Microsoft Pakistan has made some big announcements for its Lumia handsets according to a recently-aired TV commercial. Microsoft has discounted some of its Lumia smartphones for Pakistani consumers. The Windows-powered phones in question are entry level and midrange offerings. All of the discounted phones come with Dual-SIM functionality and a few of them will get the Windows Mobile 10 update in the coming weeks.
The five phones getting the discounts are Lumia 430, Lumia 435, Lumia 535, Lumia 540 and Lumia 640 XL. They can bought from any of the i2Pakistan retail outlets in major cities across the country. The pricing and phone details are mentioned below:
Lumia 430 is Microsoft’s ultra low-cost offering. There are very few smartphones around which come with such a small price tag. Microsoft’s phones require much less processing power to offer a smooth user experience and that can also be said for the 435 which comes with a Snapdragon 200 processor.
The phone has a 4-inch display with a resolution of 480×800. At the moment, the phone runs Windows Phone 8.1. Even though it was included in the Windows 10 Mobile Insider Previews but the possibility of an OS upgrade is less than certain for the Lumia 430.
The rest of the specs are 1GB of RAM, 8 GB of storage, expandable by up to 128 GB using a micro SD card. There’s a decent 2MP camera at the back and a 0.3 MP shooter at the front as well. The battery stands at 1,500mAH which should be sufficient for such a low demanding phone.
The phone will be getting a discount of Rs 2,500. For more detailed coverage on Lumia 430, head here.
Microsoft Lumia 430 Dual SIM Specifications:
Lumia 435 is a minor upgrade over the Lumia 430. Microsoft kept the same processor, RAM, screen size, resolution, cameras and most of the design elements. It comes with an almost similar polycarbonate body design.
The only visible upgrade over the Lumia 430 is the battery size. The 435 comes with a 1,560 mAh battery unit while 430 had 1,500 mAh one. The phone runs the same Windows Phone 8.1 and is available in a multitude of colour options.
More detailed coverage is available here. Lumia 435 comes with a discount of Rs 2,100.
Microsoft Lumia 435 Specifications:
Lumia 535 is a considerable upgrade over the other two phones mentioned earlier. It may not stand up to the latest mid-rangers from other companies but it offers a smooth experience at a decent price.
Microsoft Lumia 535 broke the sales record set by its predecessor, the Lumia 520. It was also announced as the best selling smartphone in Pakistan in 2015. It beat company estimates by a good 2000 percent.
The smartphone is powered by a 5-inch screen with a resolution of 960×540. The processor may be the same but it’s of the quad-core variety. The phone comes with 1GB RAM and 8GB storage, expandable via a micro SD card. There’s a 5MP camera at the back and a 2MP front camera. Battery stands at 1,905 mAh.
Lumia 535 gets a very big discount of approx. Rs. 3500, making it a good option.
Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM Specifications:
Lumia 540 is an even greater upgrade to the previously mentioned smartphones. It comes with a typical Lumia polycarbonate design and the same old multitude of youthful colour options. The front hosts a 5-inch HD display of decent quality.
The phone is powered by the same processor as the Lumia 535 and comes with the same RAM and storage options. The camera department gets an upgrade though, and the rear camera can take 8MP photographs while the front camera remains the same. Do note, however, that the rear camera can only be used for 480p videos.
The phone runs Windows Phone 8.1 but will get an upgrade to Windows 10 like the Lumia 535. More detailed coverage about the Lumia 540 is available here.
Microsoft Lumia 540 Dual SIM Specifications:
Lumia 640 XL is the only phablet to get a discount. Not only does it come in a bigger form factor, the phablet has more processing power under the hood.
The phablet, with a similar Lumia design language, comes with a 5.7-inch HD Clear Black display. Powering the device is a relatively more powerful (but dated), Snapdragon 400 processor. There’s 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage, which is expandable via a micro SD card.
The camera department gets a big boost as well and there’s a more than adequate 13MP camera at the rear. The front camera can take 5MP photos making it ideal for conversations and selfies. Under the polycarbonate body, is a 3,000 mAh battery which will definitely go a long way considering the phone’s specifications.
The phone will be getting a Windows 10 Mobile upgrade in the coming days. More detailed coverage for the 640 variant is available here.
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL Dual SIM Specifications:
So what do you think of the discounts? Are the prices justified considering Microsoft’s slicker user experience and justify a slight premium over other OEMs?
