At RM 260, the Microsoft Lumia is your cheapest route into Windows Phone

2:52:00 AM dickwyn 0 Comments


After briefly teasing a new low cost windows phone handset yesterday, Microsoft has once again lowered the bar for Windows Phone. Breaking cover is the new Microsoft Lumia 430 which is for say the most affordable Windows Phone device out there now. At $70 before taxes, the device might just win the race in the sub $100 price point.

Building upon Microsoft's success with low priced Windows Phone handsets, the Lumia 430 will continue that tradition by offering users the Windows Phone experience at such an affordable price. At the quoted $70 or RM 260 (before taxes), the Lumia 430 is basically a Lumia 530 reincarnated into another form (plus the Microsoft logo).

The Snapdragon 200 processor and 4" 480 X 800 display is similar to that of the Lumia 530 but Microsoft has double the amount of RAM and internal storage to 1GB of RAM and 8GB of expandable memory. Also, Microsoft has kindly included a 0.3MP front facing camera which according to them is adequate for Skype calls and the occasional selfie. Turning the device back reveals the 2MP fixed focus camera and sadly the Lumia 430 will only come in orange and black color options.


In addition to that, like all new Lumias, the Lumie 430 will runs on Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia denim but unlike on the Lumia 532/435, Microsoft did not reference anything on their official press release that the device will be Windows 10 ready. But, given that they already assured that all WP8.1 Lumias will get Windows 10, there's nothing much to worry. Maybe their core focus on this is lowering the price point of a Lumia device.

Microsoft says that, the Lumia 430 Dual SIM will be available in APAC, IMEA, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus in April for about $70 before taxes and subsidies. So, what do you think? Is Microsoft's continuous march down the price chart a good thing for the platform or is it just an ambitious scheme to take on Android?

UPDATE 17:58 19/3/2014: Article revised to reflect on the availability of Windows 10 on the new Lumia 430 Dual SIM

SOURCE: Lumia Conversations

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