Microsoft debuts Nokia Lumia 830, 730 Dual SIM and 735 Windows Phones

Latest Windows Phones bring high-end imaging to affordable price points

Microsoft has announced a trio of new Nokia Lumia smartphones, comprising an affordable model and two devices styled as being ideal for Skype calls with high-resolution front-facing cameras.

Announced at the IFA show in Berlin and due to roll out globally from this month, the new devices are complemented by a software update, dubbed Lumia Denim, which wraps up the Windows Phone 8.1 update with exclusive extras for Lumia smartphones.

The Lumia 830 is being styled by Microsoft as its affordable flagship phone, offering a 10MP PureView camera with Zeiss optics and optical image stabilisation for an estimated price of €330 (£263).

Based on a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, the Lumia 830 features a 5in 1280x720 touchscreen, 16GB of flash memory and a Micro SD slot supporting memory cards up to 128GB, plus access to 15GB of free OneDrive cloud storage.

It ships pre-loaded with Windows Phone 8.1 and Lumia Denim, and includes integrated wireless charging in a sleek and light aluminium and polycarbonate design.

The Lumia 730 Dual SIM and Lumia 735 appear to be very similar, save that the 735 features 4G /LTE network support and wireless charging, while the 730 is a Dual SIM model, as its name suggests.

Both have a front-facing, wide-angle 5MP camera in addition to a 6.7MP main camera, which Microsoft touts as being great for Skype video calls as well as taking self-portrait shots.

In terms of specifications, the two are based on the same 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor with 8GB of internal storage and 15GB of free OneDrive storage. The display is a smaller 4.7in 1280x720 touchscreen.

The Lumia 730 Dual SIM is estimated to be priced around €199 (£159), while the Lumia 735 with LTE/4G and wireless charging support is set to be around €219 (£175).

Meanwhile, the Lumia Denim update includes innovations in the Lumia Camera feature that make the camera work faster and more intuitively, according to Microsoft, including 4K-quality video recording at 24 frames per second, speedier captures and improved performance in low-light conditions.

Microsoft said that Lumia Camera will initially roll out as an update with Lumia Denim for Lumia 930, Lumia Icon and Lumia 1520 and as an over-the-air update for Lumia 830 during Q4 2014.

Lumia Denim will then be rolled out as an over-the-air update for all other Lumia Windows Phone 8 smartphones, following partner testing and approvals.