Hong Kong #Selfies Here we Go! The Lumia 730 Hands-on Review

Hong Kong #Selfies Here we Go! The Lumia 730 Hands-on Review

A couple of days before we headed out to our big out-of-the-country trip, the guys from Microsoft and their PR Agency, Cohn & Wolfe, sent us a pre-trip present: two Microsoft Lumia 730’s for us to play with during our Hong Kong Adventure. And play we did.

Let’s review the spec sheet again:

Lumia 730 specs

  • 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
  • Adreno 305
  • 1GB of RAM
  • 4.7-inch AMOLED ClearBlack HD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, 720 x 1280 resolution
  • 8GB of storage, expandable via microSD up to 128GB
  • 6.7-megapixel rear camera with Carl Zeiss optics, AF and LED flash
  • 5-megapixel front camera with 24mm focal length
  • WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
  • Dual-SIM
  • 3G
  • Windows Phone 8.1
  • 2200 mAh
  • 134.7 x 68.5 x 8.9 mm
  • SRP: Php 11,990.00

The most notable feature of the Microsoft Lumia 730 (still feels weird not calling it Nokia Lumia 730) is its 5Mp wide-lens front-facing camera. While the back camera has a higher Mp number (6.7 to be exact), it’s the front-facing one that you will be using most (if not all) of the time.

Now, I have to confess, I’m not a big fan of selfies. There’s a certain technical skill needed to pull-off a decent selfie and when front-facing cameras weren’t really designed to take HD photos, people had to turn their camera phones around and guess if they’re able to get themselves in frame. I tried doing that once. My Lumia 1520 almost slammed on my face. So, no, no thank you.

Microsoft-Lumia-735-1

Thankfully, Microsoft understood the need for easily usable selfie camera phones. The Lumia 730 in particular is a handy piece of equipment. The wide lens enables you to easily frame yourself properly, include a wider-range of subjects and take decent to amazing images. In fact, the front-facing camera performs a bit better than its rear camera counterpart. But that could easily be because of the new Lumia Selfie App.

The new Lumia Selfie App allows you to easily edit, color correct, add filters and add some very interesting effects – like, say, make you appear slimmer. 😀

Who needs Belo when you have the Lumia Selfie App. :D Spot the difference anyone? :D
Who needs Belo when you have the Lumia Selfie App. 😀 Spot the difference, anyone? 😀

Our Hong Kong trip is the perfect place to test drive the selfie capabilities of the 730,  and here are some of our antics for you to enjoy. :p

Arriving in HK!
Arriving in HK!
First order of business: Shop-til-you drop! :D
First order of business: Shop-til-you drop! 😀
...But food first! ^_^
…But food first! ^_^
Customary food-photography before the nomz. Seriously guys, tayo lang gumagawa nito. The locals were bewildered with this ancient custom.
Customary food-photography before the nomz. Seriously guys, tayo lang gumagawa nito. The locals were bewildered with this ancient custom.
The rear camera puts on quite a fight for indoor shots. Not bad for a 6MP camera.
The rear camera puts on quite a fight for indoor shots. Not bad for a 6MP camera.
Of course the optics shine during outdoor shots. This is also the highest point in HK.
Of course the optics shine during outdoor shots. This is also the highest point in HK.
So far, we're loving the #Selfie Cam. I mean, look at us! We're so..thin! :D
So far, we’re loving the #Selfie Cam. I mean, look at us! We’re so..thin! 😀
Also, look how stylish the colors of the 730 are! It's as much a fashion accessory as it is a functional object.
Also, look how stylish the colors of the 730 are! It’s as much a fashion accessory as it is a phone. 😀

If you still want to see the Lumia Selfie App in action check our initial encounter with the Lumia 730. 🙂


Pretty much the only complaint we have for the Lumia 730’s design is the lack of the dedicated camera button that’s present in other previous designs (830, 930, 1320, 1520, 1020 etc.) If this is going to be Microsoft’s design aesthetic for succeeding Lumias we urge them to reconsider.

In our previous experience, that button is extremely useful especially if you need to take the shot in a moment’s notice. We’re hoping that if they ever create a selfie-phone for the higher flagship models, they can integrate that quick-launch button back.

Seriously, guys, bring the camera button back! :(
Seriously, guys, bring the camera button back! 🙁

While there is a bit of lag time when processing images via the Lumia Selfie App, but it’s not necessarily a deal-breaker. The App forces you to go through options of quick edits before saving the file. In any case, as with most Lumias, you can revisit your photo and re-calibrate it if needed.

As for the processor and interface, the Lumia 730 comes pre-packed with the Windows Phone 8.1 update – so the motions are fluid and after a week of usage, I’m quite impressed that it can keep up with the higher-spec 1520. Kudos! 😉

The WP8.1 update sure does come in handy! :)
The WP8.1 update sure does come in handy! 🙂

Aside from the front-facing camera, the Lumia 730 is also a Dual-SIM phone. While I usually just carry with me one SIM, I find that having Dual-SIM slots are crazy effective when you travel — insert a local SIM to one of the empty slots and say goodbye to roaming charges!

The phone doesn’t really switch from one SIM to the next as well. As with previous Dual-SIM Lumia’s, the phone runs both SIM active at the same time. You just have to pre-determine which SIM does what to fully enjoy the benefits of having 2 SIMs instead of one.

In my case, I had 2 local SIMs installed during our HK Trip. One was strictly for text and call while the other runs mobile data exclusively. And even with 2 SIMS running at the same time, the battery didn’t drain as fast as I thought it would be. I’d get away with one charge for the rest of the day taking photos, uploading it on our Viber group and sometimes uploading it on my IG account. Not bad for a mid-range phone.

Truly, the Lumia 730 (and announced recently it’s fully LTE brother Lumia 735 ) makes the perfect addition to the growing Lumia family… just bring back the camera button Microsoft. :p

Free Skype Calls for Lumia Users? Yes, please!
Free Skype Calls for Lumia Users? Yes, please!

Oh and speaking of Family, Microsoft Lumia also has this Skype Promo* wherein if you purchase any of the Lumia lines quipped with Windows Phone 8.1 (Lumia 530, 630, 635, 636, 930, 830, 730, 735, 535) from any of the participating stores nationwide or update your existing WP8 Lumia to an 8.1 on or before December 31, 2014, you can get 3-month’s worth of Skype credits absolutely free! Get ready to share your #selfies and talk with your loved ones from 1 to sawa here or across the globe! Whether it’s for travel or just as a daily-driver Microsoft is giving you more reasons to switch to the Lumia this Season. 😀

We’ll post a more in-depth article on how to claim your free Skype Calls soon.  

For more about the Lumia 730 and the 735, check our previous hands-on review.

 

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