X
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. How we test phones

Microsoft's 5.7-inch Lumia 640 XL is big and cheap (hands-on)

This 5.7-inch beast of a midrange smartphone goes a step past the Lumia 640 in size and specs.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Expertise Content strategy, team leadership, audience engagement, iPhone, Samsung, Android, iOS, tips and FAQs.
See full bio
Jessica Dolcourt
2 min read

BARCELONA -- The Microsoft Lumia 640 XL that launched here at Mobile World Congress 2015 isn't only bigger than the 5-inch Microsoft Lumia 640. It also has a more upmarket camera and a slightly larger battery.

The phone starts with a supersize 5.7-inch display with a 720p resolution. This is on the low end for a screen this big. The Windows Phone 8.1 OS should look just fine, but photos and videos may look less crisp.

Shop for Microsoft Lumia 640 XL LTE Dual Sim

See all prices

We looked at it in white and blue, but it also comes in bright orange (like, eye-searing) and black. The orange color sports a glossy, high-shine finish while the others are matte. The handset is large, but rounded corners and that polycarbonate material keep it from feeling too slick, at least on the matte versions.

This 5.7-inch handset is a midrange phablet for less. Sarah Tew/CNET

A 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front-facing camera both also shoot 1080p HD video.

A Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor inside tackles tasks with a 1.2GHz quad-core clock speed. Also inside, a 3,000mAh battery gives the 640 XL a little more juice than the Lumia 640 gets.

Take a tour of the phones at Mobile World Congress 2015

+32 More
See all photos

Storage is identical between the two phones: 8GB internal storage with 1GB RAM, and up to 128GB on the microSD card. Microsoft also gives you up to 30GB free OneDrive storage for your photos (through camera backup).

We don't have launch details quite yet, but we hear the Lumia 640 XL will come out in early April. Pricing is locked down, though: the 4G LTE Lumia 640 XL will cost $240 or £219. The 3G model, meanwhile, will cost $210, but won't be available in the UK.