Released in 2014, the vivo Y27 and Nokia Lumia 630 represent distinct approaches to the budget smartphone market. The Y27 ran Android, leveraging Qualcomm's Snapdragon 410, while the Lumia 630 championed Windows Phone 8.1 with the Snapdragon 400. This comparison dissects their key specifications to determine which device offered the better experience for the price.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user seeking a slightly more future-proof experience, the vivo Y27 (2014) edges out the Nokia Lumia 630. While both offer comparable battery life, the Y27’s Cortex-A53 CPU architecture provides a modest performance advantage and access to the broader Android ecosystem.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 900 / 2100 - RM-976 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA |
| | - | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-977 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2014, December. Released 2014, December | 2014, April. Released 2014, May |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 136.9 x 68.1 x 7 mm (5.39 x 2.68 x 0.28 in) | 129.5 x 66.7 x 9.2 mm, 78.5 cc (5.10 x 2.63 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 137 g (4.83 oz) | 134 g (4.73 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~312 ppi density) | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~221 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.5 inches, 54.3 cm2 (~62.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| | - | ClearBlack display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 (28 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 306 | Adreno 305 |
| OS | Android 4.4.4 (KitKat) | Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 1GB RAM | 8GB 512MB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | Panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 5 MP, 1/4.0", AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | - |
| | - | No |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR | 4.0, A2DP, LE/ aptX after WP8 Denim update |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | No | 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, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, sensor core |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 32 h | Up to 58 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 410 h (2G) / Up to 410 h (3G) | Up to 600 h |
| Talk time | Up to 13 h (2G) / Up to 13 h (3G) | Up to 16 h 20 min (2G) / Up to 13 h 10 min (3G) |
| Type | 2260 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 1830 mAh, removable (BL-5H) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White | Bright Orange, bright green, bright yellow, white, black |
| Models | Y27L | - |
| Price | - | About 110 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.52 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.40 W/kg (head) 0.48 W/kg (body) | 1.51 W/kg (head) 1.52 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 66h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 771:1 (nominal), 2.056 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 68dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 75dB |
vivo Y27 (2014)
- More efficient Cortex-A53 CPU
- Larger 4.7-inch display
- Android operating system with wider app support
- Limited RAM (assumed 1GB)
- Camera specifications are unknown
Nokia Lumia 630
- Windows Phone 8.1 interface
- Compact 4.0-inch form factor
- Good battery endurance (66h)
- Older Cortex-A7 CPU architecture
- Limited app ecosystem compared to Android
Display Comparison
Both the vivo Y27 and Nokia Lumia 630 share a similar display profile, boasting a contrast ratio of 771:1 (nominal) and 2.056 (sunlight). This suggests comparable visibility in direct sunlight. However, detailed information regarding panel type (IPS, TFT) and resolution is missing. Given the price point, both likely utilized TFT panels. The Lumia 630’s 4.0-inch display is smaller than the Y27’s 4.7-inch screen, potentially offering a higher pixel density, but without resolution data, this remains speculative.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature basic photo and video capabilities, but lack detailed camera specifications. Given their positioning, image quality is likely similar – adequate for casual snapshots in good lighting conditions. The absence of information regarding sensor size, aperture, or features like HDR limits a meaningful comparison. It’s safe to assume neither device excels in low-light photography.
Performance
The core difference lies in the processors. The vivo Y27 utilizes the Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 with a quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU, built on a 28nm process. The Nokia Lumia 630 features the Snapdragon 400, also 28nm, but with a quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU. While clock speeds are identical, the Cortex-A53 architecture is more efficient and offers improved performance per watt compared to the older Cortex-A7. This translates to slightly better responsiveness and multitasking capabilities for the Y27, though both are limited by the shared 1GB of RAM (assumed based on market segment).
Battery Life
Both the vivo Y27 and Nokia Lumia 630 achieve an impressive endurance rating of 66 hours, indicating similar battery life. This suggests efficient power management on both platforms. However, the Y27’s more efficient Cortex-A53 processor may contribute to slightly longer real-world usage, especially during moderate tasks. Charging speeds are unknown for both devices, but likely slow given the era and budget nature of the phones.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo Y27 (2014) if you prioritize Android’s app ecosystem and a slightly more efficient processor for basic multitasking. Buy the Nokia Lumia 630 if you preferred the Windows Phone interface and its unique Live Tile system, and valued a potentially smoother experience within that ecosystem, despite the older CPU architecture.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 410 in the vivo Y27 significantly faster than the Snapdragon 400 in the Lumia 630?
While both processors are entry-level, the Snapdragon 410’s Cortex-A53 cores offer a noticeable improvement in performance per watt compared to the Cortex-A7 cores in the Snapdragon 400. This translates to smoother multitasking and a more responsive user experience, though neither phone is designed for demanding tasks.
❓ Which phone is better for playing basic mobile games?
Both phones can handle simple 2D games, but neither is well-suited for graphically intensive 3D titles. The Snapdragon 410 in the Y27 may offer slightly better performance in some games, but expect low frame rates and limited detail settings on both devices.
❓ Can either of these phones be upgraded to a newer operating system?
The Nokia Lumia 630 is limited to Windows Phone 8.1, with no official upgrade path to Windows 10 Mobile for many units. The vivo Y27 likely received at least one Android update, but is unlikely to support modern Android versions due to its age and hardware limitations.
