Review: Nokia Lumia Icon for Verizon Wireless
Screen
The Icon has a 5-inch display with 1920 x 1080 pixels. That is exactly where the Icon needs to be in order to compete with other flagship devices, such as the LG G2 or Samsung Galaxy S4. It's the sweet spot in-between too small and massive (phablet-size.) The screen uses Nokia's ClearBlack technology to improve contrast, and the OLED panel is easily viewed indoors and out. It's sensitive enough to be used when wearing gloves, which we thoroughly tested in the single-digit temperatures of New Jersey. I like the screen on the Lumia 1520 a little bit better, but the Icon's screen clearly bests every other Windows Phone in terms of size, resolution, and overall quality.
Signal
The Icon performed exceptionally well on Verizon's LTE 4G network. Thanks to the proliferation of Verizon LTE signal, the Icon never dipped down to 3G. It was able to connect all calls on the first dial, and never dropped or missed calls. Call set-up times were generally short. Data speeds were consistently good. I noticed some slight slow-downs in data when network coverage was at its weakest, but it was never anything to complain about. It's one of the stronger devices I've tested on Verizon's network in recent months.
Sound
Call quality was surprisingly inconsistent. Despite five bars of coverage and an instantaneous connection, the quality of about half of all calls coming through the earpiece was below average. I noticed lots of choppiness, gurgling, and other interference. The other half of calls were OK, but not great. Volume, when set all the way up, was good; I had no trouble hearing calls. On the flip side, people I spoke to through the Icon said I sounded really, really good. The speakerphone offered great volume, but the same inconsistent quality. (The quality issue was present in several areas, so I don't think it was related to the local cell. I haven't seen the issue before, only with the Icon) Ringers and alert tones were able to get my attention without issue, and the vibrate alert always made itself known.
Battery
After several days of testing, I give the Icon a tentative thumbs up in the battery department. I was able to get at least a full day out of it from a single charge, despite heavy use. The 2,420 mAh battery packed inside the phone provides enough juice to keep it going from breakfast to bedtime.
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