Microsoft finally got the courage to admit that it was finally time to call it quits with Windows Phone. The operating system that was developed to replace Windows Mobile back in 2010, has finally been laid to rest after Microsoft confirmed that the company is no longer developing new features or hardware for Windows 10 Mobile.
Well, as we say goodbye to what could have been, here’s a list of some of the best Windows Phone devices across different price points, some of which made me feel like I could abandon Android for Windows:
Lumia 950XL
Being the last flagship off the Microsoft camp, the 950XL boasts of a 5.7-inch WQHD AMOLED display, 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, a 3340mAh battery, Windows 10 Mobile and a 20MP camera with ZEISS optics. The highlight of the Lumia 950XL was that you could dock it using Microsoft continuum and get a full desktop experience, all powered by the smartphone. It also has facial recognition feature, powered by Windows Hello.
Lumia 1020
The Lumia 1020 was best phone for its 41mp camera sensor with losless zoom. This phone was a dream come true for photographers, with camera features such as best-in-class low light performance, campture and save images in RAW and possibly, unmatched manual controls.
Lumia 620
The 620 was one of the very first phones that drove the Windows Phone adoption, especially in Kenya. At its time, the phone was a fashion statement, with its colorful, switchable back covers, its minimalistic design and and rounded corners made it a desire for many. The front was completely black, thanks to its 3.8-inch clear black LCD display. The cameras weren’t that bad, but we had seen better coming from the Lumia lineup.
Lumia 535
Most won’t remember this one, but after Microsoft bought out the Lumia brand from Nokia, the Lumia 535 was one of the first smartphones to be released under this branding. It didn’t have much going for it but its bold colour options were attractive to say the least, this coupled with its decent pricing, gave many a reason to consider it.
Lumia 520
Nokia branded the Lumia 520 as “the more fun smartphone”. The 520 was the lowest one could go with a Windows Phone but this does not mean that it was a disappointment. Most people who wanted to give Windows Phone a try, would automatically jump on the 520. It was a simple phone, with no highlights but offered a decent experience and was definetely a head turner thanks to its colourful back covers – I think all Lumias were known to be colourful.
Of course this is not an extensive list, its based on my preference and ability to recall which Lumias actually got my attention. I know we have Windows Phone fans among you, I wouldn’t mind if you took the liberty of adding to the list through the comments section below.
