Microsoft’s big product launch event is well under way, and chief amongst the announcements is the reveal of two new smartphones.
The Redmond-based tech giant has unveiled the Microsoft Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, the very first smartphones powered by Windows 10.
The devices were announced by Panos Panay, VP of Surface and Lumia at Microsoft.
Speaking about the Lumia team, Panay said: “
The Lumia 950 ships with Qualcomm’s hexa-core Snapdragon 808 processor, while the 950 XL boasts the octa-core Snapdragon 810. There’s also 32GB of storage on board.
In terms of screen size, the Lumia 950 will use a 5.2-inch OLED display with a pixel density of 564ppi.
Meanwhile, the Lumia 950 XL has a 5.7-inch OLED panel with a slightly lower pixel density of 518ppi.
Both handsets also feature adaptive antenna technology. That means the device will choose between two antennas to give you the best connection possible at any given time.
Photography potential appears to be on point. Both devices use a 20-megapixel camera with 5th-generation optical image stabilisation and triple LED RGB natural flash. There’s also a dedicated shutter button.
Microsoft has utilised a new USB-C charging port on the new Lumia handsets. According to Panay, the new connection can give you 50% battery life in just 30 minutes.
The company also revealed the device would be “liquid-cooled”, although details were unfortunately light.
Related: Best Smartphones 2015
The Lumia 950 will price in at $549, while the XL will cost $649. Both will ship in November.
Prior to today’s launch, Microsoft’s last smartphone – the mid-range Lumia 540 – landed back in April.
However, Microsoft has been avoiding flagship smartphones for a while, likely in anticipation of the Windows 10 Mobile overhaul.
What do you think of Microsoft’s new smartphones? Let us know in the comments.
Check out our smartphone buyer’s video guide below:
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
