Microsoft introduced the phone in a blog post and video today. The Lumia 650 completes Microsoft’s current line-up of first-party Windows 10 Mobile smartphones, sitting between the ultra-budget Lumia 550 and flagship 950.
The 650 is an affordable business-friendly device built to get work done. It has a plastic body set inside an anodized aluminium frame, a finish that looks smart and professional for integration with a workplace environment. The flagship Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL are all-plastic without any metal, a widely noted point. Microsoft appears to have built a mid-range business phone that looks better than its premium range for its fans, a questionable decision.
The Microsoft Lumia 650, launched 15/02/2016
Microsoft
The phone weighs only 122 grams and is just 6.9mm thick. Despite the slim body, the Lumia 650 still includes two important features for business customers, a removable battery and expandable microSD storage.
The display is a 5-inch OLED panel for vivid colours and wide viewing angles. It has a low 720p resolution though, one of the corners Microsoft has cut to keep the cost down. It does have support for Microsoft’s ClearBlack technology, creating darker grey areas, and the Windows 10 Mobile Glance screen, a popular feature that constantly displays notifications with the screen set to a very dim brightness level.
The phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 212 processor, a modest quad-core chip running at 1.3GHz. It doesn’t support Continuum, Windows 10 Mobile’s star feature that lets a smartphone connect to a monitor, mouse and keyboard and resize apps to their Windows 10 desktop variants. This is an interesting omission as one of the scenarios in which Continuum makes the most sense is in the case of a business worker constantly on the move.
The Microsoft Lumia 650, launched 15/02/2016
Microsoft
The rest of the Lumia 650’s hardware is similarly low-key. It has a paltry 1GB of RAM, low 16GB of internal storage and an 8.0MP main camera with LED flash. The 2,000mAh battery should see it through a day but won’t leave much power left at the end.
As far as Microsoft is concerned, that is all the Lumia 650 has to do though. It’s the missing piece of the current Windows 10 Mobile line-up, a competent but cheap smartphone for businesses to buy in bulk. Windows Phone still suffers in the consumer market but has found some success with the enterprise as its strong integration with existing IT systems lets company administrators control devices and manage their usage.
In recent years, several large companies have moved to Windows Phone and bought mid-range devices in large volume. In late 2014, German automotive giant BMW placed an order for 57,000 handsets, some of which have since been replaced by newer Lumia 950s.
The Microsoft Lumia 650, launched 15/02/2016
Microsoft
The Lumia 650 is a device that responds to this trend and ensures it will continue. Microsoft is clear this isn’t really a consumer phone, writing even on its consumer-facing website “the Lumia 650 is a smart choice for your business.”
“We’re extremely proud of the Lumia 650 and believe it will quickly be seen as the device that provides the perfect balance between work and personal needs,” said Microsoft’s Samuli Hänninen.
“I’ve had an opportunity to talk with our business customers as well as our Windows fans and something that consistently comes up is that this ever expanding mobile world is quickly becoming chaotic. It’s in that spirit that we designed the Lumia 650 to bring first class to business class; giving our customers the best of Microsoft productivity and security, all wrapped in a beautiful slim package. By providing a consistent experience across PC and phone through the power of Windows 10, we think professionals and Windows fans alike will love using it every day.”
The Lumia 650 may turn out to be more significant than just a mid-range handset for the masses though. Recent rumours have suggested it may be the last Windows Phone to ever carry Lumia branding as Microsoft realigns its devices strategy and phases out the old Nokia name.
The company is expected to launch its first “Surface Phone” later this year, giving it a new chance at success with Windows on smartphones. The company will use the reputation of its Surface brand to drive sales of Windows 10 Mobile with a new range of premium hardware.
For now, the Lumia 650 joins the 550, 950 and 950 XL in carrying the Windows name though. The phone goes on sale for a suggested price of $200 in European markets this week. It will be offered in black or white and in single or dual-SIM variants.
