Microsoft Lumia 640 review

So we got to Mobile World Congress. Microsoft had taken over the space once inhabited by Nokia and used information technology to deliver a keynote very early on the kickoff forenoon of the show. Amid the Windows 10 talk was the introduction of the Lumia 640 and the Lumia 640 XL.

Both another step up on the ladder from those that came earlier, and taking it upward to around one-half-dozen smartphones to carry the Microsoft logo. The Lumia 640 has big shoes to fill, coming in as a replacement for the very popular Lumia 630/635. Does it do a proficient task?

That'south what we're hither to detect out.

What you'll like:

• Neat value for money.
• A complimentary year of Office 365
• Lumia Camera 5.
• Fantastic display complete with Glance Screen.
• Adept bombardment life

What you won't like:

• Internal storage is pretty depression
• No wireless charging

Bottom Line

With hardware that's largely on par with the more expensive Lumia 830, the Lumia 640 is an accented steal. What it gives is the very best of Windows Phone at a very affordable price point. The camera, while non a patch on the PureView shooters in the college end phones, is excellent for a phone in this segment of the market place. And it ticks pretty much all the boxes: Glance Screen, HD display, removable battery, microSD card slot and the very latest version of Windows Phone. The Lumia 640 XL may exist more than tempting for those into larger screens and more than impressive cameras, but for the average consumer, the Lumia 640 is all the Windows Phone they could need. Solid, all round performance and a very tempting asking price.

Beginning impressions

Video hands-on

What makes it tick

The specs

• Windows Telephone 8.one with Lumia Denim
• Windows x Set up
• Colors: Glossy cyan, orange, and white, as well as matte blackness
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (MSM8926), 1.2 GHz quad-core processor
• 5" HD (1280x720, xvi:9) IPS LCD, 294 PPI, Glance screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Sunlight readability enhancements
• 1GB RAM
• 8 GB internal mass memory + up to 128 GB Micro SD & 30GB costless OneDrive deject storage
• Rear photographic camera: viii MP AF (3280x2464), f/ii.2, 28 mm, 1080p @ 30 fps video (continuous autofocus), Flash: LED, Lumia Camera 5.0 (with Dynamic Flash, HDR)
• Front camera: Hd 1 MP broad angle, f/2.4, 720p video
• Connectivity: BT four.0, microUSB2.0, Micro SIM, A-GPS+GLONASS, BeiDou, DLNA, Screen cloning with Miracast, WLAN 802.11 b/g/north/
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Magnetometer, Proximity, Ambient Lite Sensor
• Battery: 2500 mAh (BV-T5C) removable battery
• Weight: 145 g
• Size: 141.3 ten 72.2 ten eight.85 mm

Prophylactic, yet solid

The hardware and pattern

Ane thing the Lumia 640 does not do is introduce anything new to the line up when you look solely at the hardware. The design is iterative, the internals reused in combination with other devices in the range. For example, while the likes of Blu and Kazam are launching a new Windows Phone with a Snapdragon 410 CPU, the Lumia 640 stays in a more than familiar realm of the Snapdragon 400. Just similar the Lumia 830. And the Lumia 730.

You lot tin can look at that in different ways. On the ane manus, performance should be identical to the more expensive Lumia 830. And, on the whole, that does seem to exist the instance. The CPU and RAM are the same, the display size and resolution besides.

For a mid-range device, the hardware is strong

That'southward one of the strong points of the Lumia 640. For a mid-range device, the hardware is strong. The internals are capable, and the brandish is great to look at. Bright, bright colors, deep blacks and sharp text. At v-inches, 720p resolution is perfectly acceptable in 2022.

I said the design was iterative, also, and it is. If yous concur the Lumia 640 next to the Lumia 630/635, at that place'southward a definite family unit resemblance. Non that there's anything wrong with the design, the 635 was a fantastic telephone. Just the 640 just feels similar the 635. Only bigger.

As before, though, you do get a removable back in a variety of colors, including the triumphant return of cyan. The colors are a glossy finish and finished off with black accents on the power and volume buttons on the side. A pocket-sized touch, only something that does set off the appearance but a piffling.

Other things to note:

• The battery is a decent size at 2500mAh. Bigger than the removable battery on the Lumia 830. More than on that afterwards.
• You'll need a microSIM for this phone.
• Under the back cover, yous'll too find a microSD menu slot that's SDXC compatible. So you can throw in a 128GB retentivity card if you wish. Or ane of those fancy 200GB ones when they're on sale if yous're feeling actually affluent.
• No photographic camera hump on the dorsum. Can't say information technology's something we've missed, but dissimilar it's large brother, the Lumia 640 Xl, this ane volition sit apartment on a tabular array.
• Double tap to wake is here, live and well.

Then, the hardware is dependable, solid, well designed if a fiddling predictable at this point.

But Cyan is back!

More: 7 things to know virtually The Microsoft Lumia 640

Latest and greatest!

The software - Windows Phone 8.ane Update 2 on board

Despite the recent 'rollout' equally part of the Windows 10 preview for phones, the Lumia 640 is 1 of the first phones that at nowadays officially has Windows Telephone 8.1 Update 2 loaded upward. While a lot of what's important in Update 2 is under the hood, there are also a few forward facing features nosotros tin can see.

One of the more lauded features included is the 'remote impale switch' every bit it'due south and then frequently chosen, now required by constabulary in the U.Due south. It no doubt played a big role in Update ii even existing. But elsewhere the Settings app has had an organizational refresh, there are some balmy visual tweaks and a few handy little features that are going to be useful to some.

Since Update two applies more to Windows Telephone as a platform than merely the Lumia 640, bank check out the links beneath where nosotros've already broken some of information technology downward.

All most Update two

Update two is the very latest version of Windows Telephone 8.1. While information technology's a minor upgrade overall, it does bring some important features with it, including the so-called 'remote kill switch.' Discover out everything right here.

• Windows Phone 8.1 Update ii - Everything yous demand to know

Some overnice surprises

The software - everything else

Aside from Update two, information technology's pretty much business every bit usual on the Lumia 640. It comes with Lumia Denim firmware and all the goodness that brings which also includes the Lumia Camera 5 application.

Earlier the launch of the Lumia 640 and 640 XL, Lumia Camera 5 had been exclusive to Microsoft's college cease, PureView photographic camera phones. It's both a surprise and a please to run across it on what's certainly classed as a mid-range device, i without PureView, and fifty-fifty without Zeiss optics.

We'll look at the camera app in more than detail further on.

Otherwise, there are a couple of pre-loaded items, one of which is the Fitbit app. Microsoft and Fitbit have a pretty practiced relationship these days, simply the Lumia 640 isn't one of the phones offered with a free Fitbit Flex, so the app is pretty superfluous if you don't already have a band. Only you can delete it if you lot don't want information technology, so that'due south OK.

Free stuff!

Office 365

Worth highlighting on its own, the Lumia 640 along with the 640 XL marks the first fourth dimension Microsoft has given away a complimentary one-twelvemonth subscription to Office 365 with one of its smartphones.

Such an offering has been commonplace on small Windows 8.one tablets for some time at present. Information technology's perhaps less useful on a phone, especially given the electric current state of Office on Windows Phone. But since you get arranged Skype calls, 1TB of OneDrive storage and access to the Office desktop apps as part of it, it's nothing to turn your nose up at.

The links beneath volition guide you through what information technology is you're getting, and how you go about getting it.

• What is Office 365?
• How to get your free Office 365 subscription on the Lumia 640

Something for everyone

Connectivity - Dual SIM, LTE or not

While it'due south easy to focus on the camera, or the display, or any other number of features, one of the well-nigh important for the Lumia 640 is its connectivity. Dual SIM phones aren't uncommon from Microsoft. Simply how about Dual-SIM LTE?

In fact, dual-SIM phones that support ii LTE SIM cards aren't that common anywhere right now. For Microsoft to include on a phone that's as affordable as the Lumia 640 is a very big deal.

But not everyone wants that. And not everyone wants or can get LTE support. As such the Lumia 640 comes in variants with or without both of these options. We've got the LTE UKCV here with unmarried-SIM. And it'south the same story with the larger Lumia 640 XL, likewise.

Aside from the choice, performance is as good as you become on any Lumia smartphone. We've had no bug locking onto and maintaining an LTE connection.

Happy snapping

The rear camera

Something anybody cares about in 2022 when buying a smartphone. We always say the best camera you accept is the ane yous have with you at the fourth dimension. And as such, smartphone cameras are ever improving, fifty-fifty at the lower price points.

That tin be said of the Lumia 640.

On paper, the hardware in the rear photographic camera is incomparably mid-range and wholly unremarkable. At that place'south an 8MP unit with no PureView, no Zeiss. But there's also no hump, as such, more a minor ridge every bit was establish on its predecessor. Simply, unlike its predecessor, nosotros do at least have an LED flash this time effectually.

But if anything, the Lumia 640 is living proof that a skillful camera experience can exist had without spending a lot of money. And office of that is down to Lumia Camera 5, the standard, pre-loaded camera application.

Until at present, Microsoft has reserved Lumia Photographic camera 5 for its very best photographic camera phones. The likes of the Lumia 930, Lumia 1520 and Lumia 830 (in sure regions) all have it, only those are all PureView. The Lumia 640 is just, well, a regular old phone photographic camera.

The Lumia Photographic camera app has e'er been more than capable than many equivalent stock apps on competing platforms, offering a level of manual control non found everywhere. Lumia Camera 5 adds the highly-praised Rich Capture feature to aid you take more exciting photos.

The rear camera is surprisingly good at capturing detail

At the same time, if you're spending this sort of coin on a smartphone you should always remember to go along expectations in line with that. But that said, you probably won't exist disappointed with the Lumia 640.

The rear camera is surprisingly good at capturing detail though, at times, everything ready to auto tin can lead to some issues with white balance. But at least you tin can change this on the fly in the app.

Chalk the rear camera up equally a surprisingly impressive shooter. Information technology gives us a practiced feeling when the mid-range is as capable every bit this.

A tale of three Lumia Camera apps

Lumia Camera v isn't the simply Lumia Camera app in town. There'southward actually three, and each one applies to a different phone in the lineup and has different features depending on the hardware? Confused much?

• Lumia Camera: A tale of iii, very confusing apps

Selfie-tastic

The front photographic camera

Different the Lumia 630 that came before it, the Lumia 640 packs a front end-facing camera. Information technology'south nothing particularly special. It is a 1MP unit that will take those selfie shots and let you video call your friends and family unit.

If y'all want to go landscape, become correct

The biggest effect with the front-facing photographic camera is its position. Information technology's way over there on the left-hand side. No issues if you use it in portrait, but if you lot happen to want to use information technology in landscape and you tilt the telephone left, y'all're in Dell XPS xiii country.

And by that, we hateful it's suddenly very low down and will give a bang-up view upward your nose. A minor irritation, but still something to remember. If you want to become mural, get right.

Moving pictures

Recording video

The Lumia 640 also does a fairly decent task at recording videos, also. The rear camera will shoot at 1080p at a continuous 30fps with auto-focus. The auto-focus does its job, simply it is quite aggressive as it refocuses when you're moving the camera effectually. You won't be shooting any blockbusters on it, but for capturing those casual clips and stuff to share with social media it does pretty well.

The front facing camera steps downwards to 720p resolution. It's better than nosotros first expected, and for the sort of thing you'd want to utilize a front-facing camera for, it should be ample for most.

And as you'll see in the video prune below, the microphone performs strongly. Even outdoors with a lilliputian wind racket information technology picks up your vocalization actually well.

It can go all twenty-four hours (and maybe all dark)

Battery life

During our initial hands-on and impressions, we noted that the battery in the Lumia 640 is really larger than that in the more than expensive Lumia 830. There'due south not a whole lot in it, merely it's a healthy 2500mAh, compared to the 2200mAh in the 830.

And it's removable.

What that translates to is a real-globe scenario of comfortable all twenty-four hours bombardment life on what we'd class as regular usage. Without any lengthy gaming sessions or watching videos for too long, getting through the day and even well into the evening doesn't accept too much doing.

Ramp up on the more than intensive tasks, and it'll naturally go downwards. But even with the near intensive employ we didn't demand to hunt for a charger before the end of the working 24-hour interval.

But even so, since yous can swap it out, even the most ability hungry of smartphone users won't be left scouring for a wall outlet or having to comport an external battery pack.

The 1 thing we do miss though is wireless charging. If you're coming to the Lumia 640 from whatever of the previous low-to-mid range Windows Phones, it's possible it's not a problem.

But, the Lumia 640 is an enticing purchase to folks who've been on phones similar the 820, 920 in a past life. Folks who enjoyed the convenience of merely popping it on the charger at their desk throughout the day. You lot won't miss it if you never had it.

Counting the coppers

Pricing and availability

The Lumia 640 is on sale at present in a number of markets across Europe and Asia. The RRP from Microsoft is effectually £170 though that varies from market to market place.

What is important to mention is that the Microsoft Shop is probably the most expensive place y'all'll find one to buy. Third-party retailers and carriers are already offering substantial discounts, then definitely check with your local offerings first.

At some point, it should be making its style to the U.South., simply at the fourth dimension of writing there is no confirmed launch window.

Summing upward

The bottom line

The Lumia 640 is a great phone. We could get out information technology at that and be done with it. There are some things nosotros're not and then happy with, like the lack of wireless charging, but all told this is a real precious stone in Microsoft's lineup.

Eventually, the higher end will move further away, and any replacement for the Lumia 830 won't (probable) be as closely matched on the hardware to the Lumia 640. But the here and now is where we are at, and that means a sub-£170 phone with very little criticism.

Yes, compromises ever need to be made to reach a price point, that's just the nature of the business. But the Lumia 640 offers probably the all-time compromise of whatsoever phone in its price range. A good camera, excellent battery life, solid software performance and all without stealing your wallet.

Pound for pound, this might just be the all-time value-for-money Windows Phone there is right now. And that's a pretty mighty achievement. It besides leaves us even more excited for what might however come in the higher reaches of the smartphone spectrum.

To run into some elements of this review please visit m.windowscentral.com in the browser on your mobile device

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-lumia-640-review

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