Microsoft Lumia 650 vs Lumia 950: A Detailed Comparison

Microsoft's Lumia line offered a unique Windows experience. The Lumia 650 was a budget-friendly option, while the Lumia 950 aimed for a premium feel. But which phone truly delivers the best value and performance? Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Lumia 950 is the clear winner, offering significantly better performance, a superior camera, and faster charging. While the Lumia 650 boasts impressive battery life, the 950's overall capabilities justify its higher price point, especially for users seeking a more modern smartphone experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Microsoft Lumia 650	Microsoft Lumia 950

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 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 7, 8, 20	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40 - EMEA
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	-	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - USA

Launch
Announced	2016, February. Released 2016, February	2015, October. Released 2015, November
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)	145 x 73.2 x 8.2 mm (5.71 x 2.88 x 0.32 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM
Weight	122 g (4.30 oz)	150 g (5.29 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~297 ppi density)	1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~564 ppi density)
Size	5.0 inches, 67.5 cm2 (~67.1% screen-to-body ratio)	5.2 inches, 74.8 cm2 (~70.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	OLED	AMOLED
	ClearBlack display	ClearBlack display

Platform
CPU	Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7	Hexa-core (4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 & 2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A57)
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8909v2 Snapdragon 212 (28 nm)	Qualcomm MSM8992 Snapdragon 808 (20 nm)
GPU	Adreno 304	Adreno 418
OS	Microsoft Windows 10	Microsoft Windows 10

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	16GB 1GB RAM	32GB 3GB RAM
	eMMC 4.5	eMMC 5.0

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	Zeiss optics, triple-LED RGB flash, panorama, HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1/4.0", AF	20 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/2.4", 1.12µm, AF, OIS
Video	720p@30fps	4K@30fps, stereo sound rec., 1080p@30/60fps (after SW update)

Selfie camera
Single	5 MP, f/2.2	5 MP, f/2.4
Video	720p	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	4.1, A2DP, LE	4.1, A2DP
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS
Radio	FM radio	FM radio
USB	microUSB 2.0	USB Type-C 3.1
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity	Iris scanner, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, sensor core
	-	Microsoft Continuum support

Battery
Charging	-	18W wired Wireless (Qi) (market dependent)
Music play	-	Up to 67 h
Stand-by	Up to 624 h (3G)	Up to 288 h (2G) / Up to 288 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 16 h (2G) / Up to 13 h (3G)	Up to 23 h (2G) / Up to 18 h (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 2000 mAh, removable	Li-Ion 3000 mAh, removable

Misc
Colors	Black, White	Black, White
Price	About 150 EUR	About 280 EUR

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -91.3dB / Crosstalk -91.6dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 55h	Endurance rating 48h
Camera	Photo	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.77(sunlight)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3512 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 71dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 77dB
Performance	-	Basemark OS II 2.0: 1281Basemark X: 26330

Microsoft Lumia 650

Excellent battery life
Affordable price
Durable build quality
Clean Windows experience

Outdated processor
Limited camera capabilities
Lower resolution display
Lack of video recording

Microsoft Lumia 950

Powerful processor
Superior camera (photo & video)
High-resolution display
Fast charging (wired & wireless)
Continuum support

Higher price
Battery life slightly shorter than 650
Older model (limited software updates)

Display Comparison

The Lumia 950's display shines with a significantly higher sunlight readability rating (3512 vs 3.77) and likely better color accuracy and resolution (though specific resolution details are missing for the 650). Both boast an 'infinite' contrast ratio, but the 950's superior panel provides a noticeably better viewing experience. The 950 also likely has a higher resolution, contributing to sharper visuals.

Camera Comparison

The Lumia 950 offers both photo and video capabilities, while the 650 is listed only for photo. The 950's superior processor and likely better sensor technology result in significantly better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. Video recording on the 950 provides additional versatility.

Performance

The Lumia 950's Snapdragon 808 chipset and hexa-core processor provide a substantial performance advantage over the Lumia 650's Snapdragon 212 and quad-core CPU. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user interface on the 950. The 950's 20nm process also contributes to better power efficiency despite the increased performance.

Battery Life

The Lumia 650 surprisingly holds a slight edge in endurance rating (55h vs 48h), suggesting it might offer slightly longer real-world usage. However, the Lumia 950 supports 18W fast charging and Qi wireless charging, which significantly reduces charging times and adds convenience.

Buying Guide

The Microsoft Lumia 650 is ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize long battery life and a simple, reliable smartphone experience. The Lumia 950 is best suited for those who want a more powerful device with a better camera, faster performance, and support for Continuum (desktop mode).