Microsoft Lumia 535 Comprehensive Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Design and Build

The Microsoft Lumia 535 was introduced in November 2014 and made its entry into the market in December of the same year. Its design, albeit straightforward, was seen as modern for its time, following a simplistic form factor often seen in Lumia devices. The dimensions of the Lumia 535 are 140.2 x 72.4 x 8.8 mm, and it weighs in at 146 grams. The phone offered users a colorful palette with options available in orange, green, white, black, gray, and blue. The rounded edges and polycarbonate back gave it a distinctive look, while maintaining good ergonomics for comfortable handling.

Display

The device comes equipped with a 5.0-inch IPS LCD display, with a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels and approximately 220 ppi density. Though not Full HD, the display offers vibrant colors and decent brightness levels, making it suitable for everyday tasks such as browsing, texting, and casual media consumption. Additionally, the screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, providing some degree of resistance against scratches and drops.

Performance and Platform

The Lumia 535 is powered by a quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 processor, integrated into the Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 chipset. Although not high-end by today's standards, this provided adequate performance for the apps and services available at the time. It also features an Adreno 302 GPU, which could handle basic graphical tasks efficiently.

Originally, the Lumia 535 operated on Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1, but users were given the option to upgrade to Microsoft Windows 10, enhancing the longevity of the device by introducing new features and functionalities.

Storage and Memory

Storage-wise, the phone offers 8GB of internal storage, supplemented by a microSDXC card slot for additional storage needs. The inclusion of a dedicated memory card slot allows users to expand storage significantly, which was a plus point for those who wanted more space for apps, photos, and media. Additionally, it comes with 1GB of RAM, making multitasking reasonable enough for its category.

Camera

On the camera front, the Lumia 535 was equipped with dual 5MP lenses. The primary rear camera lens has an aperture of f/2.4 and an autofocus feature, supported by an LED flash for low-light conditions. It is capable of recording video at 480p at 30fps. The front-facing camera also featured a 5MP sensor, aimed at providing satisfactory quality for selfies and video calls.

Battery Life

The Lumia 535 houses a removable Li-Ion 1905 mAh battery. Despite its modest capacity, the phone's energy-efficient hardware allows for decent battery life. It provides up to 552 hours on standby, approximately 11 hours of talk time on 2G networks and 13 hours on 3G networks, along with up to 78 hours of continuous music play. The removable battery design also means users could swap batteries easily, if needed.

Connectivity and Audio

Connectivity options on the Lumia 535 include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP and LE, microUSB 2.0, and GPS with GLONASS support. It also includes an FM radio for local radio access. However, it lacks NFC capabilities, which in 2014 was slowly becoming a desired feature. For audio, the device maintains traditional features such as a 3.5mm headphone jack and a loudspeaker.

Sensors and Additional Features

The Lumia 535 is fitted with essential sensors including an accelerometer and a proximity sensor, enabling basic phone functionalities and user interactions. The absence of more advanced sensors like a gyroscope or ambient light sensor is noticeable, but not unexpected for a phone in its original price range.

Price and Availability

At its release, the Lumia 535 was priced at approximately 80 EUR, aligning well with its features and target market as a budget-friendly smartphone. As of now, the device has been discontinued, but it remains a part of the legacy of Microsoft's venture into the smartphone market with its distinctive operating system and design philosophy.

Conclusion

Reflecting on the Microsoft Lumia 535, it's clear that the device succeeded in catering to budget-conscious consumers seeking a reliable, user-friendly smartphone. With its vibrant display, modest hardware, and Windows Phone OS, it offered a unique user experience. Though outpaced by modern technology, the Lumia 535 remains a testament to Microsoft's endeavor to provide affordable, efficient mobile solutions during its era.