14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft goes on with its plan to conquer the budget phone market with yet another device that comes with Windows Phone 8.1 and Lumia Denim from the get-go but that will be fully upgradeable to Windows 10 when the new OS becomes available.
Lumia 540 Dual SIM comes with a 5-inch HD display with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:9, but also with a 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor.
In terms of cameras, the device features an 8-megapixel unit with auto-focus and LED flash, as well as a 5-megapixel camera with wide angle specifically introduced for selfies and video calling.
Lumia 540 Dual SIM technical specifications
The Lumia 540 comes with 1 GB of RAM, which means that it will enjoy the full Windows 10 experience. Microsoft has already said that 512 MB devices will also be upgradeable to Windows 10, but in order to receive all features, at least 1 GB of RAM will be needed.
At the same time, 8 GB of internal storage is being offered, but just like most other Lumia models on the market, microSD cards of up to 128 GB are also supported.
The device will go on sale next month in the IMEA and APAC regions as well as in Italy, with pricing to start at $149 (€110). There will be several colors available, including cyan, orange, white, and matte black.
“Being a Smart Dual SIM smartphone, you can create unique profiles for each SIM card so you always know who’s calling, regardless of which number they’ve dialed. Thanks to the call-forwarding feature, you can stay constantly connected, too,” Microsoft has explained in a statement today.
If you were expecting a flagship running Windows Phone, that’s not going to happen anytime soon, as Microsoft seems to be fully focused on budget models these days in order to gain share and pave the way for Windows 10. Flagships are rumored to come with Windows 10 in the fall of 2015, after the new OS becomes available.
| Operating system | Windows Phone 8.1 with Denim |
|---|---|
| Display | 5-inch HD (1280 x 720, 16:9), 294 PPI |
| Battery | 2200 mAh, removable |
| Processor | 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon 200 CPU |
| Main camera | 8 MP auto focus, LED flash |
| Front camera | 5 MP wide-angle |
| Memory | 1 GB RAM 8 GB onboard storage microSD up to 128 GB |
| Dimensions | 144 x 73.69 x 9.35 mm 152g |
