nokia lumia 530 review
Post on 28-Nov-2014
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Nokia Lumia 530
Compact device embodies Lumia's colourful persona
• Quite similar to its predecessor in terms of design from the front
• Skips capacitive navigation keys in favour of on-screen buttons
• The rear is more curved as compared to the Lumia 520, and offers good handling with its matte texture
• Available in multiple hues just like other Lumia devices
The display leaves a lot to be desired
• Bears a 4-inch display with a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels • Looks fine at first glance, but there’s noticeable pixelation • Due to the reflective screen, it’s difficult to read outdoors • Unlike the Lumia 520, the 530 misses out on a layer of scratch-
resistant glass as well as a pressure-sensitive mode • Also misses out on proximity and ambient light sensors
A barebones camera…
• Just like other budget Lumia’s, this one has a lone 5-megapixel camera at the back without LED flash
• Because of its fixed focus mechanism, you can’t change its focus to another object
• Nokia Camera app gives you tons of options to manipulate image settings by choosing between Auto and Pro mode
… that results in decent image quality
• In adequate lighting, the images are quite good for sharing between friends and family
• Can shoot videos only in 480p, which is a step down from the 720p video recording available on the Lumia 520
Windows Phone 8.1 brings the platform at par with the competition
• Runs Windows Phone 8.1, offering a number of new features
• First and foremost is the Action Centre allowing you to quickly toggle settings like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as access notifications
• You can apply a custom background to the start screen and fit in an extra column of tiles
• Word Flow keyboard allows swipe-to-type gestures
But still suffers from the app gap
• The device is preloaded with useful apps from Nokia such as MixRadio, HERE maps, etc.
• Some Indian apps like BookMyShow and Snapdeal also come preloaded
• Windows Phone 8.1 also gets a suite of Sense apps providing control over Wi-Fi and cellular data consumption, as well as storage
• But it’s still not good enough for those who are invested in the Google ecosystem or want access to the latest apps
Churns out decent performance
• At its heart beats a quad-core Snapdragon 200 processor clocked at 1.2GHz along with an Adreno 302 GPU
• While the processor is better than that on the Lumia 520, the GPU is a shade lower than the Adreno 305 graphics unit
• Gets 512MB RAM, which works well on the not-so resource-hungry WP • Offers smooth performance even while playing games like Asphalt 8:
Airborne
Skimps on the storage department
• Comes with 4GB of internal storage, unlike the 8GB loaded on the Lumia 520
• Just 1.3GB is available to the end user
• Thankfully, apps and content can be transferred to the microSD card
• However, without the microSD card, the device is barely usable
Clocks in average battery life, but good for those who want dual-SIM capability
• Sips juice from a 1,410mAh removable battery
• Manages to last a day with light usage
• However, turn on 3G or use it for navigation, and battery drops rapidly
• The Lumia 530 is the most affordable WP8.1 handset with dual-SIM capability
• Other connectivity features include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS
At a glance
• 4-inch display, 854 x 480 pixels (245ppi)
• 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor
• 512MB RAM • 4GB internal storage,
expandable up to 128GB • 5MP primary camera • Dual-SIM 3G support (in first
SIM slot only), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS
• 1,430mAh detachable battery • Windows Phone 8.1 with Nokia
Cyan update
- • Poor display • Misses proximity and
ambient light sensors
• No front camera • No LED flash
Pros and cons
+ • Good design • Dual-SIM
functionality
Pricing and verdict
“While the Lumia 520 was one of the best-selling smartphones of the last year, its successor fails
to exceed the expectations set by it. In fact, apart from a few features like a quad-core processor and dual-SIM
functionality, the Lumia 530 seems like a downgrade. It also faces tough competition from
the upcoming Micromax Canvas Win W092, as well as superb
Android devices like the Xiaomi Redmi 1s and ASUS Zenfone 4”
~ Rs 6,500 (online price)
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