Nokia has unveiled its newest Windows phone that is a touted to become the king of camera phones. The new Lumia 1020 has entirely new ultrahigh resolution 41-megapixel with backside illuminated sensors that aim to reinvent the zoom function in camera phones.

Some specs of the new mobile phone have already been leaked a few days before Nokia's press event in New York on Thursday. Even then, the public has been given a glimpse of the phone's single killer feature: its camera.

Yes, the device, the newest member of the Lumia range, is all about the camera. If not for its basic phone features, one might have thought Nokia developed a digital camera or even a DSLR instead of a mobile phone.

Boasting its innovative PureView technology, which includes optical image stabilisation, Nokia has created a mobile phone that can produce some of the sharpest images possible using a digital cam. Nokia Lumia 1020 features a dual capture that can simultaneously take a high resolution 38 megapixel image for editing opportunities and create a 5 megapixel picture for sharing to social networks using Windows 8.

Still using ZEISS optics with six physical lenses, including the optimal image stabilisation that was first built into the Lumia 920 in 2012, Nokia 1020 promises to deliver crystal clear pictures even in low light environment.

The PureView camera also includes a Xenon flash and F/2.2 lens with a new Pro Camera application and OIS stabilisation (a smaller LED flash complements the larger Xenon). The app boasts easy-to-navigate controls, such as manual exposure settings, whote balance, and long exposure times. It can also revert to auto setting just as easily by sliding the shutter button.

This smartphone uses the same 4.5-inch AMOLED PureMotion HD+ screen with 1280x768-pixel HD display, as well as a Clear Black Filter, which makes the screen readable even under sunlight. Its ultrasensitive touch screen also allows users to operate the phone with gloved hand or even with their fingernails. The front-facing camera boasts a 1.2-megapixel wide angle display that can capture and shoot HD video.

The zoom function is superb. It features steady 5-megal pixel lossless zooming when capturing photos. As for video captures, the Finnish company's "rich recording" promises audio technology that captures clear and distortion-free sound. However, the manual focus feature doesn't work in the middle of video-shooting.

Okay, now the bad. At first look, Nokia 1020 isn't the sleekest-looking mobile phone there is. Granted that it's surprisingly light (158g, which is lighter than its predecessor, Lumia 928) and moderately thin (0.4 inch) for a camera phone, it has this unmistakable bulge on its back. Unlike the recently released camera phones of today, 1020's camera isn't flat. It's not too bulky, though, but still, it would need some getting used to.

As Netizens have pointed out, Nokia Lumia 1020 comes with 2GB RAM, 32GB internal memory, and 7GB free SkyDrive cloud storage, but unfortunately, it has no removable battery and no expandable SD card storage, which is pretty big deal these days.

Another thing, Australians would have to wait a while because there's no release date given for the country yet. In any case, it's USD299.99 in the U.S., and will be exclusively distributed by AT&T with two-year contract. Pre-order will begin on July 16 before it becomes available on the 26th.

Users can also buy a snap-on camera grip case that attaches to the phone's rear and includes a USB port and 3000mAh battery for USD80.