Microsoft this week announced the first high-end Lumia smartphones since the Lumia 930 - which, as you may know, was launched in mid-2014 as a Nokia-branded device. The new smartphones are the Microsoft Lumia 950 and Microsoft Lumia 950 XL, both running Windows 10 out of the box. While the two new handsets have a lot in common, they can be seen as successors to different devices: the Lumia 950 succeeds the aforementioned Lumia 930, and the Lumia 950 XL could pass as a successor to the Nokia Lumia 1520 - the very first extra-large, high-end Lumia smartphone, which was released back in November 2013.

Let's see how things have evolved for the Lumia brand under Microsoft by comparing the specs of the 950 and 950 XL to those of the Nokia Lumia 930 and Lumia 1520, respectively. Of course, for a proper look at the 950 and 950 XL we have to wait until November, when Microsoft will stat selling them. But, for a preliminary look, you can check out the comparisons below. It's worth mentioning that both the Lumia 930 and Lumia 1520 will be updated to Windows 10, so, at least from the software point of view, they will be able to stand next to the newer and more advanced 950 and 950 XL.

› See More: Old meets new: Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950 XL vs Nokia Lumia 930 and Lumia 1520 (specs comparison)