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Nokia no more: This is the Microsoft Lumia 535

By Ng Chong Seng - on 11 Nov 2014, 12:01pm

Nokia no more: This is the Microsoft Lumia 535

Update (Nov 25, 2014): The Lumia 535 Dual SIM will be available at Nokia Stores, Nokia Solution Partners, and Amobile-owned retail stores on December 5, 2014, at a recommended retail price of S$199.

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The first Lumia smartphone without the Nokia branding is here, and it’s the Microsoft Lumia 535. A budget 3G (up to 42Mbps) smartphone designed for emerging and price-sensitive markets, the Lumia 535 measures 9.4mm thick, and has a 5-inch qHD (that’s 960 x 540 pixels) IPS LCD screen. Naturally, it runs the Lumia Denim Update, which in case you didn’t know, is a combination of Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 and several Lumia-specific features.

Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 (8212) 1.2GHz quad-core processor just like the Nokia Lumia 530, the Microsoft Lumia 535 also comes with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. If 8GB isn’t enough for you, there’s a memory card slot that supports microSD cards up to 128GB.

The Lumia 535 is also a dual-SIM phone, with one slot for 3G and the other for 2G connectivity. Dual-SIM capability seems to be the trend these days for entry-level smartphones; and for Windows Phone devices, it became possible this year with the release of the Windows Phone 8.1 OS. A single SIM version of the Lumia 535 is also available.

Suffice to say, the Lumia 535’s rear shell is swappable. Like many existing Lumia smartphones, a range of colorful shells for the 535 will available for sale, so you can switch your style anytime you want. And for those wondering, the 535 packs a 1,905mAh (7Wh) battery.

Dual SIM and microSD card slots are accessible when you remove the rear shell.

Another feature worth mentioning is that in addition to its 5-megapixel rear camera, the Lumia 535’s front-facing camera also sports a 5MP sensor. Coupled with a 24mm wide-angle lens, it makes for a pretty good selfie camera. If you think this sounds familiar, you right: the recently launched Lumia 730 also has a 5MP, 24mm front shooter. Of course, this HD camera can also come in handy during video calls; and like many recent Lumias, Microsoft is throwing in 3 months of free Skype calls when you buy the Lumia 535.

Last but not least, besides the aforementioned 5-inch screen and 5MP cameras, the third '5' in Microsoft's "5 x 5 x 5" proposition for the Lumia 535 are the five free integrated Microsoft services, namely Skype, Office, Outlook, OneDrive, and Cortana. We're all too familiar with the strong points of the Nokia Lumia hardware; moving forward, it looks like Microsoft will be emphasizing on the experiences of its services in its marketing message.

The Microsoft Lumia 535 is priced at US$130 (or €109 in Europe). Pricing and availability details for Singapore have yet to be finalized, though a local Microsoft spokesperson has told us that it’s definitely coming and would cost “around S$200”.

The Lumia 535 has a 5-inch IPS display with a qHD resolution.

Need to change your style? Just swap the shell! Bright green, bright orange, white, dark grey, cyan, and black color shells are available.

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