SYDNEY: Microsoft has announced that the low-priced Lumia 640 smartphone and its phablet brother the 640 XL — both announced earlier in the year — will be coming to Australia next month.
The colourful, plastic-cased phones run the latest Windows mobile operating system and will be eligible to upgrade to a version of Windows 10 when it releases later this year.
The 4G-capable phones were designed to offer “more flexibility to switch easily between work and play, without breaking the bank”, said Microsoft Australia’s Steve Lewis in a press release. They come equipped with Microsoft software such as Office and an alpha version of the company’s personal assistant software Cortana, as well as access to thousands of apps through the Windows app store (once laughable next to the Apple and Android stores but gaining fast).
With a retail price of $299, the Lumia 640 is pricier than barebones Android releases like the Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 ($149), but vastly more affordable than flagship Android phones like the Galaxy S6 (at least $999) and Sony Xperia Z3 ($829), or the iPhone 6 (at least $999) and 6 Plus (at least $1149).
While the lower price will certainly be appreciated by anyone looking for a smartphone without a lock-in contract, the phone’s feature set is obviously lower than the flagships as well. The Lumia 640 packs a five-inch screen at 1280×720 (slightly lower than the standard of 1920×1080), and eight megapixel main camera and a spartan one megapixel front-facing camera. It’s powered by a 1.2 Ghz Snapdragon processor.
The XL version retains all the features of the standard 640 but also offers some premium features, including a larger screen (5.7-inch, although it retains the 1280×720 resolution), bigger cameras (13 megapixel main and five megapixel front-facing) and a larger battery. It will sell for $399.
Microsoft is also throwing in added benefits for users on a budget looking to get a Lumia 640 or 640 XL. Each device comes with a one-year subscription to the Office suite of apps — which usually costs $89 — for use across their smartphone, one Mac or PC, and one tablet. The subscription also includes one terabyte of online storage and 60 minutes of Skype calls.
The Lumia 640 will be coming to retailers early next month in black, white or cyan, alongside the 640 XL in black or white. For some reason if you want an orange 640 or Cyan 640 XL you’ll need to buy through a telco (Optus or Vodafone respectively). Telstra will carry only the smaller phone, and only in black, but not until late May.
