 pixel color screen and a QWERTY keyboard, ideal for touch typing. Designed for business, it came with a ton of office software: Microsoft Office compatible word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications; an Adobe Acrobat viewer; RealNetwork’s RealPlayer; the Opera browser; an MP3 player; a voice recorder; and PIM applications.

No surprise, then, that in 2004 it would’ve set you back approximately $800. With the advance in technology, what’s interesting is that the Nokia Lumia 620’s Snapdragon processor has roughly the same computational power as an incredible fifty Nokia 9500 Communicators.

The Nokia N95 (2007)

Fast-forward three years to 2007, the Nokia N95 featured 8GB of internal memory, 3G support, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, a 5-megapixel camera, and robust multimedia capabilities—a wallop of features by 2007 standards. When it was launched, the Nokia N95 was one of the most feature-packed mobile devices ever. It took the concept of the do-everything-phone to an entirely new level, and for many, the N95 was considered the first true smartphone.

This amazing package of tech awesomeness didn’t come cheap, though. Unlocked, it would’ve cost around $750. In terms of processing power, the Nokia Lumia 620 is the equivalent of ten Nokia N95s.

The Nokia N900 (2009)

Last, but by no means least, let’s check out the Nokia N900.  Launched in 2009, it was arguably more mini-computer than smartphone, dedicated to surfing, multitasking and installing apps. Celebrated as a slick, cutting-edge device, it had a heap of excellent features at the time. This included five home screens that transitioned smoothly with each swipe. A 5-megapixel camera, 32GB of on-board memory, and room for 16GB more via a microSD card.

The N900 was a brilliant media rich smartphone, as well as a brainy computing device. All this came for the unlocked price of $569. The Nokia Lumia 620, launched just three years later, is five times as powerful at less than half the cost.

Thanks to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 processor, the Nokia Lumia 620 ushers in an era of computer-like processing power on a budget most can agree with. Just like many tech reviewers, we think this makes it a fantastic bargain, but more importantly, what do you think?