Nokia Lumia 730 review

The collection of colored cases available don’t just add visual flair. While the phone looks like a unibody design, the rear cover is removable to allow access to the battery, microSD slot and SIM card slots. The 730 is also a dual SIM model, allowing for greater flexibility. Reviews noted that the covers slide on and off easily, while still holding firmly in place during use. One note mentioned by many reviews is the finish on the orange cover. While the other covers feature a matte finish, the orange uses a gloss finish that is prone to fingerprints and scratches.

The body houses a 4.7-inch, 1,280 x 720 AMOLED screen. Typical of these screens, reviews noted great contrast and color saturation. While not as high as some flagship devices, the screen also features a pixel density that is quite high for the mid-tier market. Nokia’s ClearBlack technology accents the AMOLED display, allowing for improved contrast is sunlight. The technology appears to work well with GSM Arena calling the display “among the best in bright light.”

Powering the phone is Windows Phone 8.1 and a quad-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor with 1GB of RAM. All reviews noted that performance with basic tasks was snappy and smooth. Engadget says, “You'd be hard-pressed to tell that this wasn't a flagship just by steering through the basic Windows Phone interface.” Unfortunately, many reviews also noted a lack of power for 3D games or other processor intensive apps. GSM Arena summed up performance well, stating, “offers pleasing performance that would be more than enough for non-power users.”

To store your apps, music and videos, the phone offers 8GB of internal storage. NDTV notes that “Around half of the 8GB of internal storage space is used by system files.” If you plan to use your phone heavily, taking advantage of the microSD card support is almost essential. Fortunately, the phone supports cards up to 128GB in size, allowing for plenty of expansion possibilities.

Marketed as a phone for selfies, the Lumia 730 sports a 5MP front-facing camera with a wide-angle 24mm lens. The rear-facing camera is 6.7MP and offers a LED flash for better shots in low light. Reviews on the camera were average across the board. Many noted a lack of performance in low-light situations unless you’re willing to dig in and tweak camera settings. However, all reviews applauded the included Lumia Camera app for its intuitive controls and wide range of options.

Overall, reviews of the final Nokia handset are positive. While it won’t compete with flagship models, it was never intended to. While it might not do everything, reviews indicate that what it does, it does well. NDTV called it “a perfect mid-range phone” while TechTree summed up the phone best, saying, “It won't top any benchmark tests, but it does offer features that are actually useful.”