Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform has vastly improved from its original launch, and within the last year, we have seen an immense growth of affordable Windows Phone based devices on the market. Some have been from more well-known companies, such as Nokia, while others are new contenders, such as BLU.
If you are looking to pick up an affordable Windows Phone this Holiday season, then look no further. WinBeta is counting down the top five off-contract Windows Phones available. So, here they are in no particular order – find what is best for your needs!
BLU Win HD ($149)
Emerging from the shadows with a triumph is BLU; this company has brought us the affordable Win HD smartphone, and it is our favorite on the list. Sporting a 5 inch 720×1280 display, the Win HD, doesn’t look like a budget phone. Internally, the unit sports 8 GB of storage that can be upgraded to 32 GB via a Micro SD card, 1 GB of RAM, and a Snapdragon 1.2 GHz Quad Core CPU. The included camera isn’t etched from the same stone as Nokia’s PureView line, but the 8 MP sensor with 1080p video does the job quite nicely.
BLU Win Jr ($86)
If you like what you see with BLU’s larger 4.5 Inch phone, but want something a bit smaller and more affordable, check out the company’s Win Jr with a 4 inch display. This Windows Phone devices can be picked up at a super low price and features a Qualcomm Snapdragon Quad-Core CPU with 512 MB of RAM. For storing your favorite tunes and more, there is 4 GB of internal storage, which can also be expanded up to 32 GB via a Micro SD card. The Win Jr houses a 5 MP camera capable of shooting 720p video.
Nokia Lumia 635 ($56)
Just in case you would rather stick with a more mainstream brand, there is always the super affordable Nokia Lumia 635. This Nokia Windows Phone features a 4.5 inch Clear Black UPS display with a 221 ppi resolution, 8 GB of internal storage, 512 MB of RAM, and a 1.2 GHz Quad Core CPU. With a beautiful interchangeable back design, and Nokia’s exclusive app collection – this is one phone to keep your eye on.
Yezz Billy 4.7 ($223)
Then again, maybe you don’t mind trying a new brand – perhaps even one with a silly name. If you don’t mind calling your phone Billy, then you might want to check out the latest offering from Yezz. With a price tag over $200, it is one of the more expensive Windows Phones on this list, but it offers up some impressive features in a ridiculously ultra-slim 72mm body. The Billy has a beautiful 4.7 inch IPS HD display, quad core CPU, and supports up to 128 GB of storage via its built in Micro SD card slot. For photos, the unit houses an 8 MP camera for crisp shooting. One of our favorites about this phone is its ability to swap out its back for one of three included color backings – blue, white, and red.
Nokia Lumia 920 ($210)
Last on our list is a phone that was never intended to be a budget phone. In fact, at one time, it was Nokia’s flagship device. The Lumia 920 may not be the newest phone on the block, and it is certainly a bit chunky, but it houses an amazing 8MP PureView camera with optical stabilization and a Carl Zeiss lens, along with a 4.5 inch IPS LCD display that shows off 16 million colors. The internals an older dual-core 1.5 GHz CPU and 1 GB of RAM. However, if you are on the market for an affordable unlocked phone that takes amazing pictures, the 920 is hard to beat – unless you spend another $100 for an unlocked Lumia 1020, of course.
