Microsoft Lumia 430 Dual Sim review: Worthy addition in battle of budget smartphones

The Microsoft Lumia 430 is nothing more than a budget smartphone - but it works well for parents that want to buy their children a device without breaking the bank in the process.

The Microsoft Lumia 430 comes in either black or orange. Courtesy Microsoft

Microsoft has been pushing its cheap and cheerful smartphones for more than a year now, and the Lumia 430 Dual Sim is the most affordable of the lot.

But at just Dh249, do not expect crystal clear photos, rapid internet loading times and any type of gimmick that will drag you away from your tablet.

Instead, Microsoft has produced another solid device aimed at either children or consumers requiring a low-cost second phone.

In fact, the 430 is an ideal choice for purchasing parents who want the comfort of knowing their kids have a phone with them that won’t break the bank if it’s lost or damaged.

And they shouldn’t worry too much about the youngsters staying up all night to play games on the phone as the 4-inch screen will cause a headache before too long.

It’s fine for short bursts, like keeping the kids amused when trying to enjoy a quiet dinner out, but dazzling sights and sounds is not what the 430 has been built for.

Running the Windows 8.1 operating system, this is a phone of convenience that can be quickly pulled out of your pocket to send a WhatsApp message and check your Facebook on the go.

The colourful tiles make navigation straightforward, and like all Lumia devices it comes pre-loaded with Skype.

Bright orange casing adorned the handset I had, making it easy to locate in luggage or a cluttered home. If that is not to your taste, it also comes in black.

Eight gigabytes of storage is available, while the camera is a rather lame 2 megapixels (MP) on the back and 0.3 MP on the front, so at least there is the option of a selfie or two, even if the outcome may not be your best look.

If your budget extends to Dh500, I’d recommend the Lumia 535 with its bigger screen and more powerful camera.

For Dh250, though, the 430 will meet your needs, as long as they don’t extend to technical photography or reading long passages of text.

Q&A

That case is extremely bright - will anyone seriously want one?

Indeed it is bright and the self-conscious are best to look elsewhere. But who says garishly bright will not be fashionable again?

How does the Lumia 430 compare with the 535?

The 535 has a 5-inch screen versus the 430’s 4 inches, while its resolution at 540x960 compared to 480x800 is more refined. The 535 also has a 5MP front and rear camera, a quad core processor opposed to the 430’s dual core and a bigger capacity battery. The 535 is a clumpier handset at 146g. The 430 meanwhile feels remarkably like holding a bar soap, albeit a dry bar that won’t slip from your grasp.

These Lumia device numbers sound familiar … does BMW have any involvement?

No, but you’re right, they are familiar. BMW has a 430 edition and had a 535. They have also shared the 540 tag, plus the 640.

You reviewed another low-end handset last week …

Yes we did - the HTC Desire 526G. While it had a bigger screen at 4.7 inches and more oomph in the camera, the actual device was far from inspiring and I think the Lumia 430 at under half the price is better value.

Anything else we should know?

Yes. Once the eagerly-anticipated Windows 10 is rolled out later this summer, the Lumia 430 can be upgraded to the new operating system.

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