The Lumia 530 is Microsoft’s next low-end Windows Phone
After Nokia’s Android-based X line was axed, another cheap WinPho appears
When Microsoft killed the Android-powered Nokia X phone series last week, it vowed to fill the lower end of the market with cheap Windows Phones. The Lumia 530 looks like a solid first step in doing so.
Looking like a smaller version of the Lumia 630—which itself seemed like a bigger, sleeker version of the Lumia 520—the 530 features Windows Phone 8.1 and will sell in single SIM and dual SIM versions for just €85 before taxes and subsidies.
As a budget device, it has some definite caveats, of course. It’s sadly just a 3G device, and the 4in screen runs at 854 x 480. A quad-core, 1.2Ghz Snapdragon 200 processor is included, but only 512MB RAM, and just 4GB of internal storage—but support for up to 128GB MicroSD cards.
And selfie fans: sorry to say, but there’s no front-facing camera here—only the 5MP shooter on the back. All told, the specs are by and large in line with what we’d expect for the price range. Both the 520 and 630 impressed for their price levels, and it’s likely the 530 will do quite the same.
Microsoft says to expect the Lumia 530 to start rolling out worldwide in August, and an array of colourful Shell and Flip Shell backings will naturally be available to accessorize it.
[Source: Nokia Conversations]
Andrew Hayward
Freelance Writer 
