14 DAY TRIAL // Windows Phone has many targets these days, though it started as an operating system for techies. Even though there are still some people who are afraid that they won’t be able to cope that well with Microsoft’s mobile platform, Windows Phone is a rather easy-to-use operating system.
At least that’s what Microsoft suggests on its NokNok blog, which makes an interesting plea for parents who are looking to arm their kids with reliable, but affordable smartphones for when they return to school.
The first thing that Microsoft wants to tell its customers is the fact that each of its Lumia phones comes with 15GB of free cloud storage via OneDrive, so regardless of how much internal memory the smartphone you choose has, you will be able to store enough photos in the cloud.
Obviously, Microsoft has chosen its affordable lineup of smartphones, especially those sturdy, that would withstand any accidental drops or scratches.
The first smartphone in Microsoft’s Back to School guide is the Nokia Lumia 1320. This is also the most expensive of the four included in the Nokia Lumia guide.
According to Microsoft, the Lumia 1320 would be the perfect smartphone for students who prefer big screens over mid or small ones.
The phablet sports a 6-inch capacitive touchscreen display that features Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which makes it more resistant to scratches. The smartphone is equipped with a 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and only 8GB of internal memory.
However, the Lumia 1320 also packs a microSD card slot for memory expansion (up to 64GB). Other highlights of the phone include a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera that can capture full HD (1080p) videos, as well as LTE support for blazing fast Internet browsing.
Nokia Lumia 1320 is available for purchase for around £220 (€275 / $365) outright, but prices may vary depending on country and carrier.
For more details, see our Nokia Lumia 1320 specification page.
Next in line is the Nokia Lumia 635, which offers LTE support as well, but sports a much smaller 4.5-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display.
This would be the perfect device for kids who want to change their phone’s look every once in a while, as Lumia 635 comes with exchangeable shells.
On top of that, it’s powered by Windows Phone 8.1 operating system out of the box and costs only £120 (€150 / $200) off contract.
For more details, see our Nokia Lumia 635 specification page.
Nokia Lumia 630 is Microsoft’s next choice from the Back to School with Nokia Lumia guide. It’s basically the same device as the Lumia 635 sans LTE support, so for kids who don’t need fast data Internet speed, this smartphone would suffice.
Not to mention that it’s much cheaper than the other two Lumia smartphones. Parents should be able to buy the Nokia Lumia 630 for around £100 (€125 / $165) outright.
For more details, see our Nokia Lumia 630 specification page.
Last but not least, Nokia Lumia 530 is the latest affordable smartphone launched on the market by Microsoft. It’s the cheapest of the four, but also offers less performance than other Lumia handsets.
This one comes with Windows Phone 8.1 as well and it’s packed with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of internal memory.
Microsoft claims that Nokia Lumia 530 will be available for purchase beginning September 4 for £60 (€75 / $100) upfront, but the smartphone has already hit shelves in some countries.
For more details, see our Nokia Lumia 530 specification page.
What do you think about Microsoft’s choices for the Back to School offering? Is there any other Windows Phone smartphone that you would put on the list?