So, let's summarize. I currently have an 822 out of contracting and a malfunctioning 928 which I am able to early upgrade at this point. I have no idea what to buy, however, as there appears a major stumbling block with every single option that would make me regret purchasing each device.
For high-end Windows Phone hardware these are my choices:
1. Nokia Lumia Icon (Verizon, retired) - This would be my choice, but now we are no longer guaranteed updates beyond Cyan! I would deeply regret buying a phone that does not get Windows 10 update, and Microsoft/Verizon will not commit anything except Cyan (nevermind Denim or W10). No MicroSD or glance, but I can live without that. But I do not want to be left behind in updates post-Cyan.
2. Nokia Lumia 930 (International) - Does not support USA LTE. 'nuff said.
3. Nokia Lumia 1520 (AT&T) - No Qi, which is a deal-killer for me. And its too big for me!
4. Nokia Lumia 1520.3 (International) - Perfect phone spec-wise, if it were 5"... For daily and one-handed use 6" is just too large from my experience. Also the screen arguably is not as good as the one in the Icon despite the 1520's larger size, while no slouch it does not quite match up to the AMOLED.
5. Nokia Lumia 830 (AT&T and International) - Almost perfect, but uses a Snapdragon 400 meaning "Hey Cortana" will never work - this is a feature I'd like to have in a phone I use for the next 1-2 years. A shame they did not use the 800 and would have filled a gap given's Verizon's retirement of the Icon.
As far as I can tell my options are:
A) Get the Icon and pray Verizon/Microsoft work out a deal for Denim/W10.
B) Spend $1000 on the 1520+830 and get phones I am not entirely happy with.
C) Try to get a replacement 928 and wait 6 months for (maybe) the next high-end Windows Phone, if Microsoft even launches one on par with the Icon/1520.
None are good options.
Granted you can blame all of this on Verizon, but a great deal of blame also falls on Microsoft for failing to commit enough financial resources to the platform that will strike the deals to prevent situations like that. Even currently, Microsoft could work out a deal with Verizon that allows them to announce they will work with Verizon to keep the Icon updated for the next 2 years. I am not entirely confident in the new CEO who seems equally as happy to have an iPhone/Android user vs. a Windows Phone user. I do not think he will abandon the platform, but I could see a dramatic focus on low end with little high end devices available.
For high-end Windows Phone hardware these are my choices:
1. Nokia Lumia Icon (Verizon, retired) - This would be my choice, but now we are no longer guaranteed updates beyond Cyan! I would deeply regret buying a phone that does not get Windows 10 update, and Microsoft/Verizon will not commit anything except Cyan (nevermind Denim or W10). No MicroSD or glance, but I can live without that. But I do not want to be left behind in updates post-Cyan.
2. Nokia Lumia 930 (International) - Does not support USA LTE. 'nuff said.
3. Nokia Lumia 1520 (AT&T) - No Qi, which is a deal-killer for me. And its too big for me!
4. Nokia Lumia 1520.3 (International) - Perfect phone spec-wise, if it were 5"... For daily and one-handed use 6" is just too large from my experience. Also the screen arguably is not as good as the one in the Icon despite the 1520's larger size, while no slouch it does not quite match up to the AMOLED.
5. Nokia Lumia 830 (AT&T and International) - Almost perfect, but uses a Snapdragon 400 meaning "Hey Cortana" will never work - this is a feature I'd like to have in a phone I use for the next 1-2 years. A shame they did not use the 800 and would have filled a gap given's Verizon's retirement of the Icon.
As far as I can tell my options are:
A) Get the Icon and pray Verizon/Microsoft work out a deal for Denim/W10.
B) Spend $1000 on the 1520+830 and get phones I am not entirely happy with.
C) Try to get a replacement 928 and wait 6 months for (maybe) the next high-end Windows Phone, if Microsoft even launches one on par with the Icon/1520.
None are good options.
Granted you can blame all of this on Verizon, but a great deal of blame also falls on Microsoft for failing to commit enough financial resources to the platform that will strike the deals to prevent situations like that. Even currently, Microsoft could work out a deal with Verizon that allows them to announce they will work with Verizon to keep the Icon updated for the next 2 years. I am not entirely confident in the new CEO who seems equally as happy to have an iPhone/Android user vs. a Windows Phone user. I do not think he will abandon the platform, but I could see a dramatic focus on low end with little high end devices available.
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