We have been using the Nokia Lumia 530 as our daily driver since past few days. Here’s a quick snapshot at what the successor of the Nokia’s best-selling smartphone of the last year brings to the table.

1. Review in pictures
Nokia Lumia 530

2. Compact device embodies Lumia's colourful persona
•Quite similar to its predecessor in terms of design from the front
•Skips capacitive navigation keys in favour of on-screen buttons
•The rear is more curved as compared to the Lumia 520, and offers good handling with its matte texture
•Available in multiple hues just like other Lumia devices

3. The display leaves a lot to be desired
•Bears a 4-inch display with a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels
•Looks fine at first glance, but there’s noticeable pixelation
•Due to the reflective screen, it’s difficult to read outdoors
•Unlike the Lumia 520, the 530 misses out on a layer of scratch- resistant glass as well as a pressure-sensitive mode
•Also misses out on proximity and ambient light sensors

4. A barebones camera…
•Just like other budget Lumia’s, this one has a lone 5-megapixel camera at the back without LED flash
•Because of its fixed focus mechanism, you can’t change its focus to another object
•Nokia Camera app gives you tons of options to manipulate image settings by choosing between Auto and Pro mode

5. … that results in decent image quality
•In adequate lighting, the images are quite good for sharing between friends and family
•Can shoot videos only in 480p, which is a step down from the 720p video recording available on the Lumia 520

6. Windows Phone 8.1 brings the platform at par with the competition
•Runs Windows Phone 8.1, offering a number of new features
•First and foremost is the Action Centre allowing you to quickly toggle settings like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as access notifications
•You can apply a custom background to the start screen and fit in an extra column of tiles
•Word Flow keyboard allows swipe-to-type gestures

7. But still suffers from the app gap
•The device is preloaded with useful apps from Nokia such as MixRadio, HERE maps, etc.
•Some Indian apps like BookMyShow and Snapdeal also come preloaded
•Windows Phone 8.1 also gets a suite of Sense apps providing control over Wi-Fi and cellular data consumption, as well as storage
•But it’s still not good enough for those who are invested in the Google ecosystem or want access to the latest apps

8. Churns out decent performance
•At its heart beats a quad-core Snapdragon 200 processor clocked at 1.2GHz along with an Adreno 302 GPU
•While the processor is better than that on the Lumia 520, the GPU is a shade lower than the Adreno 305 graphics unit
•Gets 512MB RAM, which works well on the not-so resource-hungry WP
•Offers smooth performance even while playing games like Asphalt 8: Airborne

9. Skimps on the storage department
•Comes with 4GB of internal storage, unlike the 8GB loaded on the Lumia 520
•Just 1.3GB is available to the end user
•Thankfully, apps and content can be transferred to the microSD card
•However, without the microSD card, the device is barely usable

10. Clocks in average battery life, but good for those who want dual-SIM capability
•Sips juice from a 1,410mAh removable battery
•Manages to last a day with light usage
•However, turn on 3G or use it for navigation, and battery drops rapidly
•The Lumia 530 is the most affordable WP8.1 handset with dual-SIM capability
•Other connectivity features include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS

11. At a glance
•4-inch display, 854 x 480 pixels (245ppi)
•1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor
•512MB RAM
•4GB internal storage, expandable up to 128GB
•5MP primary camera
•Dual-SIM 3G support (in first SIM slot only), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS
•1,430mAh detachable battery
•Windows Phone 8.1 with Nokia Cyan update

12. -
•Poor display
•Misses proximity and ambient light sensors
•No front camera
•No LED flash
Pros and cons
+
•Good design
•Dual-SIM functionality

13. Pricing and verdict
“While the Lumia 520 was one of the best-selling smartphones of the last year, its successor fails to exceed the expectations set by it. In fact, apart from a few features like a quad-core processor and dual-SIM functionality, the Lumia 530 seems like a downgrade. It also faces tough competition from the upcoming Micromax Canvas Win W092, as well as superb Android devices like the Xiaomi Redmi 1s and ASUS Zenfone 4”
~ Rs 6,500
(online price)