Nokia Lumia 822 is Verizon's Nokia gamble (pictures)

It's been a long time since Verizon and Nokia have united, so in one sense, the carrier's Nokia Lumia 822 is a risk. The carrier, which is just getting reacquainted with Windows Phone, also carries the HTC Windows Phone 8X.

A new trait in Lumia handsets like the 822 is room for a microSD card slot beneath the back cover. You can buy more memory to complement this handset's 16GB total.

I love how the 822's buttons rise from the surface, making them easy to press.

You can really see the characteristic Lumia 820-series thickness from this angle.

The white version has a glossy coating on the back, whereas the black model is a little rougher to the touch.

A 4.3-inch AMOLED screen features Gorilla Glass 2 for strength.

The Lumia 822 shares an 8-megapixel camera with T-Mobile's Lumia 810.

The handset, though thick and heavy, comes in at a pretty decent deal: $99 with a new two-year contract.