Skip to main content

Lumia 530 with Windows Phone 8.1 arrives at T-Mobile and Cricket (updated)

Nokia, or should that be Microsoft, launched the Lumia 530 at the end of July, the sequel to the massive-selling Lumia 520. Like the 520, it’s not a high-end super phone, but a modestly specced device loaded with Windows Phone 8.1, ready to be sold by the boat-load around the world. We first heard about the 530 in a leak way back in March.

Updated on 10-02-2014 by Malarie Gokey: T-Mobile and Cricket add the Lumia 530 to their Windows Phone lineup.

At the beginning of October, T-Mobile announced that it will add the budget phone to its Windows Phone lineup. The Lumia 530 goes on sale on October 15 and will cost just $79.20 in total. Cricket Wireless will have the Lumia 530 out a little earlier, on October 3, and the no-contract network has priced it at $50, while its monthly plans start at $35. The phone is also coming to Best Buy and Microsoft retail stores on October 5.

The screen measures 4-inches, and has an 854 x 480 pixel resolution, while the processor is a 1.2GHz, quad-core Snapdragon 200 chip. This improves on the Lumia 520, which had a dual-core processor inside, and a more standard 480 x 800 pixel resolution. The Lumia 530 gets 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal memory, and a MicroSD card slot that will accept cards up to a whopping 128GB in size.

3G, a modest camera, and Windows Phone 8.1

This is a budget phone, so it only has 3G connectivity, and the camera has a modest 5-megapixels with no flash unit or autofocus. There’s no front facing camera either, but Nokia has included its voice guidance for using the rear cam to take a selfie. Other camera-specific software, such as Cinemagraph and Creative Studio, are also installed.

The Lumia 530 comes pre-installed with Windows Phone 8.1 and Lumia Cyan, bringing it right up to date. Other features include Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, GPS, and a 1430mAh battery expected to deliver around 10 hours of 3G talktime, and a maximum of 22 days standby. This is up from the 16 days indicated for the Lumia 520, so a marked improvement.

Microsoft sells the Lumia 530 in both single and dual-SIM configurations, and it’s available in the usual white and grey color schemes, plus very bright orange and green models too. The Lumia 520 was a roaring, global success, and accounts for more than 30 percent of the global Windows Phone market, meaning the Lumia 530 has quite an act to follow.

Article originally published on 07-23-2014

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Don’t buy this new Motorola phone — get this other one instead
Renders of the Moto G 5G (2024) and Moto G Power 5G (2024).

the Moto G 5G (left) and Moto G Power 5G Digital Trends

Budget phones can slip under the radar when shiny, powerful flagships launch. But if you're in the market for a smartphone that gets the job done and won't blow a four-figure hole in your bank balance, then a great budget smartphone is the way to go.

Read more
Get 32% off the cellular model of the iPad Pro 12.9 this weekend
The iPad Pro on a desk next to a stylus and AirPods.

If you've been thinking about getting the iPad Pro with cellular connectivity but you've been hoping to buy the tablet from iPad deals for a discount, this may be what you've been waiting for -- a 32% discount from Amazon's Woot on the 12.9-inch, Wi-Fi + Cellular model of the 2021 Apple iPad Pro with 128GB of storage. From $1,199, it's down to just $810, which is a steal price for this device with savings of $389. However, while there are still several days left on this offer, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase immediately because there's a chance that stocks don't last that long.

Why you should buy the 2021 Apple iPad Pro 12.9
It's not the latest version of Apple's top-of-the-line tablet -- the honor goes to the 2022 Apple iPad Pro -- but the 2021 Apple iPad Pro is still a pretty powerful device by today's standards. That's because it's equipped with Apple's M1 chip, which promises fantastic speed and excellent graphics when you're working on your multimedia projects, multitasking between several apps, or playing console-level games. With its 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR touchscreen, you'll enjoy high-brightness and high-contrast content, and its mini-LED display provides deeper black levels and more vibrant colors.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy A55 vs. A54: all the big changes, explained
Renders of the Samsung Galaxy A55 next to the Galaxy A54.

Galaxy A55 (left) and Galaxy A54 Digital Trends

Samsung has been on a roll with new phone releases in 2024. At the end of January, Samsung released the flagship Galaxy S24 lineup. It's fantastic, but not everyone can afford the latest and greatest flagship. Thankfully, Samsung also makes budget-friendly alternatives, and that’s the appeal of the new Galaxy A55.

Read more