Microsoft has previously discussed the need to bring its PureView camera features down to a more affordable price and now the company is doing just that. The new Lumia 830 includes a 10-megapixel PureView camera with what Microsoft is calling the “thinnest” optical image stabilization system on a Lumia to date. That results in an interesting design that mixes parts from the Lumia 930 and the Lumia 1020’s large camera housing.
The Lumia 830 is essentially a thinner, less bulky, and lighter version of the Lumia 930 on the outside. However, inside there’s a lot of differences between the two. The Lumia 830 is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. Like the Lumia 930, the 830 is also a 5-inch handset, but Microsoft has opted for a 1280 x 720 resolution instead of the beautiful 1080p display on the Lumia 930. That’s an inevitable sacrifice as the Lumia 830 is positioned below the Lumia 1520 and Lumia 930, as an “affordable flagship.”
Just like the Lumia 930 the 830 features a aluminum body with a polycarbonate rear, and it also includes integrated wireless charging. There are four color variants: green, orange, white, and black. Although the Lumia 830 ships with Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, Microsoft will be providing a fresh Lumia Denim update later this year with faster camera start-up and capture speeds. Lumia Denim also includes 4K-quality video recording and general improvements to low-light images. Microsoft’s Lumia 830 will be available globally this month, priced at €330 before taxes and subsidies.
Pricing and looks might just make this handset a hit for Microsoft. I tested the Lumia 830 rear camera on several occasions and the results were good during daylight. You obviously won't get the same post-zoom ability as the Lumia 930 or Lumia 1020, but for the average consumer the 10-megapixel camera should be enough. Microsoft's Lumia 820 design wasn't particularly attractive, but this 830 is a welcome addition to the Lumia lineup that could help Microsoft push its Windows Phone sales.
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