Microsoft is expected to launch a new Windows 10-based Lumia smartphone in the near future. That device, the Lumia 650, has just passed through the FCC, signaling an imminent release.
AT&T has been the exclusive carrier of Microsoft's latest flagship smartphones, the Lumia 950 and 950XL. The handsets are the first devices to ship with the company's latest Windows 10 Mobile OS, and the specs of each device put the pair on par with current flagship Android smartphones like Samsung's Galaxy S6 and LG G4, which also feature 2560 by 1440 quad-HD displays.
Microsoft has seen most of its smartphone success take shape in the entry-level market with devices like the Lumia 520, which has sold more than 15 million units worldwide. The company is now preparing to launch a new low-cost Windows Mobile 10 smartphone in the form of the Lumia 650.
The Microsoft Lumia 650 has just passed through the FCC, which is the last certification hurdle before the device can officially go on sale in the U.S. The handset is listed by its model number of RM-1152 in the documentation and also reveals this will be a single-SIM variant, although a dual-SIM variant has also recently leaked and is expected to be an international model.
The Lumia 650 is expected to be a low-cost smartphone and have specs similar to those of the recently-released Lumia 550, which is now Microsoft's budget Windows 10 Mobile handset. The Lumia 650 will reportedly feature a five-inch 1280 by 720 display, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 processor and 1 GB of RAM. Its camera capabilities are said to include an 8 megapixel rear camera with LED flash and 5 megapixel front-facing shooter for video chat and selfies.
The Lumia 650 will reportedly ship with 8 GB of internal storage, a microSD expansion slot and removable 2,000 mAh battery. A recently-leaked mage shows the Lumia 650 will sport a premium metal frame with a design similar to that of Apple's iPhone 5s.
While there's no word on an official release date, Microsoft could use Mobile World Congress 2016, which kicks off on Feb. 22 in Barcelona, to unveil the Lumia 650.
