Less than two weeks ago, we confirmed the specifications and design of Microsoft’s Lumia 650. Now we’re learning that the device will be officially unveiled on February 1, according to Windows Central.
Final details of the device, including pricing and availability, will be announced via a blog post. Microsoft unsurprisingly isn’t holding a press event for the mid-range phone, and apparently won’t have much of a presence at next’s months Mobile World Congress.
But the Lumia 650 is significant in that it is likely to be the last Lumia phone that Microsoft releases. Indeed, that’s arguably the most interesting part of this report:
Some sites have reported on a device labelled RM-1182 as being certified in various countries like China and Indonesia. The Lumia 850 was RM-1180 before being cancelled, and it is unclear exactly what RM-1182 is at this time. Having said that, none of our sources knows of an RM-1182, and we have heard multiple times that the Lumia 650 is the last Lumia.
For months now, rumors have talked about both a Lumia 750 and a Lumia 850, while others have suggested neither device will see the light of day. This speculation is nicely coupled with hints that Microsoft may be transitioning its mobile device oversight to the Surface team.
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Final Lumia or not, the 650 is already getting mixed reviews: “To its credit, the Lumia 650 was described to VentureBeat as having a very nice fit and finish, appearing even more luxurious in hand than the Lumia 950 variants. However, its entry-level CPU and lack of LTE capabilities (at least in the unit in question) were speculated to hurt the handset in its search for potential customers.”
Maybe Microsoft’s strategy is to set the bar low with the Lumia 650 before debuting its widely rumored Surface phone. But the more likely reason for the Lumia 650 is simple: Microsoft just wants to round out its lineup with a mid-range Windows 10 Mobile device.
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