Nokia Moves Away From High End With Latest Lumia Models And Announces Denim Update

Nokia has announced a new slate of Lumia smartphones that conspicuously move away from the high-end specifications of the Icon, 1520 and 930 into an upper mid-range slate that include flagship features at a much lower outright cost than previous flagships.

First Nokia has announced the latest update to Lumia handsets in Lumia Denim, which makes Cortana easier to use by introducing a “Hey, Cortana” catchphrase that can be used to launch the assistant for filing reminders and other actions. Denim also integrates geofencing functionality to Cortana, that can allow it recognize geographic areas for assisting in reminders and tasks. The update also makes improvements to the camera application by speeding up the app so that less shots are missed and will be quicker to capture individual shots. The update also adds a quick-capture mode that records 4K video with 8.7-megapixel images. The software will then pull out individual shots from the video.

The update also improves Bluetooth compatibility with in-car systems, adds SMS merging and forwarding, as well as a unique Consumer VPN option for public Wi-Fi hotspots for increased security. Lumia Denim will first roll out for the the Lumia 930, 1520, and Icon, with other models to follow in the fourth quarter. The separate, updated camera app will also be made available during the fourth quarter exclusively for the 930, 1520, and Icon.

The Lumia 735 features a 5-megapixel camera with a wide-angle lens and dedicated “Lumia Selfie” app that automatically launches the user-facing camera and has its own suite of editing features, such as filters, toning, face slimming and teeth whitening. The rear camera features a 6.7-megapixel sensor, Zeiss optics, f/1.9 aperture, and a tool that helps users center their face in the frame for higher-quality selfies.

The phone will cost €219, or about $290 and features a 4.7-inch 720p HD display, 2,220mAh battery, 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor with 8GB of storage and a microSD slot that supports 128GB cards. The Lumia 735 will run Windows Phone 8.1 with the Denim system update preloaded and will also ship with a free three-month trial of Skype International unlimited calling.

The Lumia 830 features a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 5-inch 720p display, 16GB of storage and support for memory cards up to 128GB. The Lumia 830 will be priced at €330, or about $435 and features many aspects of the older 930, while having a much lower MSRP. It runs Windows Phone 8.1 and the Lumia Denim system update while featuring a PureView 10-megapixel camera with Zeiss optics and optical image stabilization with a new Rich Capture mode that snaps a series of images with/without the flash, so users can later choose to add light to their image for more balanced results. The HDR mode has also been improved so that high-contrast images can be more properly exposed to increase detail. However, the front-facing camera only has a 1.0 megapixel sensor and captures 720p video, unlike the front camera on the 735.

The 830 also features a removable rear cover with wireless charging built-in to power the 2,220mAh battery and Nokia has also announced a new “smart” charging plate for the phone that includes NFC hardware and allows for customized notifications when it senses that the phone’s battery requires charging or detects an incoming call in the same orange, green, and white colors as the phone’s body. The plate will visually notify owners by glowing for either of the aforementioned notifications. Both the 735 and 830 will be released soon, with the respective launches beginning later this month and more specific details on a US launch expected soon.