The Microsoft Lumia 950 is the first Windows 10 Mobile phone to attempt to crack the high-end smartphone market, but can it really go head-to-head with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Apple iPhone 6s? We've been living with one to find out.
The good
The Lumia 950 is a 5.2-inch smartphone with an absolutely stunning screen. The display packs in a Quad HD resolution that can compete with the very best rivals, and it also features impressively vibrant colours that leave photos and videos looking fantastic.
Microsoft's offering also stands up well when it comes to all-round specifications, with a speedy Snapdragon 808 processor and a healthy 3GB of RAM. Sure, it's not the fastest smartphone out there but we found the Windows 10 Mobile OS slick, fast and largely free from lag.
As a flagship, the Lumia 950 is packed with features, and we particularly liked the Windows Hello iris scanner that lets you unlock the phone. The 20-megapixel camera is also worthy of a mention, producing accurate, clear and colourful photographs that can be saved to either the 32GB of internal memory or a microSD card.
Wireless charging is another feature that's thrown in, with a USB-C port on offer for faster charges or data transfer, and you'll be able to charge the phone from dead to a reasonable 30 per cent in half an hour.
The Windows 10 Mobile operating system carries a lot of the benefits from the older Windows Phone OS, and the big homescreen Live Tiles are as attractive, clear and easy to use as ever. It's particularly appealing if you have large fingers or simply hate fiddly and small interfaces.
It also packs in compatibility with Windows 10, meaning you'll find apps more apps that can be used when switching between different devices, although the general eco system still lags a long way behind Android and iOS.
The bad
We've seen some stunning Lumias in the past - not least the aluminium-clad Lumia 925 and Lumia 930 - and in comparison to its older siblings the plastic-fantastic finish on the Lumia 950 is a disappointment. It looks dull too, lacking the wow-factor of something like the Galaxy S6, and the bright colours of older Lumias are long gone.
The Windows 10 Mobile OS is both a plus and a negative point, and although it looks good, it's fantastically easy to use and for the most part pretty slick, it still lags a long way between Android and iOS when it comes to apps.
Battery life was also on the disappointing side, and despite the large 3,000mAh battery you'll have to cut down on more power-hungry apps if you want to make it into the second day.
The bottom line
The Lumia 950 packs in some pretty cool features - not least that gorgeous screen and decent spec sheet - but it never quite feels as nice as a premium handset should. The plastic finish is in stark contrast to the asking price, and it feels some way away from the likes of Apple, Samsung and HTC on the quality front. As with previous Lumias, though, the biggest issue for lots of people is the Windows eco system. We love the fact it's easy to use and looks good, but with a lack of apps, variety or flexibility, it still feels like a backmarker when compared to the best phones.
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