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Microsoft Lumia 550 review

7/10 AVG.
RATING
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Microsoft Lumia 550
Microsoft Lumia 550
Microsoft Lumia 550
Microsoft Lumia 550
Microsoft Lumia 550
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7/10
Informr score
The Microsoft Lumia 550 currently has an Informr score of 7 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 3 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Price
  • Display
  • microSD support
  • 4G LTE

What's bad

  • Limited internal storage
  • Lackluster front-facing camera
  • Bland design
  • Windows 10 is a personal taste issue

Microsoft hopes to win new fans for Windows 10 and uphold the Nokia legacy with the release of the Lumia 550. With its affordable pricing and respectable specifications, it seems to bring a touch of mid-market performance to those with entry-level budgets.

If you’re looking for an entry level Windows phone does will the 550 make the cut? Let’s see what the reviews are saying!

The Lumia design has always been minimalist and understated. The 550 makes no changes to this trend. With a blocky design, a plastic shell and two color options, it’s about as minimal as things get. TechRadar notes, “With its preponderance of straight lines and matte plastic, the Lumia 550 is likely to be greeted by phone fans who place a premium on style with an audible "meh".

Heading around to the front of the phone, you’ll find a 4.7-inch 720p screen. TechRadar call the screen “one of the highlights of the device.” While Recombu put it through its paces and found, “Brightness levels aren’t too strong, which poses a minor problem in harsh sunlight.” Reviews pointed out that text, video and other common items showed ample detail but that a lack of screen treatment led to serious glare and smudge issues.

The phone uses a 1.1GHz quad-core Snapdragon 220 processor to keep apps running smoothly. Reviews indicate that the phone isn’t a powerhouse by any stretch but good enough for basic daily productivity, social media apps and media consumption. Windows Central notes, “You're not going to be playing any intense games on it with the greatest experience, but for most things it'll handle whatever you throw at it just fine.” With only 1GB of RAM, multitasking reviews don’t fare any better.

The phone offers 8GB of internal storage for your apps, videos and music. Unfortunately, Windows 10 and the pre-loaded apps take up 5GB, leaving a scant 3GB for loading your own things. GSM Arena said, “A microSD card will be an obligatory purchase with every Lumia 550.”

Powered by a 2100mAh battery, reviews on battery life are mixed. MS Power User said, “The battery life on this device is par for the course, it lasted almost a whole day of medium use (messaging, Reddit, Twitter), only being charged at nighttime. For the price, I have no complaints.” This is a major difference from the finding at TechRadar, who “found that the handset needed charging up to three times a day during intensive periods of use.” If you’re a heavy phone user, reviews seem to point to needing a spare battery. Fortunately, the battery in the Lumia 550 is removable.

Love taking pictures? The Lumia 550 offers a 5MP rear camera and a 2MP front-facing lens. Reviews on the rear camera are positive with MS Power User saying, “The rear snapper takes OK pictures, it is somewhat slow to focus and no frills on this camera means that you are pretty much limited to taking bad-average images in good light with some bright spots here and there.” Some reviews noted that the front-facing camera had issues with focus and details, but at only 2MP, the camera is likely best for video chats and social images only.
Overall, reviews are a mixed bag. Reviews found the phone design and performance adequate, but the experience was less than stellar for anything more than basic tasks. Pair this with personal opinions on Windows 10 and it might be a good idea to find a place you can try the phone before committing.

Windows Central summed up reviews best, saying, “As a cheap phone it's mostly great news. The hardware is solid and ticks most of the right boxes. But as with the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, its the software that lets us down. Windows 10 Mobile, for all the innovation it brings, still doesn't feel like it's ready for a consumer product.”


Windows
Operating system
Operating system
Windows
1.1 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.1 GHz
4.7"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.7"
5+ MP
Camera
Camera
5+ MP
2100 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Notebookcheck
Notebookcheck

Overall, the Lumia 550 is a decent smartphone at a bargain price, which is fast enough for routine use and which offers good equipment in form of a decent screen, LTE, micro-SD slot and removable battery for the small budget.

- Florian Wimmer, Notebookcheck
TechRadar
TechRadar

With a good camera, a nice screen and decent speakers, the well-built Lumia 550 makes a solid first impression.

- Sean Cameron, TechRadar
WPCentral
WPCentral

The Microsoft Lumia 550 is a decent cheap phone hit with the same issues as its more expensive sibling.

- Richard Devine, WPCentral


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Microsoft Lumia 550 user manual here.


Microsoft backs up the Lumia 550 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Lumia 550 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Microsoft support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Microsoft's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
4.7"

The Microsoft Lumia 550's screen size is 4.7 inches with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.1 GHz

There is a Qualcomm MSM8909 Snapdragon 210 Quad core 1.1 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Windows 10 operating system (OS).

Camera
5+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 5+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 2+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
8 GB

Internal memory is 8 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 200 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2100mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2100 mAh battery. Microsoft's performance ratings are 960 minutes, 600 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Lumia 550 Specs

Overview
Release Date December 14, 2015
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Windows 10

Compare Windows Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm MSM8909 Snapdragon 210 Quad core 1.1 GHz
Internal Storage 8 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.82 W/kg
Body: 0.62 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery, Headset
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 200 GB)
NFC No
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Zoom
2x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Geotagging, Self-timer, White balance, Exposure
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
HD (1280 x 720 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
VGA (640 x 480 pixels)
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels
Pixel Density 315 pixels
Size 4.7 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2100 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 426 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 600 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 960 minutes
Standby Time Up to 28 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black, White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 13.6 x 6.8 x 1 cm (5.4 x 2.7 x 0.4 in)
Weight 142 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
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Additional Information Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Microsoft Lumia 550 Reviews
Where to buy Microsoft Lumia 550
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