While Australian carriers are yet to make any announcement regarding Microsoft's latest handsets, the Washington-based company has set a date on which the Lumia 950 XL and Lumia 950, as well as the Lumia 550, will hit retailers in the Land Down Under this December.
All three handhelds — the current flagships Lumia 950 and 950 XL, together with the midrange Lumia 550 — were announced at a Microsoft event last month. While the mobile devices are currently rumored for a November 20 launch in the United States, the Australian launch date has already been sorted out.
Starting Dec. 7, all of the handsets mentioned will be available at Australian retailers. The unlocked versions of the Lumia 950 and 950 XL are currently listed for preorders through Microsoft's regional online store. However, even if preodered, the premium devices won't be shipped until December 8.
Microsoft Australia currently lists the Lumia 950 for AU$999 (around $708), which is a good introductory price for a smartphone with a 5.2-inch 1440p WQHD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 octa-core SoC with each core clocked at 1.8GHz, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage (expandable to 200GB with a microSD card slot), 20MP main camera, 5MP front-facing snapper and a 3,000mAh battery.
The 950 XL at AU$1,129 (around $800) is a little bit pricier. For AU$130 more,consumers will get a 5.7-inch handheld equipped with the same 1440p WQHD screen, 3GB RAM, 32GB on-board storage space, microSD expansion slot capable of supporting up to 200GB, 20MP main shooter and 5MP front-facing camera. Aside from the display size, the only real differences are the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core chip with each core clocked at 2.0GHz and the 3,340mAh battery.
The Lumia 550 is yet to be listed for preorders. Nonetheless, it is still expected to hit the stores on the same day as its premium relatives. The 4.7-inch smartphone, which has 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage, microSD expansion slot, 5MP rear camera and a 2,100mAh battery pack, was announced to hit the consumer market with a AU$196 (around $139) price tag.
All three handhelds will be shipped with Windows 10.
