Microsoft Lumia 540 now official, blink you eyes and you'll miss it

4:15:00 AM dickwyn 0 Comments

Within a blink of an eye, Microsoft has just unveiled yet another Lumia phone and they weren't kidding when they said no flagships until Windows 10 arrives. Today, it is the Lumia 540 which according to the name replaces the Lumia 530 and Lumia 520 but not in terms of price. It seems there is an upward trend of the price increase for the 5xx 6xx since Microsoft now also has a 4xx series.

Well, if you've guessed it, the Lumia 530 is an entry level device priced in at $149 which is about RM 550 before taxes. Interestingly enough, for that price you will get near identical specs to the new Lumia 640. Also, if you dive in deeper, the Lumia 540 is basically a better Lumia 535 which was the first Microsoft branded Lumia.

If you've been keeping track, yes this is Microsoft's 6th Lumia this year.

Lumia 540 Dual SIM specifications:

5" 720P IPS display (294PPI)
1.2GHz quad core Snapdragon 200
8GB internal storage (microSD upto 128GB)
1GB RAM
8MP rear camera with LED flash
5MP wide angle front camera
2,200mAh battery
144 x 73.7 x 9.4 mm
152 g

The highlights of the new Lumia 540 is the new cameras, given the price point it is at the 8MP rear facing camera and 5MP wide angle camera is quite a bargain. Also, it looks like the Lumia 540 has the same 5" 720P IPS display like on the Lumia 640.

Basically i can say that the Lumia 540 is inherently a better if not more affordable Lumia 640. Where did Microsoft cut corners you ask? The processor, they've swapped the quad core Snapdragon 400 CPU for a quad core Snapdragon 200 CPU. Given that Windows Phone scales perfectly with lower end hardware, this is not a big change.

Also worth the mention is that the Lumia 540 is a Dual SIM device and Microsoft is keeping their word to create more multi SIM Lumia devices to fulfill the needs of customers.

This is a Lumia and besides the Microsoft brand on the front and back, the Lumia 540 comes in the signature Lumia colors; Cyan, orange, white and black. All the colors except black features a glossy 'icy' layered back cover with the latter being a matte surface.

Microsoft will begin rolling out the Lumia 540 in Europe in May and is priced in at $149 before taxes. The Lumia 540 will most likely make it's way to Malaysia too and it'll be launching alongside the other Lumia devices Microsoft plans to unveil during BUILD 2015.

“The Lumia team is passionate about product-making, creating every smartphone with a distinct design personality within a coherent design approach,” said Iain Pottie, senior design manager of industrial design and mechanics at Microsoft.