Review in pictures

Nokia Lumia 530

Compact device embodies Lumia's colourful persona

• Quite similar to its predecessor in terms of design from the front

• Skips capacitive navigation keys in favour of on-screen buttons

• The rear is more curved as compared to the Lumia 520, and offers good handling with its matte texture

• Available in multiple hues just like other Lumia devices

The display leaves a lot to be desired

• Bears a 4-inch display with a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels • Looks fine at first glance, but there’s noticeable pixelation • Due to the reflective screen, it’s difficult to read outdoors • Unlike the Lumia 520, the 530 misses out on a layer of scratch-

resistant glass as well as a pressure-sensitive mode • Also misses out on proximity and ambient light sensors

A barebones camera…

• Just like other budget Lumia’s, this one has a lone 5-megapixel camera at the back without LED flash

• Because of its fixed focus mechanism, you can’t change its focus to another object

• Nokia Camera app gives you tons of options to manipulate image settings by choosing between Auto and Pro mode

… that results in decent image quality

• In adequate lighting, the images are quite good for sharing between friends and family

• Can shoot videos only in 480p, which is a step down from the 720p video recording available on the Lumia 520

Windows Phone 8.1 brings the platform at par with the competition

• Runs Windows Phone 8.1, offering a number of new features

• First and foremost is the Action Centre allowing you to quickly toggle settings like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as access notifications

• You can apply a custom background to the start screen and fit in an extra column of tiles

• Word Flow keyboard allows swipe-to-type gestures

But still suffers from the app gap

• The device is preloaded with useful apps from Nokia such as MixRadio, HERE maps, etc.

• Some Indian apps like BookMyShow and Snapdeal also come preloaded

• Windows Phone 8.1 also gets a suite of Sense apps providing control over Wi-Fi and cellular data consumption, as well as storage

• But it’s still not good enough for those who are invested in the Google ecosystem or want access to the latest apps

Churns out decent performance

• At its heart beats a quad-core Snapdragon 200 processor clocked at 1.2GHz along with an Adreno 302 GPU

• While the processor is better than that on the Lumia 520, the GPU is a shade lower than the Adreno 305 graphics unit

• Gets 512MB RAM, which works well on the not-so resource-hungry WP • Offers smooth performance even while playing games like Asphalt 8:

Airborne

Skimps on the storage department

• Comes with 4GB of internal storage, unlike the 8GB loaded on the Lumia 520

• Just 1.3GB is available to the end user

• Thankfully, apps and content can be transferred to the microSD card

• However, without the microSD card, the device is barely usable

Clocks in average battery life, but good for those who want dual-SIM capability

• Sips juice from a 1,410mAh removable battery

• Manages to last a day with light usage

• However, turn on 3G or use it for navigation, and battery drops rapidly

• The Lumia 530 is the most affordable WP8.1 handset with dual-SIM capability

• Other connectivity features include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS

At a glance

• 4-inch display, 854 x 480 pixels (245ppi)

• 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor

• 512MB RAM • 4GB internal storage,

expandable up to 128GB • 5MP primary camera • Dual-SIM 3G support (in first

SIM slot only), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS

• 1,430mAh detachable battery • Windows Phone 8.1 with Nokia

Cyan update

- • Poor display • Misses proximity and

ambient light sensors

• No front camera • No LED flash

Pros and cons

+ • Good design • Dual-SIM

functionality

Pricing and verdict

“While the Lumia 520 was one of the best-selling smartphones of the last year, its successor fails

to exceed the expectations set by it. In fact, apart from a few features like a quad-core processor and dual-SIM

functionality, the Lumia 530 seems like a downgrade. It also faces tough competition from

the upcoming Micromax Canvas Win W092, as well as superb

Android devices like the Xiaomi Redmi 1s and ASUS Zenfone 4”

~ Rs 6,500 (online price)