Microsoft Launches The Ultra Low Cost Lumia 430
by Brett Howse on March 19, 2015 11:10 PM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Microsoft
- Lumia
To say that the Lumia brand is diluted with low cost smartphones would be a bit of an understatement. However, Microsoft has found a way to lower the barrier to entry even further with the launch of the Dual-SIM Lumia 430 model today.
It is all fairly pedestrian in the specifications department, as we will see below, but the real story is just how inexpensive this device is. Pricing will vary by market, but Microsoft is estimating the Lumia 430 Dual-SIM smartphone to be priced around $70 USD before any subsidies are applied.
To hit these kinds of price points, some sacrifices have to be made of course, but all in all it is still a typical low end Lumia. Before Microsoft bought the Lumia line from Nokia, we had similar low end phones launched that would be missing key features. The Lumia 635 is a great example of this. Although it was a decent device, the lack of a proximity sensor and ambient light sensor made it difficult to use in real life, and the limited 512 MB of RAM meant it could not access the entire Windows Phone catalog of apps.
Microsoft has taken a different approach, and all of the low end devices that they have launched with the Microsoft logo have included the standard features needed to enjoy a smartphone experience, and the $70 Lumia 430 is no exception. It comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 SoC, with dual 1.2 GHz Cortex A7 cores, so it will not be the speediest device ever launched, but Windows Phone has always been good on low end devices and avoids the stutter and chop which has plagued Android. RAM is a healthy 1 GB, which means that the Lumia 430 does have access to the entire Windows Phone store. Other key features such as the ambient light and proximity sensor are included, even for this budget price, so obvious features such as automatic brightness will work.
Speaking of brightness, the LCD will also likely be a very low end model, but it is a 4” 800x480 LCD, although it is not listed whether this is an IPS display (hopefully it is) but the display enhancement technologies such as ClearBlack are not available. I have also found with the low end Lumia phones that the display coating is also either very thin or not available, and this could continue that trend due to the price.
Storage is also something that Microsoft has bumped up, with Nokia opting for 4 GB on the very low end models, but Microsoft has equipped even this low end device with 8 GB of internal NAND. MicroSD support will give an additional 128 GB more space, and Windows Phone supports MicroSD very well so this will not be an issue.
The battery is just a 1500 mAh, with the older 3.7 V chemistry, which works out to just 5.55 Wh of capacity.
| Nokia Lumia 430 | |
| SoC | MSM8212 dual-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 200 |
| RAM/NAND | 1 GB RAM, 8 GB NAND + microSD |
| Display | 4.0” 800x480 LCD |
| Network | GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSPA+ up to 42.2 Mbps |
| Dimensions | 120.5 x 63.2 x 10.6 (mm) |
| Weight | 127.9 grams |
| Camera | 2MP rear camera Fixed Focus 1/5" Sensor No Flash, VGA FFC |
| Battery | 1500 mAh (5.55 Whr) |
| OS | Windows Phone 8.1 with Denim Firmware |
| Connectivity | 802.11 b/g/n + BT 4.0, USB2.0, MPT, DLNA, FM Radio |
| Location Technologies | Cellular and Wi-Fi network positioning, A-GPS, A-GLONASS |
| SIM Size | Smart Dual MicroSIM |
The camera is the main area where costs were saved. The Lumia 430 comes with just a 2 MP fixed focus camera on the rear, however the front camera is the same resolution as the $1299 Apple MacBook, with a 0.3 MP VGA sensor which is clearly for cost savings, and will not be very good for anything other than the occasional video chat.
Microsoft’s strategy seems to be to release a new low end smartphone every couple of weeks, and even as someone who follows the space it is getting awfully confusing. However most of these are aimed at specific markets, and the Lumia 430 is no exception. The Lumia 430 will be available in April in the Asia-Pacific, India, the Middle East, Africa, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus.
Source: Lumia Conversations
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Murloc - Friday, March 20, 2015 - link
"the lack of a proximity sensor and ambient light sensor made it difficult to use in real life"Lol seriously? I use it on medium and I can see everything even in the full sun, I never felt the need to change the setting although it's quite easy to do.
lithium451 - Saturday, March 21, 2015 - link
Finally, I've been waiting sooo long for a cheaper Windows phone. Thanks MS!AlluringRaja - Saturday, March 21, 2015 - link
Am too happy Microsoft is listening voice of it's customers. Just hoping Microsoft releases Lumia 3** series with ₹3000-3999 price. Lumia 2** series with ₹2000-₹2999. If they decreases display (3 inch to 3.8 inch and fix ram below 1 Gb )but add flash to device. And support Telugu or local native language support in India. WP will definitely rise more irrespective of apps in store. Because more than half people don't know English but still they buy smartphones but if you support native regional languages it makes sense to people really think to buy phone to communicate. I myself is eagerly waiting to buy 2 smartphone to my parents. But due to lack of my native language. My mother who doesn't know English language is unable to use it for even calling. Every time I she needs someone's help.marees - Tuesday, March 31, 2015 - link
buy Lava IRIS win1. only ₹4000 and quad-core, 1GB ram etc.In all aspects that is a better phone than this.
Alexvrb - Sunday, March 22, 2015 - link
I'm a little confused. You list it as having the MSM8212. But isn't the MSM8212 a quad-core?AB3421 - Monday, March 23, 2015 - link
This is one of the best smartphone by Microsoft as people are looking for the Windows smartphone but during Nokia the price was high and for low price you won't get front camera but Microsoft is providing everything that user wants.Find the full specifications and price of this smartphone on www.smartphoneandprice.com and I was amazed to saw the price and then confirmed the price here its amazing.
AB3421 - Monday, March 23, 2015 - link
This is one of the best smartphone by Microsoft as people are looking for the Windows smartphone but during Nokia the price was high and for low price you won't get front camera but Microsoft is providing everything that user wants.Find the full specifications and price of this smartphone on www.smartphoneandprice.com and I was amazed to saw the price and then confirmed the price here its amazing.
jabber - Monday, March 23, 2015 - link
Nice little phone but would have preferred to see a 3.2MP camera in there as I feel that's the minimum for a 'snaps' camera. That's about as much that's needed at this level.Morg72 - Wednesday, March 25, 2015 - link
Just upgraded my Lumia 822 to a Galaxy S5... I prefer Windows Phone but there are no current upgrades from my old phone. I like the Windows Phone interface and how smooth it is to use, but with MS ignoring the upper-middle and high end, it really meant I go with a Galaxy or a downgrade. If MS wants to gain market share they need at least 1 current high end phone. The high end is what gets peoples attention and then the budget phones are what people that can't afford the high end settle for. I don't get this strategy of all low and mid-low range phones. It's a shame I was pretty much forced over to android for a phone upgrade.cheshirster - Thursday, May 7, 2015 - link
"The Lumia 635 is a great example of this"You should throw your dilettantish estimates out of the window and face the truth - 630/635 are the most popular WP devices in US and in the world too.
They now hold 20-30 percent of WP installed base in many countries, 35% in USA
Overall world sales are likely higher then Moto G, so it is one of the most selling budget phones too.
And they are the popular while not being the cheapest.
This is a big success, deal with it.