Microsoft Lumia 640
Phone Scoop Review
May 21, 2015 by Eric M. Zeman
Microsoft packs a lot of power in the potent, pocketable Lumia 640. This Windows Phone handset offers more bang for the buck than most other handsets in Cricket's varied lineup. read review ›
User Reviews
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Lumia's Own the Affordable Phone Segment
Carrier: T-Mobile
I bought this phone because I was ready for a bigger to get on 4G LTE in my area (couldn't with the 521).
Win 8.1 is a slick and easy to use UI, and I love it.
I also use Droid 5 Lollipop, and in short have not been impressed with Android as a phone platform. Win Phone 10 should be a huge plus - we'll see.
Solid construction, my 521 proved to be a rock and took many drops without problem should be the case here. Sharp plastic edges are borderline though, a little uncomfortable at times. Gorilla Glass 3 should be great, though I stuck on a screen protector anyway. Phone is a little slippery for sure, but so was the 521 so I don't care. Miss the matte finish of the old phone, this one is a fingerprint magnet - front AND back.
Display was a touch drab at first, so I cranked up "Vivid" in settings - It has grown on me as it is both sharper and brighter than the old phone. Viewing angles seem fine to despite other reviews (Nexus 7 is my benchmark).
Snapdragon 400 + 1 Gb ram more than enough for fast response
Earpiece call volume clear and plenty loud.
Speakerphone a little strained / degraded sounding compared to my old 521. Would like a tad more volume on the highway. Overall, I use speakerphone a lot and this one is not my favorite.
Cameras on all phones don't particularly impress me - the rear shooter here is GOOD given conditions, the front shooter ACCEPTABLE. Lumia Apps help out lots improving on basic shots.
GPS works great, bluetooth is swift, and Data connections blaze along just fine.
Battery life has been a solid 2-3 days with regular use - last phone needed almost daily re-charging
Reception is tricky as I am in a poorly-served area. I've had an issue where the phone will drop signal, and not pick it back up when I get to the city. Reboot corrects it. This did not seem to happen with the 521.
Lumia + Winphone is king of value right now, IMHO. Unless you want to go contract and $600 phones, HIGHLY recommended.
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Exceptional phone at an exceptional price.
Carrier: Cricket
I want to start by saying this is NOT a budget phone. It may be in the budget price range, but don't let that deceive you. This phone has a crisp colorful 5 inch HD IPs LCD screen. Text is sharp and without blur or distortion. Photos and video viewed on the screen is clear and colors or very true to life. The clear black panel insures good outdoor use and reproduces blacks dark and inky. The one drawback may be the viewing angle is not as great as some 1080p or higher amoled screens. Although I didn't find this to be a deal breaker.
Build quality is miles better than other phones in this price range and honestly even bests phones twice the price. Microsoft smartly stayed with tried and true Nokia design team and the phone feels and looks just like other phones in the Lumia line. Because the entire back panel is removable to get to the battery/sim/micro SD area it means the phone body is free of creak inducing seams. So this means the phone has a quality unibody feel and look. The back panel also can be taken off to replace with other color panels to fit your mood or just to replace if your original one becomes damaged or worn.
The main camera on the 640 is an 8 megapixel shooter, and I found it more than capable of taking pictures daily. It wont supplant your pro camera or the likes of the Lumia 1020 or like, but then it's not meant to. The 640 comes with Lumia camera as ita default and it is a rich and full camera app that lets you customize almost everything down to white balance and shutter speed. I found pictures taken to be of very good quality and detail, especially in well lit areas. The night or dark shooting was adequate but isn't the best on the market, although at this price was definitely better than most.
This phone has a 1.2 ghz snapdragon 400 with 1 gig of ram under the hood. While that might not be overly beefy or blow most away, because of Windows 8.1 optimization it is more than fast enough.
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simply amazing
Carrier: Cricket
I have always been a Microsoft windows fan but this phone has just blown me away. Yes it doesn't have all the app that some will need but as work phones go this is a beast. Battery life and multitasking are fantastic. I will say it again battery life is absolutely amazing. Camera has been super always takes a great pic. Speaker and audio is way above par. I will say that the screen is very easy to view even in any light. Now I have had alot of other phones and flagships but this phone cost only $30 outright. I will tell you I am not big on gaming on my phone and I am not saying that there are not some coil games. You have Xbox Microsoft games that are some of the best. I am say that as phones go and I am not going to say for cost and that is huge by itself. I am going to say this is a beast and one of the beat phones ever made. What a great work horse.
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A prepaid phone that doesn't seem like one
Carrier: AT&T
I bought the Microsoft Lumia 640 (on AT&T) as a prepaid device for use on my postpaid plan because my then-current phone was dying and the Lumia 640 was a reasonably-priced option. I thought it would just be a holdover device, and I was somewhat taken aback by how much it seems like a really good phone.
The screen is, surprisingly, 720p (also known as high-definition, albeit the lower-end version). The battery lasts all day even under heavy use (Facebook, calls, texts, instant messenger, internet browsing, Netflix). The signal (for south Louisiana) on AT&T is actually quite acceptable, as the phone itself recreates voices in a clear enough sound to understand.
The polycarbonate back flexes around the edges where it meets the rest of the device. The camera is 8MP and does a decent job, but you're not going to get award-winning clarity in your shots. Windows Phone still takes a little getting used to.
PROS:
- Clear, bright screen
- Holds a signal quite well
- Camera actually has a flash
- Removable battery
- microSD slot
- Battery life
CONS:
- Materials can feel cheap
- Camera isn't terribly great
- It's still Windows Phone*
- Keyboard takes getting used to
- Why is it such a hassle to add ringtones?
*This is being fixed, as Windows Phone 10 is rolling out. See PhoneScoop's review for details.
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Worth every penny
Carrier: AT&T
Don't let the low price fool you, this phone performs beyond the cost. Display is crisp, screen is responsive, and has plenty of features.
Pros: Display, camera, battery life
Cons: Lack of some apps
