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The 435 is on the left
Microsoft has lifted the lid on two new Lumia devices for emerging markets, and they're both extremely easy on the wallet.
The Lumia 435 sells for just €69 (£54), while the Lumia 532 goes for €79 (£61). That makes both cheaper than the already bargainous Lumia 520.
Both handsets run Windows 8.1, and so bring all the basic smartphone functions like a web browser, apps and email. Both have built-in front-facing cameras – which is impressive at these prices – and come preloaded with the Microsoft-owned Skype for video calls. The full Microsoft Office suit also comes preinstalled, so you can work away on your mobile.
Cortana – Microsoft's take on Siri or Google Now – come as standard, and gives you suggestions and fetches answers to your spoken search queries. Plus they come with 30GB of free OneDrive cloud storage.
Both come in the trademark Lumia colours of bright green, bright orange, white and black, and will be available in single- and dual-SIM variants. They will go on sale in February.
Read more: Samsung reportedly testing new Windows Phone 8.1 devices
Microsoft wants to get its devices into the hands of as many people as possible – hence the low prices – and emerging markets like India present the ideal opportunity. But Windows Phone is struggling. It only has 3 per cent of the global smartphone market, which is dwarfed by Android and iOS.
These two budget blowers look like absolute steals. But Microsoft still has a long way to go in the smartphone war.
