Microsoft has unveiled three new Lumia-branded Windows Phone handsets and a forthcoming software update at the IFA electronics show. The Microsoft Lumia 830, Lumia 735 and Lumia 730 will all run Windows Phone v8.1.
Described as “the affordable flagship”, Microsoft’s Lumia 830 has a similar appearance to the higher-spec Lumia 930. It’s equipped with a 10 megapixel camera, a 5-inch (1280 x 720 pixel) screen and integrated wireless charging. Availability will begin this month, priced at around €330+VAT SIM-free (£314 incl. VAT).
The Lumia 730 Dual SIM and the Lumia 735 are both designed for Skype video calls and ‘selfies’, thanks to a front-facing, wide-angle 5 megapixel camera. These will also be available from this month.
All three run on a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor.
As well as introducing the new phones, Microsoft also announced plans for an operating system update called ‘Lumia Denim’. It’ll combine new features from Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 with Lumia-specific changes. This will initially be available for the Lumia 930, Lumia Icon and Lumia 1520 devices before being rolled out to other Lumia Windows Phone 8 smartphones. A new enhancement called Lumia Camera will offer faster camera startup speeds and high-definition motion capture. In addition, ‘Rich Capture’ will allow dynamic range and flash brightness to be adjusted after taking a photo.
Chris Weber, corporate vice president of Mobile Devices Sales at Microsoft, said “Our strategy is to help people do more with stunning products that unite and showcase the best of Microsoft’s digital work and life experiences. The Lumia 830, Lumia 735 and Lumia 730 Dual SIM combine popular Microsoft services such as Skype, Microsoft Office and OneDrive with amazing Lumia innovations in design and imaging to bring experiences that people value, at prices they can afford.”