14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just launched a new phone, but contrary to what all fans still in the Windows Phone ecosystem expected, it’s not one of those devices that could help the company become a more important player in the smartphone business.
In fact, this is the Nokia 216, a new feature phone launched under the Nokia brand, which Microsoft has already sold to Foxconn earlier this year, but which it continues to operate until the deal closes in December.
And since it’s a feature phone, it doesn’t bring capabilities that are very exciting for those in love with smartphones, but its specifications position it as a pretty good choice for those who want a device with a long-lasting battery and other essential features.
Nokia 216 specs
First and foremost, the device comes with a 2.4-inch QVGA display with a resolution of 320x240 pixels and which is not touch-capable, so you need to use the navigation controls below the screen to browse the operating system. It features a 0.3-megapixel camera with video recording support and 2x digital zoom plus LED flash, as well as microSD card support for a maximum of 32 GB of storage. A secondary VGA camera is placed on the front for selfies.
The 1,020 mAh battery provides up to 24 days in standby time and up to 18 hours of talking in 2G, while other features include an audio jack (heard that, iPhone?), Bluetooth, USB, and a bunch of pre-installed apps for web browsing, such as Opera.
The phone is super light at only 82.6 grams, and costs approximately $40 (€35) - pricing could vary by countries and taxes, but it’s important to know that it will be launched only in specific markets.
Just like the whole feature phone business, this new device will be transferred to Foxconn later this year when the transaction completes, with Microsoft to focus exclusively on smartphones, which will hopefully include the Surface Phone too.
