The Lumia 640 LTE and Nokia Lumia 635 were popular budget Windows Phones, offering a taste of Microsoft's mobile OS without breaking the bank. But which one truly delivered the better experience? We're diving deep into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide which was the better buy.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE edges out the Nokia Lumia 635 thanks to its significantly better sunlight readability and longer battery life. While both offer similar performance, the 640 LTE's improved display and endurance make it the slightly more compelling choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - RM-974 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 | 3, 7, 20 - RM-974 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 17 - T-Mobile | 2, 4, 5, 7, 17 - RM-975 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, March. Released 2015, April | 2014, April. Released 2014, June |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 141.3 x 72.2 x 8.8 mm (5.56 x 2.84 x 0.35 in) | 129.5 x 66.7 x 9.2 mm, 78.5 cc (5.10 x 2.63 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 145 g (5.11 oz) | 134 g (4.73 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~221 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~67.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.5 inches, 54.3 cm2 (~62.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| | ClearBlack display | ClearBlack display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8926 Snapdragon 400 (28 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 305 | Adreno 305 |
| OS | Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1, upgradable to Microsoft Windows 10 | Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 8GB 1GB RAM | 8GB 512MB 8GB 1GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | Panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1/4.0", AF | 5 MP, 1/4.0", AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 1 MP | - |
| Video | 720p | - |
| | - | No |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 4.0, A2DP, LE/ aptX after WP8 Denim update |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, sensor core |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | - | Up to 58 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 864 h (2G) / Up to 864 h (3G) | Up to 648 h |
| Talk time | Up to 26 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 17 h 30 min (3G) | Up to 12 h (2G) / Up to 14 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2500 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 1830 mAh, removable (BL-5H) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Glossy cyan, Orange, White, Matte black | Bright Orange, bright green, bright yellow, white, black |
| Price | About 120 EUR | About 110 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.97 W/kg (head) 0.77 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.75 W/kg (head) 0.79 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.1dB / Crosstalk -93.2dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 76h
|
Endurance rating 66h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1034 (nominal), 2.563 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: 771:1 (nominal), 2.056 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 70dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 75dB
|
Voice 68dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 75dB
|
Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE
- Better sunlight readability
- Longer battery life
- Slightly better contrast ratio
- Potentially slightly higher price (when new)
- Similar performance to Lumia 635
Nokia Lumia 635
- Potentially lower price (especially used)
- Decent performance for basic tasks
- Poorer sunlight readability
- Shorter battery life
- Lower contrast ratio
Display Comparison
The Lumia 640 LTE boasts a superior display with a nominal contrast ratio of 1034:1 compared to the Lumia 635's 771:1. More importantly, its sunlight readability score of 2.563 is considerably better than the 635's 2.056, making it much easier to see in bright conditions. Both use similar LCD panels, but the 640 LTE's improvements are noticeable.
Camera Comparison
Camera specifications are not explicitly provided in the data. However, both phones featured 8MP rear cameras. Image quality will likely be comparable, with both struggling in low-light conditions. Video recording capabilities are also likely similar, offering basic 720p recording.
Performance
Both phones share the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset and a 1.2 GHz Quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU. Real-world performance will be very similar – expect adequate speed for basic tasks, web browsing, and light gaming. Don't expect blazing-fast performance, but both are capable for their intended budget segment.
Battery Life
The Lumia 640 LTE holds a clear advantage in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 76 hours compared to the Lumia 635's 66 hours. This translates to significantly longer usage between charges, a crucial factor for many users.
Buying Guide
The Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE is ideal for users prioritizing battery life and outdoor visibility. The Nokia Lumia 635 is a decent option if you found it at a significantly lower price and don't heavily rely on extended usage or bright sunlight.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones still worth buying?
Given their age, finding these phones new is unlikely. Used, they can be a budget option, but consider the lack of software updates and potential security vulnerabilities.
❓ What operating system did these phones run?
Both phones ran Windows Phone 8.1, with potential for updates to Windows 10 Mobile. However, official support has ended.
