Microsoft Announces Lumia 650 Release Date, Price, and Other Details
Microsoft has introduced its Lumia 650 on Monday, confirming previous rumors about its release date. The new phone is currently available in select European markets for $199 before local taxes and subsidies.
The Microsoft Lumia 650 is the fourth Windows 10 phone, joining the Lumia 550, Lumia 950, and Lumia 950 XL. The new device is available in matte black and matte white variants.
The company is positioning the new phone as a device that "empowers employees … for work and play." Microsoft believes its latest Windows 10 phone offering will provide the "perfect balance" between user's personal needs and work requirements, specifically in terms of productivity and security. And of course, it aligns with Microsoft's goal of creating a one OS ecosystem.
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"By providing a consistent experience across PC and phone through the power of Windows 10, we think professionals and Windows fans alike will love using it every day," said Samuli Hänninen, general manager of Microsoft's phones program management.
Weighing in at 122 grams and with 6.9 mm profile, the Lumia 650 is both thin and light. The new Microsoft phone features a 5-inch OLED display, aluminum frame, 5-megapixel wide-angle front shooter and 8-megapixel rear camera, removable battery, 16 GB of internal storage, and expandable storage through a microSD card up to 200 GB. In addition, the new device will be running the latest Microsoft Office apps out of the box. However, with a Snapdragon 212 chipset running the device, Gizmodo says the device will lack support for features included in modern Windows phones such as Continuum.
The release of the Lumia 650 marks Microsoft's latest attempt to become a dominant player in the smartphone market. To expedite the achievement of this goal, the company has revealed middleware tools for developers to easily port iOS and Android apps to Windows 10 Mobile.
