Do they have it in them to take on the competition?
Microsoft's latest dynamic duo have finally been unveiled and there is a definite excitement surrounding them. The Lumia 950 and 950 XL have been priced according to their flagship status, with the Lumia 950 being launched at Rs 43,699 and its bigger sibling carrying a price tag of Rs 49,399.
While these may look somewhat steep, Microsoft has something truly unique going for itself aside from these these handsets as well -- Continuum.
Continuum is what Microsoft has chosen to call its continuity system. Users will now experience the option to access their files across different devices without hassles. For example, a file created on a computer running Windows OS can be accessed or even edited on something like a Surface Pro tablet, a smartphone or even be accessed on an Xbox gaming console.
Talking strictly about the latest Microsoft Lumia mobile phones, the concept of Continuum combines magnificently with display dock to deliver the advantage of a PC right through their new smartphones. All the user has to ensure is to be equipped with an external display device, a Bluetooth keyboard, and a Bluetooth mouse alongside the display dock and he is good to go. The Lumia 950/950 XL will proceed to render a Windows 10 desktop like interface, complete with elements like Start Menu, onto the bigger external display.
Haven't got a Bluetooth keyboard or a mouse? No sweat says Microsoft; the same inputs can be provided by the smartphones themselves. The user can proceed to access the files created earlier straight from the phone, or the One Drive will come to the assistance nicely.
Another thing of note: Users can complete other non-related tasks on this smartphone without causing interruption to the external display. The display will work independently via the display dock.
Lest we forget, the phones are pretty solid devices :-)
Microsoft Lumia 950
This handset measures 145 x 73.2 x 8.2 mm, and weighs 150 gms. Apart from being a dual SIM mobile, the Lumia 950 sports a 5.2-inch QHD display. The 1440 x 2560 p resolution gets the pixel density cranked to 564 ppi.
The handset comes with Snapdragon 808 chipset. A hexacore device, it is clocked at 1.8 GHz.
It is good to see a 3000 mAh removable battery pack being supplied here.
Lumia 950 XL
A dual SIM device again, the bigger sibling comes with a very strong spec sheet. It comes with 151.9 x 78.4 x 8.1 mm dimensions, and weighs 165 grams. The display being slightly bigger at 5.7-inch, the QHD display carries a resolution of 1440 x 2560 p. The pixel density despite being lesser at 518 ppi should not be raising eyebrows.
Coming with Snapdragon 810 chipset, the octa-core device carries Cortex A53 Quad-core clocked at 1.5 GHz and another quad-core Cortex A57 clocked at 2 GHz. The Lumia 950 XL dual SIM packs a large 3340 mAh battery.
Most interestingly, to tame the fiery and notorious Snapdragon 810 chipset, the 950 XL has been equipped with liquid cooling mechanism. This is a first in the industry.
Other features are pretty much consistent. Both come with a clear black display, the presence of 20 MP camera with fifth generation optical image stabilisation, 4k video capturing capabilities, Tricolor LED flash to eliminate red eyes in picture grabs. Dedicated camera button on both indicates Microsoft's interest in covering essential details.
Hardware itself is looking good at 3 GB RAM, 32 GB of onboard memory, storage memory expansion upto 2 TB via microSD cards. Needless to say, both come pre-installed with Windows 10 Mobile OS.
It is good to see Microsoft making these handsets future proof by opting for USB Type C ports. Also, both smartphones support fast charging, allowing the users to gain 50 per cent charge in about 30 minutes.
It was disappointing to see Microsoft not going with the Gorilla Glass 4 option here. That is one shortcoming which won't go unnoticed.
Microsoft has got pretty good package out there. There is a clear intent being shown to lure the business executives into buying their products, and the latest feature laden products seem well worth a shot. To place the cherry on top of the already drool worthy stuff, Microsoft is bundling the Display Dock, worth Rs 5,999, with the new phones. But this offer will only be limited till the initial stocks last.
The pre-order bookings for the handsets has already been flagged off, and expect the smartphones to be available for purchase via the physical as well as online retail stores.
