Up close with Nokia’s Lumia 920 and 820 (gallery & video)

Nokia today announced its first Windows Phone 8 devices at a New York City press event, the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820.

Even though some of the details about the phones were leaked last week, Nokia still managed to impress today as we learned more about the new devices. The PureView camera technology, in particular, could make consumers pay attention to the Lumia 920. Couple that with the many improvements in Windows Phone 8, including a revamped Start screen and camera apps, and Nokia could have a strong contender against the iPhone 5. (It’s just too bad Nokia isn’t divulging release information yet on its new phones.)

Unfortunately, Nokia only had a handful of prototype devices available at the event for reporters to touch and feel, but from my brief time with the Lumia 920 and 820, it definitely feels like the company has one-upped last year’s Lumia designs. The Lumia 920 feels more solid than the iPhone 4S (and it certainly helps that the rear is an ultra-strong polycarbonate, and not glass).

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