Good Upgrade from Lumia 521

[Marquis de Faux]

I have a Lumia 521 right now and I am looking to upgrade.
Phone must around or under $300.

I am thinking about the 1020 unlocked. Is that a good choice?

The 1520 is a bit out of my price range, and the 830 is quite expensive as well with no real improvement over the 1020.
The 735 is not for sale anywhere in the US except on Amazon, where it is more expensive than the 1020.
THe 925 is a nice phone, but the 1020 is better in every way.

 

[xandros9]

Since it seems you're on the T-Mobile network, I'll tailor my input as such.

If you're getting the 1020 unlocked, make sure its the ROGERS version from Canada, as it plays nicer with the T-Mo network.

The 925 is still a fine upgrade (I hope to snag one for my sister to replace her 521), and if the price is right, it could be a better deal.

 

[PiggyMiddle]

I looked at the 735 which are also available at B&H Photo and expansys-usa for $299, but they seem a little overpriced for what you get.

I am looking for something with a better camera than my 520, but have read that only the 830, 930, Icon and 1030 will get the full Denim camera upgrade benefits so you may want to consider spending the extra bucks now and not regret it later. The xxx30/35 models have only just recently been released, all the others will be around 12-months old.

It depends what is important to you in the upgrade. The reading I have done on the Denim camera upgrade means the shutter delay is much shorter. My 520 is about 2-seconds and sucks big time. I have lots of pics of my feet with the cute dog missing.

 

[RumoredNow]

B&H Photo is a great source for International Unlocked Lumias... They do have the 735 in a choice of colors, all in-stock just now when I looked. Price: $289.99 USD. B&H is located in NYC and they ship fast with a great reputation for service.
Nokia Lumia 735 RM-1039 8GB Smartphone A00021692 B&H Photo Video

Forum member Steven Penner reports they work great on T-Mo. Keep in mind an unbranded phone will not get T-Mo WiFi Calling...
http://forums.windowscentral.com/t-mobile/322750-lumia-735-rm-1039-works-great-t-mobile.html