Nokia Lumia 925 (RM-893) 4G LTE Windows 8 Smartphone GSM Unlocked

Slimmer than the rest, the 925 also made with premium aluminum elements and has a tight fit and finish that approaches the pristine finesse of HTC's One. Nokia pumps up the buttoned-up feel by backing off the Lumia's screaming colors and muting the palette to white, black, and gray. A few design quibbles chip away at the effect, though, like edges that seem sharp despite the phone's curved spines. A competent camera with terrific low-light performance backs up the rakish appearance of this global flagship, which has the same OS and apps as the other top Lumia phones. Still, T-Mobile and AT&T customers should feel smug with this great-looking Windows 8 phone option, which costs $49.99 down ($529.99 all in) with T-Mo and $99.99 on-contract with AT&T. Design and build Silvery aluminum trim frames the 925 in the first Lumia to use metal, but the matte plastic backing lashes it to the Lumia family of unibody polycarbonate phones. The design looks good: slim (0.33 inch thick) and clean with very few gaps, and black bands on the spines for accent. The deep-black glossy screen looks lush and deep; and on the right, aluminum buttons that control volume, power/lock, and the camera button pop out to meet probing fingers. When I hold the phone, its wider dimensions -- 5.1 inches tall by 2.8 inches wide stretch across -- can make the buttons stick out into the hand, even though I like that they're not flush. Unlike the HTC One, the 925's back doesn't bow enough to curve into your palm, so it doesn't feel quite as snug.