Microsoft’s new Lumia 950 and 950 XL smartphones take on the personal computer

Microsoft today launched two of their much-awaited smartphones--the Lumia 950 and the 950 XL. Besides the mandatory high-end specifications that define the flagship moniker, this duo introduces an altogether new concept when it comes to personal digital productivity: they can actually replace your desktop or laptop computer. Before we get into that, a quick look at their specifications.

Both of these smartphones slot themselves squarely into the premium space--the 950 is the slightly smaller of the two at 5.2 inches, with a 3,000mAH battery. Based on a Qualcomm MSM8992 Snapdragon 808 platform with a dual-core 1.82GHz Cortex-A57 and quad-core 1.44GHz Cortex-A53 with Adreno 417 graphics, there’s certainly plenty of processing power under the hood. Finally with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (expandable via microSD card,) it has no problems delivering a smooth user experience.

The top-of-the-stack 950 XL is based on a half-inch bigger screen with a comparatively larger 3,340mAH battery. This phone is powered by a Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 with a quad-core 1.5GHz Cortex-A53 and quad-core 2GHz Cortex-A57 with Adreno 430 graphics, giving it enough of processing grunt to deliver in demanding application scenarios, and then some. Like the 950, this one also has  3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage that is expandable via microSD card.

Both of these phones have a 1440x2560 resolution, but the 950 with its smaller screen packs more pixels per inch (an uber-sharp 564ppi versus the 518ppi for the 950 XL). They also share the same camera and optics: a 20MP front camera with Carl Zeiss lenses, optical image stabilization, autofocus and triple-LED flash, and a 5MP front camera. Both integrate the new USB Type-C interface, and like several earlier Lumia devices, both have Qi-enabled wireless charging built in. Interestingly, both have a highly functional iris scanner that was shown to work even in dark conditions--an added convenience for phone-based authentication if you’re too lazy to swipe a pattern on the screen.

But these phones are positioned as more than just phones--when plugged into a separately-available dock along with a keyboard, mouse and monitor, they deliver a full-fledged desktop computing experience. This ability to morph usage scenarios--and even be simultaneously used as smartphone and desktop--is intriguing for several reasons. Dubbed Microsoft Continuum, this ability actually powers a complete Window 10 desktop while enabling users to utilize the phone itself in parallel.

Having one of these phone now negates lugging around a separate tablet or even laptop. When on the road the device functions as any high-end smartphone would, complete with 4G cloud apps (in this case, Microsoft’s OneDrive) at the center of the digital mobile experience. But the moment there is access to a keyboard, mouse and monitor, users can jump right into the familiar desktop and full-throttle productivity that only a keyboard, mouse and large screen can deliver. And using these phones plugged into the dock simultaneously charges the device, which further extends its life on the road.

So whether it’s a time-strapped doctor doing her rounds while needing to stay connected to voice and messaging networks, or a bachelor living in a space-strapped pad, having a single powerful device that serves both the smartphone and desktop scenarios is potentially game-changing.

The only real downer in this single-device multi-function utopia is the unusually high pricing of these devices: the 950 retails for Rs 43,699 while the 950 XL comes in at a shade under the half-lakh mark (Rs 49,399). But fortunately, there will be lower-priced options in the offing, revealed Raghuvesh Sarup, Director of Marketing, Mobile Devices, Microsoft India. Until then, the new Lumia phones, with their phone/desktop split personas could just be the thing for users who love being connected but hate a multitude of devices.