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Nokia Lumia 510 vs Lumia 530: A Budget Battle

The Nokia Lumia 510 and 530 were both entry-level Windows Phones aiming to deliver a taste of Microsoft's mobile OS on a budget. But with a few years separating their releases, how do they stack up against each other? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone offers the best value.
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Lumia 510 vs 530: Which Budget Nokia Reigns?

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nokia Lumia 530 is the clear winner. While the 510 boasts impressive contrast ratios, the 530's more modern Snapdragon 200 chipset and quad-core processor provide a significantly smoother and faster user experience, making it the better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Nokia Lumia 510 Nokia Lumia 530
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 900 / 2100
EDGEUp to 236.8 kbps-
GPRSUp to 85.6 kbps-
SpeedHSPA 7.2/0.384 MbpsHSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPAGSM / HSPA
 HSDPA 850 / 1900 - RM-898HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
Launch
Announced2012, October. Released 2012, November2014, July. Released 2014, August
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
Dimensions120.7 x 64.9 x 11.5 mm, 81 cc (4.75 x 2.56 x 0.45 in)119.7 x 62.3 x 11.7 mm, 86.8 cc (4.71 x 2.45 x 0.46 in)
SIMMicro-SIMMicro-SIM
Weight129 g (4.55 oz)129 g (4.55 oz)
Display
Resolution480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~233 ppi density)480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~245 ppi density)
Size4.0 inches, 45.5 cm2 (~58.1% screen-to-body ratio)4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~59.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeTFT, 65K colorsTFT
Platform
CPU800 MHz Cortex-A5Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7
ChipsetQualcomm MSM7227A Snapdragon S1Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 (28 nm)
GPUAdreno 200Adreno 302
OSMicrosoft Windows Phone 7.8Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1
Memory
Call recordsYes-
Card slotNomicroSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal4GB 256MB RAM4GB 512MB RAM
Phonebook1000 entries-
 -eMMC 4.5
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash-
Single5 MP, AF5 MP, 1/4.0"
Video480p@30fps480p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesLED flash-
Single2 MP-
Video480p-
 NoNo
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth2.1, A2DP, EDR4.0, A2DP, LE/ aptX after WP8 Denim update
NFCNoNo
PositioningGPSGPS, GLONASS
RadioStereo FM radioFM Radio
USBmicroUSB 2.0microUSB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/nWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot
Features
GamesYes-
JavaNo-
MessagingSMS(threaded view), MMS, IM-
SensorsAccelerometer, proximityAccelerometer
 SkyDrive (7 GB cloud storage) MP3/WAV/eAAC+/WMA player MP4/H.264/WMV player Document viewer Video/photo editor-
Battery
Music playUp to 38 hUp to 51 h
Stand-byUp to 739 h (2G) / Up to 653 h (3G)Up to 528 h
Talk timeUp to 6 h 15 min (2G) / Up to 8 h 25 min (3G)Up to 13 h 20 min (2G) / Up to 10 h (3G)
TypeLi-Ion 1300 mAh, removable (BP-3L)Li-Ion 1430 mAh, removable (BL-5J)
Misc
ColorsWhite, Cyan, Black, Red, YellowBright orange, Bright green, White, Dark grey
PriceAbout 110 EURAbout 100 EUR
SAR0.85 W/kg (head)     0.96 W/kg (body)0.77 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.65 W/kg (head)1.09 W/kg (head)     1.19 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality Noise -79.4dB / Crosstalk -75.2dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 44h -
Camera Photo-
Display Contrast ratio: 904:1 (nominal) / 1.268:1 (sunlight)-
Loudspeaker Voice 67dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 76dB -

Nokia Lumia 510

  • Excellent contrast ratio
  • Good battery endurance (44h)
  • Compact size
  • Slow performance
  • Outdated chipset
  • Basic camera

Nokia Lumia 530

  • Faster processor (Snapdragon 200)
  • More responsive user experience
  • Slightly better camera
  • Display details less readily available
  • Still a budget phone with limitations

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 4-inch display, but the Lumia 510 stands out with a reported contrast ratio of 904:1 (nominal) and an impressive 1.268:1 in sunlight. The Lumia 530's display details are less readily available, but it's generally considered adequate for its price point. The 510's display is noticeably better in direct sunlight.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature a basic camera, but the Lumia 530's camera is generally considered slightly better due to software improvements and the newer chipset's image processing capabilities. Both cameras are adequate for casual snapshots in good lighting conditions, but don't expect high-quality images.

Performance

This is where the Lumia 530 shines. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 chipset with a quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 processor is a significant upgrade over the Lumia 510's 800 MHz Cortex-A5. Expect smoother app loading, faster web browsing, and a more responsive overall experience on the 530. The 510 can feel sluggish at times.

Battery Life

The Lumia 510 boasts an endurance rating of 44 hours, which is quite impressive. However, the Lumia 530's more efficient Snapdragon 200 chipset likely results in comparable real-world battery life despite potentially having a smaller battery capacity. Both phones offer decent battery performance for their class.

Buying Guide

The Nokia Lumia 510 might appeal to someone seeking a very basic, ultra-budget phone primarily for calls and texts, and who prioritizes display contrast. However, the Nokia Lumia 530 is the better option for anyone wanting a more responsive phone for basic apps and web browsing, even if it's still a budget device.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Nokia Lumia 510 still worth buying?
Only if you absolutely need a very basic phone and prioritize display contrast above all else. Otherwise, the Lumia 530 offers a much better experience.
❓ What operating system do these phones use?
Both phones run Windows Phone 8.1. However, updates are no longer supported for either device.