NOKIA Lumia 610 Pro Reviews

On a more expensive proposition, the weak camera, capped RAM and slow browsing performance on this device would be deal-breakers. On the Lumia 610, however, they're things you can learn to live with. The handset delivers a stunning OS, good phone functionality and a healthy battery life all packaged within an acceptable design. It never once feels like a dumbphone trying to play smart -- it's smart to its core and will deliver all the communication and productivity benefits that you could want in this category.

If you are looking for a budget smartphone to either be your or someone else’s first — and you don’t want to go with similarly or even lower-priced Android devices — the Lumia 610 is a nice companion. Microsoft and Nokia have proven that Windows Phone can not only be fluid on 1GHz and above processors with 512MB of RAM, but it can also perform with buttery smoothness on an 800MHz CPU coupled with only by 256MB of RAM. There could be two drawbacks for some of you: the missing front-facing camera and the limited application selection available. Applications like Skype will not run (not even install) due to the low specs of the Lumia 610, and some games (like Angry Birds) are not supported at the moment. However, developers will probably add low-spec device support to the list (Rovio will probably be one of them), but it is something to consider.

Making Windows Phone more accessible was one of the goals Nokia set out to achieve when the deal with Microsoft was sealed. Well, it took the Finns only five months after the release of their first Microsoft-powered smartphones, to come up with the Lumia 610, which is ready to challenge the Windows Phone definition of affordable. Considering that the Nokia Lumia 610 is a first attempt, and essentially a conscious downgrade, the end result is pretty solid. The smartphone behaves way smoother than its spec sheet suggests. Sure, heavy apps like Nokia Drive take a while to load but the overall speed and response are good. Surprisingly good, to be fair. That leaves the issue of app incompatibility due to insufficient RAM. No two ways about it, not having Skype is bad but, with some developers already busy accommodating the lower specs, Microsoft are not likely to leave their own service out for long.

A budget smartphone that, for once, is a pleasure to use; ideal for the first-time smartphone owner

Nokia is aiming to set the entry-level market ablaze with the Lumia 610, but we can’t help but feel it’s too little too late. Back when the phone was first announced at MWC 2012, we had high hopes that the Finnish smartphone manufacturer would be able to ship it quickly and for an affordable price. Four months later, the phone is finally here, but the market hasn’t stood still. The Lumia 610’s worst enemy is in fact the Lumia 710. That phone has been available for quite some time now, and while the price started out a little bit too high, it has since plummeted thanks to a handful of sales and lower resale prices in the secondhand market. The Lumia 610 is currently available for £140 on Vodafone PAYG from the Carphone Warehouse, but for £20 more you can take home an unlocked Lumia 710 from Amazon UK. For your money you’re getting a faster processor, the standard amount of RAM that applications have been developed for, a better screen, and arguably a superior user experience.

The Nokia Lumia 610 is a great addition to the Lumia stable (and to Windows Phone in general), thanks to its incredibly low price tag. While the launch of Windows Phone Tango means that we can expect more budget handsets in the future, for now this is about as cheap as it gets. But it's not just cheap; it's also quite good value for money. You get almost the complete Windows Phone experience, along with a solid camera, decent build quality and strong battery life. That said, it's not without its problems, and though at first glance it may seem very impressive, you'll quickly realise why it was so inexpensive once you're struggling for storage space and finding that apps won't run. For under £200/$300, you'll struggle to find a better proposition, and though it makes a lot of sacrifices, as a low-end smartphone it comes recommended. That said, if you can stretch your budget by another £50/$80 or so there are definitely better prospects out there - plus it's still sitting in the shadow of the better-but-cheaper Nokia Lumia 710.

The Nokia Lumia 610 has both its strengths and weaknesses. On one hand, you should be able to get one for about $250, as long as you do some digging around, which makes it a decent entry-level offering. On the other, you will have to accept the incompatibility of select applications and the occasional software lags caused by the smartphone's modest hardware. Nevertheless, the experience of using an identically priced Android model would likely be similar, which makes the Lumia 610 worthy of checking out if your budget is tight. However, we would strongly recommend considering the Nokia Lumia 710, which is not affected by any performance issues. The Samsung Omnia W and the HTC Radar could also be great alternatives, as long as you can find them at a good price. Alternatively, we are sure that some of last year's mid-range Android smartphones can be found retailing at a similar price; smartphones such as the Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V or Xperia ray.

The Lumia 610 is a gorgeous phone which, while slower than other Windows Phone 7 handsets, is still faster and slicker than any budget Android handsets we've come across. It has the worst screen in the Lumia range, but it's still better than most budget Android phones' displays, and even the camera isn’t bad for the price. If you want to be sure to have the full Windows Phone experience you should save up for the Lumia 710, but as long as you're aware of its compromises the Lumia 610 is still a great handset. It's a Budget Buy.

The Lumia 610 offers the entry-level, first time smartphone user something very user friendly for a first smartphone experience. It's enjoyable to use, as a phone "just works" and comes with enough extras and goodies - Nokia Drive, Nokia Music, Nokia Transport that it will go down well with those that try it. However Nokia's biggest challenge will be to convince people to try it, to convince them that they don't want the plethora of apps the iPhone offers, or the friendly cuddle of BBM and a keyboard. Against the low end Android handsets this is a no-brainer, the experience is just miles better, but something tells us the salesman keen to sell you an Android handset when you walk into the store isn't going to take no for an answer, and that's a shame. If you are looking for your first smartphone, be strong, you won't be disappointed.

The Nokia Lumia 610 is the baby of the company's Lumia family and aims to bring a Windows Phone device to the low-end of the market. With a reasonably sized screen and most likely a hugely competitive price point, the Lumia 610 may prove to be an excellent, entry-level smartphone.