3 ms·

I own a Nokia Lumia Icon (Verizon) and a Microsoft Lumia 640 (T-Mobile). The Icon was bought on a plan and was $199 subsidized. The 640 was bought off-contract

I own a Nokia Lumia Icon (Verizon) and a Microsoft Lumia 640 (T-Mobile). The Icon was bought on a plan and was $199 subsidized. The 640 was bought off-contract for $99. I believe the Icon was selling for around $700 off-contract. I've used both extensively now (the Icon was my old daily phone, the 640 is my new one). The 640 is lacking in the camera. That's it. Every other experience on the phone? Identical. I don't miss the Icon at all, and I think that really says something. Why would a phone 6-7x the price be roughly equivalent in experience? Why should it be? The 640 isn't subsidized by anything. $99 is the just the price of it. It's an amazing device, FAR better than an equivalent android. People complain about Windows Phone not having "flagship" devices, but realistically, it doesn't need them. The cheap phones are great. I've tried expensive android phones, iphone, as well. None of them stand up to the experience on WP for me. If Microsoft keeps making $100 phones like this, I'll never pay more than that for a phone.

virmundi 11y ago
Hey, I'm glad you're liking the WP. Honestly, I think WP should be great. That said.... Android phones are starting to get into this territory too. OnePlus 2 is $400. That is 4x the cost of your $100. But it is less than half the cost of my $1000 Note 2. (I don't buy on contract because I have a grandfather plan on VZ for unlimited data). My wife's phone was $700. Next refresh in about 2 years we'll be in the OnePlus store. The reason I say all of this is that we should all, across every platform but Apple, be looking forward to getting less expensive, higher quality devices.
- randomhunt 11y ago
  I'm hoping that Android gets a lot better on the battery usage before that happens in earnest though. I've read they've focused on this recently but I haven't had time to drill into details. I love Windows Phone and have had 3 different models since Windows Phone 7. I'm currently on a Lumia 830 for my private phone and get about 3.5-4 days of battery life. Granted I don't call/text a lot relying on email, Lync and Skype. My previous Lumia 520 was about the same, and the previous LG E900 was 2.5-3 days. My partner has a Moto G (1st Generation) and loves it but only gets about 1-1.5 days of battery life. Good phone, similar price levels after offers on the Lumia 830, but dramatically lower battery life.

virmundi 11y ago

Hey, I'm glad you're liking the WP. Honestly, I think WP should be great. That said.... Android phones are starting to get into this territory too. OnePlus 2 is $400. That is 4x the cost of your $100. But it is less than half the cost of my $1000 Note 2. (I don't buy on contract because I have a grandfather plan on VZ for unlimited data). My wife's phone was $700. Next refresh in about 2 years we'll be in the OnePlus store. The reason I say all of this is that we should all, across every platform but Apple, be looking forward to getting less expensive, higher quality devices.

randomhunt 11y ago
I'm hoping that Android gets a lot better on the battery usage before that happens in earnest though. I've read they've focused on this recently but I haven't had time to drill into details. I love Windows Phone and have had 3 different models since Windows Phone 7. I'm currently on a Lumia 830 for my private phone and get about 3.5-4 days of battery life. Granted I don't call/text a lot relying on email, Lync and Skype. My previous Lumia 520 was about the same, and the previous LG E900 was 2.5-3 days. My partner has a Moto G (1st Generation) and loves it but only gets about 1-1.5 days of battery life. Good phone, similar price levels after offers on the Lumia 830, but dramatically lower battery life.