Microsoft's Lumia 535 Windows Phone: Priced Right, But No Nokia Logo
It looks like a Nokia, and it smells like a Nokia... it must be a Nokia, right? Not so fast. Now that Microsoft has swallowed up Nokia's devices division, it's putting that fabled name to pasture. The Lumia branding remains, but there's no Nokia logo here -- this is the Microsoft Lumia 535. It's the first phone to ship from the newly-merged duo, and it's the first step towards a future where one of the most iconic mobile names in the world won't be seen nearly as frequently. Nostalgia aside, the Lumia 535 packs a lot of oomph for its tiny price tag.
Specifications wise, there's a 5-inch display, 5-megapixel front-facing camera, 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a built-in software suite atop Windows Phone that includes Skype and OneNote. Microsoft is clearly aiming this handset at the so-called "next billion," or emerging markets where smartphone growth is just now starting to take off. Rather than going toe-to-toe with the latest Galaxy or iPhone, the Lumia 535 will ship in two editions, neither of which are terribly pricey: 3G Single SIM, or 3G Smart Dual SIM, both loaded with Windows Phone 8.1 and the Lumia Denim Update (which includes Cortana, the digital assistant) right out of the box.
Pricing for Lumia 535 and Lumia 535 Dual SIM will vary by market and operator, but is estimated to be around 110 EUR (or around $130-$140) before taxes and subsidies. That's an incredibly affordable price point, and certainly calls into question why you'd need to spend 4x more for a typical high-end device.
The phone also supports Bluetooth LE, and the rigid plastic casing ensures that it can withstand a few bumps and bruises. Internally, there's a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, a microSD expansion slot, and 15GB of free OneDrive storage. It'll be interested to see how this one handles in the real world, but with a price like that, it's keeping the Lumia name in the discussion.
Specifications wise, there's a 5-inch display, 5-megapixel front-facing camera, 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a built-in software suite atop Windows Phone that includes Skype and OneNote. Microsoft is clearly aiming this handset at the so-called "next billion," or emerging markets where smartphone growth is just now starting to take off. Rather than going toe-to-toe with the latest Galaxy or iPhone, the Lumia 535 will ship in two editions, neither of which are terribly pricey: 3G Single SIM, or 3G Smart Dual SIM, both loaded with Windows Phone 8.1 and the Lumia Denim Update (which includes Cortana, the digital assistant) right out of the box.
Pricing for Lumia 535 and Lumia 535 Dual SIM will vary by market and operator, but is estimated to be around 110 EUR (or around $130-$140) before taxes and subsidies. That's an incredibly affordable price point, and certainly calls into question why you'd need to spend 4x more for a typical high-end device.
The phone also supports Bluetooth LE, and the rigid plastic casing ensures that it can withstand a few bumps and bruises. Internally, there's a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, a microSD expansion slot, and 15GB of free OneDrive storage. It'll be interested to see how this one handles in the real world, but with a price like that, it's keeping the Lumia name in the discussion.
