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Microsoft Lumia 435 review

6.7/10 AVG.
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Microsoft Lumia 435
Microsoft Lumia 435
Microsoft Lumia 435
Microsoft Lumia 435
Microsoft Lumia 435
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6.7/10
Informr score
The Microsoft Lumia 435 currently has an Informr score of 6.7 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 12 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Affordable price tag
  • Good battery life
  • Cortana support
  • Front facing camera inclusion
  • Good sunlight legibility

What's bad

  • Limited onboard storage
  • Poor main camera quality
  • Stutters and lag during processor intensive apps
  • No multi-tasking
  • Low res screen

The Lumia line has its share of budget phones, but the Lumia 435 takes the cake as one of the cheapest. The low price tag is meant to lure in people those who would normally buy a feature phone due to their lower costs. It sports the same bright color options as the rest of the line though it is fairly thick at 0.5 inches and weighs quite a bit (134 grams) considering its overall size of 4.6 x 2.6 inches. Despite this, experts were surprised how comfortable it was to hold, though some did find the edges too sharp for their tastes. They also point out that while it might be a budget phone it had a solid build quality and did not creak or flex under pressure.

With that said the low price tag means Microsoft did need to cut some corners in terms of specs, most notably the screen. With no Gorilla Glass protection the screen will be more likely to crack or shatter when dropped. After short usage sessions, critics noticed the screen was covered in fingerprints and smudges making it necessary for them to wipe quite often. At four inches, it is much smaller than many other smartphones in its price range and yet it only offers a resolution of 480 x 800 for a pixel density of 233ppi. Since it is does not even offer HD resolution, it is no surprise critics noticed lack of details in pictures, fuzziness around icons and less than vibrant colors. Luckily, they found the overall sunlight legibility to be good enough though viewing angles were less than stellar with light levels and colors fading away when viewed in any direction besides straight on.

It should come as no surprise that the internal specs are fairly basic: a dual core 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM. For the most part critics only had the occasional lag when swiping through the homepage and opening apps. The problem became more severe once they started playing 3D games making many of the newer games practically unplayable. It also only comes with 8GB of internal storage though it does offer a microSD slot and it does not support 4G. The small 1,560mAh battery lasted reviewers around 16-hours with moderate usage thanks to the lower powered screen and processor. As an added bonus, the battery is also removable so you can carry spare charged batteries for those times you know you won't be near a charger and outlet. While the phone might be low on specs, it does support Cortana – Microsoft's voice assistant – as well as the standard Microsoft apps of Office, OneDrive and OneNote.

Like the rest of the phone, the 2MP rear camera is unimpressive. The fact it is fixed focus also disappointed many critics as most of their pictures turned out blurry and lacked fine detail even in good lighting situations. Still, they add the pictures did have decent color reproduction and dynamic range. While it does not come with a flash, the 435 does add a 0.3MP front camera, a rarity among budget smartphones, for selfies and video calls.

Although long-time smartphone users won't give the Lumia 435 a second-glance, these aren't the people Microsoft is targeting. Instead, it is meant to attract first time owners. In that respect, reviewers believe the 435 is successful in its goal. ZDNet states, "Cheap the Lumia 435 is, but throw-away it is not…" All About Windows Phones adds, "…the 435 claims the bottom line of the Lumia stack with a vengeance…"


Windows Phone
Operating system
Operating system
Windows Phone
1.2 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.2 GHz
4"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4"
2+ MP
Camera
Camera
2+ MP
1560 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


TechRadar
TechRadar

The Microsoft Lumia 435 is a funny little phone. With its eye-catching looks and a sturdy, comfortable design, it makes a great first impression. In day-to-day use, this mostly remains. Navigating the OS is a relatively painless affair and listening to music is something of a treat. The fact that th...

- Sean Cameron, TechRadar
Softpedia
Softpedia

If you’re looking for a cheap smartphone, this is it. If you’re looking for something more stylish, more unique, and more powerful, look somewhere else. In essence, it’s a phone for young people. Or for those who feel young.The Lumia 435 is the kind of device that soccer moms would...

- Bogdan Popa, Softpedia
Geek Squad
Geek Squad

It can be a bit tricky to review budget handsets when you’ve been spoiled by the big-hitters. It’s important to put all those silky-smooth processors and HD screens to the back of your mind and focus on what the phone actually offers, not what’s missing. I wasn’t expecting to...

- Mark Lee, Geek Squad
WMPoweruser
WMPoweruser

The Lumia 435 is a decent device for its price, it comes with a good display, decent processing power. However, if you're looking for great cameras on your next smartphone, the Lumia 435 is probably not the best device. The battery life of the Lumia 435 is also pretty good, but it could've been bett...

- Mehedi Hassan, WMPoweruser
TrustedReviews
TrustedReviews

The Lumia 435 would make an ok first phone or travel burner, but there better Android phones out there. Battery life is paramount at this price and the Lumia 435’s battery is no more than average, while the app selection remains patchy.If you can’t afford pricier phones like the excellen...

- Jon Devo, TrustedReviews


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Microsoft Lumia 435 user manual here.


Microsoft backs up the Lumia 435 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Lumia 435 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"

The Microsoft Lumia 435's screen size is 4 inches with 480 x 800 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.2 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 Dual core 1.2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Windows Phone 8.1 operating system (OS).

Camera
2+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 2+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with VGA (640 x 480) resolution.

Storage
8 GB

Internal memory is 8 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
1560mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 1560 mAh battery. Microsoft's performance ratings are 1254 minutes, 564 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Lumia 435 Specs

Overview
Release Date February 7, 2015
Regions Available Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Windows Phone 8.1

Compare Windows Phone Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 Dual core 1.2 GHz
Internal Storage 8 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.58 W/kg
Body: 0.54 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+
Mobile / Cellular Data
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Micro-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
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 128 GB)
NFC No
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Geotagging
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
VGA (640 x 480)+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 480 x 800 pixels
Pixel Density 233 pixels
Size 4 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 1560 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 396 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 564 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1254 minutes
Standby Time Up to 21 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black, White, Green, Orange
Dimensions [H x W x D] 11.8 x 6.5 x 1.2 cm (4.6 x 2.6 x 0.5 in)
Weight 134 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 Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA):

Also available in a dual-SIM model.

Related Links Manual (PDF)
Microsoft Lumia 435 Reviews
Where to buy Microsoft Lumia 435
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