Microsoft Lumia 640 XL Dual SIM review: Size matters

Unboxing the Lumia 640 XL

Lumia 640 XL comes in a big and heavy box, but it offers very little in terms of content. In addition to the Lumia itself, you get only a single-piece 750mA charger. There is no USB cable or a headset included, of course that may as well vary according to the region.

The retail package

Lumia 640 XL 360-degree spin

Microsoft Lumia 640 XL measures 157.9 x 81.5 x 9mm and weighs 171g. This means the phone is about half a centimeter shorter and narrower and 40g lighter than the biggest Lumia there is - the 6" 1520 model. And the Lumia 1520 is a slab.

We are not sure if it's just us, but we're slowly warming for the 5.5-inch screen form factor and the Lumia 640XL was a breeze to handle.

Design and build quality

There isn't much place for innovation when it comes to a mid-range Lumia. Microsoft isn't keen on experimenting with the design as millions of people are already familiar with the iconic Lumia shell and can pick it among others in a heartbeat. That's why Lumia 640 XL looks like any other Lumia really - a plastic removable rear cover and a black glossy piece of Gorilla Glass 3 shield.

The 5.7" Lumia 640 XL sized up next to a 5.0" Lumia 640 and a 4.5" Lumia 630

You can choose from a plethora of color options for the rear cover and you can always buy new ones, when you get tired of yours. Some of the colors are even offered in matte and glossy finish.

Microsoft Lumia 640 XL Dual SIM

The 5.7" 720p IPS display is of the ClearBlack variety and its borders are almost invisible under the black glass when it's off or even when using the Glance screen.

Even though the entire back is removable, it clicks nicely into place and it fits perfectly. It doesn't move and there are no unpleasant squeaks or creaks.

Handling the Lumia 640 XL

The Lumia 640 XL may weigh about 170 g, but it feels really light, probably because of its huge footprint. The matte white version we had fits well in hand and isn't prone to smudges, but we suspect the glossy models will be an entirely different story. Sure, handling isn't perfect with such a big phone, but it's as good as it can get. The phone feels light, the matte version provides good enough grip and that's pretty much all we can ask for in a 5.7" phablet.

Controls

The Lumia 640 XL front is all pitch black and has no controls. The earpiece is above the display as is the 5MP selfie camera. A bunch of hidden sensors are also around. Below the screen you could notice a small pinhole for the primary mic.

The front of Lumia 640 XL

There is nothing on the left, while on the right we find the volume rocker and the lock/power key.

Lumia 640 XL left and right sides

The top of the Lumia 640 XL has the audio jack, while the microUSB port is centered at the bottom.

The audio jack at the top • the lonely microUSB port over the bottom

Finally, the 13MP ZEISS lens is at the back accompanied by a LED flash and the loudspeaker grille.

The 13MP ZEISS lens

Popping the battery cover reveals the battery itself - it's removable. Unfortunately, you can't swap either SIM cards or the microSD one on the go.

Popping the battery cover