Re: [Real Users] My Lumia 950 Detailed Review
The 950 is my first mobile Windows device, so here's my take on it (I've previously been using Apple iPhone 3g+5s, various Android devices, Nokia N9 with Meego Harmattan, BlackBerry Z10, etc).
Short version: Camera sucks, Continuum rocks, everything else is quite okay.
Long version:
Let's start with some positive remarks:
• Continuum is an awsome feature. I wouldn't do without it anymore. My work simply does not allow me to do private surfing, etc, on my work computer, but they have no policy against using a phone as a computer. I previously used an iPad Mini with a Bluetooth keyboard, but it didn't work that well with a keyboard and it had no mouse support.
• Mouse, keyboard and USB OTG support.
• Windows 10 Mobile applications look nice. Like a mix of Android and BlackBerry 10.
• USB-C is much nicer than the old Micro USB.
• Battery life is better than expected.
• I finally found out how to set up a PPTP VPN, and it works.
• A bit less restrictive than iOS. I can for example download a zip file with music files and unpack it to the SD card, and then later listen to those files using a music player of my choice. That simply isn't possible in iOS.
• I haven't used wireless charging, but I guess it could be a nice feature on caf?s and such.
• Most applications can be installed on the SD card, without feeling laggy. This is a great way to expand storage.
• The bottom row can be hidden with a swipe in Windows 10 Mobile applications.
• The hardware build quality isn't that bad. I do not agree with people saying it feels cheap. To me, it's quite solid. At least it won't shatter like phones made out of metal.
• Iris scanner is nice when it works. See the bad part too.
• Call quality is extremely good (the best I've ever experienced).
• The speakers are decent, but I tend not to enforce my music taste onto other people.
• The dialer is awsome, since one can use the "letters on the numbers" to quick dial. E.g. start typing 466453 to call Google (

) (3 = def, 4 = ghi, 5 = jkl, 6 = mno).
• Glance screen is very nice and much more useful than e.g. notification LED:s. I really missed this from the Nokia N9 (but it works better in W10M where it much more configurable).
• UWP applications with Continuum support is really the future of mobile computing (forget x86 on a phone - ARM is still cheaper, less power hungry and brings much more competition to the market - i.e. is better for consumers). It's going to be interesting to see Google's solution (and whether or not Apple catches onto the idea).
The bad:
The camera sucks b***s in real world use. None of the reviews I've read use the camera the way I and many others use (the iPhone is still unbeatable in my humble opinion).
• The automatic white balance is waaaay off. The videos and images are too warm 95% of the time, and it doesn't look well. Trying to fix the images after shooting them isn't what I want from a camera in 2016.
• It cannot handle moving objects that well, and it has no continous burst mode like the iPhone, so capturing that special moment is really difficult (try using the 950 for photographing animals and children then you'll understand).
• Image filtering at high ISO values causes so much detail reduction that they could almost have removed the low light support altogether. It doesn't look well.
• Shooting video… OIS ruins the videos. Too much lens distortions during motion looks way worse than a shaky camera.
• No automatic refocusing when using the on screen focus ring.
• Camera button seldom works right away (and yes, I know about the setting for stopping the camera to be accidentally lanched in e.g. the pocket).
• The camera crashes in roughly 1 of 15 times, bringing down the whole phone (running stable releases).
• Slow motion video is too low res. 480p? My iPhone 5s does 720p in 120 fps.
Other bad stuff:
• Windows Phone applications look ugly, waste too much space with the large fonts and unused areas. They're also extremely unstable on the 950 (constant problems resuming applications). There's a reason why I never bought into the Windows Phone eco system.
• Why can't I set the volume rockers to only control the playback audio, instead of both the playback and notification levels? The iPhone has it and it's great.
• There's no good software for editing videos as far as I've seen.
• Cortana isn't available in my region, so a lot of hyped features simply does not exist for me.
• The image viewer in Windows 10 Mobile isn't the same as in Windows 10. It has far fewer editing options.
• There's practically no bass in the analog audio output, but at least there's an equalizer so it can be partially rectified.
• The Mozo cases with painted edges. I've only had mine for 2 months now and the colours are wearing off.
• The iris scanner is basically useless when wearing glasses, lenses or being on the move. You really have to stand still to make it work. Entering a pin code is faster 9 out of 10 times.
Not directly related to the phone, but still relevant:
• The image gallery in Windows 10 (not mobile) cannot playback the videos I shoot with this phone without crashing. What?!
Improvements that I'd like to see:
• Windowed mode in Continuum.
• Running non-uwp/continuum enabled applications in windows (in Continuum).
• More correct colours in photos and videos.
• Higher resolution slow motion videos.
• Continous photo burst mode.
• Remove the search button. Bing is quite useless in my region and Cortana isn't supported either.
• When using the virtual touch pad, never show the virtual keyboard when a real keyboard is connected.
• Allow the use of the virtual touch pad upside down. The USB cable is in the way for the arm to comfortably rest on the table.
Final remarks:
Would I recommend the phone to other people? Depends. Are you often in need of photographing children and/or animals? Get an iPhone. Do you require the absolute latest and greatest applications ? Get an iPhone. Are you tired of iPhone/Android and wish to try something different? Get the Lumia 950. Do you want to partially replace your computer with your phone? Get the Lumia 950. Do you like iOS but think it's a bit too closed, but still want something more secure than Android? Get the Lumia 950.