Microsoft Lumia 650 review: Dress for less

30 March, 2016
The Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL provided the answer to the platform’s fans starved for quality hardware and the complete flagship experience. The budget-friendly Lumia 550 that launched alongside didn't get as much attention, but served its purpose just fine - introducing the new Windows 10 to the masses.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • 9xx
  • 05 Apr 2016

diggie32, 04 Apr 2016Everytime I compare the two, Windows always runs better tha... moreAMD's gpus run bad on linux. if you want to try linux, make sure you use nvidia's gpus, and dont use opensource driver for this gpu.

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    • AnonD-522562
    • b2m
    • 04 Apr 2016

    Angry Bird, 01 Apr 2016Trollboy! What apps are you missing? Every important app i... moreThe lack of apps IS a problem. Just because you say it isn't, doesn't make the problem go away. For example:
    I have a WD My Cloud (home NAS). I have no way to access it with a windows phone. The app that's supposed to do it, hasn't been updated and quit working long ago. There may be an app that will let me access it through FTP or other mean, but when i looked there was only a paid app. Why do that when I can get the official app, or another app for free, on android?

    I also have a Fire TV. There's an app for android and iphone to let you use your app as a remote to control it. The app doesn't exist on Windows.

    All web browsers on Windows phone are horrible at rendering web pages. Why? Because they are all just the Edge browser in a new wrapper.

    YouTube? why would I want to use some shady app when the official one is available on android and ios?

    Those are just example I can think off top of my head. Now just imagine other people's needs that aren't met on windows phone. Just imagine for a second that people do more with their phones than check email, text, and surf the web.

    If not for apps, then why have a smartphone in the first place?

      • d
      • diggie32
      • b2m
      • 04 Apr 2016

      Anonymous, 04 Apr 2016windows phone doesnt lag because it is featureless (compare... moreEverytime I compare the two, Windows always runs better than Linux on PC. Except x64 Windows, that just runs bad.

        • d
        • diggie32
        • b2m
        • 04 Apr 2016

        I like the Windows phone OS. I bought a Lumia 640 to play around with. In many ways, I think it's better than android. I can deal with the lack of apps by just using a browser. The problem is that web page rendering is atrocious on Edge. Think you can download another browser? Wrong, all browsers are just Edge in a new wrapper. So all web browsers render horribly.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • vfj
          • 04 Apr 2016

          downtothis, 01 Apr 2016windows phone doesnt lag and runs smoothly bcuz the hardwar... morewindows phone doesnt lag because it is featureless (compared to ios/droid). after microsoft put more features to be able to compete with ios/droid, it will become lag too.
          even more lagging (like windows on pc, compared to osx/linux)

            • S
            • Shakti
            • KSv
            • 04 Apr 2016

            mir, 04 Apr 2016Windows phone does not lag? Maybe you should get your head ... moreWindows phone doesn't lag but after Windows 10 update they become laggy
            i am using j7 as primary android and lumia 535 and 435 as my secondary devices which does not lag but my friend's lumia 550 lag alot. Coz unpolished software i guess

              • m
              • mir
              • t7E
              • 04 Apr 2016

              downtothis, 01 Apr 2016windows phone doesnt lag and runs smoothly bcuz the hardwar... moreWindows phone does not lag? Maybe you should get your head checked.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • 0U6
                • 03 Apr 2016

                Colonel Max, 03 Apr 2016Can we root this phone? I heard Win10 mobile is more open ... moreWhy would you want to root a Windows phone? What would be the purpose? (like a real benefit)

                  • C
                  • Colonel Max
                  • Kip
                  • 03 Apr 2016

                  Can we root this phone?
                  I heard Win10 mobile is more open than previous WP,
                  so I'm curious if now we're allowed to interop unlock/root this Win10 phone?

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                    • AnonD-513766
                    • tDM
                    • 02 Apr 2016

                    AnonD-205566, 01 Apr 2016I seriously can't tell if you're trolling or just plain dum... moreSorry im sleepy while read your reply . Your statements is correct. Except s and note are lag. And always on is long time invented by nokia #thanksgoogle . Thanks for your information .

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                      • AnonD-492592
                      • Khi
                      • 02 Apr 2016

                      Plz do video review as well. @Gsmarena

                        • m
                        • mrechan
                        • Kip
                        • 02 Apr 2016

                        how to root this lumia 650?

                          • d
                          • downtothis
                          • uvj
                          • 01 Apr 2016

                          windows phone doesnt lag and runs smoothly bcuz the hardware and the software are manufactured by the same company which makes them fit into each other well just like apple phones.......I've used both of em and android looks lil bit dull infront of live tiles of windows.....android doesnt care abt appearances n thats what makes it boring. . ..and it also lags ezpecially samsung r the worst.. .i bought samsung s4 few years back and literally felt like throwing it away when it lagged at many places.....i m disgusted by samsung now.... hence i switched to microsoft n it really offers sumthin new and a gud alternative to android

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                            • AnonD-205566
                            • Puj
                            • 01 Apr 2016

                            To everyo e complaining about audio tests missing: this review was probably written by their US team, and they don't have the equipment. It's the same with every GSMa review out of the US, it's not like they have something against microsoft in particular. Actually, they could have been way harsher. Just look at Pocketnow's 950 xl review by Michael Fisher; he's a windows phone fan and he completely destroyed it (to the point the review is titled "Microsoft Lumia 950XL: Nope", and the first words out of his mouth are "i can't recommend this phone to anyone")

                              • D
                              • AnonD-205566
                              • Puj
                              • 01 Apr 2016

                              AnonD-513766, 31 Mar 2016The always on display is copyright by Samsung galaxy s7. Wh... moreI seriously can't tell if you're trolling or just plain dumb. Until the A series arrived, every single galaxy except for the S and Note linups was buggy and laggy as f*ck. So many people i know asked me to make their devices work (literally what all of them said) i know exactly what to do to a galaxy phone step by step to sort of remedy the stupid. Samsung makes great flagships, and people just assume all of their lineup is great because of that. It's not. Well, except for the better phones in the A series as i said before.
                              "Always on display is a galaxy registered feature" or whatever you said... Please, please be trolling. So many OEMs did it before, my N8 had it in 2010 and I'm absolutely sure there were other phones with it wrll before that.
                              Micromax is an Indian OEM. Never owned one, but I assume they probably are similar to chinese cheap android phones. Kind of like Vivo.
                              Anyway, STFU already.

                                • R
                                • Razgon
                                • n4G
                                • 01 Apr 2016

                                cool phone! So what about direct digital usb audio?

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • pv@
                                  • 01 Apr 2016

                                  Anonymous, 01 Apr 2016most people miss google apps.Google apps are clunky and come with a variety of bugs, limitations and sync problems.

                                  Anyway, you don't need any apps made by Google on a Windows phone.

                                  Gmail - the standard email app in Win phones works flawlessly with all email providers, and provides great functionality, so you don't need separate apps to check your emails.

                                  Youtube - Metrotube and other 3rd party apps come with ad blockers and provide more features than Android's Youtube app.

                                  Google Drive - OneDrive is faster, more organized and provides more features across all devices. Not to mention you just drop your music files (from any device) in a OneDrive folder and they automatically appear in your music player on your phone.

                                  Google Maps - Win phone Maps/Here Maps. Same stuff + offline mode.

                                  Hangouts - who even uses this when there are more advanced chat apps out there, that work on all operating systems?

                                  Google+ - does this still exist? lol

                                  Google docs - Microsoft Office. Superior quality, features and compatibility.

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 9xx
                                    • 01 Apr 2016

                                    Angry Bird, 01 Apr 2016Trollboy! What apps are you missing? Every important app i... moremost people miss google apps.

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                                      • Angry Bird
                                      • Jxa
                                      • 01 Apr 2016

                                      AnonD-513067, 31 Mar 2016To be honest....I'm not gonna buy a windows phone ever coz ... moreTrollboy! What apps are you missing? Every important app is available. The "lack of app" arguement is just an excuse but not a real problem.

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                                        • AnonD-513766
                                        • tDC
                                        • 01 Apr 2016

                                        AnonD-92238, 31 Mar 2016well I'm using micromax A1 right now! it's cheaper than the... moreWhat is that? Unknown brand