Nokia Lumia 635 - best value for money smartphone?

[sracer]

Anyone know what the situation is with Google voice on windows phones, I'm getting different answers searching around. That's probably the biggest issue holding me back from WP, and I'm a MS fanboy. But I really need GV to work.

short answer: Not good. In general Google services aren't supported very well if at all. I had been using a Nokia 520 for a few months ($50 no contract). It was quite a remarkable phone for the price. But because I rely on Google services, I had to relegate the 520 to be a Zune: The Next Generation device. (which it does quite well).

 

[spinedoc77]

short answer: Not good. In general Google services aren't supported very well if at all. I had been using a Nokia 520 for a few months ($50 no contract). It was quite a remarkable phone for the price. But because I rely on Google services, I had to relegate the 520 to be a Zune: The Next Generation device. (which it does quite well).

Yeah it's a total no go on my 635, what a shame. Is there an app where I can at least check my messages, or is the only option to log on through the web browser?

 

[grandM]

I bought mine during their Microsoft's BF sale and paid $40. The LTE makes it a real nice phone. It dies everything that I want my phone to do. Email, texting, Facebook, Twitter, I've got a 64GB SD card in it loaded with music. The navigation using Nokia's Here maps is great. The screen is nice.

Occasionally the Weather channel app will give me some issues with seeing the current radar in motion, but that's a small thing in my book. I have 3 email accounts that sync up fine with this phone. Pandora, which I listen to a lot runs great on it. I've really had a positive experience with this phone.

I do miss the Google apps that you can run on iOS and android but, so far, the positives of this phone have me staying with it.

The maps on WP are good too in my opinion.

 

[Savor]

I love this phone. It's way better than the 521 I had before. I also like that it's not too heavy or big. It functions well, not much lag unless I keep too many apps open.

I also think it is pretty fast, especially with the AT&T network in my area. Overall, it's a great deal!

I read the 635 lacks the double tap to wake feature like the 520/521 series, is that true? And how is battery life compared to your previous 521?

 

[rhinosrcool]

I read the 635 lacks the double tap to wake feature like the 520/521 series, is that true? And how is battery life compared to your previous 521?

No double tap.

 

[Savor]

I just got it yesterday and it isn't too bad. My main qualms is mostly from WP8.1 and the abundant crashes while browsing and streaming. Using UC Browser over IE and MyTube over the regular YouTube can help prevent some crashes but still isn't immune. I need to close the apps as 512 MB RAM just isn't enough anymore for any platform.

I really do like the battery life. It is maybe 2x longer than the M7 which I sold the other day because I couldn't tolerate its flaws no matter beautiful it looks. The Lumia can also hit 8 mbps download speed tests over the M7 which had shorter range and gave me 3-4 mbps.The 635 was also able to read my 32 GB microsd card which I thought was corrupted. I regained most of my videos back.

So far, maybe 7.5/10 but definitely the best in its price range. I really like having a removable battery and sd slot. I also really love the battery life. It has issues here and there like the touch response and crashes. And I definitely will never leave Android for WP because of apps and flexibility. But for a backup smartphone/portable media player, it isn't bad. A keeper for the time being.

 

[spinedoc77]

I returned mine, kind of a failed experiment. Apps were too buggy, not the OS mind you, but apps were odd. Waze forced closed a LOT, and had other oddities that were show stoppers. I also couldn't get used to the volume buttons on the right towards the top, it's just the exact place my thumb is always at when I grab the phone and the spot that makes the most sense for the power button, plus the power button would be activated all the time by my car/vent holder and result in the phone rebooting after placing it in the vent mount.

Of course I've already mentioned how useless WP is with Google services such as Google voice, but that I blame on Google and not MS.

It was really quite an awesome phone for $50, you just can't beat that if you don't need anything fancy, or just want to keep an emergency phone in your nightdesk drawer.

 

[Savor]

I might return mines tomorrow or at least if I can find the receipt for it. If I can't, I would give it to my Stepdaughter back in the Philippines. The Nokia Lumia 630 (san LTE) cost like 7k PHP, so buying a 635 here for $50 saves me about $110.

What keeps me from staying is the long battery life. It really gives me over 6-8 hr SOT and the sound is loud. It also has the removal battery and micro-sd slot. But the crashes and lack of quality apps is a huge letdown. I was thinking Sharp Aquos Crystal for Boost for only $99. It looks really cool, but I said nah. Battery capacity is too small. If I did return the 635, I would use the $50 and try to get the Huawei Ascend Mate 2 for $150 on Craigslist (Consumer Cellular). I found a really good deal for a practically new model and it has been praised for the amazing battery life (3900 mAh/720p) which surpassed most flagships of last year. That is a better option if I can't stick to WP.

 

[sracer]

I might return mines tomorrow or at least if I can find the receipt for it. If I can't, I would give it to my Stepdaughter back in the Philippines. The Nokia Lumia 630 (san LTE) cost like 7k PHP, so buying a 635 here for $50 saves me about $110.

What keeps me from staying is the long battery life. It really gives me over 6-8 hr SOT and the sound is loud. It also has the removal battery and micro-sd slot. But the crashes and lack of quality apps is a huge letdown. I was thinking Sharp Aquos Crystal for Boost for only $99. It looks really cool, but I said nah. Battery capacity is too small. If I did return the 635, I would use the $50 and try to get the Huawei Ascend Mate 2 for $150 on Craigslist (Consumer Cellular). I found a really good deal for a practically new model and it has been praised for the amazing battery life (3900 mAh/720p) which surpassed most flagships of last year. That is a better option if I can't stick to WP.

Sharp really needs to release a GSM version of the Crystal. Battery capacity is fine IMO. (I have the Boost version but I'd buy the GSM in heartbeat)

The Lumia 520 has the greatest battery life I've seen of any phone that I personally have owned. I could regularly go 3+ days between charges. What kept me from continuing to use it has been the poor Google experience on it.

 

[AppleRobert]

I might return mines tomorrow or at least if I can find the receipt for it. If I can't, I would give it to my Stepdaughter back in the Philippines. The Nokia Lumia 630 (san LTE) cost like 7k PHP, so buying a 635 here for $50 saves me about $110.

What keeps me from staying is the long battery life. It really gives me over 6-8 hr SOT and the sound is loud. It also has the removal battery and micro-sd slot. But the crashes and lack of quality apps is a huge letdown. I was thinking Sharp Aquos Crystal for Boost for only $99. It looks really cool, but I said nah. Battery capacity is too small. If I did return the 635, I would use the $50 and try to get the Huawei Ascend Mate 2 for $150 on Craigslist (Consumer Cellular). I found a really good deal for a practically new model and it has been praised for the amazing battery life (3900 mAh/720p) which surpassed most flagships of last year. That is a better option if I can't stick to WP.

I got the Ascend at Sears and love it. For $150 I would say run, don't walk to pick it up.

 

[Savor]

I think this Nokia Lumia 635 is the best smartphone for its price range if compared to the many cheap Androids in the market. It also has one of the best battery life for any class range and its size. About nearly TWICE of the Sharp Aquos Crystal. I remember getting only 5 hr SOT on my Samsung Focus three years ago. We've come a long way from a single core 1 GHz Snapdragon to a quad core 1.4 GHz Snapdragon 400 with better stamina and cheaper price.

I took pix comparing Lumia 635 vs Sharp Aquos and I must say the Sharp actually takes better photos indoors. In my other post, I am not raving about Aquos' cam. I much prefer using the Sharp anyway because of Android and because the Nokia tends to be very nonresponsive with the touch screen while typing. I think the Focus was smoother than this. Plus, I played a quick game of Sonic Dash. Android has the latest version. Even if both Aquos vs Lumia have SD400 SoC the Nokia lagged a bit more with graphic stuttering here and there.

I think if you want a cheap media player with good loud sound and long battery life, get Nokia Lumia 635 if you can learn to love Windows Phone in the longer run and can accept the lack of useful apps. For me, Android ftw! I prefer paying twice more for a Aquos even if battery life is only about 60% as good as the 635 and external sound is softer. Android over WP, better design, Harmon Kardon audio, less crashes, 1 GB more RAM, better cam with FLASH, has a front cam, swipe to wake, swipe status bar for screenshot, and bigger and sharper screen at nearly the same dimensions.

 

[TacticalDesire]

If all one does is phone calls, text, emails, maps and some social media, this is a great phone. Great basic devices with smartphone capabilities. Definitely the best smartphone in it's price range, once you get around $100+ I think there are better options.

 

[Septembersrain]

I'm excited about this 640 they are going to release. Anyone else think they'll get it?

 

[Cod3rror]

I'm excited about this 640 they are going to release. Anyone else think they'll get it?

It's probably a better idea to wait for 645, with Windows 10 and Snapdragon 410.

 

[midwestfisherma]

I'm excited about this 640 they are going to release. Anyone else think they'll get it?

That 640 looks really good. I'm leaning heavily towards the 640XL.

 

[Savor]

I may end up keeping the 635 and returning the Sharp Aquos today even though I like and use the latter more because I love Android more than WP. Can't find the receipt for the Nokia so I will just keep it and turn more into a portable media player. The Sharp cost more and I need money. Thank goodness WP has MX Player as I had to find my videos through a files manager and no rewind/fast forward with its default video player.

Likes - Cheap. Good external sound. Excellent battery life.

Dislikes - Windows lack of quality apps. Browser crashes. Only 512 MB RAM. Poor rear camera in low light. No flash. No selfie cam.

Still for only $50, you can do much worse. There are more expensive pmp and tablets that have worse specs and do much less. This phone and OS are hardly my favs but it can be pretty decent for playing media files, streaming, and some light browsing. Best phone for its price class if you can find it for under $60. Some carriers like T-Mobile and Boost offer it with a higher price. The AT&T variant is the way to go for the price.

 

[Kariya]

If you like WP

Otherwise Moto G or 2015 Moto E are better propositions

 

[Savor]

One of the things I hate about this 635 is how the touchscreen locks up. I have to tap the power to unfreeze it. My Nexus One did this as well but not as often and if I used the kb too much. The 635 does this multiple times per day even in light use. And MX Player no longer opens!

If you look at the specs, this phone is more powerful than flagships from 5 yrs ago like the Nexus One and Nexus S. The caveat with budget phones is Nokia cut corners with the quality of components used. Real world experience offers compromises like weaker cam and cheaper touch panels compared to flagships from the 2010-2011 era.