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."
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Jon Mundy, TechRadarNokia'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.
- Andrew Williams, TrustedReviewsThe 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...
- Sam Sabri, WPCentralThe 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...
- Daniel Bader, Mobile SyrupNokia 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...
- Travis Pope, GottaBeMobileThe 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...
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.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Nokia Lumia 635 Manual (PDF)
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