Nokia Lumia 635 UK SIM-Free Windows Smartphone - Green (4.5-inch, 8GB, 4G)

I'm really liking this phone. I'm changing over from a HTC Wildfire (which is probably 3-4 years old now) and don't have a lot of experience of smartphones, so this review won't be particularly technical! Things I like: - it starts up very quickly - Word Flow typing and its predictive text are really good - very few errors, esp. compared to what I am used to. - graphics are very fluid, sliding from one screen to the next is almost pleasurable! - I like the calendar - easy to use and view. - it's a Nokia! Always liked the regular Nokia phones - hard-wearing and intuitive to use. I'm pleased Nokia are getting up to speed with Smartphones. - I like the sound and picture quality when streaming (I've only used over WiFi not mobile internet). Things I think Nokia/Windows could improve: - Available Apps. There are a lot of apps out there, but there are a few that I haven't found, e.g. ColorNote (although Office's OneNote is coming in handy as a replacement). Of course, this may not actually be down to Nokia/Windows but the people who actually develop the apps. - I think the settings menu could be tidied up a little. - The phone doesn't have a flash...but most photos seem to come out OK. I suppose it depends on the environment, and ultimately, if you are used to a phone that is just a phone, you will still be pleased with the camera. Camera is easy to use. - Both this phone and the previous smartphone I have used need the phone to be switched on for the alarm to work. I loved the days when I could save battery life by switching the phone off at night yet still knowing the alarm would go off. I have a feeling this is true of all smartphones and I guess it's to do with everything being an "app" these days, but it would be nice if there was some way of getting the alarms to work when the phone is off (I'm sure there is such a way!). I'm used to using Alarm Clock Xtreme, which has a lot of settings for snoozing, etc (terrible habit, I know!). Can't find the app for this phone, so am using the standard alarm. Snooze time is 10 min. Things I've worked out that maybe, like me, not everyone will know when moving to this phone: - to take a screenshot, press both side buttons simultaneously (I'd never known how to take screenshots on a phone before) - to customise your Home screen, press on a tile and they all begin to 'float'. You can remove, change the size and move tiles to suit your needs. To add a tile from your apps list, press down on the app entry and then select Pin to Start. - Quite a few of the pre-installed apps (which more often than not I tend to find aren't necessary for my use) can be uninstalled. I don't know if they are truly uninstalled or just go hiding somewhere, but it helps to reduce the number of apps I have to scroll through on my app list. - hold down the <- arrow to view all the windows you have open. At first I was annoyed that I couldn't, say, come out of a google search without having to repeat the search...then I discovered this function! Not the tidiest of reviews, I admit, but I hope this helps people who are moving over to the Nokia Lumia models. I'm really pleased I have made the move, and really like this phone. For the price, I don't think you could expect more really (I've seen the cost of higher spec models and iphones, etc.!) - this phone does a hell of a lot and nicely too :-) I guess these days, mobile phones are less about being phones and more about being everything you need whilst on the go! EDIT - forgot to say, it doesn't come with a USB cable if you want to connect to PC - I haven't got that far yet! I paid £119 on 12/09/14. Arrived on SUNDAY (!) 14/09/14. Great delivery service. Was sold by Amazon when I purchased.

while the phone itself is nice and works well the operating system (OS) is windows 8.1 mobile and is no longer supported by microsoft. the Nokia Lumina 635 with 1 gig of ram is eligable for a free upgrade to windows 10 mobile but this version (512MB ram) is too low specs for the upgrade and so is essentially obsolete technology for a windows mobile OS. hense why i don't recommend anyone buy it.

Cheap enough but not exactly brilliant for storing your stylus. Also no instructions for placing the screen protector on correctly. I did what I considered to be correct but it was useless as all that happened is bubbles appeared all over the place and some small particles and ruined it. The pen is ok, but never use it simply because its not really viable to store in the case. The case itself is good enough, it protects the mobile. But be aware of getting damp or wet as I believe there is cardboard built in and will get mouldy. Overall good enough for price and would recommend

I have to admit that I was a little skeptical about buying this phone, especially considering the price tag and the Windows operating system. I have an iPhone 4s which I use for work and wanted something else for personal use. The 635 is a perfect size; slim and lightweight with great graphics and a vivid color display which is better than the iPhone (in my opinion) in direct sunlight. I like the fact that I can individualize the home screen and have an up to date basic view of all applications (email, calendar and social media etc) without having to open each of them individually. The camera produces good quality pictures and has some nice options for shooting in different modes/scenes. Battery life is very good for a smart phone. It can survive a full day of pretty heavy usage and charges fairly quickly too. My only gripe (and I'm picking to be constructive) is that it's not quite as responsive as my iPhone. Some of the applications take a second longer to load and there is no front camera, which in all reality, I never use anyway! Overall, excellent value for money.

Let me start this review by saying that this phone takes a MICRO SIM. Also, although it has only 8GB storage, it can be expanded through MicroSD cards. I currently have a 64GB card in my phone I purchased through Amazon. Now, the phone itself looks very much like an iPhone 5c in appearance. It has a slick black front and a very colourful back. Thus can be changed by purchasing different colours that can be snapped on with ease. The volume and power/lock buttons can be used easily if you hold the phone by the left or right hand as they are located just on the right hand side. When I first took the phone out of the box, I was surprised by how light the phone feels. I understand that Microsoft were here to make an affordable phone, but to a certain extent I daresay it feels... "Cheap". If you want a phone that works with all Microsoft products across the board, that's affordable, stylish, speak and just works. I suggest you buy this phone. You won't regret it... *Unless you want to play "Candy Crush" as that isn't in the store* It includes alot of apps that allow you to rent/buy movies, music and games from an app store. The Windows software means that you could start watching a movie on the phone, then continue watching it when you get home on your Xbox360/One. You could even write a document at work, save it to your "One Drive" cloud account, then use the phone to alter the document. Your iTunes store downloads can be copied across to the phone, (from your computer), as it converts them beforehand. I love how this phone syncs with any other Microsoft products as well. For example, I can enter something into my calendar on the phone, and it will appear on the tablet ot Windows 8 PC. The app store is improving. You can now find popular apps such as 'Instagram' and 'Vine', and some more unofficial versions of 'Snapchat', 'Twitch' and others. You can find games that will earn you Xbox Gamerscore as well. I've unlocked lots of achievements on my phone by playing Angry Birds for xbox and so on.

UPDATE July 2019. Microsoft no longer supporting this phone, so WhatsApp won't work. Great shame, it's a nice simple and reliable phone, but now need to buy two new (Android) phones. This is our second Lumia 635. We still have the first, its about two and half years old now and still working absolutely perfectly. This second phone is for my wife. She had an Android before, but neither of us could get on with the over-complex home screen and operating system. (Update in June 2018 - our original phone is now four and a half years old! And still working perfectly.) The Lumia 635 runs Windows 8.1 - and its a total joy to use. Its so intuitive, easy and thoroughly logical. And the great things is - when you have two Windows phones, and Windows 10 PCs and laptops - all your contacts are automatically synchronised. Phone numbers, addresses, email addresses the same, immediately, on all devices. Its the perfect solution. UPDATE (June 2018). Windows 8.1 is still the latest Microsoft version of Windows for Phones. So this phone is still 100% current. Its still runs the latest version of WhatsApp too. One minor negative is Internet Explorer. Its too slow and bulky. I installed the Opera app which is MUCH faster and uncluttered. I recommend anybody to do the same. The phone has a USB port so I can transfer all my data to a computer, and the Nokia Suite app for Windows PC lets you manage the phone features too. Reasonable number of apps available for Windows too. And the Lumia 635 is a solid, well made phone that has lasted the course. Thoroughly recommended, and would definitely buy again. And if you also own a Windows PC or laptop, a Windows phone is the logical choice. Microsoft have really got the integration sorted. In fact I would not buy another Android - Windows is far better.

No front camera. No flash on rear camera. Camera diabolical. Cannot download anything through the store that you could for Android. Impossible to download Google Play - Windows does not allow it. No Amazon music - which stores all music ever purchased through Amazon (for me - a lot). Phone was also faulty. Thought battery faulty when I got the phone. Amazon kindly credited my account to purchase a new battery, but same problem. Tried my battery in friend's identical phone, my battery in his phone lasted over a week and theirs in mine less than a day. 7 months later the phone started crashing on me and turning itself off. Called Amazon who amazingly offered a full refund as they could see from their notes that I had been having problems from the beginning. Thank you Amazon. I have now been able to get a much better phone (Samsung - never going back to Windows. I'm Android through and through)

I will be returning this mobile because unfortunately the keys on the left hand side Q, A & the two keys below did not work when the mobile was held in a vertical position. When I turned it round to landscape the image did not turn round. This phone claims to go landscape. I checked it was set correctly to do this. However, I found that sometimes it changed. sometimes not. The main problem was that I needed to sign into Microsoft. I could not do this because the above keys would not work when the mobile was held vertically. I did a factory reset twice. I tried resolving it through the Nokia website which I must say was very comprehensive. I could not get this problem solved despite hours trying all sorts of possible solutions. Obviously the phone is just faulty. I will not be asking for a replacement. I recently bought a Kindle Fire and in comparison in navigation, ease clarity of screen etc the KF is far superior to this Nokia 635. Obviously, if all the keys had worked I would have kept the phone.It was very good value at half price.