Microsoft’s Budget Lumia 435 and Lumia 532 Dual SIM Launches In Kenya
Yesterday, Microsoft unveiled the most affordable Lumia smartphones yet in Kenya. At an event held at the Villa Rosa Kempinski, Nairobi; the Microsoft Lumia 435 and the Microsoft Lumia 532 both retailing at Ksh 10,200 ($ 112) and Ksh 11,750 ($129) respectively. Innov8tiv magazine received an invitation to the event, and the following are some of the features packed under the hood of both Lumia:
The Microsoft Lumia 435
Retailing at just $112, this is the cheapest Lumia smartphone yet. The phone supports Dual SIM, which is great for those of us juggling in between the most inexpensive tariffs our local telecoms have to offer. It has a 4” Display with 800×480 resolutions and a 233ppi pixel density.
Pop up the hood and you’ll find a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon 200 CPU fitted with an Adreno 302 GPU graphics. A 1GB RAM backs that processing power. Looking at this feature, don’t expect to run too many applications at once and have a smooth run, but it will do for users needing an entry level smartphone capabilities.
For your storage needs the Lumia 435 comes with an impressive 8GB native storage but can also accommodate additional maximum storage capacity of 128GB via microSD card. Of course, you always get 30GB cloud-based storage on Microsoft’s One Drive. Lumia 435 scores big when it comes to storage, so that is a significant incentive to grab this phone if you’re looking for an inexpensive smartphone with impressive storage capacity.
For the front- and rear-camera, the Lumia 435 spots a 0.3MP and a 2MP camera respectively. So, if you are a big fan of selfies and taking Instagram pictures, this is not the phone you want to have. The phone is powered by a decent 1560mAh battery and running on Windows Phone 8.1 that comes with a pre-installed Lumia Denim update. Meaning, depending on your region, Lumia 435 will support voice-activated virtual personal assistant Cortana.
Other features include the Word Flow swipe for typing, HERE locations services, a body dimension of 118.1×64.7×11.7mm and weighing at just 134.1g. The following is a video demo of the Lumia 435 by Microsoft.
The Microsoft Lumia 532
The Lumia 532 retailing at $129 is also an inexpensive entry level smartphone. It resembles the Lumia 435 above in all features except for its 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 200 processor and a 5MP rear camera.
With both of these Lumia smartphones users will be able to:
Switch effortlessly between voice and video calls with built-in Skype integration and a front-facing camera.
Read, review, edit and share on the go with the full suite of Microsoft Office on Windows Phone preinstalled.
Keep your photos, videos and Office documents safely backed up with 30 GB of free* OneDrive cloud storage.
Easily manage work and personal email on the fly, with Microsoft Outlook.
Capture photos quickly and easily with Lumia Camera and take, edit and share great selfies with the front-facing camera and Lumia Selfie app.
Have your home screen your way with Windows Phone 8.1 and the Lumia Denim update, complete with one-swipe Action Centre, Word Flow and Live Folders.
Stay up-to-date with the best new features through regular Windows updates.
“The Microsoft Lumia 435 and Lumia 532 show our commitment to bring Windows smartphones to as many people as possible. Both devices are fantastic for those moving to a smartphone for the very first time”, notes Patrick Henchie, head of product, Microsoft Mobile Device Sales, Sub-Sahara Africa.
The Lumia 435 and Lumia 532 are now available in black and white countrywide across Kenya. For the first time people can now also purchase Lumia devices online via Jumia.co.ke.
Lumia devices now available on Jumia
With the developing online shopping culture, and to make the Lumia device experience available to as wide an audience as possible, Microsoft Lumia smartphones are now available on Jumia, the leading online e-commerce platform in Africa.
“Statistics shared by Communication’s Authority of Kenya (CAK) indicate that the total number of data/internet subscriptions grew by close to six percent, and now stand at nearly 15 million. This is clear indicator that people in Kenya are using the internet more and more every day. The trend provides a great opportunity for Microsoft to partner with a leading online sales channel, Jumia, to offer people an alternative, convenient and safe option to purchase our devices,” notes Mariam Abdullahi, general manager, Microsoft Mobile Devices Sales, East Africa.
“We are looking forward to building a long-term and successful relationship with Microsoft. Kenyan consumers will appreciate getting great prices and knowing that the quality of their Lumia devices is guaranteed. Being the online launch pad for Microsoft in Kenya will enable both of our brands to reach new customers and provide them with a great customer experience,” says Parinaz Firozi, managing director, Jumia Kenya.
Offers include: 105 Single SIM at Ksh. 1,949, 108 Dual SIM at Ksh. 2,449, Nokia 107 Ksh. 2,449, Nokia 130 Dual SIM Ksh. 2,449, 225 Dual SIM Ksh. 5,199, Lumia 530 Ksh. 8,699, Lumia 630 Ksh. 14,099, Lumia 730 Ksh. 23,199, Lumia 830 Ksh. 36,699, Lumia 930 Ksh. 49,999, Lumia 535 Ksh. 12,799, Lumia 435 Ksh. 8,699.
To make a purchase, users can simply:
Go to jumia.co.ke and identify the device of choice by searching for it or browse using the categories.
Click the BUY NOW button. This action adds the device to your cart. Then proceed to checkout and follow the process.
Confirm shipping location and input contact details.
Delivery is made anywhere in Kenya or one has a choice to pick up the item for free at the company’s offices in Nairobi, Mombasa and Nakuru; and payments can be made via cash or mobile money transfer
Devices above Ksh.5000 will be delivered for free within Nairobi while devices above Ksh. 8000 are delivered for free in all major cities.
All devices purchased from Jumia and all other authorized dealers in Kenya will have a 12 month warranty program, and owners can also take up insurance for their respective devices through Kenya Orient Insurance Limited.
About Microsoft Devices
The Microsoft Devices Group includes award-winning hardware used by over a billion people around the world, including Lumia smartphones and tablets, Nokia mobile phones, Xbox hardware, Surface, Perceptive Pixel products, and accessories.