Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL: Detailed and previewed

The first Microsoft phone – the Lumia 535 – was an impressive effort to bring higher end features into a lower end product. The 535 sports a front facing camera, 5mp rear camera with a flash – features typically dropped from phones in the 5xx Lumia range, but the phone also featured 1gb of ram and a 1.2 ghz quad core processor. This fact put it firmly above the 63x phones in terms of features, confusing the numbering conventions.

Well, we can safely commit the Lumia 63x range to memory, as the L640 and its XL variant feature specs firmly above the 535, and offer an impressive Lumia experience without creating a financial dilemma.

Lumia 640

Specs:

5″ 720p display
8GB memory (SD card expandable)
1GB RAM
Quad-core 1.2 gHz Snapdragon 400
3G/4G capable variants
8 MP main camera with LED flash, 0.9 MP wide-angle front camera
2500 mAh battery

The Lumia 640 is an incredibly light device with a quality feel that impresses with its screen quality vs. similarly tiered Lumia phones. The viewing angles can’t compete with that of the 930 or 1520 – as expected – but at first glance trounce that of similarly priced phones. The lack of physical buttons will disappoint some, but its also an important way Microsoft can drive down costs. As with other quad core Lumias, the interface is snappy, and Microsoft’s low-end-first approach to OS design really shines through in the lower end.

The gloss polycarbonate shell is doubled layered, creating a vivid shine which radiates with clear distinction. Perhaps the most exciting feature (besides the price) is the battery – which decimates the L635’s 1830 mAh battery, and even beats my 930’s 2430 mAh battery.

The Lumia 640 will be available in 3G and 4G variants, priced around 160 euros and 180 euros respectively.

Lumia 640 XL

Specs:

5.7″ 720p display
8GB memory (SD card expandable)
1GB RAM
Quad-core 1.2 gHz Snapdragon 400
4G capable
13 MP main camera with LED flash, 5 MP wide-angle front camera
3000 mAh battery

The Lumia 640 XL sports similar specs to the 640, with some important caveats. It sports a larger screen at 5.7 inches, falling short of the 1520’s 6 inches – but the 720p display would be all the more noticeable (and disappointing) on a screen any larger.

The most notable difference is the camera. The 640 XL’s 13 MP camera combined with Lumia Denim should make for some serious imaging capabilities. The 640 is also rocking a 5 MP wide angle front-facing camera, something only the mid-range Lumia 735 has carried so far. One of the features I always missed from my HTC 8X was a decent selfie cam, something that seems to be becoming more prevalent amongst Lumia phones.

At around 220 euros, the Lumia 640 XL is probably the best value “phablet” money hitting the market in the near future, and is ready and waiting for the Windows Phone 10 update.

All 640 phones will be available this April, and pre-orders are already live on Amazon Germany. But I know many of you (myself included) are waiting for the Lumia 1540 or 940 to arrive.

^Jez (@MSFTY)