Microsoft Lumia 950 review: Legendary Edition

Legendary edition

GSMArena team, 02 December, 2015.

Telephony and contact management

People Hub hasn't changed much since Windows Phone 8.1 It is the phonebook that you'll find on any Windows device and supports multiple accounts, including social ones, and has multiple pages like the rest of the WP interface. The first page is your contacts list with slightly update looks, the second one is What's New with all of your friends' social updates (Facebook and Twitter), and Groups.

Microsoft Lumia 950 review: The People app Microsoft Lumia 950 review: Quick Search Microsoft Lumia 950 review: The Social page Microsoft Lumia 950 review: Viewing a contact Microsoft Lumia 950 review: Edition a contact
The People app • Quick Search • The Social page • Viewing a contact • Edition a contact

Some of the complications are gone for good such as the social updates for each contact and its complete history.

The cell reception and call quality are very good and we had no receptions issues or unpleasant sound problems.

Microsoft Lumia 950 review: The Dialer app Microsoft Lumia 950 review: The Dialer app
The Dialer app

The speaker on the Lumia 950 scored Very Good in terms of loudness and indeed it's very loud even in the noisiest of environments. Its audio quality is OK, but not impressive, the sound isn't very deep.

Speakerphone testVoice, dB Pink noise/ Music, dB Ringing phone, dB Overall score
Sony Xperia Z5 65.1 62.3 66.3 Below Average
Apple iPhone 6s Plus 65.8 65.1 64.6 Below Average
Samsung Galaxy Note5 65.3 64.6 73.5 Average
Samsung Galaxy S6 68.1 66.3 73.7 Good
LG G4 66.9 71.8 74.7 Good
Nokia Lumia 1520 73.7 67.7 74.7 Good
Xiaomi Mi 4c 73.2 66.6 77.5 Good
Microsoft Lumia 950 71.9 73.0 77.2 Very Good
Nokia Lumia 930 76.7 69.7 77.2 Very Good
OnePlus 2 75.7 73.5 80.7 Excellent


Messaging is all about Skype, but not exclusive

Windows 10 Mobile now fully integrates with Skype and once you sign in, you actually don't need the Skype app at all. The Messaging hub now supports Skype IM messaging and you can sent and receive Skype messages as they were texts/MMS. Attachments are available, too.

Microsoft Lumia 950 review: The messaging app with Skype integration Microsoft Lumia 950 review: Skype video app Microsoft Lumia 950 review: Skype video app Microsoft Lumia 950 review: Skype video app Microsoft Lumia 950 review: Skype video app
The messaging app with Skype integration • Skype video app

Microsoft has made the QuickType keyboard even faster and smarter, plus there is a new dot, which acts as a virtual D-pad and allows you to move quickly through the text.

Microsoft Lumia 950 review: Microsoft's QuickType keyboard Microsoft Lumia 950 review: Microsoft's QuickType keyboard
Microsoft's QuickType keyboard

If your Skype is too active though, as ours are, your phone will keep syncing all messages and chats, and even if you mute the notifications, your battery will drain more quickly than usual. We suggest using the Skype messaging sync with caution.

Skype Video app comes pre-installed too, and this is the place where you can actually disable the Skype messaging and video integration. The Skype Video app is very similar to what FaceTime does in iOS - it's a native video call app, lighter than the actual Skype app, and will allow you to do video calls really quick and easy.

The native email client is the mobile version of Outlook Mail. It looks a lot like its desktop app and works like a charm. It supports multiple accounts, and syncs across all your Windows devices. It is available on Android and iOS as well and we often prefer it over other solutions.

Microsoft Lumia 950 review: Outlook Mail Microsoft Lumia 950 review: Outlook Mail
Outlook Mail

Reader comments

  • gamecuber
  • 30 Mar 2024
  • ALY

on ebay i literally just bought one for the same price

  • Sudharsan
  • 08 Apr 2021
  • iih

Where did you manage to buy for 20 dollars

  • dosdoktor
  • 26 Jan 2021
  • 3RP

Bought one for $20 a pop, gonna install desktop version of Win10 21296 on it and test that x86 on ARM64 emulation...