Lumia 650, a “premium low-cost” smartphone for Microsoft – The Republic

NUMBERS, in the world of technology, can often say more than words. So let’s start with the figures, to clarify immediately what is the idea of ​​Microsoft for its new smartphone, the Lumia 650. Three Numbers, 10, 6.9 and 239. Ten as Windows 10, the operating system for PCs, tablets, and Xbox naturally smartphone, which is the heart of the Lumia 650. Windows 10 means above Continuity , or the common operating environment for all Windows 10 devices, which are fixed or mobile: the user always has its digital world under control, system and applications behave the same way on the pC and on the phone and communicate instantly, while remaining synchronized.

Weight 122 grams, 6.9 is the thickness in millimeters instead of 650, the thinnest ever Lumia made, embellished with an aluminum machining cut diamond on the edges, like the iPhone fifth generation. There would be other numbers to say before the more interesting, as the number of CPU cores (four) A7, 1300 mHz, the chipset is the Snapdragon 212. You may think that a more powerful chipset would bring the car to another level , but the objective of Microsoft with the Lumia 650 is another. In addition to collecting the witness of the Lumia 550, excellent entry-level device, here is the meeting point between operational possibilities, adequate power user and typical battery life, aldi beyond the fact the architecture of Windows 10 Mobile does not need a System on a particularly powerful chip to provide optimum user experience.

And then, last but for many first among the key numbers, there is the price. That in the case of the Lumia 650 is 239 Euro. For a smartphone that offers an experience of use that the test of facts, not long ago we defined high level, both in Windows and Android. And with the feel of a very premium product, with carved aluminum profiles from the diamond and a 5-inch OLED display 720p, 297ppi, multitouch with excellent black level of superior and easy to read even in direct sunlight. “But to realize it needed a magnifying glass,” says Samuli Hanninen, director of Microsoft’s smartphone division.

How. Lumia 650 can count on 1 gig of RAM and 16 GB mass memory, expandable via MicroSD. And ‘LTE (4G) and of course also supports Bluetooth and NFC. The rear camera is 8 megapixels, one for selfies from 5 wide angle, and the chassis is available in black and white: “Even the inner screws are different colors to distinguish them even without the back cover,” he says Hanninen showing the smartphone inside.

the device is extremely light and responsive and there are features of the 650 that could not fail to attract some Android user disappointed by the latest trends: the Lumia 650 also exists in version Dual Sim , 16 mass storage jig can be expanded with microSD and – now almost a miracle – the 2200 mAh battery is removable in a few seconds. The use that we have done, the smartphone has been interrogated with notes app bloodsucker terror of each battery, Facebook, Twitter and all that requires a constant flow of updated, and the Lumia 650 is always arrived safely at the end of the day with a 20 % residue, occasionally using the GPS, location and about an hour of non-continuous conversation. In fact, the battery consumption is optimized with the use with Windows which calibrates the energy resources in relation to what makes the user and to process requests. After a week of use, it can be reasonably estimated, we’d be back at home with a 25-30% residual. We also used extensively Cortana, Windows voice assistant, and LTE connectivity to surf the internet and send pictures (of course there are apps Lumia dedicated to photography).

Applications, coming soon many port from iOS. With the Lumia 650 Microsoft points to its pleasure at all. Who wants to change Os has an opportunity-premium low cost of undoubted appeal, considering that Microsoft also encourages the translation of the app from iOS to Windows Mobile 10 making the very simple task for developers. Hanninen explains: “We worked hard to make sure that bring iOS applications to Windows 10 was very simple. The port is a lean and effective process for Windows users, who can also rely on this facility app on a farm in continuous expansion and even apps that do not exist on

The Lumia 650 is a good compromise between performance, design and of course price. Who already has a top of the range you will find it an excellent second device. But the data of more significant importance is that Windows 10 is able to offer today experience substantially without barriers use between a device and the other, in the name of the Continuity on which Microsoft has evidently focused and worked hard. Certainly the high-end Lumia offer the opportunity to become almost real Pc, and 650 remains “only” a smartphone. But one that for design, care, construction, functionality and quality of experience of use, a year ago we would have paid more than twice.