Tecknova

First Impressions: Nokia Lumia 610

So, it is finally here! A Windows Phone 7.5 device that is aimed at the same demographic that would otherwise be looking at the likes of the HTC Explorer, Samsung Galaxy Ace and the LG Optimus Hub.

However, while your choices until now were restricted to Android, Symbian and Blackberry in this price bracket, the arrival of the Nokia Lumia 610 does change things quite a bit – introducing alow-cost Windows Phone offering.

We had a chance to play around with the Lumia 610 at the launch event, and this is what we came up with.

1. The build quality of the Lumia 610 is just brilliant. It does not feel like a Rs. 13,000 phone, like most others in this price category do. This can easily be explained with the comparison with its elder, and considerably more expensive sibling - the Lumia 710 (read our review). The Lumia 710 felt plastic-like and cheap, and you knew it was a phone on a budget. With the Lumia 610, there is a classiness found on phones that are considerably more expensive.
2. The 3.7-inch display with a 480x800 pixel resolution is absolutely brilliant. As expected, Nokia has also given this the ClearBlack goodness, but the real kicker is that this is a natively bright display and very good text crispness. While reading a mail on this, you will surely not crave a phone with a bigger display. On the flipside though, the colours are not very vivid, and even look washed out at times.
3. The 800MHz processor will hold out well, but just 256MB of RAM is literally unforgivable, if you will be using it with multiple apps at the same time. The Lumia 610 can only be loaded with so much for the power package to handle, and that is a limitation you should be well aware of, before splashing the cash.
4. As expected, the Lumia 610 will come with the navigation apps – Drive, Maps and Transport.
5. The camera has been given some additional features – Panorama mode, self-timer, action detection shot and a burst mode for the best group photo. You can also edit the photographs on the device itself, before sharing. Neat features, but most of these capabilities have been on cameraphones for quite a while now. It also makes us wonder why these aren’t a part of the Nokia 808 PureView’s camera!
6. Nokia is also introducing the Mix Radio app – the music streaming service that works offline as well. Some really neat features allowing for customization your own radio stations and an offline mode as well. But how well it works for you will depend on what connection you use – Wi-Fi, Edge or 3G.

At this price (Rs. 12,990), we feel the Lumia 610 will do well. Mostly because it feels like it is built more expensively that it actually is, and more and more consumers may want to try out a new OS.

We will have a detailed review of the Lumia 610 soon. In the meantime, you check out some product shots:

Camera interface

Relatively similar looks to the Lumia 710, but feels a lot better.

The 3.5mm and the micro USB port on the top - just be careful about scratching the chrome.

The 3.7-inch display is natively quite bright.

The Dark Knight Rises exclusive content on the phone.

The phone does fit very well in the hand.

The rubberized feel on the back is classy, and we like the conventional position of the camera - will not get in the way at all.

The rubberized finish to the rear, with a chrome frame running around the phone.

Three touch sensitive keys below the display, and the chrome strip running below them acts as a visual guide.