Microsoft today announced the latest entrant to its low end ("affordable") Lumia device portfolio. The Lumia 430 Dual SIM is the company's lowest cost Windows Phone device to date, with an announcement price of just $70 (equivalent to a UK high street PAYG price of around £40). Key specification include a 4inch WVGA (480p) screen, Snapdragon 200 processor (Dual-core 1.2Ghz), 1GB RAM, 8GB internal memory and microSD card support, 2MP fixed focus main camera and VGA FFC, and a 1500 mAh battery. 

The Lumia 430 will ship with Windows Phone 8.1, but will be upgradeable to Windows 10, once the latest version of Microsoft's OS is released. The Lumia 430 Dual SIM will begin rolling out in select markets in the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus starting in April 2015, and in India toward the end of April 2015. It will be available in two colour variants: Orange and Black.

The pricing is clearly the most important point about the Lumia 430, with the potential to take Windows Phone to new customers. It is notable that Microsoft, in contrast with some earlier entry level models, has maintained a reasonable core memory (1GB RAM, 8GB internal memory) and experience (rear and front facing camera) specification, which should allow customers to benefit from almost all the core Windows Phone experiences (apps and services). Inevitably at this price there are some component, performance, and materials compromises, but the device represents outstanding value for money, with a clearer price definition from the recently announced mid tier Lumia 640 than its entry level predecessors.

From the Microsoft press release:

“People around the world have responded enthusiastically to our affordable Lumia range. We continue to invest in this segment to ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy signature Microsoft experiences, regardless of budget,” said Jo Harlow, corporate vice president for Phones at Microsoft. “The Lumia 430 Dual SIM continues our commitment to combining the right hardware, software, services and apps with the right price to give people a smartphone they can afford and be proud to use.”

The key differences between the Lumia 430 and earlier announced Lumia 435 are:

• Slightly lower capacity battery (1500 versus 1560 mAh)
• Smaller volume (slimmer) and lower weight (120.5 x 63.19 x 10.63 mm, 127.9g versus 118 x 65 x 12mm, 134g)
• Different back camera module (f/2.2 versus f/2.8)
• Lumia 430 only available in a Dual SIM variant
• Different market availability (Lumia 430 in Asia Pacific, Inida, Middle East, Africa, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus)
• Slightly lower price (around a $10 / €10 difference in announcement price)

Here's a summary comparison table of the current low end Lumia devices"