Nokia Lumia 525

Nokia Lumia 525 – Unboxing and hands on with the low-cost 1 GB Windows Phone

Taking a look at Nokia's problem-solving Lumia 525

Last year, Nokia introduced the Lumia 520, a lost-cost solution to those who want a Windows Phone in emerging markets. As it turns out, demand was much higher than anyone anticipated. Nearly a year later and the 520 is one of the best-selling Windows Phones around. It’s a great low-risk way to experience Windows Phone and it opens the door to higher end options. But if the Lumia 520 had one flaw, it was the amount of RAM.

Windows Phone 8 can run easily on 512 MB devices, but some higher end games (and a handful of apps) need some good memory optimization before they can run smoothly. That usually happens, but it can take months after the initial release. Microsoft is confident this will go away as developers target 512 MB devices in the future, but up until now, there hasn’t been a low-cost 1 GB Lumia to get around this problem.

Lumia 525 Specifications

• Windows Phone 8 with Update 3 (10517) and Lumia Black
• 4-inch IPS LCD display, Sunlight readability, Lumia Color Profile, double-tap to wake
• 8 GB of internal storage (4.5 GB available), micro SD expansion
• 1 GB of RAM
• 1 GHz dual-core Snapdragon CPU
• 5 MP rear camera, no flash (no front facing camera)
• Bluetooth 4.0 LE
• 1430 mAh battery

As mentioned above, the Lumia 525 is nearly identical to the Lumia 520. Nearly. There are a few changes, which are all for the better:

• Glossy, interchangeable back covers, instead of matte
• Double-tap to wake is now available (also on the AT&T Lumia 520, but not many others)
• Display seems slicker to the touch

Other notable changes include a non-embossed logo on the back and slightly more recessed side keys.

Although on paper the devices are quite similar, I think the glossy back adds a little more pizazz to the Lumia 525, making it feel more high-end. Due to its size, it’s not slippery and it stays in my hand with ease. The Lumia 525’s display appears less sticky to use when compared to the Lumia 520, and whites are a tad more accurate.

The 5 MP is unremarkable, but in daylight performs quite nicely with pronounced sharpness (see above sample photo). For an entry level phone, users should be pleased.

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Xtreme 3

Grab your helmet as Trial Xtreme 3 launches on Windows Phone

Are you a fan of trial games? Rushing through levels, pulling off insane stunts, watching the environment alter and/or be destroyed around you, while attempting to speed to the end banner in the quickest time possible can be quite the experience. Trial Xtreme 3, published by DeeMedya, has raced on to the Windows Phone Store with enough fuel available for hours of bike riding.

Reportedly accumulating over 50 million downloads cross-platform, it's positive to see the game come to Microsoft's mobile platform. If you're already a fan of the Trial Xtreme series of games, you'll definitely want to check out this instalment, sporting new innovations and other features. Did we mention that there are 112 courses on offer to run through?

As lightly touched on above, players are able to battle with friends' times and scores for the race title, while carefully controlling the bike to ensure their rider doesn't fall off when performing stunts mid-air. There are hundreds of mines, water pipes and even wrecked cars to navigate past.

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 Here are same features highlighted on the Windows Phone store listing:

• New, advanced physics engine which revolutionizes gameplay
• 32 free levels out of a total of 112 levels across 6 worlds and hundreds of new obstacles
• Play alone or head to head
• Different high score table for every level
• Customize your bike and rider
• Play with phone’s accelerometer or buttons
• High resolution graphics for both phones and tablets

The graphics and visual effects are stunning, which shouldn't be surprising considering the fact we've begun to see some real good-looking titles hit the Windows Phone Store (Asphalt 8 and Temple Run 2 to name but a few).

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