The Microsoft Lumia 640 was an excellent-value Windows Phone when it launched in 2015. In 2026, it is best understood as a retro, offline or experimental device—not a secure, supported everyday smartphone. Its usefulness depends on the exact regional model, cellular bands, battery condition and which legacy services still work.
What the Microsoft Lumia 640 is
Microsoft announced the Lumia 640 at Mobile World Congress on March 2, 2015, alongside the larger Lumia 640 XL. It was an affordable, productivity-focused Windows Phone with a 5-inch display, LTE options, removable battery, microSD expansion and Microsoft services such as Office, OneDrive and Skype. The launch announcement described single-SIM and dual-SIM versions, including LTE and 3G configurations: Microsoft’s launch announcement.
Historical launch pricing was approximately €159 for LTE and €139 for 3G/Dual SIM before taxes and subsidies; those figures are not a 2026 used-market value. The contemporary pricing announcement is archived on the Microsoft Devices Blog.
The regular 640 is distinct from the 640 XL. The XL has a 5.7-inch display, a 3,000 mAh battery and different cameras, so its specifications should not be substituted for the 640’s.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- ✔ Strong Belt Clip - AGOZ Premium Leather Case with an integrated durable leather wrapped metal belt clip
- ✔ Belt Loops - Two secure belt loops. Fits belts up to 1.5 inches wide
- ✔ Smartphone Safe Magnetic Closure - Front magnetic closure. Don’t worry, does not damage phone (Fits Microsoft Lumia 640 with a slim thin protector cover on it)
- ✔ Felt Interior - Soft inner lining, protects your phone from nicks, dirt and scratches
- ✔ Daily Protection & Easy Use - Excellent protection for daily use. Access your phone easily, and keep it exactly where you need it
Microsoft Lumia 640 specifications
The following baseline comes from Microsoft’s Lumia 640 datasheet. Microsoft warned that specifications could vary by country and customer variant, so radio bands, SIM configuration and some features must be checked on the individual phone.
| Feature | Lumia 640 |
|---|---|
| Announcement | March 2, 2015 |
| Launch software | Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim |
| Later official OS path | Windows 10 Mobile, subject to model, operator, region and eligibility |
| Display | 5-inch HD IPS LCD, 1280 × 720, approximately 294 ppi |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, 1.2 GHz quad-core |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| Internal storage | 8 GB nominal; operating-system space is not available to the user |
| Expansion | microSD up to 128 GB, according to the datasheet |
| Rear camera | 8 MP autofocus, f/2.2, LED flash |
| Rear video | 1080p at 30 fps |
| Front camera | Approximately 1 MP wide-angle |
| Battery | 2,500 mAh removable BV-T5C |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Port and audio | microUSB 2.0 and 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Navigation | A-GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou |
| Display features | Glance screen and Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Dimensions and weight | 141.3 × 72.2 × 8.85 mm; 145 g |
| NFC | Listed for a particular LTE Dual SIM configuration; verify the exact model |
| Cellular | LTE, 3G and GSM bands varied by model and market |
Source: Microsoft Lumia 640 datasheet.
Design, display and hardware experience
In 2015, the 5-inch 720p IPS screen was a sensible mid-range compromise. It is easy to handle, and Glance can show information while the phone is idle. Gorilla Glass 3 and sunlight-readability enhancements were useful practical features, although the panel is not comparable with a modern OLED display or high-refresh-rate screen.
The familiar polycarbonate Lumia shell, physical controls and removable rear cover make the phone easy to service compared with sealed modern handsets. A removable battery also allowed owners to carry a spare. That advantage is mainly historical now: surviving batteries are often ten years old, and replacement BV-T5C cells may be old stock, counterfeit or degraded.
Rank #2
- Brand New, High Quality Replacement AC Wall Power Charger Adapter
- Input: AC 100-240V 50/61Hz Auto (Worldwide AC Input)
- Over Voltage Protection, Over Heat Protection
- Tested Units. In Great Working Condition.
Performance and camera
The Snapdragon 400 and 1 GB of RAM were adequate for Windows Phone 8.1’s lightweight interface and its original app ecosystem. The phone could feel smooth in its intended 2015 context, but 1 GB of RAM is extremely restrictive today. Modern websites may load slowly or incompletely, and current apps cannot be assumed to exist or authenticate.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The 8 MP autofocus rear camera, f/2.2 aperture, LED flash and 1080p/30 video were attractive for a budget phone. Lumia Camera software added controls that enthusiasts appreciated. The approximately 1 MP front camera was principally for video calls. These specifications can still produce interesting offline or nostalgic images, but they do not provide modern computational photography, dependable cloud backup or current social-app integration.
Windows Phone software and support status
The Lumia 640 shipped with Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2 and Lumia Denim. Microsoft advertised a future Windows 10 Mobile upgrade, but eligibility depended on the exact model, operator, country or region and hardware. Microsoft’s upgrade documentation describes those conditions: Windows 10 Mobile upgrade documentation.
Rank #3
- Slim and Lightweight Design: Slim profile with durable TPU material provides everyday protection without adding bulk
- Shockproof and Scratch Resistant: Flexible TPU construction absorbs shocks and protects your device from drops, impacts, and scratches
- Precise Cutouts and Easy Access: Designed with accurate cutouts for effortless access to all ports, buttons, and cameras
- Screen Protector Friendly: Compatible with most screen protectors, featuring soft flexible edges that prevent lifting or bubbling
- Camera Lens Protection and Good Grip: Raised edges protect camera lenses from scratches while soft texture ensures a secure comfortable grip
A particular used phone may still be on Windows Phone 8.1, and a historical eligibility statement does not guarantee that the upgrade can still be obtained. Required upgrade, account or Store services may no longer function reliably.
Windows 10 Mobile version 1709 reached end of service on December 10, 2019. Microsoft’s lifecycle information lists Windows 10 Mobile end of support as January 14, 2020; the dates refer to different lifecycle notices rather than ongoing support. Unsupported software no longer receives security fixes or technical support. See Microsoft’s unsupported-Windows guidance.
Apps and services in 2026
The software ecosystem is the decisive limitation. Some installed apps may still launch, but that is different from having a current, secure service. Store availability, downloads, authentication and old app back ends are unreliable or unavailable. Banking, password management, two-factor authentication, modern messaging, navigation and social-media apps should not be assumed to work.
Rank #4
- Slim and Lightweight Design: Slim profile with durable TPU material provides everyday protection without adding bulk
- Shockproof and Scratch Resistant: Flexible TPU construction absorbs shocks and protects your device from drops, impacts, and scratches
- Precise Cutouts and Easy Access: Designed with accurate cutouts for effortless access to all ports, buttons, and cameras
- Screen Protector Friendly: Compatible with most screen protectors, featuring soft flexible edges that prevent lifting or bubbling
- Camera Lens Protection and Good Grip: Raised edges protect camera lenses from scratches while soft texture ensures a secure comfortable grip
- Installed software: may continue to run offline or until an account service fails.
- Sideloaded packages: can be difficult to obtain and may introduce compatibility and security risks; they are not a normal daily-driver solution.
- Browser use: many current websites depend on browser features and encryption that the platform does not provide.
- Office: Microsoft says Word, Excel and PowerPoint mobile apps for Windows are no longer available for download and directs users to Microsoft 365 on iOS, Android or the web: Microsoft Support.
A factory reset does not make an obsolete operating system secure. Do not use the phone for banking, sensitive work, password storage or high-risk accounts.
Cellular compatibility: verify the exact phone
“Lumia 640 LTE” is not enough information. The family included 3G, LTE, single-SIM and dual-SIM models, with different bands, firmware and carrier configurations. Some LTE models may connect for data while failing voice or SMS because LTE support is not proof of carrier-certified VoLTE.
3G-only models are generally unsuitable where 3G has been retired. An unlocked phone may still lack the bands, provisioning or certification required by a current carrier, especially in the United States. A carrier’s current compatibility checker or IMEI test is more authoritative than a generic specification page.
Best Value
- Slim and Lightweight Design: Slim profile with durable TPU material provides everyday protection without adding bulk
- Shockproof and Scratch Resistant: Flexible TPU construction absorbs shocks and protects your device from drops, impacts, and scratches
- Precise Cutouts and Easy Access: Designed with accurate cutouts for effortless access to all ports, buttons, and cameras
- Screen Protector Friendly: Compatible with most screen protectors, featuring soft flexible edges that prevent lifting or bubbling
- Camera Lens Protection and Good Grip: Raised edges protect camera lenses from scratches while soft texture ensures a secure comfortable grip
Before buying for cellular use, obtain:
- The exact model or RM designation and carrier branding.
- The IMEI and the phone’s listed LTE, 3G and GSM bands.
- Single- or dual-SIM configuration and SIM size.
- Unlock status and confirmation from the intended carrier.
- Evidence that voice, text and data—not just LTE data—work on that network.
Battery, charging and repairability
The removable 2,500 mAh BV-T5C battery is one of the 640’s strongest design features. A replacement can revive a collector’s phone, but it cannot restore modern software support. Inspect for swelling, a lifting rear cover, unusual heat, charging interruptions and rapid battery collapse under camera, GPS or cellular load. A battery that looks acceptable at idle may fail under real use.
The microUSB 2.0 port is replaceable in principle, but do not expect USB-C or modern fast-charging behavior. Test the cable connection, headphone jack, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, camera, display touch layer and SIM contacts before keeping a used unit.
Buying a Lumia 640 used
Buy only when the price is low enough that a dead battery, failed service or network incompatibility is acceptable. Require a proper factory reset and verify that the previous Microsoft account has been removed; a reset-locked phone may be unusable.
- Confirm that the listing is a Lumia 640, not a 640 XL, and that the model matches the advertised radio version.
- Check IMEI, carrier lock, bands and SIM configuration.
- Ask whether it boots into Windows Phone 8.1 or Windows 10 Mobile.
- Inspect the screen, digitizer, rear cover, camera glass, buttons and charging port.
- Test a SIM, calls, SMS, mobile data, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and the headphone jack where possible.
- Check battery temperature, runtime and swelling; assume an original battery may need replacement.
- Confirm that the nominal 8 GB storage is not being presented as all available space. A microSD card helps with media, not app or security limitations.
- Prefer a seller with a meaningful return period.
Lumia 640 versus Lumia 640 XL
| Feature | Lumia 640 | Lumia 640 XL |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5 inches | 5.7 inches |
| Battery | 2,500 mAh removable | 3,000 mAh removable |
| Cameras | 8 MP rear; approximately 1 MP front | Different, higher-specification camera hardware |
| Use case | More compact mid-range phone | Larger-screen model with greater battery capacity |
For the XL’s detailed figures, see the Microsoft Lumia 640 XL datasheet.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Who should buy one in 2026?
Reasonable uses
- Windows Phone collecting and retro-tech preservation.
- Offline music, video, photos or experimentation.
- Testing legacy Windows Phone software.
- A deliberately limited secondary device, provided essential communication is handled elsewhere.
- An emergency spare only after the exact network compatibility has been tested.
Poor uses
- Primary smartphone or a child’s only phone.
- Banking, password management, sensitive work or secure messaging.
- Modern navigation, current social media or dependable work email.
- A replacement for a supported 4G/5G phone without carrier confirmation.
Alternatives
If you need current security updates, banking, authentication, modern messaging, reliable navigation or an active app store, choose a supported Android phone or iPhone. A Lumia 950 or 950 XL may offer a more capable retro Windows Phone experience, but those devices are also unsupported and are not secure modern alternatives. For an inexpensive secondary device, a currently supported budget Android phone is generally more practical than another obsolete Lumia.
Final recommendation
The Lumia 640 remains an appealing snapshot of Microsoft’s 2015 Windows Phone strategy: compact, repairable, expandable and unusually polished for its price. In 2026, however, unsupported software, an exhausted app ecosystem and uncertain cellular compatibility outweigh its original strengths. Buy one for nostalgia, collecting or a narrowly defined offline purpose, verify the exact variant and battery, and keep a modern supported phone for anything important.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
