NotebookCheck | Daniel Schmidt

The Lumia 950 XL is a smartphone with good specs and great features, which can be used as a PC replacement thanks to Continuum... The biggest issue of the smartphone from the software giant is actually the software. Both the idea and the user interface of Windows 10 Mobile are just great, but the operating system unfortunately does not appear to be quite ready yet.

Coolsmartphone | Garry Clark

A great piece of hardware with a stunning camera just struggles to deliver the full Windows 10 Mobile vision for now

OtherGadgette | Kate Bevan

Overall, the Lumia 950 XL is definitely worth considering if you're in the market for a decently priced, high-spec smartphone.... The hardware inside the slightly disappointing case is great, especially the camera, but I've found the battery life a problem. It's fast and smooth in operation – there's no lag anywhere. I like it a lot; I'll like it even more when the OS has been polished.

Brighthand | Dragan Petric

Microsoft's Lumia 950 XL is the best Windows 10 Mobile available when it comes to specs, software display quality, and the camera. It has a lousy finish, however, and offers nothing to sway dedicated Android and iOS users.

Pocket-lint | Luke Edwards

This is the device for any Windows fan or Windows 10 user that wants the easiest hand-off between computer and mobile device. Combine this with the Display Dock and you're essentially buying yourself an entire Windows PC for your money.

CNET UK | Andrew Hoyle

While the Lumia 950 XL has the specs you'd want from a top-end phone, the Windows 10 experience offers no compelling reason to switch from iOS or Android.

Recombu | Chris Barraclough

It's a bit of a buggy mess and Windows Hello is an inferior replacement for faster, more accurate fingerprint sensors. And while the Lumia 950 XL's Quad HD screen and solid 20-megapixel camera are undeniably quality, you'll find rival Android hardware for the same price that's just as good.

Register Hardware | Andrew Orlowski

Overall the Lumias include some great hardware in a light package, but it's all dressed up with nowhere to go. The real world Windows 10 Mobile experience is not a good one, as the user is beset with bugs, half finished apps and needlessly fussy ways of doing things. Which is bit of a shame really.

NDTV Gadgets | Roydon Cerejo

Take away these teething software niggles and the Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM is a rather excellent smartphone that does everything you ask of it, and more. The design and build could have better considering its premium price but other than that, it has a very good display, a superb camera, good battery life, fast charging and all the other hardware specs one would expect from a flagship.

TechRadar | Sean Cameron

With a superb camera, lovely screen and smooth performance, the Lumia 950 XL is an easy sell for the Windows faithful. But with few apps, many areas in need of polish and inconsistent battery life, it isn't for everyone.

The Inquirer | James Archer

It's certainly worth noting that two of the Lumia 950 XL's biggest problems - the ugly backplate and inferior OS - could be fixed before its inevitable successor is launched. That said, we're stuck with this iteration of Windows 10 Mobile for the time being and, despite some handy features and some fine hardware, the OS currently stands in the way of this being a convincing rival to the likes of the iPhone 6S Plus, Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Nexus 6P.

phoneArena | Luis D.

The Lumia 950 XL fails to champion Windows 10 before the better, faster, stronger competition of Android and iOS phablets. The operating system is still in need of improvement and doesn't make for the kind of polished user experience that we're used to from competing devices.

The Verge | Tom Warren

The Lumia 950 XL simply isn't for me or the vast majority of smartphone users out there. I use Windows 10 on a daily basis on a PC, but the experience on mobile is just lacking.

Alphr | Alan Martin

Lumia 950 XL is one of the most expensive handsets on the market, and while the camera and wireless charging go some way to making it seem like a flagship, it's lacking in other ways.

Mobile Choice | Sunetra Chakravarti

It is juddery, crashes frequently and freezes while switching between apps with such regularity that it will leave you not just exasperated but also wondering how Microsoft can even dream of passing this off as a premium device.

IT PRO | Alan Lu

It's no surprise that the Lumia 950XL is essentially just a bigger version of the 950 with all the benefits and disadvantages that entails. The few people invested in Microsoft's mobile operating system will love it, but there's little in the hardware to attract new fans.

T3 | Sean Cameron

The Microsoft Lumia 950 XL is certainly different to anything else on the market. But whether you can live with the device is dependent on two things: your tolerance for bugs and your attitude towards apps.

V3 | James Archer

There's plenty of good hardware in the Lumia 950 XL, but uninspiring looks and a relative lack of apps mean that it's not the advert for Windows 10 Mobile that Microsoft wants it to be.

Trusted Reviews | Alastair Stevenson

The Lumia 950 XL will work for existing Windows Phone users – but iOS and Android fans will remain disappointed.

Expert Reviews | Katharine Byrne

The Lumia 950 XL is definitely the best Windows 10 phone available right now, but it's still not quite good enough to be a viable alternative to its Android competition. Continuum is a really attractive feature and the Lumia's camera is easily one of the best I've seen all year, but it has too many minor annoyances day-to-day holding it back to make it good value.