Latest ad for Lumia 928 shows off low-light prowess, calls out both the iPhone and Galaxy S4

The Nokia Lumia 928 and 925 aren’t upgrades to the Lumia 920. Daniel put it best in his From the Editor’s Desk this morning when he called it a sideways upgrade. Same goes for the camera found in those devices, they’re basically the same one you’ll find in the Lumia 920, but with a little more software magic.

Here’s an ad from Microsoft that shows off the low-light prowess of the Lumia 928 for Verizon.

You’ve never seen the night like this

This ad hits all the checkboxes. Demonstrate a unique feature of the product? Check. Actual video and photos from the product? Check. Name drop your competitors and do a side by side comparison of results? Check.

I can’t be the only one who thinks Microsoft has been having a good run with advertisements the past month or two. My favorite being the wedding video between iPhone and Galaxy users. Our full review of the Lumia 928 will be out later this week. Check back for more.

Source: YouTube

Sam Sabri
72 Comments
  • Nicely done
  • Better, cheaper, cooler.
  • That's right. Bring it.
  • more like Bing It!
    tehehehe
  • Bones^
  • At Verizon getting mine in black. Update: no store has in stock in SoCal had to order and will get in two days.
  • Hell to the yes
  • They are getting bolder and braver. Like it how snobiness of MSFT is rubbing onto Nokia. This is surely a match made in heaven.
  • Lol!  I think that is the other way around - Nokia was always kinda 'snobbish' with their phones...just check out the MSRP prices on those Symbian devices. 
  • They have balls calling out iPhone and Galaxy like that! Twice!
  • Lol!  No sense cowering in a corner just because those are the two best selling devices on the market (currently).
     
    Gotta show 'em who's boss and dare them to prove otherwise :)
     
    I get the feeling that summer parties are going to get a bit interesting - going to be some comparin' going on :)
  • yep, people need to open their eyes with these ads.
  • Now that's what I'm talking bout!!! Niiiiiiiiice.
  • That's a beauty. Really drives home the point.
  • About time I'm hearing that a Windows phone is better than iPhone or S4. Pull those people out of galaxy/iphone fight
  • Let's light up the sky!
  • Awesome ad, plz drink some cola under table on Christmas
  • NOW they show the S4!
  • Not again the camera! Everyone has to think now, that the only good thing on Nokia Lumias is the camera under low light conditions, as every spot only shows this feature.
  • Dude, really...you're like the only person in the world who is going to be critical about that. And I'm willing to bet that most people here (myself included) would argue Microsoft/AT&T/Nokia did not do enough to show off the 920's camera...
  • I have l920 its awesome phone but not to bitch i would like Lumia 920s to show off something else that can compete with gs4 and iPhones besides low light pics I know that's not the only sweet thing about my phone ..... Is it?
  • No, not at all but it is one of THE defining features of the phone. They should really emphasize it to set the bar: Nokia Windows Phone = best camera experience around. They can follow up with the other features later, but they need to solidify the camera/audio message first. Other things like the display are debatable, wireless charging is still not there yet (plus S4 can do it). But Verizon is doing right with audio/visual emphasis on the 928.
  • How about the high light display of the phone, meaning our phones are better displayed in sunlight than others... I don't have to block the sun to see my phones screen, they have the lowest light reflectance of all the phones too... Cool feature
  • That's not enough convincing on my part.   Ohh look at me! I can see the phone's LCD in the sunlight!  ---Underwhelming.
  • Its not LCD and your comment is also underwhelming... This I'd in addition to many other features... One most people don't really know about, not a single selling point.
  • Agreed. It's a strong selling point. So many more people today use their phones as their go-to camera.  The market for point and shoot cams is probably getting killed for this very reason.
    Makes sense to get it out there that this has the best camera of any phone out there.
    And, honestly, it's probably the best hook they have to get someone away from android or apple and onto WP.
  • I have to agree. The camera on the L920 does better for me than my 4-year-old point and shoot Canon. I dream of taking it with me to Burning Man for all those low-light shots, but I fear even the L920 couldn't survive that!
  • Dude, show some professionalism. You're an editor of the most popular Windows Phone blog and you're choice of words is POOR. Show some respect. This guy has an opinion. No need to lash out with this kind of vulgarity especially since you're one of the top editors (it doesn't matter if "bitch" was used in a different context, it is still very offputting to look at)... Now if you were some regular user, go ahead and say whatever, but you're an Administrator / Editor. Show some professionalism. Otherwise, you're just like any other blogger... wmpoweruser...
  • I have to agree with you there. It does not look good and the guy did not deserve such a disrespectful response.
  • I like that he talks like that, and so far I only seen two people complain, so I'm all for it.
  • Camera is a huge factor for all smartphone buyers. In fact if you look at the latest ads from Apple and Samsung, you will see that they too are running ads covering the camera.
  • Hmmm your right I would like to see Lumia do something different that's better than the competition besides low light pictures seems like a phone built for vampires since they love low light
  • Glad to see them up against the gs4
  • They show off low light because Nokia found that most people use their phones socially after 5pm aka after work. Taking photos when you're out with friends for dinner, a concert, movies is what people want to do with their phones. Taking pics of your morning commute to your cubicle? Not so much...
  • I agree... then again, that's the number one thing besides calling, texting, webbrowsing, and social apps that people use their phones for, so it's probably a good idea to hammer home the message.
     
    But it's not as flashy a function as the deceptive Samsung ads about tocuhing phones to transfer files (yeah, it takes 1 second to transfer home videos...) or the iPhone ads about Siri, even though those functions are rarely used and are little more than gimmicks, while the Lumia cameras will be used constantly by people. But that's marketing for you.
  • oh and apple new tv commercial with all the picture taking in every situation saying its the most used smartphone for taking pictures is not the same thing?????
    at least nokia shows you the proof they have the best camera, apple dont show you shit from the pics they take on that commercial cause well they are probably crap.
  • Thank you. Its a direct response to the apple iPhone camera ads.
  • In all actuality the user base that is anti windows phones, complains about "lack of apps" and at the CORE of those apps are the ones that utilize the CAMERA of the phone. As WP evolves as a platform and acquires the so called "must have apps" having the hardware in place is key (WP, check) now its just a waiting game for official, or as we've seen lately unofficial apps to fill the void. If anything people should be upset at the app vendors for not acknowledging the superior platform vs. popularity contest.
  • Cool add. Obviously the wedding one is hard to beat. But this is pretty effective. It's good they finally started to attack Apple and Google directly. They never had much problem attacking Microsoft to sell their products. 
  • Sam, I agree with your favorite ad. Can't get enough of that ad mehn. So good.
  • Chyeah!
     
    Nicely done, Verizon! 
  • love it. great job. stick it in their a**! apple talking crap about most photos being taken with an iphone, but are the best photos being taken with an iphone? that's what matters, apple!
  • Damn right! All Lumia's stand up!
  • Awesome ad! Now i want a 928 lol 620 will have to do for now meh! Haha
  • I'd love a 928...but im on att...bleh. Hopefully I can hold off until the Eos is announced
  • Thats how you make an ads, from now you only do ads that drive home a point.
  • Dope commercial
  •  I want one to start capturing test and b-roll video while i'm out and about. That will allow me to work on video concepts for clients.
    As for the ad itself, it is simply brilliant. Like Sam said it checks all the boxes and is simple and clear enough that nobody will miss the message being sent. Social use of phone cameras is growing in importance and Nokia is saying it leads in that category.
  • One of the biggest issues IMO right now for WP are the "geniuses" at point of sale. Take my recent experience for example. I'm a current (long time) Android user, getting a bit bored with Android (currently on a Galaxy S3 on Verizon) and have always been interested in WP (I bought my wife an HTC trophy over a year ago and she loves it). I went into my local Verizon store on Sunday to pick up the 928 and after telling the friendly Verizon sales guy my account information, he looked me dead in the eye and said, "Wait, you're going from an S3 to the Lumia, the S3 is a much better phone!" (at this point I'm like, oh here we go). Long story short he mentioned the camera (of all things) on the S3 and the fact that the Google Play Store has 500k applications. After quickly dismissing those two claims he realized I know a lot about phones (much more than he did) and gave me a tip on how to order online under my wife's upgrade, then come into the store and switch the phone to my line so I can keep my unlimited data plan (phone shipped, I should have it tomorrow).
    As long as there are sales guys that don't bother to have a clue about what they're selling and pushing WP into a corner, it will likely always have an uphill climb.
    JMS
  • Should have punched that nerd in the face and told him google owns his soul.
  • This is still a HUGE barrier to WP selling better and it's sad that it doesn't get the attention it did at one time.  While things may have improved some, not enough.  Not near enough ...
  • There, there.. I also see the same at every phone store I go. The sales people are confident selling Android and do not want to take a risk suggesting WP, seems like it. I think this is a MAJOR problem for MSFT as well as for Nokia and they need to figure out how to sell the phones to sales people fast. 
  • Yeah, I keep seeing that commercial for the iPhone about how it's the most used for taking pictures and I'm like, "that doesn't make it the best!" Just hope people who fall for that commercial see this one before they get locked in.
  • What gets me is them showing someone recording a concert.... I've never heard a well recorded concert from an iPhone...
  • I just saw this commercial during prime time playoff hockey. Go HAWKS!!
  • Just FYI, the song is Fitzpleasure by alt-j...in case anyone is interested.
  • From what I've seen though picture quality is actually worse.
  • I hate to say it, but I haven't had that much luck in low light with my 928. Got it on release in NC so I could try it out at the truck and all star race. Night Pics have noise and almost all of them are blurry. Video on the other hand was pretty awesome, however, i did have some focusing issues. Screen is on par in sunlight with my 822. Battery life so far is impressing me ( keep in mind I jus got it Thursday)
  • There are some really awesome examples of photos (day and night) from the Lumia 928 in the forums - very favorable results;  they talk to some settings/tips which seem to be helpful.
  • Finally, something informative about Windows Phone in a TV ad that shows up the competition.
  • Just saw the ad while watching Revolution.  It's nice, but after sending a previous story about the camera's lowlight abilities to some friends of mine that have iPhones and Androids, they minimized its importance and said it's not enough to switch. 
    It was ... disappointing. 
  • To each their own, yes?  There really is no need to admonish friends or family to switch - if they like the device they currently use, and it serves them well, so be it;  just as you wouldn't want someone admonishing you to switch to iOS or Android from WP.
     
    It really is OK, great even, not having a device that so many other people have - embrace the uniqueness of your WP device :)
  • That's just it, I didn't.  In fact, the email was entitled "MY.  NEXT.  PHONE."  Still, that was the response.
     
    I don't think everyone should have one.  I don't really care.  But the dimissive arrogance does rub me the wrong way, as it does with any aspect of life. 
  • Good aimed at younger people who go out at night
  • Slick, cool and delivers on the features!! Well done MS!
  • I just saw a different ad for the 928 during Bates Motel.
  • Way to go.. Nicely done :)
  • Love it!
  • The wedding ad was good. The roller coaster, just okay. But this one, it's going a bit far. And it's this type of attitude that might lead to Nokia's demise sooner or later (if we haven't learnt something from history)
  • Yeah, because we never heard from Apple again after the "I'm a PC" campaign...
    Oh, wait a sec....
  • The point is, that when it comes to mentioning your competitors, being humble/humility is still the best. I like the music tho :)
  • come samdung and have a night photo fight