If you"re on the lookout for an ultra-low-cost smartphone in the United States, you might be interested in a new deal available on Microsoft"s Lumia 640. The 640 was originally unveiled in March 2015, but it remains a very capable device, and it"s also eligible for an official upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile, including the recent Anniversary Update.
Best Buy is now selling the cyan Lumia 640 for just $26.99 with no annual contract - that"s $3 less than its previous price of $29.99, and over $100 less than the price at which it launched last year.
However, while you won"t be tied to a contract at that price, be aware that the device is locked to Cricket Wireless. Cricket is owned by AT&T and uses its parent company"s mobile network, but Cricket devices will not work with AT&T SIM cards (or those of any other carrier) without being unlocked.
The Lumia 640"s key specs include:
- 5-inch ClearBlack IPS LCD with HD (1280x720px) resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass 3
- Quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
- 1GB RAM
- 8GB onboard storage (plus microSD support up to 128GB)
- Backside illuminated 8MP rear camera with LED flash and 1080p video recording
- 0.9MP front-facing camera with wide-angle lens and 720p video
- Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth 4.0
- NFC
- Ambient light sensor, accelerometer, proximity sensor, magnetometer and SensorCore
- Replaceable 2500mAh battery
- 141.3 x 72.2 x 8.8mm; 145g
- Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2 (upgradeable to Windows 10 Mobile)
If you"re prepared to transfer your phone number to Cricket, you can alternatively get the newer Lumia 650 free from the carrier, with no annual contract obligation.
Meanwhile, both Microsoft and AT&T slashed the off-contract price of the Lumia 640 XL, the 640"s larger sibling, from $149 to $99 this week.
If you"re thinking about buying any of these devices, be sure to check out our reviews first:
- Lumia 640 review: Impressive device, affordable price
- Lumia 640 XL review: Windows Phone goes extra-large
- Lumia 650 review: A budget device that punches well above its weight
Source: Best Buy