Review: The Lumia 640XL is bigger, but not exactly better

The first smartphone I used was a Lumia 710. It worked just right for more than a year, and then I moved on to an Android-based device. Though a Windows phone always sends me on a nostalgia trip, I have not felt the desire to use one after switching over to Android. Hence, I was slightly reluctant to evaluate Microsoft's Lumia 640XL. However, the phablet generated enough curiosity and I chose to try it out.

Design & display
The 5.7-inch 640 XL dual-SIM comes with a solid plastic body and looks sturdy. Its 5.7-inch 720-pixel display will leave you asking for more in terms of colour reproduction. Images often appear grainy. However, you will not face any problems with viewing angles.
 
We are not against big-screen phones, but single-hand usage can be a tough task on this, despite the non-slippery rear.

LUMIA 640 XL

• Price: Rs 15,799 (on Flipkart)
   
• Processor: Qualcomm MSM8226 Snapdragon 400; quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7
   
• OS: Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim
   
• RAM: 1GB
   
• Screen: 5.7-inch
   
• Memory: 8GB internal, expandable (up to 128GB cards supported)

Software
The Lumia 640 XL comes with a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 chipset, aided by a 1GB RAM. It runs Windows Phone 8.1, which is good enough to handle most common applications. The inbuilt storage space of 8GB is disappointing, as only about half of it is available to the user. However, you may expand it up to 128GB via a microSD card.

The 3,000mAh battery is impressive. It easily ran for about 14 hours with normal use. We did not experience any issues with call quality and the loudspeaker placed at the rear is loud enough.

Camera
The camera is one of the big plus points. The 13-megapixel (MP) rear camera manages to click decent pictures in good as well as poor light conditions. Selfie lovers will also enjoy using the 5MP front camera. The Lumia 640 XL has one of the best front cameras I have come across recently.

Verdict
A massive screen, fast processor and excellent battery. The Lumia 640XL has a lot going for it. But the same massive screen might put some people off when they witness the poor screen resolution. What matters more is the competition. There is no dearth of powerful Android phones in the market at much lower prices. Hence, at Rs 15,700, the Lumia 640 XL is in for a tough ride.