The Microsoft Lumia 650 is a budget-friendly smartphone that comes with a stylish design and solid performance. Released in early 2016, the Lumia 650 was aimed at users looking for an affordable yet reliable Windows phone.
Despite being positioned in the lower mid-range category, it offers some notable features that make it stand out among its competitors, especially in terms of design, build quality, and user experience.
In this Microsoft Lumia 650 review, we will explore the phone’s key features, performance, and whether it holds up in today’s smartphone market.
Design and Build Quality
One of the standout features of the Microsoft Lumia 650 is its premium design. At first glance, the device looks sleek and elegant, with its lightweight metal frame and glossy finish.
Microsoft focused on creating a smartphone that felt high-end without the premium price tag. The phone is slim and comfortable to hold, making it easy to carry around and use one-handed.
The 5-inch OLED display is vibrant and sharp, offering deep blacks and vivid colors, which is particularly impressive for a budget device.
MUST READ: “Why Microsoft Stopping Lumia Production Doesn’t Matter in 2025”
Key Design Features:
- Slim, lightweight metal frame.
- 5-inch OLED display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels.
- Glossy finish with curved edges for a comfortable grip.
- Compact size (142 x 70.9 x 6.9 mm), easy to handle.
The overall construction of the Lumia 650 is solid, with the rear panel being removable, allowing for easy access to the battery, SIM card, and microSD card slot. Although the phone features a removable back, it still feels like a well-built, premium device in hand.
Display and Performance
The 5-inch OLED display on the Microsoft Lumia 650 offers decent brightness and color accuracy. While it isn’t the most advanced screen on the market, it delivers a good visual experience for everyday use.
Whether you’re browsing the web, watching videos, or reading, the display is clear, bright, and pleasant to view in most lighting conditions.
Performance-wise, the Lumia 650 is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 212 processor and comes with 1GB of RAM. While this may seem underwhelming by today’s standards, the phone performs adequately for most basic tasks, such as browsing the web, checking emails, and using social media apps.
However, it struggles when handling more demanding apps or multitasking. For users who want to run more resource-intensive applications, this device might not be the best choice.
- Display: 5-inch OLED, 720 x 1280 resolution
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 212, Quad-core 1.3 GHz
- RAM: 1GB
- Internal Storage: 8GB (expandable via microSD up to 200GB)
- OS: Windows 10 Mobile
For the price, the display and performance are solid, but the Lumia 650 will not offer the smoothest experience when it comes to gaming or power-heavy tasks.
Camera Quality
The Microsoft Lumia 650 features an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing camera. The rear camera, though not groundbreaking, performs decently in good lighting conditions.
Photos taken in bright environments are sharp, and the colors are reasonably accurate. However, in low-light situations, the camera struggles to produce clear images, with noise often becoming apparent in darker areas.
The 5MP front-facing camera is adequate for selfies and video calls but doesn’t impress with its low-light performance. While it’s not the best in terms of photo quality, the camera is good enough for day-to-day use and occasional snapshots.
Camera Features:
- 8MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash.
- 5MP front camera for selfies and video calls.
- Supports HD video recording (720p).
- Basic photo features like HDR and Panorama.
Battery Life
The Lumia 650 comes with a 2000mAh removable battery, which is decent for a device of its size. During normal usage, which includes browsing, social media, and occasional calls, the phone can last through an entire day without needing a charge.
However, power users or those who use the phone for video streaming or gaming might find themselves needing to charge it before the end of the day.
While the battery life isn’t exceptional, it’s certainly adequate for light to moderate users. The removable battery is a bonus, as it allows users to replace the battery easily if it starts to degrade over time.
- Battery Capacity: 2000mAh
- Battery Life: Approximately 1 full day of regular use (light to moderate).
- Charging: Micro-USB, 5V/1A charging.
Software and Features
One of the most significant features of the Lumia 650 is its operating system, Windows 10 Mobile. While Windows Phone has long been discontinued and doesn’t receive regular updates or support from Microsoft anymore, the operating system offers a unique user interface with its Live Tiles and simple layout.
If you’re a fan of the Windows ecosystem, the Lumia 650 can be a good option, but if you’re accustomed to Android or iOS, you might find it limiting.
However, Microsoft’s decision to discontinue support for Windows 10 Mobile means that the phone will not receive future software updates, which could limit its long-term usability. App availability is also a concern, as many popular apps, such as Instagram, Snapchat, and others, are no longer supported or updated for Windows Phone.
Key Features:
- Windows 10 Mobile with Live Tiles and Cortana integration.
- Microsoft apps like Office and OneDrive pre-installed.
- App availability limited due to the end of support for Windows Phone.
- Microsoft Edge browser for web browsing.
Conclusion
The Microsoft Lumia 650 was a solid budget option back in 2016, offering an excellent design, decent performance, and a good display. However, as of 2025, it’s hard to recommend the device to new buyers.
Windows 10 Mobile is no longer supported, which limits the phone’s software longevity and app availability. For Android or iOS users, the Lumia 650 may feel outdated, especially given the current smartphone.
For those who are looking for a simple, budget-friendly device and don’t mind the limitations of Windows Phone, the Microsoft Lumia 650 can still be a viable option.
However, for anyone looking for a more future-proof device, it’s advisable to explore Android or iOS alternatives.
People May Ask
Is the Microsoft Lumia 650 still a good phone in 2025?
While it offers solid design and performance for basic tasks, the lack of software updates and limited app support make it less viable for long-term use.
Can I still use the Microsoft Lumia 650 for everyday tasks?
Yes, the Lumia 650 is fine for light use like browsing, messaging, and calling, but it struggles with heavy apps and gaming.
Is the Lumia 650’s battery replaceable?
Yes, the Lumia 650 features a removable 2000mAh battery, which can be replaced if needed.
Does the Microsoft Lumia 650 support apps like Instagram and Snapchat?
Due to the discontinuation of Windows 10 Mobile, many apps like Instagram and Snapchat are either outdated or no longer supported on the platform.
What is the Lumia 650’s display quality like?
The 5-inch OLED display offers decent brightness, sharpness, and color accuracy for a budget phone. However, it’s not as advanced as the displays on current smartphones.
Click here to learn more.
