Last week, for the third time this year, Microsoft permanently cut the prices of its Windows 10 Mobile flagships in the UK. After 17% reductions three months ago, it slashed a further 22% off the Lumia 950, and 15% off the 950 XL, bringing their prices down to £249 and £339, respectively.
Now, three days later, Microsoft has begun offering even more to potential buyers, in the hope of tempting them to purchase one of the two high-end handsets.
From today, those who buy the Lumia 950 or Lumia 950 XL from the Microsoft Store will also get a free Display Dock worth £79.99. The Dock allows owners to use a mouse and keyboard with the phone, when connected to a larger display.
The latest price cut and free Dock have significantly reduced the cost of purchasing these items:
Handset | Price last week | Price of Dock | Previous total | New total | Savings |
Lumia 950 | £319.99 | £79.99 | £399.98 | £249 | £150.98 (37%) |
Lumia 950 XL | £399.99 | £79.99 | £479.98 | £339 | £140.98 (29%) |
Officially, Microsoft is referring to the free Display Dock deal as a limited time "offer". However, given that this offer is scheduled to continue for more than four months - supposedly ending on January 13, 2017 - it seems more likely that it will remain available until the company has cleared its remaining stocks.
Microsoft UK often promotes stock clearances of old devices as "special" or "limited time offers". Its Lumia 640 XL, for example, was sold with such offers for seven months, but is now finally out of stock. It"s also been known to quietly extend offers despite saying that they"ll end on a particular date; a 25% discount on its Band 2 was due to end on June 30, before Microsoft UK extended it by a further three months.
Over in the US, Microsoft started offering a free Display Dock with the Lumia 950 and 950 XL last week, after cutting their prices by 27% and 31%, respectively, in mid-August.
Source: Lumia 950 / Lumia 950 XL (Microsoft Store)