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Microsoft Lumia 640 XL review

7.4/10 AVG.
RATING
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Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
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7.4/10
Informr score
The Microsoft Lumia 640 XL currently has an Informr score of 7.4 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 21 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Excellent camera quality
  • Vibrant colors and deep blacks
  • Smooth processor performance
  • Long battery life

What's bad

  • Only 8GB of internal storage
  • Reflective display in bright light

Since Microsoft's purchase of Nokia in 2013, they have been busy cranking out colorful smartphones that just so happen to be on the lower end of the cost spectrum. The Lumia 640 XL is the bigger brother to the Lumia 640. As the XL in its name suggests, the Lumia 640 XL is large measuring in at 6.2 inches x 3.2 x 0.4 inches though it only weights 171 grams. Despite its large size, reviewers found the 640 XL comfortable to hold though it did require two handed operation. In keeping with the rest of the Lumia lineup, the 640 XL comes in five different color options: while gloss, white matte, cyan, orange and black. Besides the bright color options, not much stood out to experts. In fact, Stuff.tv describes it as "inoffensively generic" while others add it feels like a budget phone. Still, they were impressed with its solid workmanship.

The reason for the 640 XL's large size is due to the 5.7-inch, 720p IPS display. While it isn't full HD, the 259ppi pixel density was sharp enough that critics needed to look very closely to see individual pixels or anti-aliasing effects. More importantly, they found the screen offered excellent brightness, great viewing angles and good color accuracy. As well, they add the ClearBlack technology offers excellent contrasts and deep blacks. It also comes with an ambient light sensor that adjusts the brightness based on your lighting situation. Protecting the screen is a layer of Gorilla Glass 3. While this does help prevent scratches, reviewers also note it is highly reflective especially in bright light situations.

To keep the phone humming along smoothly, Microsoft has opted for a quad-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400. While not the latest processor in its class, it is a step up from other competing budget smartphones. Paired with 1GB of RAM, the 640 XL performed well enough for most reviewers. They navigated smoothly throughout the interface with no hiccups or lag. With that said, they did notice some stuttering when multi-tasking. Overall, however, their experience was very smooth even when they fired up processor intensive games. Unfortunately, it does only come equipped with 8GB of internal storage though it has a microSD slot that accepts up to 128GB. Behind the removable back cover is the 3,000mAh replaceable battery, though reviewers don't think you'll need to swap it out that often. They were able to get 9 hours of heavy use from it though they still did need to charge it nightly.

The 640 XL comes with a 13MP rear camera. While not the best shooter on the market, reviewers were able to take decent shots in good lighting situations though Tech Radar noticed they were "a little under-saturated and noisy when you get right down to the details." Low light pictures managed to impress reviewers thanks to the integrated LED flash. While it might not be able to hold a candle to the iPhone 6 picture quality, when they compared it to similarly priced Android smartphones the 640 XL camera offered much better pictures and customization options.

While not a perfect phone, reviewers think the 640 XL is worth a look. V3 states, "…it ticks all the necessary boxes for a solid business phablet…" Neowin adds, "…the Lumia 640 XL is very, very good indeed."


Windows Phone
Operating system
Operating system
Windows Phone
1.2 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.2 GHz
5.7"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.7"
13+ MP
Camera
Camera
13+ MP
3000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

During pre-launch interactions, Microsoft said it is positioning the Lumia 640 XL against Samsung's Grand series of mid-range, large-screen devices; explicitly dismissing the challenge posed by the likes of Xiaomi, Micromax, and others in the same segment. The company seems to have missed that the G...

- Kunal Dua, Gadgets 360
N4BB
N4BB

Microsoft has packed an impressive amount into this entry level phablet. It doesn’t stack up well against powerhouses like the Galaxy S6 Edge+ or iPhone 6S Plus on paper, but it also comes in at more than half the cost. If you’re looking for a well performing phablet on a budget, Lumia 6...

- Dan Croutch, N4BB
GottaBeMobile
GottaBeMobile

Microsoft dropped some extras with the Lumia 640 XL LTE. In particular, I’m not thrilled with the lack of a physical camera button. Forcing users to buy a separate cover to get wireless charging isn’t awesome either. Both complaints are the result of owning a Lumia before. The Lumia 640...

- Travis Pope, GottaBeMobile
Tom's Guide
Tom's Guide

Anyone who likes Windows Phone and has been dying for a huge canvas with which to use it will like the Lumia 640 XL. Its 5.7-inch display shows off the Live Tile interface of Microsoft's mobile operating system well, and makes it easier to do things like type messages and notes, as well as watch vid...

- Valentina Palladino, Tom's Guide
Pocketnow
Pocketnow

The Lumia 640 XL has a great set of features for its $249 price tag. It’s disappointing that the battery cover could get bent out of shape so easily though, and it’s also disappointing that there is no Qi wireless charging capable battery cover available at this time. You’ll also w...

- Adam Z. Lein, Pocketnow


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Microsoft Lumia 640 XL user manual here.


Microsoft backs up the Lumia 640 XL with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Lumia 640 XL has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Microsoft support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Microsoft'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
5.7"

The Microsoft Lumia 640 XL's screen size is 5.7 inches with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.2 GHz

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

OS

The phone runs on the Windows Phone 8.1 operating system (OS).

Camera
13+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 13+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 5+ megapixels resolution.

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
3000mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 3000 mAh battery. Microsoft's performance ratings are 1878 minutes, 858 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Lumia 640 XL Specs

Overview
Release Date April 29, 2015
Regions Available Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Windows Phone 8.1

Compare Windows Phone Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 Quad core 1.2 GHz
Internal Storage 8 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.69 W/kg
Body: 0.4 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 Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
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, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
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 Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
13+ Megapixels
Zoom
4x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Face detection, Geotagging, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
HD (1280 x 720 pixels)
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels
Pixel Density 259 pixels
Size 5.7 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touchscreen, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 3000 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 702 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 858 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1878 minutes
Standby Time Up to 39 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors White, Cyan, Black, Orange
Dimensions [H x W x D] 15.8 x 8.2 x 0.9 cm (6.2 x 3.2 x 0.4 in)
Weight 171 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 Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA):

Also available in a dual-SIM model.

Related Links Manual (PDF)
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL Reviews
Where to buy Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
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