Microsoft Devices Launches Lumia 630 in PH

Meet the first ever dual-SIM Lumia!

Earlier this week, the guys at Microsoft Devices had their first product launch. Of course these are still the same guys from the Nokia Philippines team but ever since the whole Microsoft takeover that’s officially what they’re calling themselves now. And while the change in the logo and name pained me a bit to watch, the show, as they say, must go on.

On May 13, 2014 at the Mango Tree at the Fort, Microsoft Devices revealed the new Lumia 630– the first Dual-Sim quad-core Lumia device to hit the market.

Quadcore ng Bayan? Hmm? :) — Bagong Quadcore ng bayan? Hmm? 🙂

Lumia 630 specs

1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
512MB RAM
4.5-inch IPS LCD FWVGA display, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, 854 X480 resolution
8GB internal storagey, expandable to 128GB via microSD
5-megapixel camera
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, A-GPS and Glonass, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
Dual Sim with Smart SIM technology
3G, HSDPA
Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1
Li-Ion 1830 mAh battery
129.5 x 66.7 x 9.2 mm
Php 7,990

Priced competitively at Php 7,990.00, the Lumia 630 easily replaces the old category-starter Lumias like the 520, 620 and onwards. The new standard, it seems, is in the usage of the quad-core processor. And with the Dual-Sim feature, the Lumia 630 seems like the natural progression from the Nokia X.

With the form-factor borrowing its likeness closer to the Nokia X than the old unibodied Lumia family, the 630 feels like an enlarged Nokia X from the get go. The colorful matte backplates and the absence of the camera button (which I do not understand) just reminds us of the Android-powered Nokia.

Aside from those, the insides and the usage is pure, unadulterated wonderful Lumia.

Orange is the new Yellow. Introducing the hero color of the Lumia 630

The Lumia 630 comes with the latest Windows Phone OS, the Windows Phone 8.1. It’s pretty much the update that every Lumia user is waiting for. A swipe from top will drop down the quick action center that opens up various pertinent shortcuts that you can customize (like data setting, Bluetooth switches, screen format lock, etc.). This gives you more areas of customization.

Speaking of customization, the new OS enables you to really put more personality to your phone by allowing the user to overlap any photo as the live tile’s background. This allows you fully express your individuality – something that Nokia & Windows Phone OS has been pushing ever since.

Power Packed

With the Quad-core processor, even at 512MB, the Lumia 630 can capture images like a pro with the Nokia Camera App

The Lumia 630 comes pre-installed with a suit of proprietary Nokia apps notably the HERE Maps & Drive, the camera suit—Nokia Smart Camera, Nokia Camera, Nokia Glam Me, Nokia Cinemagraph, Panorama; plus free MixRadio music streaming. We’ll tinker with the MixRadio more when we get a review unit. For now, it seems that the Lumia 630 can pretty much open any app on the Windows Store and for an entry-level Lumia, that’s pretty impressive.

Lumia Your Way

Raghunath Koduvayur, Global Product Marketing Manager of Lumia devices, highlighted the Dual-Sim function on the Lumia 630 with a short demonstration. In the live demo, he showed how to optimize the dual-sim feature on the fly switching accounts from one sim to the other. In fact, the Smart Sim enables both sim to coordinate with each other. Example you’re on the first SIM and you’re in the middle of a call when someone is calling on the other phone. You can set it in such a way that the call automatically goes into voice mail (added service) and/or a message will text back informing the party calling that you’re currently talking a call. In other words, while you have 2 SIM cards installed, the experience makes it seamless that you feel like you’re using just one account. You can even set the sim in such a way that they accept data differently like with one sim just dedicated for call features and the other for mobile or text data. Basically what Smart Sim does is it enables you to manage your mobile phone action your way.

More on the way…

Karel Holub, General Manager of Microsoft Mobile

Regardless of what you feel about the Microsoft Takeover, it seems that we have a Nokia that’s as powerful as ever. With the announcement of the Lumia 630, we’re sure to see better and brighter phones along the way. Karel Holub, General Manager of Microsoft Mobile Devices teased us as well that they’re bringing in accessories along with the Lumia 630. Most notable would be a small (but very trendy looking) speaker, the Nokia MD-12 Bluetooth Speakers and the Nokia Treasure Tags! 😀 We’ll be in the forefront with news and reviews when these babies hit the market place! For now, this is enough to whet our technological palate.