£70 is arguably a fair price, but why on earth would anyone buy it when a 'Nokia'/Microsoft Lumia 530 with identical specs and higher build quality is available for the same price or (usually) lower, complete with a number of 'Lumia' extras? At best, you could say that the presence of this device (it's not clear who the OEM is) might widen the scope of the Windows Phone ecosystem, but then who buys a smartphone through Argos? Again, at best, it'll be an impulse buy.
From the product page:
Display and camera information:
- 800 x 480 pixels.
- LCD display.
- 5 megapixel camera.
- Video capture and playback.
Network and connectivity:
- Wi-Fi and 3G network capability.
- Standard SIM card.
- Wi-Fi connectivity.
- Bluetooth.
Memory information:
- 512MB/4GB of internal memory.
- 64 GB of expandable memory (memory card not included).
- Type of memory card required: microSDHC.
General information:
- Up to 2075 hours standby time.
- Up to 540 mins talk time.
- Size H1260, W640, D105mm.
- Weight 126g.
- Manufacturer's 2 year guarantee.
- EAN: 690590527973.
A little underwhelming then. At least the page has been corrected from the initial publication, which listed a "0.3MP" camera! The screen size isn't listed, but I'd guess at 4", again matching the Nokia Lumia 530, which I reviewed here. The Windows Phone controls are at least capacitive, meaning no fiddling around with virtual controls, but still....
Is there any point in getting this in for review? Is there any overlap whatsover between AAWP readers and the sort of people who'd buy this, least of all from Argos? I'm sceptical!
Still, a Windows Phone 8.1 device, complete with Cortana and the usual Office and HERE goodies, for sale in Argos - newsworthy, at least? Though if I was buying there, I'd look further on the Argos web site - on pay-as-you-go, for only a few pounds more, you can get the Lumia 630 (reviewed here), which is a far better bet as a smartphone.