Looking for a sub-£100 smartphone? The Microsoft Lumia 535 is on its way



It's not very often we go all out and recommend a phone.

We did for the excellent mid-range Nokia Lumia 830...and we're doing the same for the new entry-level Lumia 535.

Only trouble is...it's not released in the UK yet, but it should be soon.

The 535 is the first Lumia to be branded Microsoft and not Nokia and it ticks lots of boxes.

It's got a big bright 5" screen...1GB RAM...8GB inbuilt storage with a microSD slot for more...and it has 5MP cameras on front and back, with the front being wide angle for super-selfies.

There's a 1905mAh battery, which should easily see you into Day Two without having to charge again, and it's removable. Yesssss....a removable battery, so it can be replaced when it starts to die from old age.

The 535 will come in a choice of five interchangeable coloured shells - green and orange, which are glossy, and black, white and cyan, which are matt.

The only downer we can see is lack of 4G LTE, which really should have been included, even on an entry-level smartphone.

The price should be under £100 in the UK. We're guessing it will probably settle at about £80 SIMfree and with no contract.

But when?

Well....not sure.

Launches have already been announced for some areas, including China and India. But nothing formal yet for Europe and the US.

It could be out in the UK in early December (it's already appeared for pre-order on Amazon Germany) or it might be early 2015. Microsoft would prefer the former to catch the Christmas market.

Update: we now have this statement from Microsoft: 
"Available in both Single and Dual SIM variants, Lumia 535 will begin rolling out to key markets in November, with UK availability expected in Q1 2015. Lumia 535 will be available in bright green, bright orange, white, dark grey, cyan and black and is estimated to cost around 110 EUR before taxes and subsidies."

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