CNET UK has reviewed the Nokia Lumia 610.
They note, I suspect somewhat erroneously, that the Nokia Lumia 610 is the first Windows Phone for the cheaper end of the market — a sector which has been ably exploited by legions of low-cost Android devices. The phone will be available with monthly contract prices starting from around £15, while SIM-free handsets can be picked up for roughly £180 which should expand Windows Phone’s reach to younger mobile buyers.
The found build quality good, the design modest but fetching in parts, and notes it feels like a handset that’s worth more than its retail price. In their test the LCD screen was average with descent viewing angles but a washed out look.
They were disappointed by the lack of expandable storage, but said SkyDrive does make up for it somewhat. Another negative was the lack of full app compatibility, but again they found this sacrifice was inevitable given the low price point.
They were happy with the performance, saying transitions are smooth, navigation is fast and there’s no irksome delay when switching between applications, unlike the stumble and stutter they experience on Android handsets in the same price bracket.
They note
“Microsoft has clearly done a fantastic job of optimising its operating system for lower-specced devices. Google’s software engineers should probably give them a call.”
