Microsoft Lumia 640 vs 640XL

Microsoft has committed itself to delivering feature-packed mobiles so now is the perfect time to switch to a Windows powered phone.

But which of these two Lumia smartphones is really worth investing in? Let’s take a look!

Microsoft Lumia design

The Microsoft Lumia 640XL is noticeably larger (14%) than the Lumia 640 and so the 5” screen has been stretched to 5.7” on the XL. This certainly means that the larger visual canvass looks more appealing but the resolution (1280 x 720 pixels) of both screens is the same.

This affects the pixel density, with the Lumia 640 having 294 pixels per inch while the Lumia 640XL’s pixel density drops to 259ppi. However the bigger screen is still worth considering as a deciding factor; if you work with spreadsheets then you will find the experience more finger friendly as it is far easier to select cells when you zoom out to see more of a document.

Both of these Lumia phones use ClearBlack screen technology for improved readability under sunlight and the IPS LCD screen can be viewed at wide angles, which is great for showing off your photos or media with friends.

As expected the Microsoft Lumia 640XL is heavier at 171 grams versus 145 grams but both handsets have a slim-line form of about 9mm thick. Inside the two phones are true identical twins with a quad-core 1.2GHz processor with 1GB RAM powering the experience.

The design of the user interface is dominated by Live Tiles which stream personalised content in front of your eyes. The Windows Phone 8.1 operating system with the Lumia Denim update now means that you can change the background to the Live Tiles, and once this task is undertaken the interface really has a modern and premium look.

Microsoft Lumia 640 and 640XL features

Enjoy the same experience for longer

The set of features on these Lumia phones are identical but the higher capacity battery on the Lumia 640XL goes far beyond simply powering the larger screen for the same amount of time.

The Microsoft Lumia 640XL delivers up to 14.2 hours of Wi-Fi browsing vs 10.8 hours, 98 hours of music playback compared to 86 hours and 10.7 hours of video playback compared to 8.6 hours. There is also up to an extra days’ worth of standby available at 37 days or up to an extra 6.5 hours talk time at 24 hours.

Both Lumia phones deliver internet access over 4G or Wi-Fi via the Internet Explorer 11 web browser and this connection can be used for making Skype video calls, using the Cortana digital assistant or backing up files and photos onto the complimentary 30GB of OneDrive cloud storage.

Health and fitness fans will be delighted to find compatibility with the new Microsoft Band smartwatch, and there is GPS with offline maps which include venue maps for shopping centres and transport centres.

Further features include Microsoft Office apps, Microsoft Outlook, a graphical equalizer with Media Player and virtual surround sound, Xbox Music, MixRadio and Kids Corner as well as social apps from Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp and Picasa.

“If you can accommodate the larger size then you’ll love the Microsoft Lumia 640XL, if not, then the more pocket-friendly Microsoft Lumia 640 is still well worth considering”.

Photography

Out of focus

If there’s one thing that stands out about these two Lumia phones it’s that they both deliver in the camera department! The Lumia 640 has an impressive 8MP camera, while the Lumia 640XL crams in a high resolution 13MP super-snapper. Selfies are equally catered for, although the 5MP secondary camera on the 640XL does outstrip the 0.9MP camera of the Lumia 640.

Both camera phones capture 1080p video with their main cameras but the secondary camera on the Lumia 640 drops the quality down to 720p. Although there is a significant difference in resolution between the two phones, both do have a great set of camera tools which include Lumia Camera, Lumia Refocus, Lumia Selfie and Lumia Moments.

Microsoft Lumia 640 vs 640XL verdict

If you can accommodate the larger size then you’ll love the Microsoft Lumia 640XL, which really delivers the goods. If not, then the more pocket-friendly Microsoft Lumia 640 is still well worth considering as Microsoft phones really do come packed with awesome features straight out of the box.