Report: AT&T Nokia Lumia 1520 set for early November at $699 off contract, comes in four colors

AT&T is on board with picking up the 6-inch Nokia Lumia 1520, which is expected to launch in early November according to one of our reliable sources. Windows Phone Central now has some further confirmation from a second person familiar with the matter.

The new info points to a planned Friday, November 8th launch date on AT&T for the colossal Windows Phone.

We can also confirm that the device will come in four colors, including red, black, yellow and white—most of which have already been revealed in either leaked photos or renders. Evidently, cyan for AT&T is a thing of the past as the Lumia 920 was the last phone to feature that hue.

Pricing for the 6-inch tablet with a 1080P display is purportedly set for $699 off-contract, making it easily one of the most expensive Windows Phones to date and equating what the Lumia 1020 originally launched at for Microsoft Stores (AT&T themselves may aim for a lower $650 range for the 1520).

An on-contract price has not yet been discerned, though it is safe to speculate that it could launch at the $299 price point like the Lumia 1020. Considering the high end technology found in the Lumia 1520 and the general price range for large-screen devices, this should not be a surprise.

The Lumia 1520 has yet to be announced by Nokia, but the device is all but confirmed at this point due to the numerous leaks over the last few months. Originally planned to be declared at the end of September that event has reportedly been postponed according to various sources.

Evleaks has recently suggested Tuesday, October 22nd as a launch date, but we’re confident that is simply the big press announcement with availability occurring two weeks later on November 8th. That process will reflect AT&T’s recent Lumia 1020 and Lumia 925 ‘announcement versus availability’ schedule.

Photo via the Verge

The Lumia 1520, codenamed ‘Beastie’ for AT&T according to our source, will feature a massive 6-inch 1080P display, 32 GB of internal storage (with microSD expansion), Snapdragon 800 CPU and a 20 MP rear camera. The polycarbonate design will make it literally feel like a “giant Windows Phone” and the alleged 3400 mAh battery should keep the device powered throughout the day.

Recently, Nokia has been caught testing alternatives to the word “phablet” for marketing purposes. The term phablet brings some controversy as a lot of people have a knee jerk negative reaction to the designation. Unfortunately, a substitute is not as easy to come by.

Since schedules and approvals can shift, the November 8th date should be understood as tentative until an official announcement is made by AT&T and Nokia.

Daniel Rubino is the Executive Editor of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft here since 2007, back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Microsoft Surface, laptops, next-gen computing, and arguing with people on the internet.

222 Comments

700$ :(
also why give up on the cyan :(
You don't believe a truly stacked phone like this is worthy of that price? I'm seriously asking because I wonder how much Samsung would be able to get away with charging for the galaxy note 3 off contract. I sometimes think we want the best but we don't want to pay for the best, it may not be for everyone but look at it this way, when this phone arrives it should be one less thing people have to complain windows phone doesn't have.
If it has a stylus, maybe. If it has the RT versions of Office and IE, it would definitely be worth that price. If it's just a big Windows Phone, it's not worth that much.
Why should we be happy about the $700 price point? That's a lot of money. And we all have different incomes and living situations, so don't judge someone just because $700 seems like a lot to him.
I think phablets should run Windows RT. Not windows phone.
With that price might as well pick up a surface.
Already have the Surface! Deciding on whether to get the phone or not. I'm pleased they added microSD for a high-end device, finally! But if they made it with 64GB and keep the microSD still...Nokia, shut up and take my money! I wonder what the iPhone 5 (64GB version) was priced off contract? Hmm...
I think 899 for 5s
I thought the iPhone 5s 64GB was $1199.
That's just stupidly insane.
And yet, I bet there would be some who would open their wallets even at that price. And more. Say, $1399, for example:
http://www.amazon.com/Iphone-64gb-GSM-Unlocked-LTE/dp/B00F4799T2/ref=sr_1_1?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1379367407&sr=1-1&keywords=iphone+5s+64gb
Unlocked 5S is $649, $749, $849 for 16. 32. 64 gig http://store.apple.com/us/buy-iphone/iphone5s
Well its not different to any other similary specced phablet and this features 20MP (possibly OIS) and larger screen, so even higher price could have been possible.
I know right? I know Nokia is now the one everyone veiws as having "invented" colour bodied smartphones, Cyan was the one that people thought of as a Nokia colour bodied smart phone... Now they are still pushing yellow and red (depending on model)... Will 8.1 bring a new colour? or at least a new primary... make it easy to pick out new models
Hope they make a rich sapphire/cobalt/azure blue color. Like how HTC did with California Blue. I miss San Diego... :'(
^This!
Daniel, wasn't the code name "bandit" ?
I could be wrong, but I thought that was for the metallic variant
Woah. It's almost as there will be another Nokia phone... *fades off into the dark* *I didn't say anything*
Only off-contract. Still much, much cheaper than an iPhone.
Fortunately, they have AT&T Next where you can get the phone for probably about $22/mo. If I'm not mistaken, I believe that usually means you don't have to put anything down. I have a Windows 8 tablet (x86) and I don't need a phablet at 6" but I could imagine that watching Podcasts on this thing might be quite nice..... hopefully, they'll let us attach a bluetooth keyboard to it this time.
This is great news! I don't want this device, but hopefully the price for 920 and 1020 continue to drop as a result of its release.
I like your thinking
Contract wise, the 920 is basically free and the 1020 just went down in price as well, my guess was for this phone to take that $299 spot.
Exactly! 1020 here I come!
Please let it come out on Verizon at the same time or have a 30 day exclusive so it comes out in early December!
Verizon can have my money now. I hope we don't only get the smaller one from yesterday FCC post on WPC
I was thinking hard about getting this phone because it looks awesome.

However, the more I think about it the more I lean towards staying with my 920 for a while and using those $700 towards a Surface Pro 2.
This. +1
I'm fine with my 920 as long as it get's updated
+920. Vodafone, get your thumb out!
+1 I love my L920 & am looking forward to the Surface Pro 2.
Yep as long as it's updated the 920 is fine for me.
Same here with my 920..
That's cool. Finally something that can challenge Samy in Big Screen phones.
Does it, however, come with a stylus? IMO you need that to compete in that category
No stylus, I hope in the future though.
Just use a normal pencil. Works on 920.
Can't we still use a fork, like in the commercial for what, the 820?
I don't want a dumb stylus. I want a Wacom active stylus, like Windows has supported for over a decade and like my Note 2 has.
Welp. Guess I'll be waiting for the Nexus 5 then. Wont pay that price for any phone.
The comparable AT&T Note 3 costs $299 ($724 off contract), so it's the par for this class of phone. I'm not sure what your expectations were for a 1080P 6-inch device with every bell and whistle, but if it was less than $299 on contract, it sure wasn't realistic.
He's just trying to troll
You're an idiot if you think I'm trolling
Definitely a troll.
Dreaming maybe, but not trolling.
And I wouldn't pay that price for that either. $699 I'm getting a surface pro and utilize my money. Than a phone. $599 is even a stretch.
Doesn't the note 3 have a stylus and hand wave gimmick? It has more whistles than this phone.
The hand wave gimmick is simple software. I hate Touch Wiz. But that's why Android will have an advantage with customization.
It cost $30 more. That covers the stylus. I wonder how many note users actually use the stylus.
I know no one I seen personally. I think it's old technology considering. But that's just me.
Also lets not forget about design note 3 gets a 4 out of 10 while Lumia 1520 looks quite good so please stop trolling shamesung fanboy
right now I am thinking that there are not any programs that would utilize a stylus like the apps and programs on the note note 2 and note 3. .
I know it as a fact that some people prefer to write in with a stylus than to type in with your fingers. Natural input does have its users.
You should see the prices in my country, for example the iPhone 5 costs like 930 dollars, the Lumia 920 almost 700 dollars, of course off contract.
Somewhere in the middle east, right?
I agree...it is a 6-inch phone - what did you think it was going to cost? All the extra stuff in there adds on and increases the price. Simple math, really. I'm having a hard time deciding if it is worth dropping the extra dough to pay out my 920 and get this one. Will end up costing around $400...
I bet the BOM went up a whole $30 over a 925.
I bet Flipboard will look great on that.
Yes it will. I can't wait for Flipboard on that massive 6inch screen.
Big titties as well
I'm sure your spell check changed tiles to titties right? :P
Right :-P
Did someone say the Lumia 1520 is coming with a pair of large female breasts?!! Is there going to be a hot, sexy female attached to them? Where do I sign up, Nokia?!! Now, THERE'S a way to increase your phone sales! :-)
I'm definitely in.
It's always hilarious to me when Americans complain about their cheap prices. This thing will most likey cost 699€ (933$) in Europe, which is a reasonable price in my opinion.

EDIT: What happend here? Where is the comment i actually replied to?
Well, in my country people who run the official Nokia shop are insane, new Lumia 820 was for 449e and new Lumia 920 was for 599e ! I just bought new 820 from Poland for 300e and later 920 for 350e. This little beauty will cost probably around 749€ in my country... o.O
The issue is not the price itself but paying that price for a device depending on AT&T, or any other carrier, for updates. I would rather buy, as I always did, an branded device and cut off the middleman.
Censorship everywhere :)
I don't buy it.
I hate the sound of the 'word' phablet, why not go with:
Under 5" - Smartphone
Over 5" - Superphone
You think Superphone sounds good? Hmmm...
How about BigBadAssPhone
"BUFFone". (Look up B52 for the original meaning of "BUFF") :D
Take a page from Ninendo. Superphone XL
I like the XL, maybe Lumia XL or BAP (Big Ass Phone)?
How about simply "JUICED" or "LumiaOnTheCream"....This thing might end up facing charges in front of a government judiciary panel : )
For marketing purposes - Yes. It would create the division needed between the two and it wouldn't be tied to any one brand or OS. It also sounds much better than phablet (IMO).
Superphone could be a great marketing scheme to get both the new size phones and windows branding
How about megaphone, hmmm nope that's taken. How about phonebook, ok that's not going to work. OK this is my last suggestion... Tabphone?
How about MegaPhone with really loud speakers!
Over 5" - Smarterphone
If it's under 4" - Mildly retarded phone? or the PC way, Mildly mentally challenged phone
It's good is a Mildly retarded phone, never go full retard.
subphone
subsonic/supersonic, etc
When I filled out the Nokia survey I wrote in Lumia Magnus, its not very good but its all I could come up with.
How about FoneTab.. Phone + size of a Tablet..
Too close to ASUS FonePad
Tablone
How about facephone!
It's a man phone. (kidding)
Whats wrong with Cyan? If AT&T doesn't want it, make that color available for other carriers!
I'm going to take a wild guess here: it didn't sell well.
I dunno, is it THAT hard to just produce back covers of a different dye? Regardless of whether it sells well or not, always better to have more colour choices to appeal to a wider audience.
That's now how it works or what is the concern. Different colors equal different SKUs. The more variants you offer, the more you have to stock and the more complicated inventory becomes for AT&T with little for a return. If cyan simply does not sell well, it does not make financial sense to order it and try to stock it for a small minority of people. If devices don't sell, AT&T is stuck with the inventory.
I prefer the Nokia cases like for my 920 anyways.
Hard to say that Daniel, especially when you had to special order it from the website, my local store did not have cyan or yellow in stock when I went to purchase.
They usually only carried one or two per store at any given time. Large metro areas would sometimes have up to 6 in store, but at&t has never had the faith (or sales) in WP to stock many more than that.
Exactly, so not producing cyan phones brcause AT&T said so sounds foolhardy, Nokia should check in a market where they have more volume and see if cyan or blue would be popular, I bet they would be.
Jeez I thought you'd said $699 ON CONTRACT for a second. *takes heart pills
Lol :P
SmilingSlightly
I wish that T-Mobike got some of the same Windows Phone love. In fact, id love to buy the phone directly from Nokia or Microsoft if it meant no ugly carrier branding.
D@mn these carrier exclusives...
Hoping Rogers gets this before 2025. Judging at the pace they're picking up Nokia phones, it'll probably be a lot later.
It could be worse.. I'm with Telus and their current top-of-the-line WP is the ATIV S... I bought an ATIV S for my dad, and the screen shattered the first time he dropped it. His new 620 is built like a brick though.
Did you call it a tablet? It's probably just a typo.
I hope it comes to India soon after US release.
Well they may have dropped cyan but why elimanate blue all together...isn't that like 90% of people favorate color?
EDIT: They must be waiting for WP Blue to release...then they will flood the market with all sorts of blue phones
Hmm interesting
Very good point. Cyan doesn't work for me, but blue sure does. I was just saying the other day if it came out in blue I'd wait overnight for it lol
+1
They are probably reserving it for the 8.1 launch device lol
Come on, T Mobile!!!!!
T-Mobile is on "Time Out". They always get the low-level entry phones first then may be one top-of-the-line phone for the year.l PS..im on T-Mobile and hope to Jesus I'm wrong.
This will be mine❗ But after seeing how big the Samsung Galaxy Mega was yesterday, and realizing that there is no way in hell the 1520 is going to fit in my pocket, I've decided that I'm going to have to keep my 920 for my main device, and get the 1520 for my toy... Kinda makes me want to just go tablet... The fact is that I don't need my laptop, a pro tablet, a huge phablet, and my 920.... I love these kind of dilemmas... Isn't this AWESOME❓... LOL❗❗❗❗❗❗
Its kinda exciting to have toys like these. A Smart Phones 4", 6" and a 7" tablet, and Laptop or a Surface Pro..
I love it❗❗
#firstworldproblems ha!
Lol.❗❗ "Oh the humanity❕... Where in the world am I going to put this phone""" Lol❗
I'm getting bigger pockets...no!
Actually my suit jacket will let me slip in a 7" tablet so a 6" phone is too small !!
cool
I like the black with black icons. How come we don't have that on the current 9XX generation? and no "ease of access - high contract" isn't the same.
That too is high contrast buddy
It's not on this phone either, look closely, it's clearly in high contrast mode.
Hey guys just wait 45 days and this baby will probably drop a hundred or two. How do i know? experience from my 1020. =( They should just start at a reasonable price, such as 550 to 600.
True, that's why I will wait til the beginning of the year to pick one up. And by that time I hope their is a unbranded/unlocked version that will work on AT&T. I have not been happy with the way AT&T has handled updates for the 820.
Yeah but then by that time there will again be another new must have phone
Yes...the 1130 and the 1830 with the Pelican Images 4x4 camera array - just 399 on-contract
pick your screen size 4.7" & 6.3"
If AT&T is actually good with updates, that is an exception. They are terrible updating most phones. Highly annoying as they seem to get awesome phones. I buy whatever phone I want regardless of AT&T or VZE, and I'm always drawn to AT&T phones and they never update them.
I SHOULD wait consdering that I'll be getting a $500 console 2 weeks after, but it's not in my genes to wait. So I'll be getting it day 1 like the enthusiast I am
$6500 is expensive for a console. Does it come with a 4k tv?
Lol smart ass
I will upgrade my Fiance's 920, to my current 1020, and pick up a 1520 to support Windows phone and have a 1080p screen.
Windows phone needs a much needed status symbol phone- all metal, 4.7-5 inch 1080p display, 41mp camera, microSD, a 64gb option... nfc and the rest of the Nokia best on breed options found on the rest of the Nokia models. Price is no object as it is not for everyone.
Current Lumia line up Windows phone progression- purchased- Lumia 900, 4 Lumia 920's(4 lines), 1 Lumia 1020, Future owner of a 1520, and hopefully the status Symbol mentioned above. :-)
Awesome. Out of curiosity, what color are your 920's?
My first and main line was a Yellow 920, I have a Black 920 on my second line, a White 920 for my business line, and my Fiance has the Red 920.
All of them are beautiful!
I upgraded my main line to the Black 1020 and picked up 2 Wireless charging covers- one Yellow (for the stand out days) and a black one for when I want a change. (I always use the yellow though :-))
That's sweet. I never thought I'd be into the yellow 920/1020 but as soon as I saw them in person I fell in love, they looks great!
:D
Agreed, the yellow really makes a statement! People really notice it. I was at dinner a couple weeks ago and sat at a table right next to John Cena of the WWE and his girlfriend Nikki, I was taking some pictures with the 1020 and John asked if that was the new Nokia 1020, and asked about the picture quality, I took a picture with them and my fiance and showed them the Lumia 1020 awesomeness! :-)
Pics or it didn't happen
Here is a highres link to the John Cena, Nik