New Delhi: Microsoft has finally said goodbye to Nokia branding for its Windows Phones. The first handset to omit the Nokia name is the new Microsoft Lumia 535, an entry-level device. Microsoft Lumia 535 has been designed as an alternative of Nokia Lumia 530 and will be targeting users from Russia, India, China and other parts of Asia.
Not surprisingly, Microsoft has put its own brand in place of the Nokia brand for the new device.Microsoft finished acquiring Nokia's devices and services business in April.
Lumia 535 is a mid-range phone but according to Microsoft the new device comes with some considerable changes which will not compromise their experience as much as some other budget Lumia devices.
The first notable transformation is its screen: the new Lumia 535 comes with a 5-inch qHD display with the insufficient resolution of 960×540 pixels. It is certainly an improvement over the TN-based LCD screen of the Lumia 530. It's not sharp but colours appear above average and the viewing angle is adequate. Microsoft also claims that it has improved the display for outdoor readability.
In addition, both the cameras of the device have received an improvement. You now get 5-megapixel front and rear cameras, and there's an LED flash on the back. The front-facing camera now comes with a wide-angle lens with a 24mm focal length, just like the Lumia 730/735. This means you'll get decent shots in average daylight conditions. The wide-angle lens in Lumia 535 is also good for 'group selfies'. There is also noticeable difference in the focusing speed and performance of the Lumia 535's camera.
The Lumia 535 runs on a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, coupled with 1GB of RAM. There's 8GB of onboard storage, coupled with a microSD card slot for up to 128GB of extra capacity. The device is 3G-only and gets its juice from a 1,905mAh battery.
Design-wise, the Lumia 535 sticks to the tried and tested colourful style of previous Lumia handsets. The back has a matte or gloss plastic, round sides and softened corners. It is comfortable to hold in the hand and is easy to operate with single hand. The button placement is on the right-hand side with volume rocker up top and power button underneath. The physical measures of Microsoft Lumia 535 are 140.2 x 72.4 x 8.8mm, while its weight tips the scale at 146 grams.
The handset will be available with several color options: Green, cyan, orange, black and white. These back plates are interchangeable and Microsoft will be offering flip covers in matching shades for those that like to give their handset a little extra protection.
The handset boots Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim. Naturally, it offers free access to the usual plethora of Microsoft services for free.
The smartphone will be available in dual-SIM and single SIM versions from November at an estimated price of 110 euros (Rs 8,400 approximately) (excluding taxes and subsidies) with sales starting in China, Hong Kong and Bangladesh.
