The Windows Phone 8 smartphone is expected to sport an affordable price tag

May 9, 2013 20:11 GMT  ·  By

Today, Microsoft announced that the Huawei W1, the first Windows Phone 8 device from the Chinese mobile phone maker, would arrive on shelves at Walmart later this month.

The new device will become available for purchase through Walmart’s online store, as well as via its brick and mortar stores, providing users with the possibility to enjoy the features of Microsoft’s mobile operating system in an affordable device.

The mobile phone has already become highly popular among end users in other markets around the world (where it was released as the Huawei Ascend W1), but it hadn’t been made available for purchase in the United States before.

Unfortunately, Huawei did not offer specific info on the price tag of the device, nor on its release date, though the company did confirm that it will be launched all dressed up in Black.

Huawei also confirmed that the mobile phone will become available for purchase contract-free, and only said that it would be priced competitively.

“The Huawei W1 brings consumers a truly compelling alternative to what’s currently in the marketplace,” Huawei’s Michael Chuang said in a statement, a post on Microsoft’s official blog reads.

Made official in January, the smartphone features a 4-inch 480 x 800 pixels screen, along with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor inside, and a 5-megapixel photo snapper on the back, capable of shooting videos in HD resolution.

The specs list of this handset also includes 1.7GB of internal memory, along with a microSD memory card slot with support for up to 32GB of external storage, and the usual set of sensors.

Huawei also touts the smartphone as capable of delivering up to 320 hours of standby time, courtesy of built-in power-saving technology.

According to Microsoft, the new smartphone could easily prove a great option for all users who are buying their first smartphone. Stay tuned for additional info on the Huawei W1’s availability in the US.