Sections
- Page 1 : Microsoft Lumia 435 Review
- Page 2 : Software and Performance Review
- Page 3 : Camera Review
- Page 4 : Battery Life and Verdict Review
We can only recommend the Microsoft Lumia 435 phone if you find the Windows 8.1 OS preferable to Android. Otherwise stronger alternatives can be found for the money.
Microsoft Lumia 435 – Battery Life
The chunky body of the Lumia 435 could only be justified by the inclusion of a large capacity battery, but looks in this case are deceiving.
In fact, the 435 is only packing a 1,560mAh battery that Microsoft states should provide up to 11.7 hours of talk time or up to 9.4 hours of Wi-Fi browsing. We’d describe the 435’s battery as average for a phone at this price.After a full day of mixed use including, internet browsing, streaming video from YouTube, listening to music and playing about 30 minutes of Asphalt 8, the phone’s battery was at a critical level before bedtime.
Playing games and watching downloaded videos content tears through the phone’s battery life – I saw a 20% for every hour of either activity. One thing in the 435’s favour in this regard though is that the battery is removable, so spares can be used if necessary.
At rest the battery holds up well, barely draining at all, hence why Microsoft states it can last up to 21 days on standby. Ultimately, the battery is OK for the kind of light use the Lumia 435 is intended for, but a phone like the Motorola Moto E (2015) is much better here. It may be twice the price, but it’s battery life runs into several days.

Should I buy the Microsoft Lumia 435?
The Lumia 435 would make an ok first phone or travel burner, but there better Android phones out there. Battery life is paramount at this price and the Lumia 435’s battery is no more than average, while the app selection remains patchy.
If you can’t afford pricier phones like the excellent 2015 Moto E, consider last year’s Moto E (2014) instead. It can still be found for around £50, matches the 435 for specs and its Android OS offers an easier first time experience and great upgrade options in future. Alternatively, our best cheap phones round-up has plenty of better phones at this price.
How we test phones
We test every mobile phone we review thoroughly. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly and we use the phone as our main device over the review period. We’ll always tell you what we find and we never, ever, accept money to review a product.
- Used as our main phone for the review period
- Reviewed using respected industry benchmarks and real world testing
- Always has a SIM card installed
- Tested with phone calls, games and popular apps
Trusted Score
Score in detail
-
Performance 6
-
Design 6
-
Battery Life 6
-
Value 7
-
Software 7
-
Calls Sound 6
-
Screen Quality 6