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Nokia Lumia 635
Nokia Lumia 635
Nokia Lumia 635
Nokia Lumia 635
...


7.5/10
Informr score
The Nokia Lumia 635 currently has an Informr score of 7.5 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 20 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Smooth performance during daily tasks
  • Good viewing angles and outdoor legibility
  • Sturdy and durable build quality

What's bad

  • Low screen resolution
  • Significant freeze-ups and stutter for more intensive tasks
  • No front camera

The Nokia Lumia 635 bundles entry-level hardware and 4G LTE in an affordable, brightly colored package. Users can easily change the color of their removable back panel to green, orange, yellow, white or black. Despite being priced in the budget range, experts point out that the polycarbonate shell is incredibly sturdy and doesn't creak or flex under pressure.

At 4.5 inches, the display is relatively small when compared to other phones like the OnePlus One but bigger doesn't always mean better. In fact, TechRadar states, "the Nokia Lumia 635's screen is very close to optimal in terms of balance between single-handed usability and widescreen media clarity." While the screen might be high in usability, it unfortunately falls flat in other areas. With a resolution of only 854x480, reviewers note a lack of sharpness in text and images when compared to other similarly priced budget phones. In addition, it does not offer the super sensitive touch display, which means users cannot operate the phone with gloves on. Despite some drawbacks, reviewers are quick to point out that the resolution is perfectly adequate for every day usage and the IPS and ClearBlack technology offers excellent viewing angles and outdoor legibility.

While the internal specs of the Lumia 635 cannot rival flagship phones, it does offer a modest 1.2GHz quad-core processor paired with 512MB of RAM. On paper, the specs seem fairly unimpressive but when actually tested out, reviewers were surprised with its smooth performance when scrolling through menus and opening apps. Unfortunately, they also noticed significant freeze-ups and stutters during more intensive tasks like installing multiple apps or playing graphics-heavy games. Internal storage is also very limited to only 8GB, though there is an expandable microSD slot.

On the back of the phone is a standard 5MP camera. CNET states that, "It's not a phone for the dedicated photographer, but Instagram snaps will be fine." In general, reviewers found picture quality fairly adequate and, due to lack of flash, low light pictures fairly grainy. Unlike many other recent smartphones, the Lumia 635 does not come with a front-facing camera.

Despite some issues, most reviewers would recommend the Nokia Lumia 635. Wired says, "The Nokia Lumia 635 is a solidly built workhorse of a phone…" Slashgear adds, "Nokia…has another winner on their hands on the low end."


Windows Phone
Operating system
Operating system
Windows Phone
1.2 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.2 GHz
4.5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.5"
5+ MP
Camera
Camera
5+ MP
1830 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


TechRadar
TechRadar

Nokia's latest budget phone sports 4G and Windows Phone 8.1 out of the box, and benefits from all of the things we liked about the Lumia 630. However, it's not quite enough of an improvement to justify the additional premium.

- Jon Mundy, TechRadar
TrustedReviews
TrustedReviews

The Nokia Lumia 635 is one of the cheaper 4G phones, and the cheapest 4G Windows Phone we’ve reviewed. However, as we said of the Lumia 630, it doesn’t feel anywhere near as competitive as the Lumia 520 and Lumia 620 did when they were released back in 2013. Has Nokia been lazy? It&rsqu...

- Andrew Williams, TrustedReviews
WPCentral
WPCentral

The Lumia 635 might be one of our favorite budget Windows Phones around. It's not as cheap as the Lumia 530 or BLU Win JR, but the display quickly makes up for the price difference. Do consider the Lumia 530 or BLU Win JR if your budget is tight, however we recommend the Lumia 630 over the two if yo...

- Sam Sabri, WPCentral
Mobile Syrup
Mobile Syrup

Nokia as a device brand may be on its way out, but its legacy is intact with the Lumia 635. Cutting only the most necessary of corners to achieve that vaulted $200 price, the company's first Windows Phone 8.1-based handset is light on the features but heavy on the charm. Decent performance and a gre...

- Daniel Bader, Mobile Syrup
GottaBeMobile
GottaBeMobile

The only thing you can judge the Lumia 635 by is whether it reliably delivers on the things it promises and the market it’s aimed at. The Lumia 635 is a decent smartphone for users who aren’t too demanding, with the only real downsides being its rear-facing camera’s lack of flash a...

- Travis Pope, GottaBeMobile


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Nokia Lumia 635 user manual here.


Nokia backs up the Lumia 635 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Lumia 635 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Nokia support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Nokia's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
4.5"

The Nokia Lumia 635's screen size is 4.5 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1.2 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 Quad core 1.2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
5+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 5+ MP camera.

There's no secondary front camera.

Storage
8 GB

Internal memory is 8 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
1830mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 1830 mAh battery. Nokia's performance ratings are 27 days standby time, 840 minutes, 564 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Lumia 635 Specs

Overview
Release Date July 3, 2014
Regions Available USA, United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare Windows Phone Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 Quad core 1.2 GHz
Internal Storage 8 GB
RAM 512 MB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation No
SAR Head: 0.97 W/kg
Body: 0.77 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Micro-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB)
NFC No
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Zoom
4x digital
Flash
No
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Frames, Geotagging, ISO, Multi-shot, Panorama, White balance, Exposure, Scene modes
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
HD (1280 x 720 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density 221 pixels
Size 4.5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Motion / Accelerometer
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, ClearBlack
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 1830 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 420 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 564 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 840 minutes
Standby Time Up to 27 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Bright Orange, Bright Green, Bright Yellow, White, Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 12.9 x 6.7 x 0.9 cm (5.1 x 2.6 x 0.4 in)
Weight 134 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Nokia Lumia 638

Variation

Nokia Lumia 638
RAM: 1 GB
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Nokia Lumia 635 Reviews
Where to buy Nokia Lumia 635
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