Rendered image of the Lumia 650
Microsoft‘s latest Windows 10 smartphones haven’t had the best of receptions. Despite top-of-the-line hardware, it seems the Windows 10 OS just isn’t a match for the other established mobile operating systems. But, Microsoft is not done releasing new Lumias as we now have what looks like an official date for the Lumia 650: February 1.
However, there is also word that this could be the last Lumia smartphone of this year. So, Surface Phone anyone?
Rendered image of the Lumia 650
According to Windows Central, multiple sources have confirmed with them that February 1 will be the date that Microsoft reveals details about the device including pricing and availability. This device is said to feature a 5-inch 1280×720 pixel HD display with a quad-core Snapdragon 212 (or 200) processor with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD). It is also said to have an 8MP/5MP rear-front camera combo with an LED flash.
What is interesting is that they also note that this could very well be the last Lumia device of 2016 as they said both the rumoured Lumia 850 and Lumia 750 have been cancelled in July of 2015. Then again that article also said that the Lumia 550 was cancelled, so, as with all rumours, take it with a grain of salt.
With the abrupt cancellation of both Lumia devices, it is unlikely that Microsoft will sit on their hands and not launch any more mobile devices this year. So if there are no more Lumias what else does Microsoft have in their pipeline? A Surface Phone perhaps?
An earlier report by Windows Central indicated that the much-anticipated smartphone developed by Microsoft’s Surface team — for now dubbed the Surface Phone — could see a release in the second half of 2016. The Surface lineup has always been associated with premium quality devices, so we know that this team knows what they’re doing when it comes to mobile devices. Although, they have received some flak for the Surface Book and Pro 4, but that was mostly down to the buggy software it was shipped with.
This then brings us to the persisting problem that is Windows 10. One of the biggest reasons to the lukewarm reception of the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL was the fact that it is running on an operating system that just doesn’t seem ready yet. The specs are good, the camera is good, the build is…well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves there, but the software is just so unsuited for mobile usage.
Unless their software game takes a significant step up where you can actually see people moving from other operating systems to Windows 10 (mobile), all the brilliant hardware in the world won’t be able to save you. Things will be even worse if you slap an exorbitant price tag on it.
What do you guys think? Are you hyped to see a new Windows 10 powered phone? Or do you share our sentiments? Do let us know in the comments section below.
