What's good
- Large display offers good Windows 8 OS experience
- Fast 4G LTE connection
- Decent 5 megapixel camera
What's bad
- Poor pixel density and screen resolution
- Absence of ClearBlack technology
- Middling processor performance
The Lumia 625 joins Nokia's mid-range handset market alongside the Lumia 520 and Lumia 620. Although Nokia markets the 620 as a budget phone, the device sports a couple impressive features.
First up is the display. At 4.7 inches, it has one of the largest screens available in the Nokia lineup. Due to the larger screen real-estate reviewers found it easier to navigate around the Windows menus and using the onscreen keyboard. Since the screen is so large the 800 x 480 resolution results in a very low pixel density of 201ppi. Most experts noticed lack of detail when browsing the web or viewing HD quality images.
Aside from the poor resolution, the device also does not utilize ClearBlack technology. Reviewers immediately noticed its absence as black edges on the screen and above the soft keys looked dark blue. Unfortunately, the colors washed out even further as experts attempted to view the display from various angles.
The second notable feature of the phone is its 4G LTE connection. When connected, experts report download speeds of 100Mbps and upload speeds of 50Mbps. If LTE is not available, it also connects to HSDPA, which offers a decent 42Mbps download speed. As with all smartphones, this one also offers single-band Wi-Fi.
With a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 512GB of RAM, the Lumia 625 doesn't top any benchmark tests, but most critics found it fast enough to run Windows 8 and basic apps smoothly. Once reviewers started testing out more intensive apps, the device lagged significantly.
In addition to the processor and RAM, the device sports 8GB of internal memory, 7GB of cloud storage and a microSD slot. Unfortunately critics discovered that the phone does not have WP file manager, so any unrecognizable files like ZIP or RARs can only be accessed via a computer.
On the back you'll find a 5 megapixel camera. Although it certainly doesn't stack up to the 41MP of the Lumia 1020, GSM Arena says that it fares "surprisingly well as far as image quality is concerned." In both low and bright light conditions, the camera exceeded most critics' expectations by producing excellent contrast, color and dynamic range. Expert Reviews did notice a loss of detail when zooming in, however.
As a whole, reviewers were left unimpressed by the device. The Next Web says the phone "leaves me with little impression of anything whatsoever. It's about as middle-of-the-road as you can get…" V3 adds to the sentiment by saying, "…the device is fairly dull…we can't really see the 625 enticing too many new users to the Windows Phone ecosystem."
What the Critics Are Saying...
- James Peckham, Know Your MobileIf you’re looking for a 4G enabled phone on a budget, Nokia’s Lumia 625 is the way to go. It brings about super-fast internet alongside everything else you need from a basic smartphone for just a smidgen over the £100 mark.Nokia has definitely improved the Lumia 620 with a bigger b...
- James Rogerson, TechRadarThe Nokia Lumia 625 is a bit of a mixed bag. In some ways it's a definite improvement over the Nokia Lumia 620 - thanks to better battery life and 4G support. But in other ways it's actually possibly worse. The screen for example, while bigger, is a lot less sharp and the price tag is quite a lot hi...
- Mobile88 team, Mobile88A colorful Lumia with the largest screen in the series and 4G LTE-capable. Really, what more can you ask for? For those wanting to try out a Windows Phone smartphone but are unwilling to burn a hole in their pocket, the Nokia Lumia 625 is a very good choice to consider.
- Kunal Gangar, Tech TickerNokia’s target market with the Lumia 625 is pretty clear – it goes for the consumers who require a large screen Lumia experience. The Windows Phone 8 powering the device maybe the same as other Lumias but Nokia makes this offering attractive by pre-loading the Lumia Amber update along wi...
- Chris Martin, Tech AdvisorThe Nokia Lumia 625 is a big, bright and colourful Windows Phone 8 handset. If you're looking for a 4G capable smartphone on a budget then this is a great buy. It has good build and performance but has limited internal storage and a mediocre camera.
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Nokia Lumia 625 user manual here.
Nokia backs up the Lumia 625 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Lumia 625 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Nokia support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Nokia'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.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Nokia Lumia 625 Manual (PDF)
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