Mobile Grudge Match: BlackBerry Z10 vs Nokia Lumia 920

With the launch of BlackBerry Z10 and the Q10, running on the much touted BlackBerry 10 OS, RIM, which is now BlackBerry, hopes to resurrect its market share. The Z10 is its flagship all-touch device and both devices running BB10 will play an important role in BlackBerry’s future in the mobile space. Another company trying to bounce back to its once enviable position is Nokia – with the help of Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 OS. With similar price range and relatively new OSes playing an important role in the resurrection of these companies, we decided a face-off between the BlackBerry Z10 and the Lumia 920. However, this comparison is purely based on the specs (on paper) and does not talk about the performance.

BlackBerry Z10 – Estimated to be around Rs. 40,000
This flagship BB10 device has a 4.2-inch display with a 768 x 1280 resolution. This brings the pixel density count all the way up to 355 ppi. So, we can expect sharp and crisp images. Though it doesn't come with Corning Gorilla glass, the display is said to be sturdy and scratch resistant. It tips the scale at a mere 137.5 grams and has a sleek body to slip into pockets. The Z10 has 16GB of internal memory compared to Lumia 920’s 32GB, but can be easily expanded via the microSD card up to 64GB.

The BlackBerry Z10 is a full touchscreen phone running on BB10

The Z10 is said to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon for the U.S., while the rest of the world is likely to get the 1.5GHz dual-core TI OMAP processor. This is supported by a gigantic 2GB RAM, so you can expect good performance. The Z10 won't disappoint users on the camera front with its 8MP shooter with autofocus and LED flash (unsure of single or dual), and 1080p video recording ability. The camera function has been upped with some cool features like the new Timeshift that lets you fix photos without the need for a retake and a f/2.2 aperture. It also has a 2MP front facing camera with 720p. On the connectivity front, it supports LTE, 3G, 4G, EDGE, GPRS and Wi-Fi dual-band. It runs on the revamped BlackBerry 10 OS with a reinvented gesture-based, multi-tasking UI. It brings the popular BBM service along with a heap of enterprise features including BlackBerry Balance that offers dedicated profiles to keep work and personal data separate and secure.

Nokia Lumia 920 – Rs 38,199
The Nokia Lumia 920 was one of the first Windows Phone 8 devices to be launched and the Finnish manufacturer’s hoping that this device will turn its fortunes around. It has a 4.5-inch IPS PureMotion HD+ display coupled with ClearBlack technology. Though Lumia 920 has a larger screen than the Z10, it packs in lower pixel density of 332 ppi. However, the ppi of both devices exceeds 320, so the image quality will look more or less similar. Additionally, the Corning Gorilla Glass 2 will keep the scratches at bay. It’s a little chunky compared to the Z10 and weighs 185 grams.

Nokia's Lumia 920 splashed in varying colours

When it comes to performance, its 1.5GHz dual-core processor with 1GB ensures that the device is smooth. But the highlight is the presence of Nokia’s famous PureView camera. The 8MP camera, coupled with a relatively large aperture of f/2.0 and a dual-LED flash, assures that you get good pictures even in low-light conditions. Nokia has also added some cool lenses for the camera: Cinemagraph to capture animated images; SmartShoot to capture multiple images and others. When it comes to videos, you can capture 1080p full HD videos, with the much touted floating lens providing good quality videos as it counters movements. On the connectivity front, it supports LTE, 3G, 4G, EDGE, GPRS, Wi-Fi dual-band, GLONASS and DLNA. Guiding you on your way will be the Nokia City Lens and the Nokia Maps. Nokia is also offering a lot of security features for enterprise consumers. While the Z10 is available in the usual black or white option, the Nokia Lumia 920 is available in several vibrant colours.      

BlackBerry Z10 takes the lead

Conclusion
Purely on the basis of the specifications seen in the comparison chart above, the BlackBerry Z10 emerges as the better device. It has a sleeker, lighter body, better RAM and multimedia support, expandable memory, and HDMI support. On the other hand, the Lumia 920 has a definite edge when it comes to camera. Both the handsets come with newer versions of their respective OSes, which are yet to prove their mettle, and a relatively lower number of apps compared to rival OSes. The Z10 is estimated to be priced around Rs 40,000, but we are yet to know the exact price at which the device will be sold in India. The Lumia 920 currently carries a price tag that reads Rs 38,199.

If you had to pick between the two, which one would you opt for?

Image Credit: Jagdish Limbachiya