Microsoft Lumia 532 First Look: A Super Compact Smartphone That Shines

By Anuj

| Updated: Monday, February 23, 2015, 12:16 [IST]

When we reviewed the Nokia Lumia 530, it wasn't a pleasant experience at all. Now that we know Microsoft is desperately chasing the low-end segment, we can see a significant change in the company's future course of action.

They're trying to fit their latest smartphone - the Lumia 532 in the budget segment. Microsoft says that the company will focus on the entry-level segment - as there aren't that many big-ticket brands in the so-called budget market. Therefore, their latest Lumia 532 stands a chance to be the best performing handset in the sub-7k market, currently dominated by the likes of Xiaomi, Micromax and Motorola.

Rating:

4.0/5

Microsoft Lumia 532 First Look: A Super Compact Smartphone That Shines

Of course, the real question is whether the Microsoft Lumia 532 is worth considering over an average Android smartphone. So what is Microsoft's new Windows phone all about?

GizBot on Thursday got some hands-on time with the Microsoft Lumia 532 smartphone. Here are our first impressions.

PROS

Compact Size
Windows Phone 8.1
Removable Battery
Native Lumia apps
Intuitive UI

CONS

Missing 4G LTE connectivity
Average Camera
Missing LED Flash

Microsoft Lumia 532 First Look: Form Factor, Design, Display and Operating System

The most dramatic difference between the Nokia Lumia 530 and the latest Lumia 532 is design. The original Nokia Lumia 530 has a somewhat chunky design, while the Lumia 532 is so much lighter. The latter phone has a sharp rectangular edges, like the original Nokia Asha 502.

As with the Lumia 532, the back panel pops off and still be made of plastic. The phone's dimensions are 65.5 x 11.6 x 11.89mm, so the device is not too big but it's not very chunky. I have small hands, so I found the phone to be just appropriate for one-hand operation.

The device has a matte finish and it is less prone to smudges. As for physical buttons, the power and volume rocker are located on the right side. On top, you'll find a 3.5mm headphone jack while the micro USB port lives at the bottom edge. On the back, you'll find the main camera lens without LED. The device offers a microSD card slot alongside two micro-SIM card slots.

It uses a 4-inch 480 x 800 screen. There was no pixilation during our testing. Viewing angles seemed to be decent. The smartphone doesn't offers smooth touch experience, which could be a setback.

The Lumia 532 runs on Windows Phone 8.1 out of the box. Microsoft's Windows Phone 8.1 is the most compelling mobile software out there. Both the user interface and available native Lumia apps can't be ignored easily.

One of the biggest barriers preventing users from switching from their Android smartphones is that the apps. Over the past months, we've seen the gap slowing. But if you ignore some popular apps, the Windows Phone 8.1 OS is still the best platform. The built-in free MS Office is really awesome. We simply loved it!

Microsoft Lumia 532 First Look: Processor, RAM and Connectivity

The Lumia 532 is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor coupled with 1GB of RAM and backed up by an 8GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 128GB via a microSD card slot. The phone comes equipped with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HSPA GPS, and FM Radio.

In layman's terms, this means the processor can handle whatever you throw at it, including activities that include multi-tasking and light gaming. No matter if you're playing games or busy editing a word document, it doesn't become an annoyance.

Microsoft Lumia 532 First Look: Camera and Video

In the photography space, the Lumia 532 has a 5MP camera on the back. But, seriously, we've seen much capable smartphone cameras.

Things get really worse if you're shooting in an indoor environment or in a low-light one. Plus, the phone lacks a dedicated LED Flash. As for the camera user interface, it's pretty intuitive and you can browse through built-in options.

The device also has a 0.3MP front-facing camera, capable of taking selfies. The quality seemed to be average. Video recording is also possible with the Lumia 532.

Microsoft Lumia 532 First Look: Battery and Early Verdict

The Microsoft Lumia 532 offers a removable 1,560mAh battery. Given the fact that we're dealing with a 4-inch handset boasting low resolution and a standard quad-core processor, you should expect a pretty decent battery life.

The Microsoft Lumia 532 is a replacement for your old Android smartphone. In many respects, this low-end phone, sitting in-between the Motorola Moto E and Lenovo A6000 in terms of spec. The Microsoft Lumia 532 is now available for purchase in the country at Rs. 6,499.