Update 13-8-2013: Microsoft has officially launched Lumia 530 in India for 7, 349 INR
On Wednesday, Windows Phone 8.1 based Lumia 530 smartphone went official. The handset will come with an optional dual SIM support, but it will arrive later. The device is slated to release sometime in August bearing a reasonable price tag of $115 (approx. Rs 6,890). Let us take a look at the quick review of the Lumia 530 for those who are interested in buying the device.
Camera and Storage
The camera unit at the back of the Lumia 530 is a 5 MP one 480p video recording. The handset becomes a weak contender when it comes to its imaging department as there is no front-facing snapper. This makes the handset struggle in terms of its photography capabilities leaving users impossible to make video calls and click selfies that is the current trend.
The native storage capacity of the handset is 4 GB and it can be further expanded by another 128 GB with the help of a micro SD card slot. Microsoft is providing up to 15 GB of OneDrive cloud storage space to backup the content as the other Windows Phone 8.1 offerings. Thought the 4 GB haters will not like this handset due to its low internal storage space, the support for cloud storage resolves this issue. Moreover, the handset supports transferring the downloaded applications to the micro SD card that is an added advantage.
Processor and Battery
The device is based on Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 chipset that houses a quad-core that ticks at 1.2 GHz and Adreno 302 graphics unit. This chipset is being used in most of the latest Android entry-level models and hence it should deliver a decent performance. Also, there is a low 512 MB of RAM onboard that is suffice for the Windows Phone 8.1 OS to sail through efficiently.
The battery unit energizing the Lumia 530 is a 1,430 mAh one that s rated to deliver a decent backup of 10 hours of talk time, 528 hours of standby time and 51 hours of music playing.
Display and Features
The Lumia 530 uses a 4 inch display that packs WVGA screen resolution of 480×854 pixels resulting in a pixel density of 245 pixels per inch. Being a low-end smartphone, the handset arrives with a basic display, but this is devoid the ClearBlack display technology that is featured by the mid-range and high-end Lumia smartphones. In addition, many of the Android smartphones in the entry-level segment arrive with Corning Gorilla Glass coating and this is another downside of the latest Lumia phone.
The handset runs on Windows Phone 8.1 and arrives with connectivity features such as 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and micro USB. The dual SIM variant of the device that is in tow to be launched soon arrives with Smart Dual SIM feature. Unlike the Drive navigational service, the Lumia 530 comes with Nokia Drive+ feature supporting international navigation.
Comparison
The Lumia 530 will be a stiff competitor to the Android devices such as Moto G, Xiaomi Redmi 1S and Asus Zenfone 4.
Key Specs
| Model | Nokia Lumia 530 |
| Display | 4 inch, 480×854 |
| Processor | 1.2 GHz Quad Core Snapdragon 200 |
| RAM | 512 MB |
| Internal Storage | 4 GB, Expandable up to 128 GB |
| OS | Windows Phone 8.1 |
| Camera | 5 MP |
| Battery | 1,430 mAh |
| Price | 7,349 INR |
What we Like
- Support for OneDrive cloud storage and 128 GB of additional storage
- Nokia Drive+ with international navigation
- Quad Core chipset
What we Dislike
- Low internal storage
- Lack of front-facer for video calling
Price and Conclusion
The Nokia Lumia 530 is a good smartphone in the low-end market segment that is believed to be priced reasonably. It has to be noted that the device will arrives with some impressive specifications that make it an attractive offering. But, it has to be noted that the low internal storage capacity and poor photography capabilities of the device are a major downside to it. Expect for these drawbacks, the Lumia 530 will definitely be able to render a good competition to the already existing smartphones with similar specifications.
