Microsoft Lumia 535 Review

After using this phone for more than 3 months, I’m now going to review it. The last time I reviewed one was in 2010 ;p This is my second smartphone. Previously using a RM2K+ (sponsored by a local telco), now downgraded to RM429 (paid from my own pocket). A lot of difference! It’s still a Windows Phone but different brand.

It took me months to finally decide on what phone to buy. I wasn’t willing to pay more than RM500, wanted to get Xiaomi but no more stock, couldn’t wait for it to replenish, I ended up buying Microsoft Lumia 535 in December 2014 when it was just launched. Not really what I wanted, I bought it simply because of the price and it’s a Windows Phone.

The specifications:
Dimensions: 140.2 x 72.4 x 8.8 mm (5.52 x 2.85 x 0.35 in)
Weight: 146 g (5.15 oz)
SIM: Micro-SIM
Display Type: IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size: 5.0 inches (~67.9% screen-to-body ratio)a
Resolution: 540 x 960 pixels (~220 ppi pixel density)
Multitouch: Yes
Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 3
OS: Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 200
CPU: Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7
GPU: Adreno 302
Card slot: microSD, up to 128 GB
Internal: 8 GB, 1 GB RAM
Primary Camera: 5 MP, 2592 x 1936 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Features: 1/4” sensor size, geo-tagging
Video: 480p@30fps
Secondary Camera: 5 MP
Battery: Li-Ion 1905 mAh battery (BL-L4A)
Stand-by: Up to 552 h
Talk time: Up to 11 h (2G) / Up to 13 h (3G)

Come in 4 colours but I went for black. Should get orange hahaha…

There isn’t much good things to say about this phone though. Aside from being a Windows Phone which is what I’ve been looking for, not heavy on the processing. Very straight forward and easy to use. I prefer the GUI of Windows Phone. Take great video even in low light; take great photos when the lighting is sufficient. The audio is awesome too.

The cons are a lot more than the pros.

In the camera mode, the sub menu cannot be pulled out. Tried a lot of times, only came out by luck if you swiped on the right spot. I have no idea where’s the spot. This is known problem and it’s not fixed till now. Was told that the fix will come but till now nothing fixed. There’s quite a number of updates already on the OS. Not hardware problem.

The three buttons down there only came out when swiped the bottom of the screen. Why don’t just placed them down there rather than leaving that area empty. Refer to the photo on the right, my old HTC on the right and Lumia on the left. If you get what I meant.

If only it’s smaller, I don’t like this big phone even though this is considered standard size these days.

Internal memory is too small, apps cannot be installed into the microSD, you need to install an app for it first before you can do that but I can’t seem to find which one.

Sometimes the tiles will be deactivated for no reason and the app cannot be opened. Sometimes it will fixed on its own; sometimes just delete the tile and re-pin to start screen; if all failed, it will reinstall required.

The phone would go bonkers with the apps from time to time and the only way to fix it is to reformat the whole thing and start from scratch. Previously, few apps couldn’t be used, tiles were deactivated all at the same time. Now, the current problem I’m facing, the camera app, set as “no flash” yet when I took photo, the flash just came on. Too much work to reformat the phone again. Let it be. Until more problems arise, I’ll reformat again.

The camera is bad in taking photo in low light situation. The front camera too. I never need to edit my selfies with previous phone but this is even with full makeup, you still looked sickly pale. Need a lot of light to get good selfie without looking sick. Even one of the editing apps is hard to find. Sometimes I can find it but most of the time I couldn’t find the app I wanted to use. Don’t remember what’s the app called but you can actually enlarge your eyes, enhance your smile and so on with that app. It’s quite fun actually, till now I have no idea where to pull it out *LOL*

After taking photo, it will not give you chance preview. Will have to click on the preview button to see it. Not user friendly.

The buttons at the side are easily pressed by accident.

The cover isn’t well-fit. Could feel that it’s loose when you’re tapping on the phone. Only way to fix it, I got a casing for it.

Overall, I won’t recommend anyone to get this phone unless you don’t mind all those shortfalls. As for me, I will still stick to it until it’s time to change a new one. I don’t regret buying it, enough for me to use and it’s cheap, so be it. Let’s see how long it will last. My previous phone lasted for 4 years.