Nokia Lumia 630, 635 have new Windows OS, mass appeal
With its latest midrange Lumia, Nokia continues to bring Windows Phone to people around the world who don't have pots of cash.
Nokia unwrapped the Lumia 630 and 635, the latest midrange Lumia smartphones, in conjunction with Microsoft Build on Wednesday.
Both phones have 4.5-inch screens with resolutions of 854x480 pixels, and a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.
In fact, the only real technological difference between the two models comes down to their data capabilities. The 630 comes in 3G with both single and dual SIMs. The 635, on the other hand, has 4G LTE.
The handset itself continues Nokia's visual motif of five bright colors with changeable shells -- green, yellow, orange, black, and white -- a plastic chassis, and a low ticket price designed to appeal to the masses.
Specs aside, the handset's biggest draw is its Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, which now features a notifications center and the long-awaited Cortana voice assistant -- both of which have become fixtures in the Android and iOS rival operating systems.
Budget phone seekers will be happy to know that Nokia continues to push the budget envelope with the Lumia 630 selling for $159 for the single-SIM version, and $169 for the dual-SIM model. US carrier AT&T, T-Mobile, and MetroPCS will offer the LTE-ready Lumia 635 for $179.
Outside the US, the Lumia 630 will go on sale in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America in May. It'll cost €119 (£99) for the single-SIM model, and €129 (£107) for the dual-SIM version. Nokia hasn't promised a wider release for the 4G Lumia 635, but it's expected to cost €149 (£132).
Nokia makes great smartphones for photo-enthusiasts, but the Lumia 630 isn't one of them. It lacks a physical camera button -- something other Windows phones have -- rear flash, and front-facing camera. The app for the 5-megapixel shooter is also hard to access if you haven't pinned it to your start screen. These kinds of concessions are understandable for phones with such low prices.
One thing I will say after spending hands-on time with the devices: the 630 and 635 may be inexpensive, but they don't look cheap. They feel lighter than they look, and the colorful backs peel away easier than I expected. The interchangeable back covers come in glossy or matte finishes, but the Lumia 630 ships with a matte back, and the Lumia 635 ships with a glossy one.
If you want to give Nokia more of your hard-earned cash, check out our first take of the Lumia 930, which Nokia also announced at Build.