Thanks for your feedback thus far, everyone! Really enjoying the discussions this video has prompted! You're free to disagree with our conclusions, too; just keep it civil. We just dropped the ban-hammer on a few people who opted to sling insults rather than debate intelligently, so please think before you post. Thanks! ^M
- When WP7 came out and people found it lacking compared to iOS, people said just wait WP7.5 will be better. - WP7.5 came out and it's still lacking, people said just wait WP8 will be better. - WP8 came out and still lacking, people said just wait WP8.1 will close all the gaps. - WP8.1 came out and still nowhere closing the gaps, people said just wait W10M will be better. - W10M is now out and buggy as hell, people still say it's in beta and just wait for Redstone, it will be better. Meanwhile, iOS and Android has already moved on to secured payments, TV, wearables, VR, automobile, etc... Folks, it's the same story over and over again. Microsoft had had a good 5 years since WP7 and still yet to see when our wait will be worthwhile lol. Is it gonna be 5 more years, or will it be forever?
+Duckstalker1340 Not supporting microsoft here as I wanted to buy this phone but the bugs pushed me away BUT Microsoft is in VR (Hololens) and Wearables (Microsoft Band 1 & 2). The thing about the app gap is that Microsoft were talking out of their rears when they thought developers would come during the WP 7 - WP 8.1 phase. There was nothing that would have attracted people to come and build apps. HOWEVER, now Microsoft has finally made Windows 10 universal which means convincing developers, who would make apps for PC to make apps for mobile, is very easy. So, while Microsoft failed with these new phones and the buggy software, I do believe the app gap would be significantly reduced in the coming year.
+111maxinel11 You just try to make up with invalid points. They don't matter at all!! The hololens is different technology. Not the direction the VR movement is going now. So they will never get app support from developers for the freaking hololens. Video2000 also didn't make it for the same reason. And it was better.
+Duckstalker1340 completely agree with you! I'm a proud owner of windows phone but I just can't forgive MS for this bullshit that we have had to go through. Yet most MS fanboys will always jump on the hype train and say that that after a few updates everything will be better when in fact it is the opposite!!! If MS don't turn things around soon then I will be jumping ship to android/iOS i 2016
+Duckstalker1340 WP has improved so much throughout the years and updates. The user experience is so much better now, and more apps are here already. Why is the app gap still huge? Because the other platforms were evolving at the same time. They didn't and would never stop and wait for WP. What makes WP grew slower is that people never considered giving a chance for WP. App developers still don't want to put any effort in WP even when MS introduced an easy method to transform iOS/Android coding into something working on WP. Hell, I could even bet plenty of those WP haters only had little to no experience with, say, WP 8 or even lower. They never knew the improvement of WP. Who to blame? Of course MS, amirite?
+Marcus Xe Actually, a LOT of apps are coming lately. I would say that universal apps strategy works. But still we miss some some big names like Snapchat, or Google apps...
aleksa ssta look ssta , ppl DON'T CARE whether its coming or not , IF the apps are not there , they are not there!! , windows phone will never take off.. try waking us up when the app catches up with android
+Steven Gibbs Because the real world do use those popular apps. Whether you like those apps or not are irrelevant. Microsoft has a huge hurdle if it wants to compete with the app library of iOS or Android. Those "Shitty little" apps are the point people even bother to get smartphones aside from productivity they can get from other apps + whatever use you personally use it for. If the software blows then the phone will tank in the market. That's the real world.
They never re-review anything, not even if it has gotten an update. They may do an overview of new features when an update drops, but they stay away from Windows Phone, since next to no one uses the OS.
as so many MS haters he's not going to say anything positive about the operating systems... I've been using a 950 since a few weeks after it got released and never had trouble with it apart from the bluetooth being a bit unstable. Compare that to the several Android phones I've had before that never worked quite right. Just ordered me a 950XL to replace my 950 btw, after the 950 broke through no fault of the phone.
As a Windows Phone user, i am glad to say that my Lumia 950 has mostly cleared up. Not too many, bugs or shortcomings, definitely better than my iPhone 5s.
Windows phone users have different focuses, I loved my Lumia 1520 to death and I went back to it eventually even after experiencing Android (S6, LG G4, Zenfone 2 top line) and Iphone (4,5S,6 Plus). The screen is massive, perfect pixel ratio, beast 20MP camera, wireless charger, it is extremely fluid, it could last 2-3 days of regular use, and it had all the apps I needed (Steam, MSOffice, Adobe etc). If ever MS axes Lumia I would probably go back to Apple (can't stand shitty Android OS), but the 1520 would probably top as the best phone I ever used.
do you have this phone ? if you have it please help me i am planning to buy this one but i watched all reviews and it said win10 is buggy like a hell need help
$650 for a phone with so many issues? Why would even a Microsoft fan stay loyal to a lackluster phone when there are better options available, some at a lower price tag? Great review, as always.
I used to like Nokia. in fact it was my favorite phone brand. But when this fuckers have cooperate with Microsoft.... However, if the price wasn't so high...
+CSmithyPx they don't properly respond to bug reports. it makes it a horrible experience on windows 10. they are changing structure again here hopfully they fix some of the issues ive been outlining for them.
+Samuel Chattergoon I do not know if you heard, but the lumia 950 was made for the fans, and only those who are REALLY going to get fan .. I am one of them, but Windows 10 is far from stable equal to i 8.1: /
+Apurv Patani he was overreacting not saying his points are invalid but such issues also happen with every other new gadget yet no one will ever hate on the iphone or samsung or Nexus 6P
Apurv Patani BUT you forgot ALL flagships released recently have equally pathetic amount of bugs IM NOT JUSTIFYING MICROSOFT,Im merely pointing out that they ALL have bugs NOT JUST THE LUMIA LINEUP
I beta tested Windows 10 on my Lumia 820, and most of the bugs you see on the Lumia 950 XL, I saw a couple of builds back, still not patched. I think Microsoft might had rushed the "final build" in order for the Lumia 950 to have Windows 10, not knowing that it's still beta-quality software. I think they should had sold these phones with 8.1, and upgrade them with the rest of the Windows phones in 2016.
+Frankienoname0 they had more than a year to fix and update the software this is a reason windows phone is just the third wheel the app store is a joke so many developers making shitty third party apps for a app that doesnt exist like youtube or gmail its ridiculous they should try to work with google and apple
As a Windows phone fan, I was so looking forward to Windows 10 mobile and thought it would be a great improvement over Windows 8.1, which is not very advanced and smooth like iOS and android. But, I am very disappointed with their lackluster attitude. Keep in mind that Apple and Google have pushed two major software updates since Windows 8.1, yet MS has failed to deliver one update in the same period. I am very disappointed that Microsoft keeps failing us.
Xs1Nz Won't happen for a while as Intel don't have chips capable enough yet. If there are lots more Universal Apps added to the store then Continuum itself running these apps on a big screen should be enough.
I have a 950XL and love it. After waiting 2 years for a new flagship phone, all the hardware advantages mentioned justify the phone alone. I have the phone in a case, so the appearance doesn't factor in for me. I love Live Tiles and the ability to customize my view with dynamic tiles. My wife uses an iPhone 6s and watching here scroll through pages and pages of static tiles gives me a headache. MS should have had this WP10 os perfected with the release of this phone and they don't. That said, everyone knows you never upgrade your Windows OS until the 2nd service pack is released. I ordered my new PC with Win 7 Pro and won't upgrade to Win 10 until at least the next Threshold update. Browser extensions are a must for me. I'm pretty confident on the mobile front, the next 1 or 2 updates will solve the vast majority of these issues. In the meantime, I've got an outstanding camera and display. After stalling with lower level Lumia's for 2 years, the 950XL is welcome relief which is bound to get better. As to the price, I added a 64GB microSD which makes a comparable iPhone at least $100 more expensive. If that's too little, I can switch it out for a 128GB card instead of having to buy a new and very expensive iPhone. I get the Continuum dock for free as part of the release promotion which is amazing. With the Surface line doing so surprisingly well, 2016 will no doubt see a Surface Phone. All the os issues with WP 10 will be solved by then. That said, if MS doesn't move forward smartly, quickly, and with apps that work, 2 years from now there probably won't be Windows Phone. I will miss the Live Tiles a lot.....
I have a Lumia 1520 with the last build... None of those issues are present on the system... Plus, Apps on Android crashes more often (even google own apps like Chrome and Hangouts which by the way has terrible problems like the Stagefright) and is almost impossible to update the system (even Nexus sometimes), The new Lumias has 2 Updates already and more coming for all users... I can see your point Michael, but as Kermit says (this time) "wooow, you're 100% wrong" at least about judging W10M now.
***** My case is exactly the opposite, I never going back to 8.1, W10 is faster, UWP apps opens almost instantanely, I have other devices with W10 like Xbox ONE, Tablets and miniPC besides my desktop, I don't have any issue, and by the way, my 1520 is almost 3 years old... and it can be faster than the Galaxy Note 5 of my friend... pretty good for and really old phone.
Patrick Riley I have 2 months with builds and none issue, universal apps are really a big thing, the splash screen is so fast that most of the time I didn't see it at all.
SergiioMan Very nice to hear. What about the problems with Outlook people are saying? Emails are very important for my job so getting them on my phone as fast as possible is a must.
I have a Lumia 950. I've spent a lot of time considering switching to something else until W10M is ready, but there are simply no other phones on the market with the same (or better) specs. For that size (under 5.5 inch screen size), there are no other phones with 1440p OLED displays, expandable storage, and removable battery. 4 simple requirements and there is nothing.
+Manuel Fontanilla The phone isn't bad, the hardware is still great like he mentioned, the OS is the gigantic mess right now, and Microsoft is taking their sweet time to not give a fuck about it.
+Ivan Muchiutti The experience on the XL running .29 is significantly worse than was the case on the 950 ... and the added cost of the XL, plus the problems that have continued despite updates to the software, made the problems much less forgivable here. ^M
+Sam Techh Software is a pretty major part of a smartphone, what good does good camera hardware make for example when the software doesn't let you use it properly? Can these issues be fixed with updates? Probably, yes. But we have no idea when that will happen and one cannot review a product based on potential and how it might work in the future. You can only review a product in its current state.
+Sam Techh As a person who has slightly crappy software on my G2 (LG's Android Skin is terrible) Software is a HUGE component to phones, if not the number one, It's how you interact and use the phone, and if it doesnt work, the phone as a whole doesn't. Android and iOS are far better PHONE OS's
Wow I must have been very lucky with my 950 XL, because I really (no really) haven't seen any of the bugs you mention. Not one. And all my app downloads (new or auto-updates) run in the background. I do agree that W10 mobile isn't ready, but it manifests itself in sluggish performance, sometimes, not all the time. Easily fixed by a restart of the device, which I choose to do perhaps once every two days. The back cover is a flimsy piece of plastic that doesn't belong on a device in this price range. It makes the white look cheap, where the Nokia devices looked premium. But I'm just so happy that I finally have the option to take it off and remove the battery for the spare one I'm carrying! And to swap MicroSD storage all the way up to 2TB! Seriously manufacturers, what the fuck is going on with the sealed-up-no-storage-poor-battery stuff of the last three years? So yeah, I'm not happy, but I'm satisfied. At least not as unlucky as you seem to have been by far. My problems will be fixed with a couple of OS updates and possibly a genuine leather Mozo back cover.
By the way I really think Windows 10 Mobile is a step down from Windows Phone 8, designwise. There's a lot more design and interaction inconsistensies compared with its bold and purely square roots. Less esthetic and not as touch-friendly as it could be in a lot of places - like in the unintuitive alarm time selectors or the round avatars in the people app.
+Robin Verdegaal Think I agree with pretty much everything you said there. My 950 XL runs great but occasionally there are hiccups. Nothing major though. Apps updating in the background for the most part. Lots of if potential and I also preferred the overall design of 8.1.
+Euclid Shane yes I like the Mozo genuine leather back cover I mentioned, pre-ordered one. Gonna surprise my future self with a package at the door somewhere in the coming x months :)
+Robin Verdegaal Chances are astronomically huge that his review was on a pre-production phone running pre-production software, damn near every review on a device tied to Microsoft is, and that's just how it is in general.
"I'm not happy, but I'm satisfied." Such a concessionary phrase. There are many instances in life where that's all you can say. This is a phone. It's a decision you can control. Buy a Nexus if you don't have the money for a Galaxy S whatever or an iPhone. At least you'll be getting a damn good phone with a good ecosystem behind it.
Much better, but it should have been like that from the start. The "anniversary update" is a year late, and 3 years too late to win back anyone that bought a windows phone 8 device.
+MsTechNotFancy I recently bough a Lumia 640 for about €100 and to be fair it's cool for the money I paid for it and Windows phone is way way smoother than Androids for the same price... But on the other hand I feel kinda stuck in this sofware and I don't feel the liberty I had on Android.. RUclips on my Lumia totally sucks and is so fuckin' annoying!
Just got myself a 950XL and its the mutts nuts, Very impressed. as has always been the case with Windows phones, it is hands down the best out of the box phone experience there is on the market, yes it has limited app short comings, and yes some of those are pretty significant, but without a shadow of a doubt, I wouldn't drop WM10 as a phone for iOS or Droid for anything. No clutter, no crap, no distraction or slow down just a get down to business straight out of the box device that does exactly what it says on the tin.
+Nick lol what? He posted his experience and that is your reaction? I have the 950 XL and do not remember seeing any major bugs thus far. Edge has crashed on me once and twice the home screen took about 5 secs to pop up but other than that it has all been relatively plain sailing. Prior to that I was using an Xperia z3 compact, I had the photos app crash on me every single day, browser crashes were fairly common and general apps / games would crash from time to time as well. Overall my android experience was frustrating, win10 mobile is better than a similar (hardware wise) android phone.
It's astonishing to see the difference between just how good Microsoft has done in the past two years - and 2015 in particular - on the desktop (tablets, 2-in-1s, etc.) side with Windows 10 and the Surface lineup and how poorly Windows 10 Mobile and the Lumias have performed. Hopefully the UWP, the Redstone update and an industry-shaking (?) Surface Phone will be able to make the company's efforts justice in a year or so. I certainly hope that!
+Edoardo Maggio We share the hope, which is part of the reason Michael and Adam continue to carry Windows smartphones despite the issues outlined here. ^M
+Pocketnow it would be great if they fixed bugs properly but from what I gather they are just now going to change the development structure to what I suggested a year ago. patching to all builds instead of patching back to the next build only. should let them fix these issues much faster. they also need to change the feedback system so it properly highlights issues.
+Edoardo Maggio I do not know if you heard, but the lumia 950 was made for the fans, and only those who are REALLY going to get fan .. I am one of them, but Windows 10 is far from stable equal to i 8.1: /
+Pocketnow Hi, Michael. I'm from Brazil and I follow all your videos and congratulations for the work, excellent reviews you do! I hope you do not forget to bring devices with Windows and please, please review the Lumia 550. Hug
+Albaabur Rahman This is actually a really good analogy. But we'd say it's more "Attack of the Clones"-level, with the possibility of becoming "Revenge of the Sith" with time. ^M
I gotta say that most of these bugs have been fixed now, and Microsoft is rolling out proper updates all the time. I have a Lumia 950 and I think it's great.
No kidding I sold my nexus 6 (before it breaks on me and i lose all value) and am only using this phone as a backup until the next nexus is out. It's painful. About the only thing it does better than _last year's nexus_ is photos.
Such a shame. I really want to see WinPhone thrive eventually. More competition could only do us good. Besides, MS has always had some interesting ideas with these Lumia devices; the cameras are simply gorgeous, the UI looks pretty good, and there's potential for more integration with their desktop counterparts if MS ever steps their game up. If only...
@@SimbianGaming I'd still stand by this. It was a huge shame to see another competitor go, especially when they did have interesting ideas and a much more efficient OS than what we had then. Now we're just stuck with the duopoly.
MS launched Windows 10 desktop in a beta state but has since then fixed most of the issues. It's now mostly stable and zippy. Same can't be said about W10 Mobile. They're not committing to a launch date, several bugs transition from one build to another and the QA process seems to be non existent, with MS relying instead solely on the insider program. At least that's what it looks like. It's clear they're not putting many resources into mobile and the development is suffering. MS seem to be the first ones wanting the mobile platform to die.
Haven't had many of these issues at all and I've been loving my 950 XL. Great review though. It's good that you show the issues you and others have had whether or not most users do.
This review really disappointed me. Not in the sense of how the Lumia turned out. It disappointed me because of the lack of information on a lot of aspects. The signal, earpiece, cooling system, etc. Because even if the software its incomplete I want to know the other aspects of the phone for a future buy when those issues are fixed. You'll tell me to see other reviews but the thing is that I love how Michael explains. I didn't wanted to wait for the after the buzz of this divice...
Honestly , i think using a WP is prefrence based.I've been an android user for pretty much my whole life,and a month ago i've bought Lumia 640 XL and I've installed windows 10 insider preview on it.I actually love it so much that it may sound unrealistic to some people! I love how it looks , how it performs and it's a perfect fit for me.I just had a need to put this out for someone considering buying WP. :)
This is what happens when you fire all the beta testers and fully depend on public to beta test your software. Yeah, insider is cool but it can't replace the people who get paid (used to get paid) to test their OS. btw, great review as always.
why would Microsoft publicly ever announce who they fired? That kind of stuff is generally P&C. Anyway, Microsoft insiders have confirmed that Microsoft did indeed let go of a whole lot of software testers in addition to Nokia employees. It's an open secret.
At 3:43, you sounded so low-key annoyed, which is something unorthodox to expect from a premium mobile RUclipsr like you. Lol. But, I can understand your frustrations.
this Phone sucks major ass!!! i have been a big fan of the Ms vision, but sometimes i feel that Ms. stopped even trying to fix the bugs. the $650 tag was the only reason why i didnt switch to android, instead i tried by best to break it, i even "accidentally" dropped it in a go cart ring and had half of the cars run over it... it proved to be durable throughout this test x-( i finally then decided to switch to android where life started to have meaning again... for anyone thinking of buying this phone or any windows operated phones i say Save your money until Ms brings its shit together and start taking your hard earned money seriously!
Microsoft certainly have gotten the UI right, minus the bugs and with more apps in the windows store I think the windows phone has a bright future. I am looking forward to the Surface phone.
Microsoft should just reward developers who develop apps, since not that many people are getting those apps. With more apps, more people would join WP and start using those apps. But that would never happen
+BlayzedBlue Maybe Lumia's, but I think they will make another productive phone brand unlike the consumer phone known as the Lumia, and support it until at least 2018
+varun indana They just can't accept that the OS in it's current form, is a mess. They keep trying to throwing everyone under the bus and make excuses. Android has been and sometimes still is criticized(especially skins like touchwiz lol).
Dante Bradley I'm not saying windows 10 is a bad OS, even though I'm a Android guy I have to admit windows 10 cosmetically looks really good if Microsoft could get their shit together it could be really successful
Nothing is wrong ,just stop downloading all that shit app's and use as normal nowaday's phone... I'm using a Lumia 640 ,battery keeps almost 3 days ,stock app's runs well, and i'm very glad with it.. ;p
I love my 950XL. I will always use one, despite any issues it may have. And, every phone has its issues. What makes a Windows Phone a Windows Phone is what I love about 'em. OS, live tiles, and awesome looking customization drew me in and no other phone has caught my eye yet.
One of the most high end phones on the market, and better then any iphone to date. But even though android and ios have bugs and crap features. Just got to rip on windows. Your sad
I had WP's ever since my first Lumia 900 which was great. A couple of weeks a go, got me my first iPhone because I thought the 950 was lacking. Happy to hear I made the right choice, even though I do miss the platform.
I have the 950XL DS. I've been using it for about 2 weeks now. Yes, it still has many bugs, but I haven't run into so many problems as you are showing. The hardware promisses being ready for many new features (just like it was the case with L 1520 where an update made it able to record in 4K). You are right that right now W10 is rather for the OS fans. But many of those fans were made by Android devices (including myself). I prefer to see my device get better over the time to seing it deteriorate like the Android devices do.
Just switched from Samsung Note 3 to the new Nexus 6p, and it's by far the best phone there is on the market. Clean, fast, no lugs, amazing camera, great battery, fastest updates on the market, cheap in comparison to other flagship devices, and beautiful! Forget about Windows phone or I-phones, the Nexus is a beast!
I beg to differ. My daily driver is a 950. I've been using it since Dec. 2015. Although there is this occasional hiccup's with the Edge browser (pages loads but the screen is blank, app restart required), I have not experienced ANY of the problems pointed out in this review.Below are some key factors why I love this phone: - I have some 20% battery left in a normal days use and still able to use the phone before bedtime. I would be anxious if I have other chores before heading home with the other phones. - Call quality is great, loud and clear on both ends of the line. - I get good signal in places where my other phone can't get reception. - Love the keyboard with the "joystick". In addition, how fast I can dial numbers and browse contacts. YES, this is an issue with ALL the androids I have tried. - The quickest phone camera I've ever had. Not to mention the best phone camera I've ever used! - Windows Phone 10 has one slick and usable interface, dare I say the best smartphone UI ever. - I am most productive with this phone. It provides me (most) of the tools I need to get things done.There are problems and issues: My 950 is hardly used for gaming. The number of available games is no issue for me. On the other hand, my biggest gripe with the phone/platform is indeed with apps. Many of the apps I use are better on the other platforms. Or worst, they are not available (some local apps, Norway, are not available).Continuum is a great concept but needs improvement. I wish all my apps ran on it. Also, continuum can be laggy if you stream HD video. More CPU power may even convince me that I'm not working on a mobile phone.So, why did I switched from Galaxy Note 3 to Lumia 950? I must admit though with so many people hating Microsoft so much, is probably the main reason I switched. I simply had to see what "epic fail" this phone/platform was. But I'm amazed how good it turned out to be.
Are you planning to do another review on Lumia 950XL, after a month where there were some builds (another one comming next week) and firmwares (got one new firmware these days) released? It might have significant improvements
Sometimes the truth hurts. Yes, Windows 10 Mobile with Edge browser is an unfinished masterpiece. But a more positive "Not Yet" would have been more appropriate than "Nope" IMO. I have a Lumia 640 running W10M Insider preview alongside my Android daily driver. The great potential of Windows 10 has me planning to make the switch sometime in the next few months. At that point, I'll probably upgrade to one of the 950s because I think they're awesome phones. I'm much more excited about the upcoming Redstone release than the imaginary "Surface phone" some fans are screaming for.
After the last software update make it a yeap dude... People complain about the design of Lumia 950 xl. I think it is the most beautiful minimalistic deep black phone I ever had. I still have my loving note 4 & 3 and an iPad mini 2015 retina as well a nexus 7 second generation. But the windows mobile is gorgeous for business people. The best screen after Sony z5 premium, best camera, removable battery, card slot for my 200gb microsd, double sim, super fast charge, wireless charge, usb type c, and the mist fantastic gadget for the 2026: Continuum. OMG! It's nota dream but reality! At last I have left the iOS and android boring platforms! Thank you Microsoft.
You have hit the nail on head. Wow !! What a review !! Awesome.. I am not a Windows fan. But had a slightest thought of buying it as I had a decent deal over Xperia Z5 and Samsung S6. But after watching this video, I have decided to drop Windows phone .. Thanks for a clear review ..
I've owned the Lumia 950 XL since a couple of days after the UK launch. Hardware wise I have had no problems at all. Yes the back does creak sometimes, however, this isn't an exclusive problem to the 950 XL, can be fixed by a bit of foam, or will be fixed once I get my Mozo back. Software wise I haven't experienced a single problem that Michael has. But that's not to say it's been plain sailing. After four days I suffered from the update troubles where it got stuck at 0% and basically made the phone unusable. Due to me working I left the phone for three days and when I came back to it after a bit of fiddling around it became completely functional again. I have had no software problems since and would feel more than happy to recommend the phone. At the time I certainly had exactly the same sentiment as Michael has. We're talking about Microsoft here and frankly it is ridiculous that for basically the worlds biggest software company there are so many problems with the software. Ironically it's the hardware that's good. And it's exactly the same story with my desktop. Even OEM's like Asus are now making brilliant hardware like my Zen AIO S but it's Windows 10 that lets it down.
I was seriously considering a transition to 950xl from android even after this very informative video. I was going to get it around this April waiting a couple of months for the price to drop a little bit more. Thank god i changed my mind and got s7 edge. I still want to see windows phone succeed and deliver a product that actually works. I love the tiles idea and generally I find it a breath of fresh air . The new lumias might failed but there is still hope , there is a new guy in town . I can't wait to see more about HP elite X3 . I had a blast watching your MWC content .
That's a 10240 build of W10M on that 950XL. No wonder it's laggy, considering the time this video was posted it should have a 10586 build installed on it-which is a lot more stable build.
I currently have a Lumia 950 XL as my daily driver, and it is not only the best Windows Phone device I ever owned so far, but also the best phone I ever owned full stop. Even to this day as a former Android user, I'm still struggling to find any newer Android phone that can equally match the 950 XL's camera.
@@AlejandroP1980s I think you got confused between Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10 Mobile. The 950 XL is a Windows 10 Mobile and the app store is still running as usual.
please upload an updated video when Microsoft finally fix EVERYTHING I'll be looking out for it. The phone looks great and the camera too, but I refuse to spend my hard earned money on what you rightly call reference hardware. I've used apple and android and was almost ready to give windows a try until I saw all the downright absurd errors that need fixing ! Cheers and thanks for the honest and clear cut review
Hey Michael, i enjoyed this review. I expected it to be a little biased judging by the title, but your reasons for the dislike of the phone seem to be very valid (and backed up by video proof). I am a Microsoft Windows phone fan but have switched back to android since my 1020 started acting up. Maybe one day i will return to the WP ecosystem, but until they come out with a usable OS, I will stay Android
Another great straight to the point no BS review. I do have a question and it is not related the the phone. What brand does the keyboard displayed in 1:11 belong to?
As a longtime Windows Phone fan(and one who never owned an Android phone or an iPhone), this is all sad but true. I have a Microsoft Lumia 550, and it all started like that 950 XL - ridiculously buggy, my most-used apps were just not working as they used to on my old Nokia Lumia 620. Although improved on certain issues, some new issues followed, like some installed apps being no longer "updatable" due to new hardware requiements(i.e. 2GB RAM requirement won't help the 1GB Lumia 550).
PLEASE SOMEONE HELP....How much longer will 950 and 950xl work and what carrier will they work on. My 1520 no longer works as of 3 months ago. Got a Sony Xperia XA Ultra because of the size and the camera was supposed to be great. Just hate it. Would like to buy 950xl even if only for another year of use
I came back after Michael Fisher's Surface Due video
Thanks for your feedback thus far, everyone! Really enjoying the discussions this video has prompted! You're free to disagree with our conclusions, too; just keep it civil. We just dropped the ban-hammer on a few people who opted to sling insults rather than debate intelligently, so please think before you post. Thanks! ^M
No matter what people say, I totally agree with you. I am a Windows phone owner, but I am not a fanboy.
+Pocketnow a much needed kick in MS's ass.
+Pocketnow I'm waiting for the Lumia 950 XL After The Buzz in 2016 :D
I would wait for 2016 to 2017 to buy anything to do with Windows 10. The only exception is Xbox One.
Enough typed. No lol.
+Apfel Schorle The After The Buzz series is fun to watch. :D
- When WP7 came out and people found it lacking compared to iOS, people said just wait WP7.5 will be better.
- WP7.5 came out and it's still lacking, people said just wait WP8 will be better.
- WP8 came out and still lacking, people said just wait WP8.1 will close all the gaps.
- WP8.1 came out and still nowhere closing the gaps, people said just wait W10M will be better.
- W10M is now out and buggy as hell, people still say it's in beta and just wait for Redstone, it will be better.
Meanwhile, iOS and Android has already moved on to secured payments, TV, wearables, VR, automobile, etc...
Folks, it's the same story over and over again. Microsoft had had a good 5 years since WP7 and still yet to see when our wait will be worthwhile lol. Is it gonna be 5 more years, or will it be forever?
+Duckstalker1340 Not supporting microsoft here as I wanted to buy this phone but the bugs pushed me away BUT Microsoft is in VR (Hololens) and Wearables (Microsoft Band 1 & 2).
The thing about the app gap is that Microsoft were talking out of their rears when they thought developers would come during the WP 7 - WP 8.1 phase. There was nothing that would have attracted people to come and build apps.
HOWEVER, now Microsoft has finally made Windows 10 universal which means convincing developers, who would make apps for PC to make apps for mobile, is very easy. So, while Microsoft failed with these new phones and the buggy software, I do believe the app gap would be significantly reduced in the coming year.
+Duckstalker1340 It will be never, because not even MS gives two shits about Windows Phone...
+111maxinel11 You just try to make up with invalid points. They don't matter at all!! The hololens is different technology. Not the direction the VR movement is going now. So they will never get app support from developers for the freaking hololens. Video2000 also didn't make it for the same reason. And it was better.
+Duckstalker1340 completely agree with you! I'm a proud owner of windows phone but I just can't forgive MS for this bullshit that we have had to go through. Yet most MS fanboys will always jump on the hype train and say that that after a few updates everything will be better when in fact it is the opposite!!! If MS don't turn things around soon then I will be jumping ship to android/iOS i 2016
+Duckstalker1340 WP has improved so much throughout the years and updates. The user experience is so much better now, and more apps are here already.
Why is the app gap still huge? Because the other platforms were evolving at the same time. They didn't and would never stop and wait for WP. What makes WP grew slower is that people never considered giving a chance for WP. App developers still don't want to put any effort in WP even when MS introduced an easy method to transform iOS/Android coding into something working on WP. Hell, I could even bet plenty of those WP haters only had little to no experience with, say, WP 8 or even lower. They never knew the improvement of WP.
Who to blame? Of course MS, amirite?
Anybody else get flipped off at 2:03 or was that just me?
JerryRigEverything fancy seeing you down here, Zack!
Looks like its just you bro.. Lol.. What are we looking at again?
"flipped"
You know what else flips?
The Surface Duo 😂😂
Who else is here from his new video?
From 950 to Surface Duo
Yep
Me
I haven't actually watched that one, but I see this video appear in my recommended so here I am
its not in beta guys,
... its in pre-alpha
dead!!!😂😂
+E SC Win10 is the new name for alpha.
I wouldn't play video games on a Windows 10 machine. Such wasted camera hardware. :(
Ha-ha, made my day
+E SC it not even a beta. Still in development Stage (debug version or pre -compile)
you buy something for what it offers you now , not false promises (apps , updates) in the future..
+Marcus Xe Actually, a LOT of apps are coming lately. I would say that universal apps strategy works. But still we miss some some big names like Snapchat, or Google apps...
aleksa ssta look ssta , ppl DON'T CARE whether its coming or not , IF the apps are not there , they are not there!! , windows phone will never take off..
try waking us up when the app catches up with android
+Steven Gibbs Because the real world do use those popular apps. Whether you like those apps or not are irrelevant. Microsoft has a huge hurdle if it wants to compete with the app library of iOS or Android. Those "Shitty little" apps are the point people even bother to get smartphones aside from productivity they can get from other apps + whatever use you personally use it for. If the software blows then the phone will tank in the market. That's the real world.
***** Why hate, mate?
***** what a loser , of cos we need instagram on WP , without these popular apps WP will never takr off
Are you going to re-review the 950 series now that the anniversary update to W10 is out of the bag?
They never re-review anything, not even if it has gotten an update. They may do an overview of new features when an update drops, but they stay away from Windows Phone, since next to no one uses the OS.
+PLAYER SLAYER He left pocket now and set up his own channel so there probably no re-review
as so many MS haters he's not going to say anything positive about the operating systems...
I've been using a 950 since a few weeks after it got released and never had trouble with it apart from the bluetooth being a bit unstable.
Compare that to the several Android phones I've had before that never worked quite right.
Just ordered me a 950XL to replace my 950 btw, after the 950 broke through no fault of the phone.
Joe Cimmarrusti Lool same here.. I bought it for 681. selling my samsung note 3 for $150 and the 950 for $500.. practically a free phone
Þór Sigurðsson no because it still sucks.
As a Windows Phone user, i am glad to say that my Lumia 950 has mostly cleared up. Not too many, bugs or shortcomings, definitely better than my iPhone 5s.
definitly a 2 years newer phone is better than a older one. sorry for my bad english (lol)
Then why is the older one still sold at approximately the same price with the newer one???
Windows phone users have different focuses, I loved my Lumia 1520 to death and I went back to it eventually even after experiencing Android (S6, LG G4, Zenfone 2 top line) and Iphone (4,5S,6 Plus). The screen is massive, perfect pixel ratio, beast 20MP camera, wireless charger, it is extremely fluid, it could last 2-3 days of regular use, and it had all the apps I needed (Steam, MSOffice, Adobe etc). If ever MS axes Lumia I would probably go back to Apple (can't stand shitty Android OS), but the 1520 would probably top as the best phone I ever used.
it has a audio jack. makes the iphone 7 look like crap
+JA Belms u have some nerve to call android shitty while using "pile of bugs" called windows 10 mobile.
The bugs in this video are all fixed now
do you have this phone ?
if you have it please help me
i am planning to buy this one but i watched all reviews and it said win10 is buggy like a hell
need help
lumia 950 very smooth for me
Oh don't worry many other bugs came and took their place in the anniversary update.
fixed as well. Oh don't worry, its a good system.
SolidworksDude urß
$650 for a phone with so many issues? Why would even a Microsoft fan stay loyal to a lackluster phone when there are better options available, some at a lower price tag?
Great review, as always.
I used to love windows phone but 1520 pushed me over the edge the software isn't good anymore for a phone.
I used to like Nokia. in fact it was my favorite phone brand. But when this fuckers have cooperate with Microsoft....
However, if the price wasn't so high...
+CSmithyPx they don't properly respond to bug reports. it makes it a horrible experience on windows 10. they are changing structure again here hopfully they fix some of the issues ive been outlining for them.
+Samuel Chattergoon I do not know if you heard, but the lumia 950 was made for the fans, and only those who are REALLY going to get fan .. I am one of them, but Windows 10 is far from stable equal to i 8.1: /
+CSmithyPx The 1520 pushed you over the edge? That was an awesome phone although I did have hardware issues with my first handset.
As a Microsoft and Windows fan, I never wanted to say this but here I go: I AM DISSAPOINTED IN YOU WINDOWS :( !
Apurv Patani For the first time, I could feel, Michael Fisher was sad.
+Apurv Patani he was overreacting
not saying his points are invalid but such issues also happen with every other new gadget yet no one will ever hate on the iphone or samsung or Nexus 6P
I am sorry but I don't agree with you on this one. It is totally an unfinished software......no FLAGSHIP SHOULD BE RELEASED WITH UNFINISHED SOFTWARE.
Apurv Patani BUT you forgot ALL flagships released recently have equally pathetic amount of bugs
IM NOT JUSTIFYING MICROSOFT,Im merely pointing out that they ALL have bugs NOT JUST THE LUMIA LINEUP
+Karthik Naik For eg(pls give me 3-4)?
I beta tested Windows 10 on my Lumia 820, and most of the bugs you see on the Lumia 950 XL, I saw a couple of builds back, still not patched. I think Microsoft might had rushed the "final build" in order for the Lumia 950 to have Windows 10, not knowing that it's still beta-quality software. I think they should had sold these phones with 8.1, and upgrade them with the rest of the Windows phones in 2016.
+Windows OS
Agreed.
That would've been the smart thing to do.
An opportunity wasted! Windows 10 Fatality!
+Frankienoname0 they had more than a year to fix and update the software this is a reason windows phone is just the third wheel the app store is a joke so many developers making shitty third party apps for a app that doesnt exist like youtube or gmail its ridiculous they should try to work with google and apple
Rodriguez123 Rodriguez Early Windows 10 laptops are not great either. 😧
Microsoft surface duo anyone?
Meeee
I was kind of looking for this comment 😂
Here 🙋♂️
I came here after watching the Surface Duo video.
@@madil2259 *H a*
Man, the windows phone concept sounds so good. It's a shame that they can't get it right.
This is such a shame :(. There goes my hopes! Gonna check LGs offering since my G3 has been amazing till now.
Check out the Nexus 6p
lg v10, lg g4 or even the lg g stylo (t mobile) r all great phones to get in replacement of it.
+Eric Xavier LG V10
+Daniel Colleton i can tell u have the stylo lol
Wait for the G5 or V11.
nokia lumia 1520 was the best phone I've ever had
As a Windows phone fan, I was so looking forward to Windows 10 mobile and thought it would be a great improvement over Windows 8.1, which is not very advanced and smooth like iOS and android. But, I am very disappointed with their lackluster attitude. Keep in mind that Apple and Google have pushed two major software updates since Windows 8.1, yet MS has failed to deliver one update in the same period. I am very disappointed that Microsoft keeps failing us.
8.1 is not as smooth as iOS and Android? Even 10 is smoother.
+theMSedge In my case, my Note 4 dissagrees and beats the shit out of my Windows 10 Mobile device's.
+Davide Gagliardi And which Windows 10 mobile devices are those exactly? My Note 4 never got close to being as smooth as my 1520.
+Xs1Nz For now maybe ;) Once the OS is as intended though I'm sure it will be fantastic.
Xs1Nz Won't happen for a while as Intel don't have chips capable enough yet. If there are lots more Universal Apps added to the store then Continuum itself running these apps on a big screen should be enough.
I have the 950 and I now prefer it more than my iPhone.
You can compare anything to an iPhone and be impressed.... It's the same a comparing an old Toyta with a new Audi....
funnily enough, the more i use it the better it gets. i did a skype call and the screen quality is truly amazing. 4k beats apples screens
please help me i am planning to buy 950xl
what is your opinion
is win10 buggy like a hell ?need help
I am loving the 950.
I will say that if I could get windows 8.1 on this phone I would be super happy.i miss Cortana
Bought lumia 1020 in pre order. Still using as daily photography device.. Windows was just a awesome device.
I have a 950XL and love it. After waiting 2 years for a new flagship phone, all the hardware advantages mentioned justify the phone alone. I have the phone in a case, so the appearance doesn't factor in for me. I love Live Tiles and the ability to customize my view with dynamic tiles. My wife uses an iPhone 6s and watching here scroll through pages and pages of static tiles gives me a headache. MS should have had this WP10 os perfected with the release of this phone and they don't. That said, everyone knows you never upgrade your Windows OS until the 2nd service pack is released. I ordered my new PC with Win 7 Pro and won't upgrade to Win 10 until at least the next Threshold update. Browser extensions are a must for me. I'm pretty confident on the mobile front, the next 1 or 2 updates will solve the vast majority of these issues. In the meantime, I've got an outstanding camera and display. After stalling with lower level Lumia's for 2 years, the 950XL is welcome relief which is bound to get better. As to the price, I added a 64GB microSD which makes a comparable iPhone at least $100 more expensive. If that's too little, I can switch it out for a 128GB card instead of having to buy a new and very expensive iPhone. I get the Continuum dock for free as part of the release promotion which is amazing. With the Surface line doing so surprisingly well, 2016 will no doubt see a Surface Phone. All the os issues with WP 10 will be solved by then. That said, if MS doesn't move forward smartly, quickly, and with apps that work, 2 years from now there probably won't be Windows Phone. I will miss the Live Tiles a lot.....
Can you use emails and download applications properly
email works
I have a Lumia 1520 with the last build... None of those issues are present on the system... Plus, Apps on Android crashes more often (even google own apps like Chrome and Hangouts which by the way has terrible problems like the Stagefright) and is almost impossible to update the system (even Nexus sometimes), The new Lumias has 2 Updates already and more coming for all users... I can see your point Michael, but as Kermit says (this time) "wooow, you're 100% wrong" at least about judging W10M now.
+SergiioMan seriously?? chrome, hangouts crash?? are you using a cheapo motorola or china phone?
***** My case is exactly the opposite, I never going back to 8.1, W10 is faster, UWP apps opens almost instantanely, I have other devices with W10 like Xbox ONE, Tablets and miniPC besides my desktop, I don't have any issue, and by the way, my 1520 is almost 3 years old... and it can be faster than the Galaxy Note 5 of my friend... pretty good for and really old phone.
+SergiioMan Have you truly had no issues? I have the 1520 too and I'm considering upgrading to W10M
Patrick Riley I have 2 months with builds and none issue, universal apps are really a big thing, the splash screen is so fast that most of the time I didn't see it at all.
SergiioMan Very nice to hear. What about the problems with Outlook people are saying? Emails are very important for my job so getting them on my phone as fast as possible is a must.
I have a Lumia 950. I've spent a lot of time considering switching to something else until W10M is ready, but there are simply no other phones on the market with the same (or better) specs. For that size (under 5.5 inch screen size), there are no other phones with 1440p OLED displays, expandable storage, and removable battery. 4 simple requirements and there is nothing.
The 950 XL and windows mobile still looks amazing even with todays phones
Is it still worth the buy?
I've never heard Micheal so fucking depressed in the intro. It sounds like he is just done with this(950XL) shit
PNAKOAO
Stop swearing you bitch
JaMarcusT03 umm it's a joke
Yikes, that intro was harsh. I don't think I've seen Michael give a worse one to any phone other than the Worst Gadgets Ever devices.
Fiddle N He's a MS fan. He had huge expectations, but they've failed him... Bugs will get fixed though
So this phone will revive the Worst Gadgets Ever Series?
+aleksa ssta Yeah in another half a year probably. Microsoft clearly doesn't give a fuck about W10M as much as they did with WP8.1
+Manuel Fontanilla The phone isn't bad, the hardware is still great like he mentioned, the OS is the gigantic mess right now, and Microsoft is taking their sweet time to not give a fuck about it.
***** Thus Samsung and Apple will continue to dominate the mobile market. 😒 I'm using the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 right now.
Why such a different consensus then their was with the normal 950?
+Ivan Muchiutti The experience on the XL running .29 is significantly worse than was the case on the 950 ... and the added cost of the XL, plus the problems that have continued despite updates to the software, made the problems much less forgivable here. ^M
+Pocketnow You guys literally destroyed the device, because software issues?, GOODJOB
+Sam Techh dude win 10 is potato no thanks both iOS and android are million miles ahead
+Sam Techh Software is a pretty major part of a smartphone, what good does good camera hardware make for example when the software doesn't let you use it properly?
Can these issues be fixed with updates? Probably, yes. But we have no idea when that will happen and one cannot review a product based on potential and how it might work in the future. You can only review a product in its current state.
+Sam Techh As a person who has slightly crappy software on my G2 (LG's Android Skin is terrible) Software is a HUGE component to phones, if not the number one, It's how you interact and use the phone, and if it doesnt work, the phone as a whole doesn't. Android and iOS are far better PHONE OS's
Wow I must have been very lucky with my 950 XL, because I really (no really) haven't seen any of the bugs you mention. Not one. And all my app downloads (new or auto-updates) run in the background.
I do agree that W10 mobile isn't ready, but it manifests itself in sluggish performance, sometimes, not all the time. Easily fixed by a restart of the device, which I choose to do perhaps once every two days.
The back cover is a flimsy piece of plastic that doesn't belong on a device in this price range. It makes the white look cheap, where the Nokia devices looked premium. But I'm just so happy that I finally have the option to take it off and remove the battery for the spare one I'm carrying! And to swap MicroSD storage all the way up to 2TB! Seriously manufacturers, what the fuck is going on with the sealed-up-no-storage-poor-battery stuff of the last three years?
So yeah, I'm not happy, but I'm satisfied. At least not as unlucky as you seem to have been by far. My problems will be fixed with a couple of OS updates and possibly a genuine leather Mozo back cover.
By the way I really think Windows 10 Mobile is a step down from Windows Phone 8, designwise. There's a lot more design and interaction inconsistensies compared with its bold and purely square roots. Less esthetic and not as touch-friendly as it could be in a lot of places - like in the unintuitive alarm time selectors or the round avatars in the people app.
+Robin Verdegaal Think I agree with pretty much everything you said there. My 950 XL runs great but occasionally there are hiccups. Nothing major though. Apps updating in the background for the most part. Lots of if potential and I also preferred the overall design of 8.1.
+Euclid Shane yes I like the Mozo genuine leather back cover I mentioned, pre-ordered one. Gonna surprise my future self with a package at the door somewhere in the coming x months :)
+Robin Verdegaal Chances are astronomically huge that his review was on a pre-production phone running pre-production software, damn near every review on a device tied to Microsoft is, and that's just how it is in general.
"I'm not happy, but I'm satisfied." Such a concessionary phrase. There are many instances in life where that's all you can say. This is a phone. It's a decision you can control. Buy a Nexus if you don't have the money for a Galaxy S whatever or an iPhone. At least you'll be getting a damn good phone with a good ecosystem behind it.
Guys the windows phones are MUCH BETTER after the anniversary update! Windows 10 is a beast now!
Much better, but it should have been like that from the start. The "anniversary update" is a year late, and 3 years too late to win back anyone that bought a windows phone 8 device.
no, its not. Still a mess, avoid at all cost
Almost all the issues mentioned it this video are still present with my phone one the latest build.
Yeah no.
Yes buggy beast for sure
Strange to not hear him saying "stay mobile, my friends" in the end.
Oh, and I also got here from the Duo video.
who's here after surface duo review
I'm happy with my Lumia 640 LX.
+Frankienoname0 I really wanted this phone. I thought I was missing out.
+Ms Eady123 Youre Lumia 640 XL dont come with Windows 10 Mobile. Windows Phone 8 is a stable, bug free and fast OS. Windows 10 Mobile NOT.
MsTechNotFancy Best phone in earth!!
+MsTechNotFancy I recently bough a Lumia 640 for about €100 and to be fair it's cool for the money I paid for it and Windows phone is way way smoother than Androids for the same price... But on the other hand I feel kinda stuck in this sofware and I don't feel the liberty I had on Android..
RUclips on my Lumia totally sucks and is so fuckin' annoying!
Carlos Alberto
Which RUclips-App?
my lumia 1520 is running windows 10 mobile absolutely flawlessly . .. am sticking to it because of the so many upcoming universal apps
Mine also runs extremely well. Barely an issue.
+Oussama amrani Me too!! 1520
Miss this platform , could have been great
Just got myself a 950XL and its the mutts nuts, Very impressed. as has always been the case with Windows phones, it is hands down the best out of the box phone experience there is on the market, yes it has limited app short comings, and yes some of those are pretty significant, but without a shadow of a doubt, I wouldn't drop WM10 as a phone for iOS or Droid for anything. No clutter, no crap, no distraction or slow down just a get down to business straight out of the box device that does exactly what it says on the tin.
Well, is there a chance that I can buy the phone for its camera and downgrade to Windows 8.1?! Because I am in love with my lumia 930 running 8.1.
+Xe M Unfortunately no. A 950XL running 8.1 would be nice though.
+Xe M Why not just upgrade your 930 to Windows 10? It's running fantastic on my 1520 using the latest fast track insider preview.
+Nick lol what? He posted his experience and that is your reaction? I have the 950 XL and do not remember seeing any major bugs thus far. Edge has crashed on me once and twice the home screen took about 5 secs to pop up but other than that it has all been relatively plain sailing.
Prior to that I was using an Xperia z3 compact, I had the photos app crash on me every single day, browser crashes were fairly common and general apps / games would crash from time to time as well. Overall my android experience was frustrating, win10 mobile is better than a similar (hardware wise) android phone.
+SEO dev My Xpreria Z (before Z1) runs perfect and still receives most OST upgrades.
+SEO dev Thank you for your exp sharing
this helped me
It's astonishing to see the difference between just how good Microsoft has done in the past two years - and 2015 in particular - on the desktop (tablets, 2-in-1s, etc.) side with Windows 10 and the Surface lineup and how poorly Windows 10 Mobile and the Lumias have performed.
Hopefully the UWP, the Redstone update and an industry-shaking (?) Surface Phone will be able to make the company's efforts justice in a year or so.
I certainly hope that!
+Edoardo Maggio We share the hope, which is part of the reason Michael and Adam continue to carry Windows smartphones despite the issues outlined here. ^M
+Pocketnow it would be great if they fixed bugs properly but from what I gather they are just now going to change the development structure to what I suggested a year ago. patching to all builds instead of patching back to the next build only. should let them fix these issues much faster. they also need to change the feedback system so it properly highlights issues.
+Edoardo Maggio I do not know if you heard, but the lumia 950 was made for the fans, and only those who are REALLY going to get fan .. I am one of them, but Windows 10 is far from stable equal to i 8.1: /
+Pocketnow Hi, Michael. I'm from Brazil and I follow all your videos and congratulations for the work, excellent reviews you do! I hope you do not forget to bring devices with Windows and please, please review the Lumia 550. Hug
wow... this is like the Phantom Menace of phones... you REALLY wanna like it, but can't do anything but hate it.
+Albaabur Rahman This is actually a really good analogy. But we'd say it's more "Attack of the Clones"-level, with the possibility of becoming "Revenge of the Sith" with time. ^M
+Pocketnow Michael, you are a true nerd. And thats a compliment.
+Pocketnow Help us, Michael Fisher, You're our only hope.
Probably one of the most needed devices for an "After the Buzz" episode.
Felt so good to hear Michael Fisher's Voice Finally.
I'm using the Lumia 950 Dual SIM and I am more than just happy with that. OK. The battery-life is not so good but the features make up for it.
Payment app support?
@@NehaSharma-wh1lr That was 5 years ago. Now I'm using a Pixel 4a 5G. 😉
I gotta say that most of these bugs have been fixed now, and Microsoft is rolling out proper updates all the time. I have a Lumia 950 and I think it's great.
Sjoerd Scheffer are you still using the phone ? Debating on whether to buy lumia or the XL if I decide to go with for a WP
I've never seen the captain bash on a phone so bad! But... The camera is great, and that flash feature is incredible! Take notes Apple and Samsung.
I'm happy that this phone is like $150 now and these comments saying that the bugs were fixed
Seriously, I fall in love with you, but no complaining, that flashlight function after capture is freaking amazing! Tnx, dude!!!
If this was cheaper, people like me would buy them. Why buy this when I could get a Nexus 6 for roughly 150€ cheaper?
The Nexus series is really coming along good - Nexus 6P is what I'm now using 😁
Well for starters the Nexus 6P is held together by pure force of will and I'd never buy that...
No kidding I sold my nexus 6 (before it breaks on me and i lose all value) and am only using this phone as a backup until the next nexus is out. It's painful. About the only thing it does better than _last year's nexus_ is photos.
I totally agree with you, but nowadays XL has a really close price to nexus 6's.
I've bought new 950 XL for $300. Also, never Android.
Such a shame. I really want to see WinPhone thrive eventually. More competition could only do us good. Besides, MS has always had some interesting ideas with these Lumia devices; the cameras are simply gorgeous, the UI looks pretty good, and there's potential for more integration with their desktop counterparts if MS ever steps their game up. If only...
this aged well
@@SimbianGaming I'd still stand by this. It was a huge shame to see another competitor go, especially when they did have interesting ideas and a much more efficient OS than what we had then. Now we're just stuck with the duopoly.
MS launched Windows 10 desktop in a beta state but has since then fixed most of the issues. It's now mostly stable and zippy. Same can't be said about W10 Mobile. They're not committing to a launch date, several bugs transition from one build to another and the QA process seems to be non existent, with MS relying instead solely on the insider program. At least that's what it looks like. It's clear they're not putting many resources into mobile and the development is suffering. MS seem to be the first ones wanting the mobile platform to die.
Haven't had many of these issues at all and I've been loving my 950 XL. Great review though. It's good that you show the issues you and others have had whether or not most users do.
Happy new year... Michael
I can honestly say that most of these issues have been sorted out. It's an awesome device now!
This review really disappointed me. Not in the sense of how the Lumia turned out. It disappointed me because of the lack of information on a lot of aspects. The signal, earpiece, cooling system, etc. Because even if the software its incomplete I want to know the other aspects of the phone for a future buy when those issues are fixed. You'll tell me to see other reviews but the thing is that I love how Michael explains. I didn't wanted to wait for the after the buzz of this divice...
Honestly , i think using a WP is prefrence based.I've been an android user for pretty much my whole life,and a month ago i've bought Lumia 640 XL and I've installed windows 10 insider preview on it.I actually love it so much that it may sound unrealistic to some people! I love how it looks , how it performs and it's a perfect fit for me.I just had a need to put this out for someone considering buying WP. :)
As a Windows Phone fan, I found this review quite thoughtful, fair, and honest.
This is what happens when you fire all the beta testers and fully depend on public to beta test your software. Yeah, insider is cool but it can't replace the people who get paid (used to get paid) to test their OS.
btw, great review as always.
indeed
+blueman24 They didn't though did they...
The public is not reliable. They're usually fanboys who'll say there is nothing wrong.
Ingiomar Martina news bruh. Everyone knows it. They fired a bunch of people in the past while restructuring the company. Most of which were testers.
why would Microsoft publicly ever announce who they fired? That kind of stuff is generally P&C. Anyway, Microsoft insiders have confirmed that Microsoft did indeed let go of a whole lot of software testers in addition to Nokia employees. It's an open secret.
The 950 is the best phone I've used
Am I the only one missing the UI of Windows Phone. I prefer it so much more to Android and iOS UIs.
Being a former Android user, I definitely agree with you.
Great review as always.... Thumbs up for the honesty
At 3:43, you sounded so low-key annoyed, which is something unorthodox to expect from a premium mobile RUclipsr like you. Lol. But, I can understand your frustrations.
U wot m8! ;D
get rekt m9
+Knight Gash I'll fooken burst yee m9!! ;D
+Danté your "D" in your name is for "D"SG. Yur evriwhore m8 0_o
+Danté stop following me around on all my channels
MLG is such a dead meme
It's the best phone in the market... i would prefer it apart from ios and android... alwayz love you windows
this Phone sucks major ass!!! i have been a big fan of the Ms vision, but sometimes i feel that Ms. stopped even trying to fix the bugs. the $650 tag was the only reason why i didnt switch to android, instead i tried by best to break it, i even "accidentally" dropped it in a go cart ring and had half of the cars run over it... it proved to be durable throughout this test x-(
i finally then decided to switch to android where life started to have meaning again...
for anyone thinking of buying this phone or any windows operated phones i say Save your money until Ms brings its shit together and start taking your hard earned money seriously!
Thoroughly informative. Extremely insightful. You are the bomb diggity.
Microsoft certainly have gotten the UI right, minus the bugs and with more apps in the windows store I think the windows phone has a bright future. I am looking forward to the Surface phone.
Microsoft should just reward developers who develop apps, since not that many people are getting those apps. With more apps, more people would join WP and start using those apps. But that would never happen
not gonna happen. Microsoft will stop making phones.
+BlayzedBlue Maybe Lumia's, but I think they will make another productive phone brand unlike the consumer phone known as the Lumia, and support it until at least 2018
It is funny when he says that because Android devices did exactly the same thing and for him that was fine but this isnt
Early Android device or iOS even
+abhishek jha (tobeornottobe) What are you talking about, when Android 5.0 was released he shitted all over it because of it's bugs.
+varun indana They just can't accept that the OS in it's current form, is a mess. They keep trying to throwing everyone under the bus and make excuses. Android has been and sometimes still is criticized(especially skins like touchwiz lol).
Dante Bradley I'm not saying windows 10 is a bad OS, even though I'm a Android guy I have to admit windows 10 cosmetically looks really good if Microsoft could get their shit together it could be really successful
***** Actually when 5.0 was released there were a few camera bugs especially with manufactures like Sony and LG
Nothing is wrong ,just stop downloading all that shit app's and use as normal nowaday's phone...
I'm using a Lumia 640 ,battery keeps almost 3 days ,stock app's runs well, and i'm very glad with it.. ;p
Stop downloading this, stop doing that.
Do we need to use that like a Nokia 3310 to make it look like a good phone?
Dude, buy Ericsson phone then (literally Ericsson. Not Sony Ericsson, or Sony. Like don't)
There's five microphones not four
+Jared Fletcher Not according to Microsoft: www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Microsoft-Lumia-950-XL--Unlocked/productID.326602300 ^M
+Pocketnow there's one microphone for every five dots you see on the back, and two more in the front of the phone... they're four :)
there are 23 xD
I'm a windows phone fan and I appreciate your honesty
I love my 950XL. I will always use one, despite any issues it may have. And, every phone has its issues. What makes a Windows Phone a Windows Phone is what I love about 'em. OS, live tiles, and awesome looking customization drew me in and no other phone has caught my eye yet.
Don't have any of those software problems you describe...
One word: RUSHED
One of the most high end phones on the market, and better then any iphone to date. But even though android and ios have bugs and crap features. Just got to rip on windows. Your sad
I had WP's ever since my first Lumia 900 which was great. A couple of weeks a go, got me my first iPhone because I thought the 950 was lacking. Happy to hear I made the right choice, even though I do miss the platform.
Couldn't agree more! "Wait for the next update" Windows phone in a nut shell. Great review!
Nokia ....move to Android please........ Android N will save us all
True
Nokia? Android N would save them, most definitely
I think they read ur comment, XD . Nokia is now planning to release android powered phones.
***** I guess, like the only thing Android can bring is fragmentation
and it happened.
+Pocketnow This is the most detailed review I've seen! Sounds harsh but its 100% correct. Awesome review
I have the 950XL DS. I've been using it for about 2 weeks now. Yes, it still has many bugs, but I haven't run into so many problems as you are showing. The hardware promisses being ready for many new features (just like it was the case with L 1520 where an update made it able to record in 4K).
You are right that right now W10 is rather for the OS fans. But many of those fans were made by Android devices (including myself). I prefer to see my device get better over the time to seing it deteriorate like the Android devices do.
Just switched from Samsung Note 3 to the new Nexus 6p, and it's by far the best phone there is on the market. Clean, fast, no lugs, amazing camera, great battery, fastest updates on the market, cheap in comparison to other flagship devices, and beautiful! Forget about Windows phone or I-phones, the Nexus is a beast!
Great review. I've been thinking about giving MS another chance with WM10, but after this review, I guess I'll have to keep waiting...
Let's raise a petition to bring Windows Phone back
I beg to differ. My daily driver is a 950. I've been using it since Dec. 2015. Although there is this occasional hiccup's with the Edge browser (pages loads but the screen is blank, app restart required), I have not experienced ANY of the problems pointed out in this review.Below are some key factors why I love this phone:
- I have some 20% battery left in a normal days use and still able to use the phone before bedtime. I would be anxious if I have other chores before heading home with the other phones.
- Call quality is great, loud and clear on both ends of the line.
- I get good signal in places where my other phone can't get reception.
- Love the keyboard with the "joystick". In addition, how fast I can dial numbers and browse contacts. YES, this is an issue with ALL the androids I have tried.
- The quickest phone camera I've ever had. Not to mention the best phone camera I've ever used!
- Windows Phone 10 has one slick and usable interface, dare I say the best smartphone UI ever.
- I am most productive with this phone. It provides me (most) of the tools I need to get things done.There are problems and issues:
My 950 is hardly used for gaming. The number of available games is no issue for me. On the other hand, my biggest gripe with the phone/platform is indeed with apps. Many of the apps I use are better on the other platforms. Or worst, they are not available (some local apps, Norway, are not available).Continuum is a great concept but needs improvement. I wish all my apps ran on it. Also, continuum can be laggy if you stream HD video. More CPU power may even convince me that I'm not working on a mobile phone.So, why did I switched from Galaxy Note 3 to Lumia 950?
I must admit though with so many people hating Microsoft so much, is probably the main reason I switched. I simply had to see what "epic fail" this phone/platform was. But I'm amazed how good it turned out to be.
Are you planning to do another review on Lumia 950XL, after a month where there were some builds (another one comming next week) and firmwares (got one new firmware these days) released?
It might have significant improvements
Sometimes the truth hurts. Yes, Windows 10 Mobile with Edge browser is an unfinished masterpiece. But a more positive "Not Yet" would have been more appropriate than "Nope" IMO. I have a Lumia 640 running W10M Insider preview alongside my Android daily driver. The great potential of Windows 10 has me planning to make the switch sometime in the next few months. At that point, I'll probably upgrade to one of the 950s because I think they're awesome phones. I'm much more excited about the upcoming Redstone release than the imaginary "Surface phone" some fans are screaming for.
After the last software update make it a yeap dude... People complain about the design of Lumia 950 xl. I think it is the most beautiful minimalistic deep black phone I ever had. I still have my loving note 4 & 3 and an iPad mini 2015 retina as well a nexus 7 second generation. But the windows mobile is gorgeous for business people. The best screen after Sony z5 premium, best camera, removable battery, card slot for my 200gb microsd, double sim, super fast charge, wireless charge, usb type c, and the mist fantastic gadget for the 2026: Continuum. OMG! It's nota dream but reality! At last I have left the iOS and android boring platforms! Thank you Microsoft.
this is honestly the best starting to a video....
I miss the Lumia phones 😢
You have hit the nail on head. Wow !! What a review !! Awesome.. I am not a Windows fan. But had a slightest thought of buying it as I had a decent deal over Xperia Z5 and Samsung S6. But after watching this video, I have decided to drop Windows phone .. Thanks for a clear review ..
thanks for the review - i might have to wait a while after seeing this. Hopefully the platform gets better - thanks again for your honesty
Thanks for the review, now I am definitely getting a Lumia 950 XL! Already on pre-order!
i love your review !!!!!! its exactly reflecting my thoughts on windows mobile and the 950xl!!!
I got so fed up with it that I gave up until 2017.
I've owned the Lumia 950 XL since a couple of days after the UK launch. Hardware wise I have had no problems at all. Yes the back does creak sometimes, however, this isn't an exclusive problem to the 950 XL, can be fixed by a bit of foam, or will be fixed once I get my Mozo back.
Software wise I haven't experienced a single problem that Michael has. But that's not to say it's been plain sailing. After four days I suffered from the update troubles where it got stuck at 0% and basically made the phone unusable. Due to me working I left the phone for three days and when I came back to it after a bit of fiddling around it became completely functional again.
I have had no software problems since and would feel more than happy to recommend the phone. At the time I certainly had exactly the same sentiment as Michael has. We're talking about Microsoft here and frankly it is ridiculous that for basically the worlds biggest software company there are so many problems with the software. Ironically it's the hardware that's good. And it's exactly the same story with my desktop. Even OEM's like Asus are now making brilliant hardware like my Zen AIO S but it's Windows 10 that lets it down.
I was seriously considering a transition to 950xl from android even after this very informative video. I was going to get it around this April waiting a couple of months for the price to drop a little bit more. Thank god i changed my mind and got s7 edge. I still want to see windows phone succeed and deliver a product that actually works. I love the tiles idea and generally I find it a breath of fresh air . The new lumias might failed but there is still hope , there is a new guy in town . I can't wait to see more about HP elite X3 . I had a blast watching your MWC content .
That's a 10240 build of W10M on that 950XL. No wonder it's laggy, considering the time this video was posted it should have a 10586 build installed on it-which is a lot more stable build.
I currently have a Lumia 950 XL as my daily driver, and it is not only the best Windows Phone device I ever owned so far, but also the best phone I ever owned full stop. Even to this day as a former Android user, I'm still struggling to find any newer Android phone that can equally match the 950 XL's camera.
Farhan Ahmad Tajuddin App Store close right hows maps still usable
@@AlejandroP1980s I think you got confused between Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10 Mobile. The 950 XL is a Windows 10 Mobile and the app store is still running as usual.
please upload an updated video when Microsoft finally fix EVERYTHING I'll be looking out for it. The phone looks great and the camera too, but I refuse to spend my hard earned money on what you rightly call reference hardware. I've used apple and android and was almost ready to give windows a try until I saw all the downright absurd errors that need fixing ! Cheers and thanks for the honest and clear cut review
Hey Michael, i enjoyed this review. I expected it to be a little biased judging by the title, but your reasons for the dislike of the phone seem to be very valid (and backed up by video proof). I am a Microsoft Windows phone fan but have switched back to android since my 1020 started acting up. Maybe one day i will return to the WP ecosystem, but until they come out with a usable OS, I will stay Android
Microsoft understands that removing the phone would hurt the ecosystem, yet could care less on giving the consumers a reason to buy a windows phone
If even Fisher can't hook it, then I can't cook it. Great review, thanks Michael.
Another great straight to the point no BS review. I do have a question and it is not related the the phone. What brand does the keyboard displayed in 1:11 belong to?
As a longtime Windows Phone fan(and one who never owned an Android phone or an iPhone), this is all sad but true. I have a Microsoft Lumia 550, and it all started like that 950 XL - ridiculously buggy, my most-used apps were just not working as they used to on my old Nokia Lumia 620. Although improved on certain issues, some new issues followed, like some installed apps being no longer "updatable" due to new hardware requiements(i.e. 2GB RAM requirement won't help the 1GB Lumia 550).
PLEASE SOMEONE HELP....How much longer will 950 and 950xl work and what carrier will they work on. My 1520 no longer works as of 3 months ago. Got a Sony Xperia XA Ultra because of the size and the camera was supposed to be great. Just hate it. Would like to buy 950xl even if only for another year of use