Description of the Nokia Lumia 630 smartphone

The Nokia Lumia 630 smartphone is a budget device that runs on updated version mobile Windows systems Phone 8.1 and the first device on Windows Phone, where there are no usual three touch control keys located on the body.

The phone is the successor to the Lumia 620 and has significantly improved in terms of screen quality and processor power. But many characteristics remained the same. For example, it has a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz, and the volume RAM(RAM) has not changed - 512 MB. Today, many games do not support devices with such a capacity, although the processor can cope with any complexity of tasks.

Another feature of the Lumia 630 smartphone is big screen- 4.5 inches with a resolution of 480x854 pixels. IPS display matrix, which is covered with ClearBlack and protected by tempered glass Gorilla Glass v3.

Compared to the previous model, the camera here has not changed. There is a built-in 5 megapixel sensor, with which images of 2592x1944 pixels are obtained. Video resolution is also limited - 1280x720 pixels at 30 frames per second.

But best feature is the price of the smartphone. The manufacturer has set the cost of the Lumia 630 at $159, excluding taxes.

Nokia Lumia 630 video review:

The Nokia Lumia 630 uses a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (MSM8226) processor. It is based on the ARM Cortex A7 architecture, has an integrated Adreno 305 graphics adapter and works with clock frequency 1.2 GHz. A similar processor can be found in devices such as ASUS Padfone E and Padfone Mini, Sony Xperia M2, Samsung GALAXY S4 mini and Motorola Moto G. The amount of RAM is 512 megabytes. The smartphone is equipped with an eight-gigabyte flash drive.

All these interesting facts about the insides of the Nokia Lumia 630 mean absolutely nothing. This device is a perfect illustration of the fact that judging smartphones by their hardware is not the smartest thing in the world. Their performance is influenced by too many factors that do not fit well into primitive tables with technical characteristics.

In order not to go far, let's take another smartphone from the same manufacturer: Nokia X. This is the cheapest Nokia device, which can still be compared with the Lumia 630. Its hardware is weaker in all formal respects, but it is impossible to notice this with the naked eye. It doesn't slow down or make the user wait.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the Lumia 630. When switching tasks, this device pauses for a few seconds every now and then. And "several" in in this case does not mean “one or two,” but rather “five to ten.” Running simple system applications may drag on even more. It's annoying.

Lithium ion battery The device, according to the same stupid tables, has a capacity of 1830 mAh. This is another meaningless figure, from which it is impossible to understand how long the smartphone will last without recharging. In order to find out, you need to look not at the characteristics, but at this screenshot.

The Nokia Lumia 630 phone entered the market back in 2014. The price of the new product was about 8 thousand rubles, of course the company planned to sell it at a higher price, but Android smartphones of the same level were much cheaper, and the company had no choice but to reduce the cost of the device to a reasonable price. This model is called MoneyPenny within the company, which indicates a good price/quality ratio.Looking at the functionality of the Nokia Lumia 630, one can assume that this is a budget device with inexpensive components, but Windows Phone works very well with the hardware, delivering good performance, and you can be convinced of this; the absence of phone lags causes only pleasant impressions.

An additional panel is included in the packageblack, as they say for every day. The model was created for fans of Windows Phone, the device shows the advantages of the updated operating system, in addition, there is a two-SIM device Lumia 630 Dual SIM, which is a huge plus for Windows Phone. The phone has a youthful design and offers colorful interchangeable panels. The device entered the market in five colors: orange, yellow, green, black and white. Of course, a bright gadget attracts the attention of others. Back cover Nokia Lumia 630 phone made of polycarbonate, the lid is reliable and you don’t have to worry about it appearance over time. It is not painted, it is the original color of the plastic. The phone does not play or stick together; there is a feeling of reliability after use. The size of the device is 129.5x66.7x9.2 mm, weight 134 grams. Thanks to the back cover, the phone fits perfectly in the hand and creates a pleasant tactile sensation.

On the right side of the Nokia Lumia 630 phone we see the device's on/off key and a paired volume key. The manufacturer has made 3 screen brightness modes (low, medium, high) without any fine tuning. At the top end there is a minijack connector for a headset, and at the bottom end there is a microUSB connector. Slots for microSD cards and SIM cards can be seen under the back cover next to the battery. The screen of the device is 4.5 inches on an IPS matrix with a resolution of 854x480 pixels. ClearBlack technology is used here to increase brightness in the sun and the screen becomes more readable. The display is covered with Gorilla Glass 3, protecting it from scratches. In addition to its 8 GB memory, the manufacturer offers 7 GB in the OneDrive cloud to store your data. You also have the option of installing a microSD card up to 128 GB.

You can buy a Nokia Lumia 630 phone at a low price on our website.

Nokia, which we knew as the company where we first appeared mobile phones, is now officially a subsidiary of Microsoft. The Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM black (phone) is its first development since this deal was struck, but it is clear that the device had been in development for some time before the new owner arrived. And yet it is obvious that in many respects new phone is different from the previous ones, so, of course, its appearance is the beginning of something new.

Review of wp smartphone 630, 630 Dual SIM

This phone became the first WP smartphone to launch the WP 8.1 update released last year. In fact, at the same time in 2014, Nokia introduced as many as three new smartphones for this updated platform - Nokia Lumia Dual SIM, 635. A discussion (with an emphasis on the “dual SIM” model) of their advantages and disadvantages will form the main content of our review.

The manufacturer announced that the above-mentioned updated OS will be available for the entire range Lumia smartphones from Windows 8.

Common for Nokia Lumia 630 and Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM characteristics include:

• 4.5-inch FWVGA (480x854 pixels) ClearBlack LCD with 3 and 221ppi pixel density;
• CPU with a clock frequency of 1.2 GHz type Snapdragon 400 with four cores;
• RAM 512 MB;
• 8 GB ROM;
• 5 megapixel rear camera with autofocus;
• lack of front front camera,
• battery 1830mAh.
• MicroSD expansion cards up to 128 GB are also supported.

The 635 and 630 will come with WhatsApp, WeChat, Nokia Camera, HERE Maps and free Nokia MixRadio pre-installed. They also feature SensorCore low-power sensing designed for the "next generation of exercise and intelligence apps" like Bing Health and Fitness.

User Look and Feel

Nokia seems quite capable of coming up with dozens of variations on the same theme: colorful polycarbonate bodies, a black front panel, all the buttons on the same side and simple lines, but in different shapes and curves. The external Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM specifications are no exception, although this time the shape is flatter and blockier than usual. It's a clean rectangle with sides that taper towards the back, making it quite easy to hold in the palm of your hand. The back cover protrudes slightly.

The Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM black smartphone with 2 SIM cards is shown in the photo below.

The front surface of the case is empty, except for the Nokia logo at the top; navigation is provided by on-screen buttons. The power switch and are on the right edge, but there is no camera power button, also controlled by an on-screen button. The left edge is completely empty, and at the top and bottom there are only a headset jack and micro-USB ports. The back side is almost completely blank, with just the camera lens and a circular speaker hole, apart from a small Nokia logo in the center.

A few words about packaging and additional devices

Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM phones, prices, reviews, characteristics of which are the subject of our attention, go on sale in branded (which is quite natural) packaging. As for the boxes in which the phones are packaged, it should be noted that Nokia (this applies to all Microsoft devices) switched to a flat white design instead of the blocky blue rectangles that we have seen with every Lumia released so far. What's more, the 630 doesn't come with a headset or even a USB cable. The charger has a fixed cord with a Micro-USB plug, and we really have to wonder how much money the company will save by not equipping the standard charger with a detachable USB cord.

Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM - description

The characteristics of this model are determined primarily by a fairly powerful processor, which is the trusty Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 with integrated Adreno-305 graphics. However, there is only 512MB of RAM, which is a significant step down from the 1GB in the cheaper 525 model.

As other manufacturers have done lately Nokia used a special processor for the sensor input, which allows you to turn off the power and extend battery life. SensorCore, as it's called, is linked to a Bing Health and Fitness app that can act as a pedometer and activity tracker. If we consider the actual Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM characteristics, then the presence of this option will not be a big advantage for the 630 model, since it clearly lacks modern sensors. Higher-end devices, such as the next model 930, will use it much more efficiently.

What about the 630th model with memory and screen?

You only get 8GB of ROM, which is somewhat offset by support for a MicroSD card up to 128GB (at least that's what the manufacturer claims). 4.5 inches diagonally, but has a modest resolution of 480x854 pixels. This is by far the lowest pixel density we've seen in a long time. We can say about Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM, technical specifications the screen of which is not ideal, that the market expected more from its appearance. The color accuracy and poor viewing angles are also unimpressive. It's not annoyingly grainy, but the text in apps and websites reminds us of what was considered high quality a decade ago.

The screen is proportionally slightly larger than the Lumia 525 was, and its resolution is very little more than 16:9, which is pretty good because a little vertical space is lost under the on-screen buttons (which are almost always visible).

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support is up to date, and there is also GPS. The only sensor seems to be the accelerometer - it doesn't even help adjust screen brightness automatically. That's all the main Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM characteristics. This model has a somewhat unbalanced list of features - it is superior in some respects to other phones in its price range.

Software

The biggest highlight is, of course, the rather significant OS update from Microsoft, with a lot of improvements, large and small. For example, new version intellectual voice assistant. Tweaks work for all practical purposes, but they're not a feature worth highlighting.

Another notable change made to the Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM's software features is the addition of shadow notifications, which Microsoft calls Action Center. Just like in Android and iOS, you'll be able to drag down from the very top of the screen an overlay that displays notifications you haven't dealt with yet. When you pull down the Action Center shadow, you'll see expanded information about your notifications in the form of “icons,” such as your battery level percentage. There are also four handy shortcuts: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Camera and Brightness, and you can change them to other options, up to a maximum of four.

Brightness control is manual, as the 630 doesn't adjust it automatically, and the camera shortcut goes some way to making up for the lack of a corresponding physical button. Of course, I wish there were more shortcuts, but this can only be done through the OS setup web application.

What does the 630's dual-SIM capabilities give it?

The Nokia Lumia 630 Dual mobile phone, the characteristics of which we are reviewing, being the first Dual-SIM Windows phone, has several unique touches in this regard. For starters, there are two different types of apps - phone and "messaging", which is a very strange and confusing circumstance that potentially makes the device difficult to master. The icons for each SIM card are only slightly different in color (and the first recruitment is underway transparent if you use the new background photo option). You will be dealing with a split history sheet and mailboxes, although the contact list remains shared, and you will be able to send a message or call from another SIM card and even from its other applications. This can help keep work and personal connections separate, but not everyone will like this approach.

About some new wp smartphone applications

The Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM phone, the characteristics of which we are reviewing, has several new applications and settings. So, the Battery Saver option does exactly what its name suggests and lets you check which apps are draining your battery the most. Data Sense allows users to define data usage limits, and Wi-Fi Sense is a unique tool that can automatically sign you into secure Wi-Fi password hotspots that your friends have used in the past. Another tool, called Storage Sense, allows you to manage applications, clear caches, and distribute user data between internal memory and a MicroSD card. Available settings for the keyboard currently allow you to drag your finger between letters, working in the so-called. Swype style. Skype and OneDrive are more deeply integrated, and Internet Explorer received several internal improvements.

Are the usual problems of wp smartphones still present in the 630 model?

While many common problems have been fixed, Windows phones still have their own unique problems. On-screen buttons are visible even when playing a video full screen, the back button behaves inconsistently, and the Marketplace still doesn't work as efficiently as Google Play or the iOS App store.

Model 630 comes with a set additional functions, known as Lumia Cyan, which includes an expanded set of photography applications. Other Nokia features are also present: Here Maps, Here Drive+ and Nokia MixRadio. Surprisingly, the very, very useful Glance screen option, which in other Lumia models allows you to see notifications when the screen is off, has been removed.

Lumia 630 comes with a lot of third party apps too: BoxTV, Evernote, Facebook, Flipkart e-books, Gameloft Gamehub, Line, PayTM and Zomato.

Camera

Nokia has always equipped its phones with a plethora of camera apps and this time we have Cinemagraph, Creative Studio and Glam Me for effects ranging from animation. Features in the Nokia Camera apps include shutter speed control and manual focus, and you have quick access to ISO and white balance settings.

Scope of delivery:

• Telephone
• Battery Li-Ion 1830 mAh
• Charger
• Replaceable black panel
• Instructions

Positioning

Models of the 600 series in 2013 belonged to the middle segment in Nokia’s understanding; the price of new products started at 12,000 rubles (Nokia 625). In market reality, these were relatively budget devices of lower cost, but which were presented as devices of a different class. In 2014, virtually nothing changed, only prices for all product lines were adjusted, including the 630 model, which began to be sold 4,000 rubles cheaper from the start - the reason is that the Android smartphone market has evolved over this year and has gone even further with functionality point of view. It turned out that if Nokia tried to sell the Lumia 630 at a price of at least 10,000 rubles (20 percent discount by 2013), the model would have no chance - its cost would be 45-50 percent higher than its analogues. The price reduction is a forced step, and we have the Android smartphone market to thank for this. On the other hand, this cost is completely inadequate, and below we will discuss why. Inside Nokia, this model is called MoneyPenny, which hints at a good price/quality ratio. But these are just dreams of developers, in reality everything is not so.

Based on the functionality of this solution, we can say that we are faced with a purely budget smartphone– very poor delivery set, inexpensive components. Let me start with the fact that this device does not come with a USB cable; the charger is one-piece. No headphones. The device itself does not have a front camera, nor a light indicator - you can only adjust the screen backlight in three divisions (low, medium, high level brightness). But there is an additional panel, which is unusual for such devices. This is a kind of trick that Nokia did. Ordinary consumers assume that the phone comes with everything - in particular, headphones and a cable, the device has other little things. And then the additional panel acts as a bold plus. Why do they expect a phone to have standard features? This is obvious - because 99% of all smartphones in this segment have them. It turns out that we are consciously relying on people’s misconceptions - we sell the panel as an advantage, but do not talk about other shortcomings.

The release of the Lumia 630 underlines the crisis that has come to Nokia - this is a model created for Windows Phone fans, a device that should show the benefits of the updated Windows Phone 8.1 system. That is, the WP version should give the first impetus to sales, on the other hand, those who wish can install it on current models - there are no problems with that. The second and significant point is that for the first time a model with two SIM cards appears on Windows Phone, this is the Lumia 630 Dual SIM. I'm not sure that Windows Phone owners need two SIM cards, since such devices, as a rule, are not used for the Internet and other advanced functions, they are more likely phones for calls and SMS. However, the presence of a second card caused some discussion - after all, the model does not have many other advantages.

In Nokia, the entire campaign to promote this device is built for people who do not understand phones and are ready to make an emotional purchase. This is correct, because people with minimal knowledge and a desire to understand the issue will immediately see that the Lumia 630 is very expensive, loses to many models already on the market, and does not offer anything interesting, except, perhaps, design. But does it make sense to overpay 3 thousand rubles for the design when the device costs 8-8.5 thousand? I don’t have an answer to this question; everyone must decide for themselves.

This is a rare case when a model was created not with the expectation of reliable sales, but in order to sell it to random people. It is possible that some of them will remain confident that they have purchased a worthwhile device, especially if they do not listen to others laughing at such a choice and a waste of money.

Design, dimensions, control elements

Phone size – 129.5x66.7x9.2 mm, weight – 134 grams. It fits well in the hand, medium, pleasant plastic to the touch. The set includes two caps, you can put them on easily, even a child can do it, and the design itself does not imply any play or anything like that. On the right side there is a paired volume rocker, as well as a power button.

Compared to Nokia X

The company offers different color solutions - the kit always includes a black cover. Therefore, if you do not like the acidic colors of the additional cover, then you can choose a neutral black color.

At the bottom end there is a microUSB connector, but at the top end there is a 3.5 jack for a headset.

Inside the case there is a slot for a microSD card, as well as a SIM card or cards, depending on the version. To install them you need to remove the battery. There are no complaints about the build quality of this device; it is quite good in this quality.

Display

The screen in the device is IPS, diagonal – 4.5 inches, resolution – 854x480 pixels (221 ppi, 16:9). Considering that in WP 8.1 the buttons are always displayed on the screen, the small strip is always eaten by them. In terms of resolution and screen diagonal, this device belongs to cheaper devices, this is perhaps obvious - for 8,000 rubles you can buy devices with both this and higher resolution - 1280x720 pixels. It's a matter of your choice and how much you want to use the best.

In terms of screen quality, we see the magic words IPS, which should explain its superiority. It uses ClearBlack, a technology familiar since the Nokia N8, but it doesn't save the situation. In fact, the additional layer improves readability in the sun, and there are no complaints about it. The screen is covered with Gorilla Glass 3.

My first complaint arose from the fact that the default screensavers are orange; I puzzled over why this was so until I realized that the screen turned the picture a little yellow and thus this flaw was hidden. It is not visible at all in the menu, but when viewing pictures you notice it. The second complaint about the viewing angles is that they are excellent, the text is readable, but with any deviation from the right angle the colors are distorted, and quite noticeably - this is the merit of the ClearBlack filter.

Absence automatic adjustment backlighting is a pittance of savings, something you’ll see today only on ultra-budget devices or models from the distant past. The backlight can be set to three brightness levels! Three fixed levels - no fine tuning. If you want to set it to 35 percent or 70, you won’t be able to do it. For what? The manufacturer has already given three levels, period! Few people care that all Android devices without exception can do this differently.

The bottom line is that it’s a cheap and not the best matrix, which corresponds to budget devices, but not at all to the device’s price of 8,000 rubles. Due to the resolution, the graphics look worse than on HD screens. This is not so noticeable in the interface, but in games and other applications it catches the eye.

As expected, there is no mode for working with the screen while wearing gloves.

Battery

The battery has a capacity of 1830 mAh; according to the manufacturer, it is capable of providing up to 16 hours of talk time in 2G, 13 hours in 3G, and a standby time of up to 25 days. The maximum playback time for music is up to 58 hours, video – up to 7 hours, online via 3G – up to 8.8 hours, via Wi-Fi – up to 9.4 hours.

The declared characteristics are quite realistic, and moreover, for those who hardly use data transfer and only make calls, this device will be good. For example, three days of work with mail synchronization (a little mail every hour), minimal use of other functions - 15 minutes of calls, a dozen SMS is quite achievable.

With very active use, the device will work for only one day, from morning to evening. In terms of power consumption, this is quite a good result, which is achieved by the characteristics of the screen and the limitation of processor performance. If you need a device for calls and SMS, then this model will be quite good in terms of operating time, but not in cost. The time to fully charge the battery is about 2 hours (with standard charging included in the kit).

Playing videos is the weak point of the device, since in this case the processor frequency becomes maximum (games with good graphics also affect the operating time). Typically, Android smartphones with similar parameters play video for about 10 hours. Although it all depends on the manufacturer and the solutions applied in practice.

Considering that Lumia users, as a rule, do not use their devices to their fullest, and this is impossible, then we should expect good reviews about working hours, and they will be truthful. This is a very moderate use of opportunities.

Memory, memory cards, hardware platform and performance

Let's start with something simple - the built-in memory is 8 GB, of which about 5 GB is available to you initially. OneDrive offers 7GB of storage space for your data. But it’s interesting to look at the amount of RAM, there is only 512 MB. As you know, for Windows Phone, due to its intricate memory management, this is not enough, you will not be able to run many 3D games, however, the manufacturer will not even show them to you in the application store. What prevented you from installing 1 GB of memory to bypass the known limitation? Greed and the desire to earn as much as possible. There are no other reasons for this. Let me remind you that in Android smartphones, 512 MB of RAM is not considered a large amount, but it is possible to run any applications, including heavy games (the issue is the speed of operation, but you can play them). This is another generic disadvantage of Windows Phone.

The device supports memory cards up to 128 GB, which can be considered a plus. But this is a plus with a flaw, since even the fastest microSD cards with a capacity of 64 GB and higher do not work very well in this phone. It’s easy to verify this - insert the card, start the camera from standby mode. We count - one, two, three, four, five. At the fifth second the camera starts. We change the location for storing pictures to the internal memory, and the camera starts up in a couple of seconds. We put the card in 16 GB, still the same two seconds. This is clearly visible in our video; the device launches the camera quickly without a large memory card. I don’t know where this limitation will come from; the obvious disadvantage is launching content from the map, which takes extra time. I checked the video recording - there was no twitching, like in the Lumia 1520, it’s good that this problem for large cards was not transferred to this device.

Now let's focus on the platform - the device uses Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, the frequency of the 4-core processor is up to 1.2 GHz (MSM8926). This is more than enough for the system to work - however, dual-core processors of this family are quite comfortable, you will not see a difference in speed. Even with a stopwatch.

For fans of virtual parrots, I will provide data from synthetic benchmarks; here the device cannot boast of anything special.

Communication capabilities

Standard set of protocols – Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.0 (no LE support) – a full set of standard profiles, WCDMA – 900/2100 MHz. As you can see, the device cannot boast of anything special or unusual.

Camera

Just like in previous models, there is a 5-megapixel module with autofocus, there is no flash. Unlike the previous model, they refused to record video in 1080p, only 720p - what this limitation is connected with is not very clear. The impression from the camera is average - a typical budget solution that does not produce particularly high-quality images. Comparable to budget devices of a lower class. With all that it implies. The Nokia Camera application is used for shooting.

Dual SIM version - how it works

Since this is the first WP device with two SIM cards, it was interesting how work with them was organized. On the main screen, when installing a second SIM card, the second phone tile is shown, all calls from the second card are placed there. That is, it turns out that you have two lists, they are separate and not combined in any way. Here we can discuss for a long time whether this is convenient; perhaps, one general list indicating which card it is would be much more convenient - it is more common among a lot of other phones with two SIM cards. Another point that is a flaw is the lack of SIM card designations, the first and second ones are so ascetic. In my opinion, this is terribly inconvenient.

Another point that needs to be remembered is that there is only one radio module in the phone, so simultaneous operation of SIM cards is not provided. In the settings you can select the SIM card that will be used for data transfer.

Nokia advertises x-divert “technology”, which allows you to receive calls from the second card, even if there is a call on the first one, that is, you are talking. Having read several reviews, I can say that everyone very carefully avoids this issue, saying that this is a “unique scheme: the second SIM card remains active even when calling the main card thanks to X-divert technology. So in this segment, the Nokia Lumia 630 has no competitors in implementing the functionality of 2 SIM cards, if it is critical for you to always be in touch.”

Let me start with the fact that a device like the Galaxy S3 Dual SIM has exactly the same forwarding as many of the latest models from Samsung with a single radio module. It is not so important what the authors of advertising opuses about the Lumia 630 are guided by when they turn off their heads and talk about the impossible. Physically, the presence of one radio module does not allow receiving a second call - these are limitations of the real world. All marketing “technologies” are a banal call forwarding from one SIM card to another, which can be more conveniently set from the menu; the phone does not force you to enter a second number, it knows it (a kind of cross-forwarding). What manufacturers do not say is that such redirection, as a rule, costs some money and you will have to pay it to the operator. There will be no savings. On the contrary, you will spend more money on communications. This is such simple arithmetic.

Now I would like to dwell on one more point, which shows how in recent years Nokia has destroyed its position in the market and turned into a second, or even third, tier manufacturer. Although in some minds this is still a brand, which the company in Russia actively uses, selling its goods at a crazy markup.

The Lumia 630 Dual SIM has a factory problem, namely the second SIM card stops working after several calls, which also affects the first one - the microphone and speaker turn off. It looks like this - the call goes through, and then they don’t hear you, just as you don’t hear the interlocutor. This software error occurs under certain conditions, but it is by no means rare, and all devices without exception are susceptible to it! For some reason, I also failed to read about this in other reviews of this device, although the error is massive and appears literally immediately when using two SIM cards.

For example, here is one of the topics created on the Nokia website regarding this problem.

There are a lot of resources for similar topics; the problem is widespread and well known in the company. No time frame for its solution has been given; moreover, Nokia has traditionally ignored this issue in recent years. However, this is understandable, because none of the publications draws attention to it, and users who buy the device have no idea that the declared functionality of two SIM cards has limitations and does not work. Is it funny? In my opinion, not at all. This shows the crisis of journalism, which serves the interests of companies, and does not at all stand on the side of the consumer, showing real and serious shortcomings of products.

Software – Windows Phone 8.1

Since this is the first device to run Windows Phone 8.1, this is of some interest. Unfortunately, the set of changes compared to 8 is quite insignificant; they are cosmetic in nature and do not have any global impact on the perception of the platform. This is work on mistakes and shortcomings, which, moreover, was done poorly. For example, the drop-down curtain cannot be closed, as in Android, by tapping anywhere. You definitely have to pull it by the disclosure icon - it’s terribly inconvenient. Nowhere except Windows Phone is this implemented so crookedly. System innovations are described in detail in Windows review Phone 8.1, I don’t see any point in repeating myself - everything is standard here.

This is also the first device with the Nokia Cyan package, which has a number of features that are different from the standard version of WP 8.1, as a rule, these are pre-installed Nokia programs, a modified gallery and similar little things. Somehow they do not greatly affect the perception of the device and its convenience. Considering that there are thousands of such changes on Android from each manufacturer, it is interesting to look at dozens from Nokia. The scale is visible to the naked eye.

Price, comparison with competitors, cost of components

When buying Windows Phone smartphones from Nokia and Microsoft, you can be sure that you are overpaying for their “uniqueness” by at least 25-35 percent of the real cost of the hardware you are purchasing. The Lumia line saves on literally everything, and this is clearly visible on each model. Let's look at what we saved on the Lumia 630 included in the package.

Let's start with the fact that the charger does not have a separate USB cable; it is made non-separable. The savings are meager, but the inconvenience for the user is obvious - all manufacturers today create chargers with a separate USB cable so that you can transfer data and recharge the device from a computer. For Lumia 630, you will have to look for such a cable separately. As, indeed, in many other new products in the Lumia line. Another parameter is the charging current (5V, 750 mA), usually for batteries from 1500 mAh included in the kit chargers at 1A. So, we saved a penny here too.

Let's move on - you shouldn't look for headphones in the kit. They were never good quality in low-cost Lumia, but they have now been abandoned. This is a savings that is absolutely prohibitive - even the most inexpensive smartphones on the market always have a headset included - this is a rule of good manners. They also have an LED flash, which can be used as a flashlight, as well as front camera for calls - the Lumia 630 saves on all this.

Typically, manufacturers release updated versions of their devices with improved characteristics, increase screen resolution, improve the camera, and so on. Let's see how the Lumia 630 has changed compared to the Lumia 625.

In fact, we have before us, plus/minus, the same model as last year; almost nothing has changed in it except the cost. Many can say that this is fair and the price, which is 4,000 rubles less, justifies both the package included and the fact that there are no new functions in this device other than an updated version of the OS. But Windows Phone doesn't live in a vacuum, does it? This means that this platform can and should be compared with the most popular one on the planet, namely Android. Compare specific devices, so that no controversial issues arise, especially since they may use the same or similar chipsets.

For the purity of the experiment, I turned to the Svyaznoy online store, since the network is represented in all cities of Russia, it’s worth starting from its prices (as well as the cost of the Lumia 630 is given for Svyaznoy and other large networks). Considering that there are many small players in the market, finding better prices on Android smartphones will not be difficult. At my request - a 4.5-inch screen with a resolution of 800x480 pixels, a 5-megapixel camera - more than 50 offers from different manufacturers came up. The typical functionality of an Android smartphone with these parameters is approximately the following: 4.5-inch screen, 800x480 pixels or higher, battery about 2000 mAh, two SIM cards, 512 MB of RAM or more, 4 GB of internal memory or more, quad-core processors from MediaTek. Typical price ranges from 4 to 5.5 thousand rubles. I’ll just give you a few models - Highscreen Alpha Rage, Lenovo A516, Fly IQ4405 Evo Chic 1. For those who want to look at the “brand”, I can recommend HTC Desire 310 – the device has a 4-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 4 GB of internal memory, 2000 mAh battery. The price at the time of writing is 6,490 rubles, which is 1,500 rubles cheaper than the Lumia 630.

The market for such devices is represented by dozens of models, each of them may not play a big role, but together they create quite conscious expectations among buyers. You can buy very specific features for the price, while the Lumia 630 offers exactly the same, but is much more expensive.

In Russia there is still a persistent myth that Nokia is a quality, as well as a brand. In the case of the Lumia 630, the savings affected not only accessories, the same savings were made on the screen, and the model is manufactured in China, as, incidentally, it was developed there. There are almost no differences from the unknown Chinese. The Nokia brand has long ceased to be synonymous with quality, as well as a strong brand. It's just a fact. There is no need to argue with him, since this is the reality of our world.

The only advantage of the Lumia 630 is its design, which is distinguished by bright colors, and the additional panel included. Is it worth the 25-35 percent overpayment? I'm sure not. There is also another huge disadvantage in Windows Phone 8.1. This system is much inferior to Android, and this is noticeable especially in the segment up to 10,000 rubles - buyers will not be able to play many games for free or install the necessary applications without paying for them. Some may not be found at all, but you will have to pay for all applications. On the other hand, Lumia buyers are very rich and can throw money away, so spending on apps that are similar to the standard ones in Android will not be perceived as something special here. You have to pay for your choice. This is the rule.

Impressions

The quality of communication in a single-SIM device does not raise any questions, the sound is good, the system of two microphones copes well with both wind and noisy rooms - they hear you well. About the dual-SIM device it is written above, in at the moment it just may not work with any SIM card, you will have to do a factory reset and wait for the next failure. The ringer volume is good and can be heard in different conditions. The vibration alert is average, it depends on what you are used to.

At a price of 7,990 and 8,490 rubles for the single- and dual-SIM versions, this budget device turned out to be very expensive. The presence of a second panel for the CIS countries does not at all compensate for this cost; in fact, the bright colors of the case are the only advantage of this device. Everything else can be written down as a minus - this is a purely budget solution, in which there is nothing for the amount that is asked for it. Amazingly, this model has many competitors in the Android device market, there are more than fifty of them, each of them has better characteristics at the same cost, or the same characteristics, but the price is 2-3 thousand rubles less. Moreover, literally every model initially has support for two SIM cards; exceptions only emphasize this rule. Therefore, the price difference is even higher!

If you close your eyes to the cost, then Nokia has turned out to be a good budget device for young people - bright, with minimal functionality, and an average camera. That is, something that should cost about 5 thousand rubles. But there is already Nokia X, which amazes with its absurdity and even more shortcomings. By the way, this is the most popular Nokia smartphone on the market, is sold in the largest quantities, however, it is also the leader in the number of dissatisfied users.

The prospects for the Lumia 630 are clear and understandable - this model will be sold in small quantities, it will be pushed by sellers to those who are not sure what to buy. This is a bad purchase when budget hardware is sold at double the price.