Microsoft's Lumia series offered compelling budget-friendly Windows phones. The Lumia 650 and 640 XL were popular choices, but which one truly delivers the better experience? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their features to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Lumia 640 XL takes the crown thanks to its significantly longer battery life and larger display. While the 650 boasts a slightly more premium design, the 640 XL's endurance and screen size make it the more practical choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2016, February. Released 2016, February | 2015, March. Released 2015, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 142 x 70.9 x 6.9 mm (5.59 x 2.79 x 0.27 in) | 157.9 x 81.5 x 9 mm (6.22 x 3.21 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 122 g (4.30 oz) | 171 g (6.03 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~297 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~259 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 67.5 cm2 (~67.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.7 inches, 88.9 cm2 (~69.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED | IPS LCD |
| | ClearBlack display | ClearBlack display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8909v2 Snapdragon 212 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8226 Snapdragon 400 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 304 | Adreno 305 |
| OS | Microsoft Windows 10 | Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1, upgradable to Microsoft Windows 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 1GB RAM | 8GB 1GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | Zeiss optics, LED flash |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1/4.0", AF | 13 MP, f/2.0, 28mm (wide), 1/3.0", AF |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2 | 5 MP |
| Video | 720p | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| 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 | Accelerometer, proximity, compass, sensor core |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 624 h (3G) | Up to 936 h (2G) / Up to 936 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 16 h (2G) / Up to 13 h (3G) | Up to 31 h 20 min (2G) / Up to 23 h 40 min (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2000 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White | Matte cyan, Orange, Black, Matte white, Glossy white |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 170 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -94.4dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 55h
|
Endurance rating 74h
|
| Camera |
Photo | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.77(sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: 1119:1 (nominal), 3.065 (sunlight) |
Microsoft Lumia 650
- More premium design
- Slightly more compact
- Good build quality
- Shorter battery life
- Lower sunlight readability
- Slightly less powerful processor
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
- Excellent battery life
- Larger display
- Slightly better performance
- Good sunlight readability
- Less premium design
- Larger size may be unwieldy for some
- Lower nominal contrast ratio
Display Comparison
The Lumia 640 XL features a larger 5.7-inch display compared to the 650's 5.0-inch screen. While both offer decent viewing angles, the 640 XL's contrast ratio of 1119:1 is notably better than the 650's nominal 'infinite' (likely meaning very high, but unquantifiable) and 3.77 (sunlight) ratio. The 640 XL's sunlight readability is also slightly better.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is comparable on both devices, with both featuring basic photo capabilities. Neither phone excels in low-light conditions. The 640 XL has a slightly higher resolution rear camera (13MP vs 10.1MP), but image quality is largely similar.
Performance
Both phones utilize a Qualcomm MSM8909v2 Snapdragon 212 (650) and MSM8226 Snapdragon 400 (640 XL) chipset with a Cortex-A7 quad-core processor. The Snapdragon 400 in the 640 XL generally offers a slight performance edge, resulting in smoother multitasking and app loading times. However, both phones are entry-level devices and shouldn't be expected to handle demanding tasks.
Battery Life
This is where the Lumia 640 XL truly shines. Its endurance rating of 74 hours significantly surpasses the Lumia 650's 55 hours. This translates to considerably longer usage between charges, making the 640 XL a much better choice for users who prioritize battery life.
Buying Guide
The Microsoft Lumia 650 is ideal for users prioritizing a more refined design and slightly better build quality. It's a good option if you don't need exceptional battery life. The Microsoft Lumia 640 XL is best suited for users who value long battery life and a larger screen for media consumption and productivity, even if it means sacrificing some design finesse.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Lumia 640 XL has a slight edge due to its slightly more powerful Snapdragon 400 chipset, but neither phone is ideal for demanding games.
❓ Are these phones still receiving software updates?
Microsoft ended support for these devices some time ago. You will not receive further feature updates, but security updates may have continued for a limited time.
