[Nokia Lumia 900] Xcellweb:
Lumia 710 vs Lumia 900 - Differences

- Basic/Youthful Design vs Luxury/Sophisticated design

- Hardware buttons vs Capacitive buttons

- LCD screen vs AMOLED screen

- 8GB storage vs 16GB storage

- 3.7" screen vs 4.3" screen

- 1300mAh battery vs 1830mAh battery

- Removable battery vs non-removable battery

- 5mp camera vs 8mp camera with Carl Ziess optics

- No front camera vs Front camera (video calling)

- £129 SIM-free (limited time, std £279) vs £499 SIM-free [expansys]

- Available free on cheaper contracts vs unavailable/chargable handset on cheaper contracts.

Other than these differences, the handsets are pretty much the same, they both run Windows Phone 7.5 (which is the same on every WP handset), both feature exclusive Nokia apps such as Nokia Drive and Nokia Music etc, Corning Gorilla Glass is standard on both handsets, Nokia Clearblack polarizers are fitted to both handsets etc...

For me the 710 was the obvious option over the 800/900 for a few reasons;

1. it has hardware buttons - capacitive buttons located right below the touchscreen make no sense - even in a review of the 800 I saw, the reviewer seemed to think Bing search had crashed - it hadn't, he had instead accidentally hit the home button. On the 710, you do not suffer this issue because you have to physically press the buttons. This to me, makes perfect sense, others I know prefer the smooth design of the 800/900, and some simply prefer capacitive buttons.

2. On the design front, well the 710 looks less elegant than the 800/900, but it's still a wonderful design, quite trendy looking (the white handset even looks sporty to me), and it felt nicer in my hand than the 800. If anything, I tend to avoid all these "student" phones (iPhone and 800/900) because I am not a media/fashion slave; I like to be a bit different (hence liking WP lol) and put practicality and value over design.

3. Above all else, the 800 was £350+ without a contract, and the 710 is readily available for sub-£200 without a contract. Indeed, mine cost just £129 without a contract. As I have a "sim-only" contract, and pay effectively (after rebate) just £5 per month for 600 mins, ulimited text and unlimited data, I wasn't prepared to sign-up to a £30+ per month contract, just to get my hands on an 800 with the same contract. The cost situation I realise, may be different in the US right now. We also don't have the 900 here yet, but that will likely command even higher prices than the 800.

4. Otherwise, the hardware difference don't worry me too much, I have come from a 4GB TouchPro2 running WinMo, so the 8GB storage isnt an issue. The camera is better than the TP2 for shots, and of course the 710 does 720p HD whereas the TP2 can only manage VGA. I have a Fuji bridge camera for proper shots lol. The removable battery I see personally, as a bonus, though I would like a higher spec one. The screen type has no preference for me, coming from the TP2, it is like a whole new world with the Nokia display anyway. As both handsets feature clearblack technology and gorilla glass, again there was no benefit between the 800 and 710. Screensize (if I were looking at the 900) isnt much of an issue for me personally, though I can understand why some people prefer larger than 4" screens.

I could go on, but I won't. Either way, I'm sure you will LOVE whichever handset you go for, it all boils down to personal preference, and economics. Nokia and Microsoft have bought some incredible phones to the party!! The 900 is a hero phone, and rightly so, the 710 is still an awesome phone, just a bit more mainstream and perhaps suited to the mass-market better.