Microsoft's Lumia series once dominated the budget smartphone market. Two contenders, the Lumia 640 Dual SIM and the Lumia 435, offer affordable entry points, but which one delivers the best experience? This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Lumia 640 Dual SIM is the clear winner. Its superior Snapdragon 400 chipset, significantly better battery life, and improved display provide a noticeably smoother and more enjoyable user experience compared to the Lumia 435, despite both being budget devices.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 900 / 2100 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, March. Released 2015, April | 2015, January. Released 2015, March |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 141.3 x 72.2 x 8.8 mm (5.56 x 2.84 x 0.35 in) | 118.1 x 64.7 x 11.7 mm (4.65 x 2.55 x 0.46 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 145 g (5.11 oz) | 134.1 g (4.73 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~233 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~67.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.0 inches, 45.5 cm2 (~59.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, |
| | ClearBlack display | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 | Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8926 Snapdragon 400 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8210 Snapdragon 200 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 305 | Adreno 302 |
| OS | Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1, upgradable to Microsoft Windows 10 | Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1, upgradable to Windows 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 8GB 1GB RAM | 8GB 1GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1/4.0", AF | 2 MP, f/2.7, 36mm (standard), 1/5.0" |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 480p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 1 MP | VGA |
| Video | 720p | 480p |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | A-GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | - | Up to 64 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 840 h (2G) / Up to 840 h (3G) | Up to 504 h (2G) / Up to 504 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 27 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 20 h 30 min (3G) | Up to 21 h (2G) / Up to 11 h 45 min (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2500 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 1560 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Glossy cyan, Orange, White, Matte black | Black, White, Green, Orange |
| Price | About 170 EUR | About 70 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.58 W/kg (head) 0.54 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.1dB / Crosstalk -93.2dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 76h
|
Endurance rating 58h
|
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1034 (nominal), 2.563 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 70dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 75dB
| - |
Microsoft Lumia 640 Dual SIM
- Significantly better battery life
- Faster performance (Snapdragon 400)
- Superior display contrast and sunlight readability
- Dual SIM capability
- Older design
- Limited storage (expandable via microSD)
- Camera not exceptional
Microsoft Lumia 435
- Very affordable
- Compact size
- Basic calling and texting functionality
- Slow performance (Snapdragon 200)
- Poor battery life
- Dim and low-contrast display
- Limited features
Display Comparison
The Lumia 640 boasts a superior display with a contrast ratio of 1034 (nominal) and an impressive 2.563 in sunlight, making it much more readable outdoors. The Lumia 435's display, while functional, lacks this level of brightness and contrast, resulting in a less vibrant viewing experience. Both have similar resolutions, but the 640's better contrast makes a difference.
Camera Comparison
While neither phone excels in camera quality, the Lumia 640 generally produces slightly better images thanks to its more capable processor and potentially better image processing algorithms. Both cameras are adequate for casual snapshots in good lighting conditions, but don't expect flagship-level results. Both have 5MP rear cameras.
Performance
The Lumia 640's Snapdragon 400 chipset and quad-core processor offer a significant performance boost over the Lumia 435's Snapdragon 200 and dual-core processor. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive overall experience. The 640 handles basic games better too.
Battery Life
The Lumia 640's endurance rating of 76 hours significantly surpasses the Lumia 435's 58 hours. This means the 640 will easily last a full day or even longer on a single charge, making it a much more practical choice for users who rely heavily on their phones.
Buying Guide
The Microsoft Lumia 640 Dual SIM is ideal for users seeking a reliable, long-lasting phone with decent performance for everyday tasks. The Lumia 435 is best suited for those on the absolute tightest budget who prioritize basic calling and texting functionality over performance and features.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Lumia 640 Dual SIM worth the extra cost compared to the Lumia 435?
Yes, the Lumia 640 Dual SIM offers a significantly better user experience due to its improved performance, battery life, and display. The extra cost is justified by the noticeable upgrade in overall quality.
❓ Can I expand the storage on either of these phones?
Yes, both the Lumia 640 Dual SIM and the Lumia 435 support microSD card expansion, allowing you to increase their storage capacity.
