While it waits on final approval of its acquisition by Microsoft, Nokia decided to pop up during Microsoft Build and announce three new Lumia models aimed at international appeal: the Lumia 930, 630, and 635.
Beginning with the Lumia 930, Nokia’s desire is to bring the design of the company’s Verizon-exclusive Icon to other countries. The Lumia 930 is powered by a 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, though Nokia did not mention how much RAM will be coupled with the processor. The 20-megapixel PureView rear-facing camera has optical image stabilization capabilities, with the Lumia 930 containing four microphones. These microphones will allow video to include surround sound and directional audio.
The Lumia 930 will go on sale in June, with Europe as its first landing spot, followed by Asia and the Middle East. Nokia did not mention whether the Lumia 930 would be released in the United States.
Joining the 930, the Lumia 630 and 635 squarely aim at the low-end market. However, Microsoft’s future executive vice president of the company’s devices division Stephen Elop said that both low-end Lumias include an “uncompromised Microsoft experience and an uncompromised Nokia experience.” Both devices include a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, though the more interesting of the two is the Lumia 630.
There will be two models of the Lumia 630: one that is 3G single-SIM, and one that is 3G dual-SIM, making it the first Lumia smartphone to have dual-SIM capabilities. Tweaks to Windows Phone will make it so you can easily differentiate between content on one SIM and content on the other. The Lumia 635, meanwhile, will have 4G LTE capabilities.
Nokia also introduced what it calls “Sensor Core.” The company describes it as a low-power sensing capability that tracks your movement and your location, turning the Lumia 630 and 635 into an oversized fitness tracking device. This is similar in functionality to the Apple A7’s M7 co-processor.
The Lumia 630 and 635 will be initially available in May, with a U.S. release date sometime in July. The 3G single-SIM model of the Lumia 630 will retail for $160, while the 3G dual-SIM model will go for $170. The Lumia 635, meanwhile, will go for $190. Both devices come in five colors, with the added ability to change the shells.
The Lumia 930, 630, and 635 will all ship with Windows Phone 8.1 when they become available.
