Microsoft is adding another budget-friendly device to its lineup, as the company just announced the new Lumia 540 dual SIM priced at $149.
Low-cost Windows Phone smartphones have proved to be quite popular in recent times, and Microsoft has decided to focus most of its efforts on affordable devices at least in the first half of this year. The company is not expected to introduce a high-end flagship until September or so, and now it has another budget handset called the Lumia 540 dual SIM, which comes as the successor to the Lumia 535 dual SIM. The new iteration retains the affordability of its predecessor, while also adding some improvements.
"Our customers are the source of so much inspiration, but we know they have different needs and budgets, so we always want to provide choice. That's why today we're introducing the new Lumia 540 Dual SIM," Microsoft said in a new press release on the Lumia Conversations blog on Thursday, April 16.
In terms of specifications, the new Lumia 540 dual SIM features a 5-inch display with an HD resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels (294 ppi) and packs a quad-core processor under the hood, clocked at 1.2GHz and paired with 1GB of RAM. The handset further comes with 8GB of internal storage capacity, microSD card support for additional memory of up to 128GB, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 5-megapixel front shooter, 3G connectivity, and a 2,200 mAh battery. On the software side, the Lumia 540 dual SIM ships with Windows Phone 8.1 out of the box, but will receive the latest Windows 10 when the new OS is ready to roll out.
Compared to its predecessor, the Lumia 540 dual SIM has the same processor, display size, and memory as the Lumia 535 dual SIM, but sports a better resolution, a better rear camera, and a larger battery.
When it comes to pricing and availability, the new Microsoft Lumia 540 dual SIM will start shipping next month in India, Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Italy, at a recommended retail price of $149, according to Microsoft. Available color options will include matte black, white, orange, and cyan.
Head over to the product page at this link to learn more about the smartphone's specs and features, and watch the video below to get a better idea of what to expect.
