By Andrew Orlowski, 5 Sep 2014

 

Review How much new smartphone will £50 buy you? Quite a bit, it turns out. The Lumia 530 is available this week from £39.95 for SIM-free upgrades, and will feature on the high street for just a little more, with no strings attached.

http://regmedia.co.uk/2014/09/04/lumia_530.jpgAs it turns out, the Lumia 530 is a very likeable and pocket-friendly Windows Phone that preserves the slick software experience of its more expensive siblings remarkably well.

Many of its cut-down Android rivals in the £50 price bracket starve the phone of system resources needed to run smoothly, but this one doesn't. The 530 really fulfils the needs of people who in days gone by would have bought a Nokia for its size and simplicity, but nowadays want a few "essential" modern apps – navigation, peeking at Facebook and eBay.

For undemanding users, and anyone not glued to the screen all day, it's going to do the job well. But corners have been cut to reach this price – and it pays to know what they are. The one that most bothered this reviewer might surprise you, as it isn't immediately obvious.

 

The Register/ full article here/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/09/05/nokia_lumia_530_windows_phone_for_under_50/