Review Microsoft Lumia 640XL: Big in the display, tiny in the price

Announced at the last Mobile World Congress. Lumia 640XL is a new proposal from Microsoft on the side of the phablet. The Redmond giant is back on the market with a device 5.7″ with a value comparable to that of the typical smartphone in China. But the quality from Microsoft.

Microsoft Lumia 640XL – Introduction and Technical Specifications

Whenever, we are going to review a smartphone Microsoft is striking his affinity with the world of Nokia that the Redmond giant has incorporated making it just last year. The same holds true for the new Lumia 640XL, new scion of the family of Windows Phone devices. Microsoft continues to reaffirm its presence in the low-end market, and this time with a product that promises very well technically. But everything on Lumia 640XL, Nokia knows even excluding the software.

With the new phablet, Microsoft will appeal to a niche market – but growing – that requires mobile phones from the large display. In this way, the company offers a portfolio of outstanding devices, almost all occupants the lower end of the market: starting from economic models with 4-inch display, to get to this new economic mastodon as 5.7 “.

The goal It is of course to nibble market share to iOS and Android, where Apple and Google have been able to show that you can generate significant profits from the sale of smartphones and services linked to them.

From this point of view, Microsoft is still behind is more than obvious that the qualitative steps forward have been enormous. We must admit that the first Lumia cost we did not very convince about the choice of materials and built-in hardware.

Smartphones were honest and that, like any Windows Phone, allowed to operate with extreme ease and with optimal performance, but often the qualities of the integrated components were improved. We talk of the display of Lumia 530 or Lumia 535 of plastics, which under review we were convinced very little.

	Lumia 640 XL
OS	Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 Quad-core 1.2GHz
RAM	1 GB
Display	IPS LCD 5.7 “
Resolution	1280×720
Pixel density	259 PPI
Storage	8 GB Expandable via microSD
Rear camera	13 MP Auto-focus optics Zeiss f / 2.0 Flash LED
Front Camera	5 MP Optics wide angle f / 2.4
Connectivity	Network data rates up to 3G (42,2Mbps) Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n Bluetooth 4.0 NFC DLNA microUSB 2.0 microSIM
Geolocation	GPS with GLONASS
Sensors	Ambient light Accelerometer Proximity Magnetometer SensorCore
Battery	3000 mAh
Dimensions	157.9 x 81.5 x 9 mm
Weight	171 g
Price	$449.99

But the first feeling that comes with Lumia 640XL once out of the box and turned on its display is the one that is the history of the past with which Microsoft wants to finally offer as few compromises as possible in terms of hardware. At first glance, the display offers particularly bright colors and we move through the menus we are greeted by the proverbial fluidity of Windows Phone, even if the operating system is a bit more clumsy than usual. Even the plastics of the body are removed in this case more solid and pleasant to the touch than ever.

Microsoft Lumia 640 XL was announced along with the ” little brother ” Lumia 640. Both are already available on the market and stand out not only for the size of the display, 5.7 ” against 5 “, for some technical under the shell. Share a typical platform for devices of the same price: the processor is Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core 1.2 GHz supported by 1GB of RAM, while the ROM 8GB expandable as usual through the canonical microSD slot. On paper Lumia 640XL incorporates best cameras, from 13 and 5 megapixel.

The large display makes the size of the terminal of course important that the surface is as high as 157.9 x 81.5 mm, while the thickness is 9 mm. Size but these are not just very high, and the screen-to-body ratio of approximately 69% is its mathematical proof. The value is even higher than that of the iPhone 6 Plus (68%), and slightly lower than Galaxy Note 4 and LG G3 (74 and 75%). The reference points from this point of view if we consider the models more noble and popular in our market. Complete list of technical specifications generous 3,000 mAh removable battery.

At first glance, the choice of the hardware of the new Lumia appears extremely shrewd on paper, with the only compromise evident from the SoC integrated. But we know that Windows Phone does not need very select hardware to offer a good user experience and Lumia 640XL could nominate as a good buy for those who require a smartphone capable, but cheap.

Clean design and colorful

Clean design options with bright colors, large rear camera. Already at first glance of the new Lumia 640XL, we understand that we are dealing with a smartphone Microsoft born from the collaboration of the ” deceased ” Nokia.

Despite the size of the display, with the proper proportions of the phablet Redmond is light and quite comfortable to use, while the considerably more aesthetic pleasing. We understand of course that we are dealing with a top of the range, the trade-offs in terms of design are very limited.

Along the body are not too many frills, for a choice of style typical of minimalism no longer new in that of Redmond. The model we tested has a nice matte finish cyan polycarbonate, the material that has been treated to be pleasant to the touch and at the same time ensure a good grip when in use. At the back stands logo and Microsoft written in black font, and are also the main camera (slightly protruding) from 13 megapixel camera with single LED flash and grill for the speaker. There is no room for frills and frills aesthetic.

Just as clean also the lateral parts: looking at the device from the front, on the right side, we find the key two-way for the management of the volume and the power button, both blacks in contrast to the color of the bodywork. The left side is completely empty, while we find the micro-USB port for charging and the combo jack for headphones and microphone, respectively, on the bottom and the top.

A praise to Microsoft regarding the front surface: when switched off, the display color is almost indistinguishable from that of the frames, a typical feature of smartphones much more expensive. At the bottom of the glass, there is hidden a small hole for the microphone, while a small capsule machine is as usual integrated on the upper frame. We would have preferred a form a bit bigger and easily identified during calls, especially given the generous size of the terminal. At his side, we find the 5-megapixel front camera, and just a little further down the Microsoft logo imprinted in light color.

As per tradition, the body of this new Microsoft phablet can be completely removed. The operation is counterintuitive for those new in the family of Lumia smartphones one gets used to it quickly after the first few attempts. Removing the polycarbonate shell you notice some interesting details: a better adhesion between the body and the structure of the device is ensured by some rubber seals, which should prevent the occurrence of annoying squeaks after prolonged periods of use.

As often it happens with devices with removable battery, to replace the micro-SIM and microSD is necessary to remove the battery and then turn off the device. It is a limit annoying, but we do not feel we harshly denounce considering the cost of the final product. The battery takes up most of the back surface of the smartphone and is a large unit from 3,000 mAh, which should allow the paper excellent results with regard to operational autonomy.

Replace the rear shell in the seat is extremely simple, with the interlocking which always takes place correctly also thanks to the rigidity of the material used. Then we assemble the whole thing and move on to more purely technical analysis.

Analysis cameras, from 13 and 5 megapixel

The photographic industry Lumia 640XL offers features which on paper could be aligned with those of top of the range. Microsoft follows a trend very much in vogue at the time, which is to pump up the numbers of the technical specifications to capture the attention of the mass audience. But we know that photo is the sector that least of all can be assessed solely on numerical analysis, and it is essential empirical evidence on the ground to verify the numbers are ” reliable “. Here are the technical specifications of the two cameras of the phablet economic Redmond.

Main Camera

• Sensor: 13 MP 1/3 “BSI
• Type Focus : Auto-focus
• Digital Zoom : 4X
• Optics : Carl Zeiss f / 2.0 from 28 mm.
• Flash : LED
• Video : Full HD 1080p at 30fps, with continuous auto-focus

Front Camera

• Sensor : 5 MP Full HD
• Type of focus : fixed
• Optics : Carl Zeiss f / 2.4 from 24 mm
• Flash: Yes
• Video: 1080p Full HD

Being a low-end model, we performed empirical measures on the camera of Lumia 640XL, limiting ourselves to make some shots to comment later. Below the crop at 100% of the images taken with the phablet Microsoft with which you can interact by clicking on it to get an overview of the shot in full (saving the image to your hard drive you save the original shot without any modification ).

Ultimately, the new Lumia 640XL cameras are of good quality in relation to price. The main module presents colors a bit bland forcing users demands for some work in post-production to achieve an end result of greater impact. Good details, even if by a sensor 13 MP might be expected more. But Lumia 640XL offers above all a front camera quality, being more than able to deal with the rampant fashion dignity of selfie.

Conclusions

With Lumia 640XL, Microsoft continues to churn out devices affordable awaiting the release of the new top of the range. There is no doubt that those who follow the world of smartphones is awaiting the arrival on the market of high-end Lumia, especially in relation to the launch of Windows 10 cabinet scheduled for the end of the year.

All-new inexpensive devices will be upgraded to Windows Mobile 10, but it is clear that the company lacks a catalyst for the market: a flagship model modern to make more attractive to all the other products.

And that weighs a lot, in my opinion, on the commercial success of the products of the lower end of society. The family of smartphones Lumia offers excellent performance regardless of the hardware integrated with Windows Phone that is capable of making fully transparent computations that are done behind the representation of the interface or the rendering of a web page.

Windows Phone unfortunately brings with it a heavy boulder now since its creation: Windows Store. The number of apps is steadily increasing and all the phenomena of the cabinet have now landed on the virtual store for Redmond, but App Store and Google Play Store are on another level.

Leaving aside the discussion on the quantity, the quality of the app for iOS and Android devices is usually higher, and these are updated more quickly with the latest news. Windows Phone is still a third choice least, the situation could improve with the arrival of Windows 10 Mobile.

After the necessary prerequisites, let’s move to the smartphone itself. In our tests Lumia 640XL has shown slightly more awkward in some situations than other smartphone in the same family, but always very responsive especially in relation to competitive devices in the same price range.

Valuable work instead operated by Microsoft on the hardware front: the smartphone has a body made entirely of polycarbonate more robust than other devices Lumia economic past, as they are guaranteed some of the historical features of the family.

The colors proposed are in many cases sparkling and think for a young audience, while the battery is easily removable. The integrated unit has a capacity of about 3,000 mAh, leading the smartphone to get very interesting in terms of the values ​​of operational autonomy. Inside there is a slot for microSD that expands considerably storage integrated with a small additional outlay on the list price, while the two cameras offer selfie shots and decent quality.

But the feature to be taken into consideration to choose Lumia 640XL is its display, in this case an IPS LCD 5.7″ HD. Although on the front numerical resolution 1,280 x 720 may seem insufficient on a panel so large, the use of all day differences with Quad HD or Full HD panels are very contained, at least if you do not use the phone a few centimeters away from your eyes, with all the unpleasant consequences. Definitely commendable quality panel that offers vivid colors and true to reference.

Pass or fail then? With a retail price of around $ 295 on Amazon, it is difficult to recommend Lumia 640XL. If you exclude any proposals from the Far East, find a smartphone with 5.7″ at a threshold of similarly priced and just as its build quality is a serious challenge. And if we consider in this case that Microsoft is selling it, the reasons for choosing Lumia 640XL become even more succulent.

80%

Awesome

Review

• Overall