Bought a phone Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE DS due to the sale of the main device (Apple iPhone 5S) and the breakdown of the second (). I didn’t want to spend a lot of money, but I didn’t like a very simple device either. Still, you get used to the functions of a “smart” phone quickly, and a simple “dialer” no longer satisfies. Android was not considered in principle. Forgive me lovers of this OS, but I don’t like it and that’s it: a matter of taste, as they say. It makes no sense to buy an iPhone 6 either, soon the 6S (or whatever they call it there) will be released, so I’ll take a closer look at it.
There was only a variant with Windows Phone devices. Went shopping and looked around. The requirements were as follows:
- Screen diagonal 4.5-5 "(for me personally, anything over 5" is already too big after all. This is from experience with Nokia Lumia 1520);
- Screen resolution of at least 1280x720;
- The presence of protected glass;
- A decent matrix, so that it doesn’t “blind” at all in the sun;
- More internal memory, or support for SD cards;
- The price is no more than $300 (the device was considered as a temporary solution, so investing more in it is simply unreasonable).
The presence or absence of a camera (which is the main one, which is the front), its resolution, the amount of RAM and the materials of the case are not fundamental for me at all, as well as support for more than one SIM card. As a result, I settled on two models: and Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE DS. "One-symbol" was not available, and there was neither desire nor opportunity to order from Astana and wait 1-2 weeks. Their price difference was negligible, so I chose the one that supported LTE. A few days later, the salary "arrived in time" and a couple of days off stood out. The next morning I became the owner of a black Microsoft Lumia 640 DS LTE. The issue price is about $215.
Technical characteristics, as well as the software platform, does not make sense to describe. This site has a description of both, in my opinion, much more professionally done. Appearance is not much different from standard monoblocks. The entire front part is occupied by the display (navigation buttons are on-screen), a microphone is located under the display. On the right side are the paired volume keys and the on/off/lock button. The left side is empty, on the bottom there is a MicroUSB connector, on the top there is a jack (3.5 mm) for a headset. On the back side is the main camera, to the left of it is a flash and in the lower right part of the main speaker. The set was a little struck by its budget. The headset and data-cable are missing, the charger is not collapsible. But, if you remember the price, you can close your eyes to this. The bundled headset (it's enough for me to talk with busy hands), as well as the cable, were inherited from the Lumia 1520. The next reason for surprise was the weight: for such dimensions, it seemed to me not big. But this feeling is subjective, so I will not focus on this detail.
The phone was immediately updated to the latest software version, and a full reset was made.
The setup did not take much time, because I am quite familiar with the platform. At the time of writing this text, the device has been in my use for a week. I will not sing praises, I will tell and, if possible, show how it is: I will start, from the negative sides.
The first thing I noticed by the end of the week of use was the strange “slowdowns” when typing. It seems that you are writing, everything is in order - suddenly, for no apparent reason, the phone “thinks” for a second - another, and only after that the entered text appears. I came across this only on (I had to use it for a couple of weeks at work). But on the 435th, at least you can attribute this to a not very “nimble” processor, but I don’t even know what the problem is. This is definitely not a factory defect, since such an effect rarely appears and only when typing. I did not notice patterns in his appearance.
[I do not claim to have the best knowledge of this platform, so if someone knows how to fix this glitch, unsubscribe in the comments].
The assembly of the device is good - 4+; I would put 5, but still there are backlashes of the back cover, albeit scanty (not everyone will notice them yet). With the case, or rather with physical buttons, an unpleasant feature was noticed: a week of use, and small scratches on the buttons already appeared.
Someone will think that I used it carelessly. Not at all. On the very first photo there is a cover - a "pocket", bought on the same day. It is designed for a much wider device: there is a margin of space of almost 10 mm on each side. On the soft lining inside, he could not get scratched, without a cover he did not wear a single day. I think that I will also have to buy a branded CC-3089 panel, as well as a protective glass with an oleophobic coating, because, although the manufacturer promises “ease of cleaning”, it is not so easy to wipe off grease from glass.
Another huge drawback is the location of the main speaker. If the device lies on the back side, and even on something soft, then the call is very much muffled - you can easily miss it. But if you put the screen down, you will hear the call even from another room. But in this case, all the charm of the “Glance screen” is lost (for those who are not in the know, this is a screensaver that displays a clock and notifications of missed events - phone calls, messages, etc.) on the phone's locked screen. By the way, since we started talking about the “Glance screen”, I noticed that it is different in some models. If in Nokia Lumia 1520, in addition to the clock, the date was also displayed, then there is only the clock. And if you select "Phone" as the application with details in the lock screen settings:
then on the screen saver, with a missed call, nothing will be displayed either. Although in the same 1520 this information was also displayed: the number / name of the caller (if it is recorded in “Contacts”) and the time of the call.
[Again, maybe there is some setting item that fixes this].
The rest of the notification displays work flawlessly. In principle, the last point with the "Screensaver" is already nit-picking, but I could not help but mention it. Let's end this with the negatives. They just don't exist anymore.
Now the pleasant nuances in Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE DS. And the first of them is, of course, the speed of work. Well, I’ll start talking about “parrots” and “FPSs”, because playing something more serious than “Kerchief” on the phone is simply not for me. Programs load and work quickly, the interface does not freeze in the most unexpected places. Actually, this is what you expect from a “smart” phone. So that everything that should work on it works without straining you with waiting. The second important plus is the protective glass "Gorilla Glass". No longer afraid to put the phone on the table with the display down. Yes, and the keys, when they are in your pocket with the phone, do not scratch (but this is completely for extreme people who are not afraid to wear phones like that). The next pleasant moment is that some phones specifically write which of the SIM slots supports 4G. In this device, wherever you insert a SIM card, there will be no difference: 4G works in both. The main thing is to choose which SIM card to transfer mobile data through. Actually, I did just that. The first SIM card is for calls, the second one is for 4G internet. The place for the second SIM-card came in handy.
Navigation works perfectly. But for HERE Maps, this is not even praise, but a statement of fact. Someone, of course, wants to argue, citing analogues. But after all, it's all a matter of taste. There was one detail that I could not configure: downloading navigation maps to an SD card with the HERE Maps program installed on the phone.
[If someone knows how to do this, unsubscribe in the comments].
Now about the battery. The phone boldly "holds" 33 - 36 hours of use. I will make a reservation, this is in my work mode: 25-30 minutes of calls a day, constant messages and. Checking mail from 2 mailboxes every 15 minutes (I set this interval manually), always-on data transfer (Wi-Fi + 4G). As you probably remember, I have 2 SIM cards installed in my phone. Music, games and other "multimedia" is not about me.
I think that someone's phone will probably last up to 2 full days. Charger included with AC-20E phone: 5V, 750 mA. Charging time "from zero" to full 3-3.5 hours. Not the fastest charge, of course. But, as experts say, it even benefits the battery.
A nice bonus was the presence of an annual subscription to Microsoft Office 365 Personal, and this is another minus about $ 40 from the price. And for me, unlike the browser that is very well-known throughout the "Runet", the Office 365 Gift program was installed without problems, I received the key within a couple of minutes. Actually, all this text was created and edited in this software package. Unfortunately, the offer is limited in time. Moreover, the store itself gave me some nice additions. They are, of course, useful, but the value is mediocre.
So, what do we have in the "dry residue"? And we have a very good working device that can work with all the applications necessary for everyday communication, provide entertainment, and even ... make calls. Can you imagine?! By the way, the quality of communication in Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE DS no complaints, and the volume of the earpiece has a good margin. I have enough volume level 7 (out of 10) to perfectly hear the voice of a person during a conversation in a noisy place. And all this pleasure for a very pleasant "amount of money." I will note separately that I was not particularly interested in photographic capabilities and I listen to music once a month, so I did not consider such characteristics of the device.
I really hope that my personal experience will help someone in the choice. If after reading my review you have any questions regarding this device, you can leave them in the comments, I will definitely answer. All good mood and the right choice!
Prices for Microsoft Lumia 640 Dual SIM
Microsoft is trying to be as active as possible in the market for affordable smartphones for young people. Here is the latest novelty, Lumia 640, from among such gadgets. The developer endowed the device with a bright 5-inch screen with HD resolution, the ability to work with two SIM cards, an 8-megapixel main camera and a 1-megapixel front camera, a capacious battery, quite a decent processor and 1 GB of RAM. Let's see how the Lumia 640 will appeal to its target audience.
Before starting testing Lumia 640 in the edition of the Internet project "Be Mobile", we decided to conduct an experiment. To do this, we went to the South Ural State University, where exactly at this time it's time for exams. In the university park, we asked 10 random students (5 guys and 5 girls) to give their impressions of the new Microsoft smartphone. They gave me 5 minutes for everything. After that, young people had to voice their opinion and verdict: like or dislike and why.
Five people (four guys and one girl, mostly technical specialties) declared a categorical “dislike”. And they called “Windows Phone” the main disadvantage.
“Outwardly, this smartphone is cute, compact, good screen, fast, costs normal money, but this is not Android. I won’t buy this for myself,” said Ulyana, a student at the Faculty of Architecture. "But Windows Phone fans should love it."
“I would buy such a smartphone for my mother. I think it's just right for her. Call, write sms, sometimes get into the Internet. And for me there are limitations in the number of applications. Here is Windows Phone. There are not many applications,” Vasily, a student of the Aerospace Faculty, emphasized.
Two more people said they were put off by the glossy lid.
“The smartphone itself is not bad. The price is normal. But it looks too cheap. For me, this is unacceptable. Matte plastic or metal is better,” said Olga, a student at the Faculty of Economics and Management.
Three people said a resounding yes to the Lumia 640.
“A very high-quality smartphone: a fast, large and bright screen, a high-quality camera, two SIM cards, mobile Internet, even mobile, even Wi-Fi. Yes, and he looks very stylish. How long does it last from charge to charge? If two or three days under load, then this is a very good option,” Anastasia, a student of the Faculty of Philology, reasoned.
Well, and now, in fact, the test review of the Lumia 640 itself. We tested a device without LTE support, although there are two versions on sale.
Specifications
id="sub0">- Operating system: Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim (Update 2)
- Display: 5 inches, IPS, resolution 1280x720 pixels, 16:9, 294 ppi, protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3
- Communication: GSM 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz; WCDMA 2100MHz, 1900MHz, 850MHz, 900MHz; LTE band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 20, 28 (only available on Lumia 640 LTE)
- SIM card type: microSIM, support for two SIM cards, one radio module
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, 4-core, 1.2 GHz
- RAM: 1 GB, built-in memory 8 GB, memory cards up to 128 GB, cloud storage 30 GB
- Camera: 8 megapixel, f2.2, 1/3.4" sensor, LED flash, ISO up to 3200, 1080p video recording up to 30fps, 1 megapixel front camera with video recording capability
- FM radio
- Battery: Li-Ion 2500 mAh, no wireless charging
- Interfaces: microUSB, USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.0, DLNA, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, NFC (available only in Lumia 640 LTE)
- Dimensions: 141.3x72.2x8.8 mm
- Weight: 145 grams
Dimensions. Contents of delivery
id="sub1">Dimensions new items are typical for modern smartphones - 141.3x72.2x8.8 mm, weight 145 grams. The smartphone is wide, especially in comparison with the flagship HTC One M9, Samsung Galaxy S6, Apple iPhone 6. The weight of the device is evenly distributed over the area. Thanks to this, the device does not tend to slip out of the hands.
Included in the package are:
- Smartphone Microsoft Lumia 640
- Accumulator battery
- Charger with microUSB connector
- Instruction
Headset and computer cable not included. They will need to be purchased separately.
Design, construction
id="sub2">The Lumia 640 looks great despite the plastic casing. This is largely due to the excellent assembly, lack of fragility, squeaks and gaps between the individual parts of the device. The design of the model is borrowed from budget Lumia models with bright body colors. It is sleek, stylish and modern. At the same time, the company managed to develop a disassembled case, which gives the impression of a monolithic one. With simple steps, the user can remove the back panel, gaining access to the slots for SIM-cards, memory cards and battery. Attractive and small thickness.
The Lumia 640 is available in four colors: blue, orange, black and white. I also note that the first two options have glossy plastic, and the last two have matte.
On the test, I had a model in a blue version with a glossy finish. And this coating in terms of dust and fingerprints is not the most practical. The smartphone gets dirty very quickly. Fingerprints, dust, dirt, etc. are clearly visible on the gloss.
Above the protective glass Lumia 640 around the perimeter is a millimeter edge, which protects the coating itself from mechanical stress.
As for the placement of individual controls, on the front you can see a speaker for voice calls. Nearby is the proximity sensor, the light sensor. On the left, there is a front camera (wide-angle), with which you can take selfies, record videos, and make video calls. Camera resolution 1 Mpix. Tests of the front camera showed that the picture is of mediocre quality, but more on that below.
Most of the front face of the smartphone is occupied by a 5-inch touch screen. Thanks to a special coating, it does not get so dirty. At the very least, the gloss on the back cover collects a lot more fingerprints and dust.
The display itself, the area with the camera module above it and the area with the touch unit are covered with non-scratch tempered glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3. There is a microphone hole under the screen.
The volume rocker is located on the right side face. Just below there is an on / off button and a screen lock. The connector for connecting an interface cable and a microUSB charger is located on the bottom end. A hole for connecting a 3.5 mm headset is available on the top of the case.
On the back side there is a built-in 8 megapixel camera lens with autofocus and LED flash. At the bottom there is a speaker for playing external sounds and ringtones. It has decent performance in terms of volume reserve. In most cases, it is well audible. By the way, the standard ringtones are played very quietly (the problem is not in the dynamics, but in the ringtones) and you can easily miss a call. In this case, I recommend using something alternative with a normal sound.
Opening the back cover is easy. To do this, the case must be pulled towards you, as if the back cover is a cover. The design, tested on many models, is very reliable. Inside you will see the battery, as well as two microSIM slots plus a slot for a memory card.
The build quality of the device is excellent. The general perception is also good. The Lumia 640 is assembled at the company's factory in China.
Graphic features
id="sub3">The Lumia 640 uses a 5-inch touch screen with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels (294 ppi). The display displays 16.7 million colors, made using IPS technology. In addition, it has added a polarizing layer for better behavior in the sun (ClearBlack). The aspect ratio is 16:9. The screen has good color reproduction, brightness, contrast and viewing angles.
The device has a proximity sensor, as well as a light sensor. Unfortunately, the brightness can only be adjusted in three positions (low, medium and high). Unlike all other smartphones and systems, there is a limitation of Windows Phone.
Thanks to the G-sensor (accelerometer), the screen can automatically change its orientation. This does not happen in all applications. In the sun, the display fades, but the information is well read.
Of the chips, it is worth noting the technology that has become the standard for Lumia devices, Super Sensitive Screen. It is used to control the device not only with finger touches, but also with nails, styluses, etc. The degree of sensitivity can be selected in the menu, if you do not want the screen to respond to any touch, this can be turned off. In a pocket, the screen cannot respond to touches, the proximity sensor is responsible for this, you should not worry about this.
Interface and navigation. Functionality
id="sub4">The Nokia Lumia 640 runs the latest available version of the Windows Phone 8.1 operating system with a custom Lumia Denim skin. In the future, it can be updated via the Internet to newer ones.
On the lock screen, you can place weather information, large clocks, notifications, as well as “live applications”, for example, Facebook - photos, statuses are shown, depending on how you set up these very live applications.
As for the user interface of the smartphone, then everything is standard. The desktop is presented in the form of a scrollable vertical column of tiles of various shapes, displaying icons of programs, functions and widgets. A tile can be either a shortcut to a specific application, or a link to a person from a contact list, to a photo, to a web page, or to a service. Tiles can be resized. Up to six icons can fit on one line.
You can install a separate page as a tile on your desktop. If you like, say, reading news from Yandex or Kommersant, then you can go directly to the last page you read by clicking on its shortcut on the desktop without launching your browser and without digging up a journal entry. Alas, the user does not have the ability to change and decorate the desktop with various pictures. The background here is purely black or white.
If you try to scroll the screen with your finger to the right or click on the arrow at the bottom of the display, a list of installed programs will open. They are not divided into directories, but are displayed in a long alphabetical list. To add new tiles to the main screen, just hold your finger on the corresponding icon for 3-4 seconds - a context menu will appear with a choice of actions.
The general style of switching between applications is reminiscent of turning pages, and all this happens almost instantly. The speed of the interfaces is high, and the effects are quite appropriate. Visually, it looks very impressive and advantageous.
By holding the "Back" button, you can access the list of running ones. If they support the multitasking function, then when you click on the thumbnail, the program will start in the same form in which you exited it. Thus, you can work with almost all applications.
You can unlock your smartphone not only with a hardware button. By turning on the corresponding function, Lumia 640 can be easily "woken up" by pressing the screen twice. Another option allows you to mute an incoming call by turning the device face down.
The standard delivery includes Internet Explorer 11 with HTML5 support, Canvas and hardware acceleration, as in the desktop version of the Internet browser. The browser works quickly and without glitches. Of the features: the address bar is located at the bottom of the screen and it is much more convenient to get to it if you work with the device with one hand. The IE11 browser loads pages very quickly, supports modern work algorithms, which is supposed to be done by a progressive browser.
Microsoft online services (music, games, office, mail, etc.) are accessed using Live ID. At the same time, with a Russian account, as it turned out, you can’t use everything that is in the Marketplace store. Only applications for Russia and the CIS are available.
Windows Phone 8.1 offers a range of cloud features. The new Office 365 office suite is built into the OS. There is basic support for the main programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) out of the box, you can create and edit documents right on your phone, without the need to install a paid package.
Phone features
id="sub5">In terms of audio quality during a call, this is Nokia's standard solution. Loudness and clarity are good. The Lumia 640 uses one microphone. The vibrating alert is quite quiet, with a high probability you will miss it.
If we talk about receiving a cellular network signal, then the sensitivity of the radio module is standard.
The phone supports two SIM cards. True, they work separately. In the menu settings, it is possible to assign a priority SIM card for phone calls, SMS and mobile Internet. It's comfortable.
Photographic opportunities
id="sub6">The Lumia 640, like any other modern smartphone, has two cameras. Main - 8 megapixels with LED flash, 4x digital zoom. In the sun, the camera shoots well, it already “soaps” indoors. Compared to many 8MP cameras on Android, the Lumia is likely to win. She has a better mod.
The camera interface is ascetic, simple and intuitive, there is a standard list of settings. You can select the shooting mode, white balance, ISO value, aspect ratio (16:9, 4:3 or 1:1), and set the exposure value. There are additional programs for shooting panoramas, animated photos and portraits (continuous shooting and then choosing the best shot).
All proprietary Nokia utilities for working with images have been added to the phone. The base here is the Nokia Camera utility, which has a familiar interface, like in other Lumia models. There is a function “animated photos”, when several pictures are taken and an animated picture is assembled from them, panorama mode, focus change (foreground and background), collage (a kind of photo diary creation option), built-in Creative Studio editor.
The device can record video with resolutions of 1920x1080, 1280x720, 800x480, 640x480, 320x240 at 30 frames per second. Videos are of good quality, moving objects are not smeared, thanks to automatic stabilization. Lumia 640 supports formats and codecs: H.263, H.264/AVC, MPEG-4, VC-1, Windows Video. Playable video formats: 3G2, 3GP, MP4, WMV, AVI, M4V, MOV.
The front camera has a resolution of 1 megapixel, and the pictures are of very mediocre quality. Visible blur, lack of focus and pixelation.
Navigation and maps
id="sub7">The Lumia 640 includes the Here (HERE Drive+, HERE Maps, HERE Transit) mapping package, which includes the standard map mode as well as in-vehicle navigation. It is worth noting that detailed maps of a larger number of Russian cities with a population of more than 5 thousand people are available here, there is no need to talk about Europe - they are there in full, similarly for other countries.
When the program is launched for some time, information is loaded from the operator's base stations and GPS satellites about the location, current time, and maps are also loaded. After receiving the coordinates, you can determine where you are at the moment. In the program menu there is a search for objects by textual information, address, geographic location, history, contacts stored in the phone. All objects on the map are displayed with the corresponding icon. It is possible to display street names and other information in Latin. There is support for searching in Cyrillic.
The user can choose a map display option - 2D or 3D image, day or night mode. In addition, a “satellite view” display option has been added, it is similar to what we see in the maps of the Here.Net service.
The Here maps contain information about the movement of public transport - a metro map is superimposed on the maps, as well as lines for trolleybuses, trams, etc.
When navigating, large bold arrows display a pre-designated route. Of the pleasant features, you can find information about the weather, the situation on nearby roads, etc.
In general, navigation using Here maps is similar to other similar services, here maps can also be used offline. To do this, do not forget to download the maps to the phone's memory.
Speed and memory
id="sub8">The Lumia 640 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 platform with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor. The amount of RAM is 1 GB.
Only 8 GB of internal memory is allocated for data storage. Initially, 6.5 GB of them are available. The rest is occupied by system files. When expanding the amount of memory, you can set off microSD memory cards. By the way, free smartphone users are allocated 30 GB of space in the Microsoft OneDrive service.
As for the smoothness of the interfaces, the speed of the applications, there are no problems. Memory and hardware is enough for applications and games that exist today for Windows Phone.
Communication options
id="sub9">Lumia 640 has a full range of communication interfaces. Firstly, there is Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n with the ability to distribute the Internet to other devices with Wi-Fi. Secondly, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth 4.0 (no LE support). Thirdly, the version with LTE support has NFC for sending and receiving files, as well as working with payment services.
The smartphone works in GSM (850/900/1800/1900) and UMTS (850/900/1900/2100) mobile networks. There is no support for LTE in the cheapest version, but there is a separate version with support for LTE (it costs 2,000 rubles more).
In addition, there is a built-in GLONASS / GPS / A-GPS and a navigation service with online (offline) Nokia Here maps.
Working time
id="sub10">The Lumia 640 is powered by a 2500 mAh battery. Due to the use of less energy-intensive iron, the device does not consume energy so quickly. And Windows Phone itself is not too voracious in terms of power consumption. These are undoubted advantages over iOS and Android devices. Maximum music playback time - up to 86 hours, video - up to 9 hours, online via 3G - up to 17.5 hours, via Wi-Fi - up to 10.8 hours.
Under extreme conditions of use, with the number of calls 40-50 minutes a day, sending a dozen SMS, listening to an mp3 player through the headset for about 2 hours and two hours of surfing the Internet via Wi-Fi, the device worked for two days. This is a very good indicator for a smartphone of this level. With an average load, the smartphone will work for three days. The rechargeable battery is charged from the electrical network for about two hours, via a USB cable from a computer - about four hours.
Results
id="sub11">Microsoft Lumia 640 Dual SIM is a typical mid-range smartphone. In many ways, it is similar to last year's Lumia 735. It uses the same hardware stuffing. Changes lie in the quality and size of the screen, a more capacious battery, as well as better photographic capabilities. As for the front camera, on the contrary, it has become worse. But the main camera is good.
No serious cons were found during the entire test. There are minor software flaws, as well as standard ringtone sounds that are simply inaudible if the smartphone is in a bag or tight clothes.
It is also worth noting that the model is sold in two versions: with support for LTE and without it. The Lumia 640 with LTE looks like a decent buy, even against its Android rivals, if you're okay with Windows Phones.
Advantages:
- Attractive design
- Good main camera
- Fast user interface
- Quality screen
- Dual SIM support
Disadvantages:
- Sometimes ill-conceived interfaces
- No cable or headset included
On the day of publication, Microsoft Lumia 640 3G could be bought at a price of 9,990 rubles. Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE will cost more - 11,990 rubles.
Contents of delivery:
- Phone
- Battery 2500 mAh Li-Ion
- Charger
- Instruction
Specifications
- Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2 Lumia Denim
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, 4 cores, 1.2 GHz
- 1 GB RAM, 8 GB built-in, memory cards up to 128 GB
- Screen 5 inches, 1280x720 pixels, IPS, 294 dpi, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
- Battery 2500 mAh Li-Ion, standby time - up to 36 days, talk time - up to 17.5 hours (3G), music playback - up to 86 hours, Wi-Fi - up to 10.8 hours, video - up to 8.6 hours
- 3G (LTE option exists)
- Main camera 8 megapixels, front camera 1 megapixels
- micro SIM
- BT 4.0, USB 2.0, NFC, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, Glonass
- Dimensions - 141.3x72.2x8.8 mm, weight - 145 grams
Positioning
Until recently, Microsoft did not have a single device with a 5-inch screen and HD-resolution, that is, the company did not act in the most demanded market segment. But on the other hand, she had models like the Lumia 535, which has a 5-inch screen with a resolution of 960x540 pixels and a rather aggressive price positioning. As a result, the model is more noticeable than its relatives and is in demand.
Microsoft Lumia 535
The Lumia 640 tried to capitalize on this advantage and amplify it without changing the price much, to bring the market to a 5-inch model with an HD screen. Moreover, the sight was precisely on Android-smartphones, which rule the ball here. It was difficult to maintain the price range, but Microsoft managed to do it, and the model becomes one of the most affordable in the segment. If we judge it solely by its characteristics, then they distinguish the device in its class - first of all, due to the screen.
Unfortunately, the quality of the implementation of Windows Phone crosses out the hardware advantages of the device and makes it of little demand, and this is a given of the market. Why do you need a quality screen with a high resolution, if there are very few games for the platform, the video player is quite simple. The list of claims is endless. Some may think that I'm nitpicking, but Windows Phone sales have been showing a steep peak for a long time, now the market share of this system is already about 3 percent and continues to fall. The main sales fall on budget devices, and in this sense, the Lumia 640 stands out from the crowd.
In my opinion, this handset may be of interest to anyone who wants to buy a balanced Windows Phone, doesn't want to overpay for it, and is sensitive to the camera. If it's not the screen resolution that matters for you, but its size, then you should look at the Lumia 535, the devices are perceived as very close in spirit.
With the Lumia 640 XL model, this device has only the name in common, the camera is different (13 megapixels in XL), the battery is larger (3000 versus 2500 mAh), the front camera is better, but the chipset is the same. The screen has a diagonal of 5.7 inches, but the same resolution.
Compared to Lumia 640 XL
In my opinion, Microsoft's phablet failed completely, the device is very strange and niche. Moreover, it is niche even for the Lumia line, which, on a market scale, makes it an endangered species even before the start of sales. But the Lumia 640, even if it does not get big sales, may still be of interest to fans of such phones.
Design, dimensions, controls
An ordinary 5-inch phone with rather compact dimensions - 141.3x72.2x8.8 mm, weight - 145 grams. It fits perfectly in the hand, hides in pockets and is invisible.
The case is made of glossy plastic, some may not like it, but I have no complaints. A matter of taste and choice. Bright enough, shiny, suitable for young people just right, and girls adore such colors.
Traditionally, there are different color schemes - blue, black and orange in addition to white (I have such a device).
At the top end there is a 3.5 mm jack, at the bottom there is a regular microUSB connector. On the right side is a paired volume rocker, right there is an on/off button. The speaker output is on the rear surface, not far from the camera and LED flash.
It is easy to open the device, the case is pulled out towards itself, it's like a case. The design, tested on many models, is very reliable. Inside you will see the battery, as well as two slots for microSIM plus a slot for a memory card.
From an engineering point of view, there are no complaints about the device, it is quite good.
Screen
The usual IPS-matrix with a diagonal of 5 inches, resolution - 1280x720 pixels (294 dpi), covered with Corning Gorilla Glass. For its price segment, it is quite a worthy screen, which does not have any special differences from many models, there are no outstanding characteristics, but the display will suit most. The buttons in the device are on-screen. It is impossible to say something separately about the screen - it is normal and familiar. We read well in the sun.
Battery
Battery 2500 mAh Li-Ion, standby time - up to 36 days, talk time - up to 17.5 hours (3G), music playback - up to 86 hours, Wi-Fi - up to 10.8 hours, video - up to 8.6 hours.
In real life, two days of work is quite an achievable indicator with a fairly active use of the device, it can be even three days. With very active use, the phone will be discharged in a full day. A good and familiar indicator for the platform, I want to emphasize separately that in this price range a battery of this capacity is more an exception than a rule. And that's not bad.
In terms of battery life, this is one of the best Windows Phones in the segment of compact devices, I recommend paying attention to it.
Communication options
Standard set of protocols - Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n, USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.0 (no LE support) - a full set of standard profiles, WCDMA. As you can see, the device cannot boast of anything special or unusual.
Chipset, memory, performance
Typical solution from Microsoft, inside Snapdragon 400, 4 cores up to 1.2 GHz. The interface works fast enough, which is also typical for such solutions. The amount of RAM - 1 GB, built-in - 8 GB, memory cards - up to 128 GB. In synthetic tests, here are the results.
Camera
The front camera does not take very good pictures.
The main camera is 8 megapixels, pretty ordinary. It shoots well in the sun, it already lathers indoors. If we compare the camera with many 8-megapixel cameras on Android, then it will most likely win, it has a better module.
Software - Windows Phone 8.1
Since the device in this section is identical to the Lumia 640 XL, I will repeat what I said there. I will also show you an accidentally caught glitch with the camera, everything is clear from the video.
Phone on Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2. A huge number of functions have been added to the system - now in the “Settings” section there is a division by points (!!!), and individual settings can also be placed on the main screen. When typing, you can add your own text shortcuts for quick input. And that's all for Update 2. I'm constantly amazed at the speed with which Microsoft adds new features - a teaspoon per hour seems like the first cosmic speed compared to this. No, these guys are really the fastest on the planet - they introduced a separation of settings in the menu, although in Windows 10 there is a completely different menu! Well done guys, keep it up.
The innovations of the system are described in detail in the review of Windows Phone 8.1, I see no reason to repeat myself - everything is standard here.
Of the unpleasant moments and glitches of Update 2, I note that when updating the device from an archive copy, for some reason, the icons of many standard applications are shown as missing in the system, for example, Lumia Camera. They must be removed and put back from the list of applications - this is such an overlay. To activate an Office 365 subscription, you need to download the Office 365 Gift app store, then the activation occurs, tied to your Microsoft account. In the first weeks, something was not screwed up, and it is impossible to activate the subscription, it crashes with an error. Support promises to fix this issue. In principle, this is typical and characteristic of Microsoft, always something does not work or works crookedly. Why be surprised?
Three varieties of Lumia 640 were presented: with one and two SIM cards, as well as with and without an LTE module. We have two SIM cards on the test "Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE" - this is the official Russian name.
Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE DS is a representative of the new Windows Phone line. Continuity with the previous generation of Lumia is obvious and predictable, except that the Microsoft logo took the place of the Nokia logo. The rest is the usual Lumia, a budget model, with an increased screen size, RAM, and nice gifts like 30 GB of OneDrive and an annual subscription to Office 365. But is this enough to defeat budget employees on Android ?
| Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE Dual Sim | |
|---|---|
| Display | 5" 1280×720 ClearBlack IPS LCD |
| Touch screen | Capacitive, up to ten simultaneous touches |
| Safety glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Air gap | Not |
| Oleophobic coating | There is |
| Polarizing filter | There is |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8226: four Qualcomm Cortex-A7 cores, 1.2 GHz; |
| Process technology 28 nm | |
| 1 GB LPDDR3 | |
| RAM | |
| Flash memory | 8 GB |
| Connectors | 1 × micro USB 2.0 |
| 1 × 3.5mm headset jack | |
| 2xMicro-SIM | |
| cellular | 2G/3G |
| 2G: GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900MHz | |
| 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1800/2100MHz | |
| Two SIM cards | |
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 |
| NFC | There is |
| IR port | Not |
| Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Wi-Fi and Cellular Positioning |
| Sensors | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) |
| Main camera | 8 MP, aperture ratio ƒ/2.2 wide-angle lens |
| Autofocus, LED flash | |
| Front-camera | 0.9 MP, aperture ratio ƒ/2.4, no autofocus |
| Battery | Removable battery |
| Capacity 11.4 Wh (2500 mAh, 3.8 V) | |
| Size | 141.3×72.2mm |
| Case Thickness 8.8mm | |
| Weight | 145 g |
| Water and dust protection | Not |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 |
| recommended price | 10 990 rubles |
⇡ Design
Although the Nokia logo has disappeared from the case, don't be fooled, it's still a Lumia. She has the same solid back panel, bent around the edges - and all the iron is inserted into it. True, the edges have become a little sharper, and holding the phone is not so comfortable, but still this is not a 640 XL that cuts into the hand.
The plastic from which the lid is made is glossy and matte. Traces remain on the glossy one, so the second option is preferable. By the way, we were lucky - we have just such a test. In general, a replaceable cover leaves scope for creativity, and the maintainability of such a case is higher. A very nice little thing, forgotten by most manufacturers.
For a smartphone with a 5-inch display, the device is quite large. Like its counterparts, the 640 has not very narrow bezels, but typing with one hand is quite possible. The headphone output is on the top, the micro-USB input is on the bottom. Inside there are two Micro-SIM slots and one microSD. It is inside - to replace anything, you have to remove the cover and battery. By the way, it is better to get a microSD card right away - the device comes with an almost shameful 8 gigabytes of memory. But you can expand it by another 128 GB.
⇡ Screen
The 5-inch IPS display has a resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels (294 ppi). This, of course, is not 4K, but for this price segment and processor it is quite suitable. Yes, and there are no problems with reading small text, although competitors are increasingly using Full HD, and therefore there is no question of problems with clarity.
The display of the smartphone is protected from damage by Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
The screen is contrasting, partly due to ClearBlack technology - it's nice to watch movies on such a display. But on the street it is difficult to read from it, especially if you have used something with a Super-AMOLED screen before. The maximum brightness value of 403 cd / m² does not save from problems with readability in the sun.
In general, the 640 has very flexible brightness settings. You can not only choose automatic or manual modes (the sensor is located to the right of the front camera eye), but also adjust the brightness profiles. There are three of them, and each can be changed. The sensitivity of the automatic mode is also adjustable.
There are also three color profiles: standard (display parameters were measured in it), bright and cold, plus an “advanced” profile containing more subtle settings.
The "cold" profile increases the color temperature, while the "bright" profile increases the saturation. Standard is something in between.
The color temperature goes a little to cold shades, but setting it up in the "advanced" mode is a matter of a couple of minutes.
Let's summarize. The display has a decent color gamut, close to sRGB, and a good color balance. In addition, extensive settings will allow you to adapt it for yourself. But the oleophobic coating did not justify itself. However, this does not affect the overall impression of the display at all - the screen quality is high and it is pleasant to use it. Unless PPI is not enough.
⇡ Sound
Like many state employees, Lumia 640 LTE DS is equipped with two speakers and one microphone. The phone speaker is quite loud and not squeaky, while the main speaker creaks at maximum volume. But this is not scary, because it is located on the back cover. So if you put your smartphone on something soft, you will not hear wheezing, as well as anything else.
⇡ Hardware - and how it works with Windows Phone
The Lumia 640 LTE DS uses a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, which also includes Adreno 305 graphics. The RAM is just 1GB. It seems to be a little, but Asphalt 8 does not slow down - it is worth thanking for the optimization and low resolution.
The 640 LTE DS is driven by Windows Phone 8.1 (Denim), which has been talked about a lot. Using WP has been getting more and more pleasant lately, and this is not counting the upcoming release of the “tens”, which users who have signed up for beta testing can already install and try. It's not even a matter of optimizing the system - competitors in the face of Android and iOS are so overgrown with functions that they lag even on top-end processors. This, of course, is not an unequivocal minus, but the simplicity of WP 8.1 causes strange sensations. On the one hand, it does not slow down and does not “freeze”. On the other hand, it's boring. It's like it's a PlayStation OS, just needed to run the game. However, this should not be taken as a kind of conclusion based on the study of the system. Rather, it is a feeling caused, perhaps, by the stinginess of the interface. And one more thing: this is a very easy-to-understand system for those who, for example, have never had a smartphone.
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Applications are always a painful topic for WP. On the one hand, there are more and more of them every day, and something well-known like WhatsApp can definitely be found in WPStore. On the other hand, many well-known companies like Facebook order applications for Windows Phone from third-party developers. The result is sadness and pain. So the situation has not changed yet - if you are hunting for the latest applications or games, the 640 is not for you.
But there are plenty of out-of-the-box bonuses: HERE Maps navigation, 30GB OneDrive, a yearly subscription to Office 365, and some fun photography apps like Lumia Refocus.
⇡ Camera
The camera at Lumia is always both hardware and software. Both used to be on top, but with the advent of Microsoft, everything suddenly changed. A newly formed department took over optics, which practically ruined the best that Lumia had. With the software, everything is in order - as always.
In March 2015, Microsoft at MWC 2015 exhibited two budget smartphones: Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL equipped with a Snapdragon 400 processor (already known to us from Lumia 630, 730, 830). The hero of our review will be the “youngest 640”, which is sold in our retail in 3 versions: 3G DS, LTE and LTE DS.
At our disposal (thanks to Microsoft) came Lumia 640 3G DS in a bright orange color, which was actively used for two months as the main phone.
Design and Ergonomics
The Lumia line of devices has always pleased with the proposed color scheme, from the already familiar classic to bright “youth”, the 640th is no exception in this regard. In our market, the model is available in 3 colors (white, orange, blue) with glossy plastic coatings and one matte black.
It is noteworthy that the coating of the “glossy 640s” is two-layered, the first layer of colored plastic on top of the transparent layer adds a “zest” to the design, it looks especially beautiful when the backlight illuminates the edges of the smartphone (many people think that the phone is just wearing a transparent case).
Unfortunately, the kit does not include an additional replacement panel in the classic color, as it was in 535 and 630/635. Externally, the design of the smartphone resembles a logical continuation of the two previous lumies: the 625th and 630th. The plastic of the 640th lumia itself is pleasant in terms of tactile sensations, but in the glossy version it strives to slip out of the hands. Also, after a while, you notice how the plastic "well" collects fingerprints and small scratches on the case.
The Lumia 640 does not cause any complaints about the build quality and the “constructive” itself (by the way, new lumia models, in addition to China, are assembled in Vietnam). When you first remove the back panel, I recommend that you immediately look at the instructions, since the panel “sits” tightly and without knowing which corner to pull and where to press, you will have to suffer or even worse, break something.
The 640 itself is quite light and thin, pleasant ergonomics and my favorite size up to 5”, as a fact, the convenience of using a smartphone with one hand, all controls are easy to reach with one finger.
For a budget lumia, the lack of a camera button and on-screen buttons has become familiar. The remaining elements are habitually in their places. At the top there is a 3.5 mm headset jack, at the bottom there is a micro-USB.
On the right side there is a volume rocker and a lock button.
Lumia 640 display
The Lumia 640 has a 5-inch HD display (with a contrast ratio of 1000:1, at 100% brightness) made using "IPS" technology with a "ClearBlack" polarizing filter, and it's all protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The pixel density is 294 ppi, which is quite enough for most cases, from working with small text to watching videos and playing games.
The sensor works great, supports up to 10 simultaneous touches and double-tap wakeup. Unfortunately, in the cold season, you can’t work with it with gloves, the smartphone does not support this function. The capabilities of the “Glance Screen” are also limited, it is not possible to display an image or a weather forecast.
The 640th has a pleasant color reproduction, but the colors go into "cold tones", it becomes noticeable if you put another device next to it, in our case it is with the same color profile.
The display is quite bright, but only at a right angle, when you change the viewing angle, the brightness drops noticeably.
Under direct sunlight, the information remains quite readable, but the smartphone does not reach the older brothers, although there is a “ClearBlack”.
Lumia 640 screen in the sun Operating time Lumia 640
The battery capacity in the 640th lumia is 2500 mAh. With normal use, the charge of the smartphone is enough for almost two days (the maximum time that he lived with me was 2 days and 20 hours). With the active use of the smartphone is more than enough for daylight hours.
When watching online video, the smartphone was discharged up to 16% in 8 hours (I managed to watch 8 episodes of Daredevil)
Sound
With a margin of volume, the 640th lumia is doing well - the external speaker is quite loud, you will hear a call in most cases. It’s better not to rely on the “vibrate call”, it’s barely noticeable, which is remarkable, when you click on the navigation elements, the return from the “vibro” is much stronger than when you call. The speaker is very loud, at the maximum sound level, your interlocutor will be listened to by the company and other people.
The headphones have a pleasant sound with a good volume margin, sufficient to drown out the noise of the subway.
The presence of an equalizer has also become a plus, which allows you to make the sound more saturated and individual. As in Virtual surround, if in the 535th it still made the sound more pleasant, then in my opinion in the 640th this function worsens the sound ...
Photo and video capabilities Lumia 640
The main camera of the Lumia 640 has a resolution of 8 megapixels with a ¼-inch matrix and f/2.2 aperture. The focal length of the camera is 28 mm, the minimum focal length is 10 mm.
Overview of the photo capabilities of Lumia 640 The front camera has a resolution of only 0.9 megapixels with f/2.4 aperture. There are not enough stars from the sky, but it will be enough to communicate on Skype.
I was pleasantly surprised by the main camera of the smartphone, which I did not expect from a budget smartphone. There is HDR! Which is called "optimum frame", focusing the video during shooting and a minimum ISO of 64 (it's great to shoot at this ISO in the daytime).
It can be seen that Microsoft is working on the "Lumia Camera". The white balance gives the correct result in many cases, both in the daytime and at night. But echoes of the past sometimes appear on the frames - the camera starts to go into warm colors (yellow), this is especially noticeable when it is cloudy.
In good light, the camera produces excellent results for its price range. In the dark, the result is very good, if you find a fulcrum and set the shutter speed, the camera will take a good, detailed picture.
Handheld shooting becomes a weak point (the absence of a “stub” speaks for itself, you have to be more static and hold your breath 🙂), an acceptable result for night shooting is ISO up to 500, then there is a noticeable drop in quality.
Examples of photos taken on Lumia 640
You can view the original photos in our communities, in social networks:,
One of the "interesting things" of the 640 was the camera function - "optimal frame", which works in two auto modes. In good lighting, a picture is taken in HDR, in poor lighting, the “dynamic exposure” mode is activated. Which in the end we can customize to your taste.
It is noteworthy that when shooting in this mode, two jpg and nar files are saved on the phone. If we rename the nar file to rar, then in the end we get an archive, when we open it, we will find three files with jpg resolution (EV0, NaturalHDR and ArtisticHDR) when shooting in HDR and two files when shooting in "dynamic exposure" (Extra1GoodLight and ReferenceGoodLight)
Examples of photos with the optimal frame
WP_20150512_17_21_44_Rich
Video
The Lumia 640 camera records video at a maximum resolution of 1920x1080/30 frames with a bit rate of 17493kbps and sound quality of 48000 Hz, mono, 156 kb/s (More sound settings are available in Lumia Camera beta)
In principle, the video quality is good, but there is not enough stabilizer, even a slight tremor of the hands is noticeable during recording (in Windows 10 they promise a software stub, which will undoubtedly give new life to the device and smoother autofocus). Now "AF" is very twitchy and nervous, it becomes noticeable when focusing during shooting. White balance, unlike a photo, gives the wrong result much more often.
Lumia 640 Video Samples
3G/ Wi-Fi data transfer test
Two SIM cards work simultaneously in the smartphone, and 3G data transmission can be set to any of them as the main one (in previous models, only one SIM card could work in the 3G / 4G network).
If you are faced with a choice, which version is better for you to take 3G or LTE, it’s better to add a little and (now with an annual subscription to Office 365 as a gift). In many cities, 3G cells are overloaded, and simply with a reserve for the future.
The work of Wi-Fi was tested in the Moscow metro, the result is quite good.
WiFi 
3G vs 4G Health & Fitness
The Lumia 640 supports SensorCore, greatly enhancing the Health & Fitness app by adding a pedometer and reducing the power consumption of distance tracking. I love this application and always watch the steps taken, I try to take more than 10 thousand steps a day. How much do you walk a day?
Games and performance
The smartphone has a Snapdragon 400 processor, already familiar to us from a number of devices and giving exactly the same results with slight fluctuations for better or worse.
Multiple Test Results
antutu. Basemark OS II. Multitouch Test. In fact, the devices work much faster than their predecessors (920/1020). This is noticeable both in the speed of launching applications and in the operation of the system itself. I think with Windows 10 it will be even more noticeable.
Lumia 640 performs well in most of the games that are in the marketplace. In heavy games (for example, GTA) it is quite playable at medium settings.
Summing up the review
Pros Lumia 640 3G DS
- Bright and interesting design.
- Good camera.
- Support for two SIM cards.
- Autonomy.
- Loud speaker and good sound in headphones.
- Price.
disadvantages
- Mark Corps.
- The inability to work with a smartphone with gloves.
- a great phone in terms of price / quality ratio. With a beautiful design and good functionality, Lumiya pleasantly surprised by the speed and autonomy, the camera with HDR and good image quality. A smartphone without childhood diseases out of the box, ready to work at 100% right away!
