Which phone is better: Nokia Lumia 1520, 930 or 830?

[Windows Central Question]

Out of the three phones in my consideration, I would like to get two of them. All three phones are similarly priced on B&H, so I care more about the daily performance. Both the 1520 and 930 have better specs, but specs don't always translate well in everyday use.

The things I value are screen quality, hardware performance, and camera quality. Does the 20MP Pureview camera make that much of a difference compared to the 10MP variant? Since the 930 does not have removable battery or SD card expansion slot, would that hinder its usability? Does the 930 ever freeze? My Nokia Lumia 635 froze about two times since I got the phone, and I needed to remove the battery to reboot the phone. I don't want that to happen to a phone without a removable battery.

So in summary, which phone is the best value for the price? If you have other suggestions, feel free to share them.

 

[RumoredNow]

I love my 1520. It is a great phone and I traded up from a 925 with no regrets.

I assume you are in the US since you are shopping B&H. Note that the International 930 they sell will not get LTE in North America. I don't see anything that recommends 930 above the 1520 except pocketability. Forget the overly dense, overly saturated AMOLED screen. Any HD benefit is lost by not having Glance, IMHO. 1520 beats 930 with battery life, SD slot and larger screen. That last one is subjective, but I really did not have a hard time getting used to the 6" screen. I love it.

The 830 looks to be a good all-around value. I keep debating with myself if I should get this for a backup phone. The only thing slowing it down, so far as I can see, is the Snapdragon 400 cuts out the potential for "Hey Cortana."

If the those 3 were lying on a table (1520, 930, 830) and I was told I could take any two for free - I would absolutely pick the 1520 and the 830.

 

[JP8296]

Why so much hate with the 930...I update my 925 to the 930 and though I love the 925 is handsome phone but the battery life and the overheat was killing me. My 930 heats but nothing compares to the 925 and I get better battery. I don't really use glance and 32g is more than enough for me. I don't have any issue with the screen. I did play with the 830 and it's a cool phone makes me miss my 930.
The 1520 is too big to my pocket so I would go with 930 and the 830.

 

[DieFrische]

Every of this phones has advantages and disadvantges.

Lumia 1520
+32Gb
+Sd Slot
+Full Hd and beautiful Screen
+Qi (AT T model don't have it but i'm not sure)
+Qsd 800
+glance screen

-/+ big screen
-/+ one year+ old
-/+ plastic phone (high quality plastic!)

Lumia 930

+Qsd 800
+32Gb
+Full Hd
+small with an 5inch Screen
+aluminium frame with polycarbonate back
+Qi

-/+ amoled display

-no glance
-no sd card support
-heavy with 167 grams

Lumia 830

+Qi
+Sd Slot
+glance
+lightweight
+aluminimum frame

-/+ thin with 8,5 mm
-/+ Qsd 400 ( no hey cortana)
-/+ 5inch display with 1280x720 so only 294ppi

- i don't know yet

I hope i forgot nothing

 

[Ahmad Gamil]

1520

 

[Tornado92]

I would say the 1520 is the best bang for your buck (if you don't mind with big screen phone).

Here are the advantages of the 1520 compares to the 930 and 830 :
- Bigger battery
- Extra quick actions on the notification actions (5 instead of 4)
- Extra viewable content on screen (Provided if the app add support to 8.1)

And for the record, there is a kill switch for phone without removable battery
(Press volume down + lock button, for 10 seconds)

 

[Ruined]

In order of best to worst overall imo:
1. 930
2. 1520
3. 830

830 is not in the same class as 930/1520; lesser camera, lesser processor, no passive voice recognition, lesser screen.

1520.3 has best specs but frankly is too large for most, it is bulky and uncomfortable to use/carry for extended time

930 is best compromise overall with good size but quality similar to 1520, with major loss being SD slot. No glance either but as a package 930 can't be beat.

 

[Athull]

Since you are planning to get two phones then the 1520/830 combo will make the most sense. 1520 offers the best of both worlds between 830 and 930. 830 as a secondary wld not lag behind the 930 too much and offers glance and expandable storage.

 

[culda1984]

Thank you so much for all the replies. I am pretty set on the 1520, but it's going to be a difficult choice between the 930 and 830 since the phones are going to be gifts to two different people.