Microsoft now selling the Lumia 550 unlocked in the US

posted by Mihai A. / Jan 04, 2016, 10:52 AM

Microsoft now selling the Lumia 550 unlocked in the US

Back in early December, Microsoft launched the entry-level Lumia 550 in several markets across the globe, and now it looks like the Redmond-based tech giant is ready to sell the smartphone unlocked through its US web store as well.

Previously, the Microsoft Lumia 550 was available from third-party retailers such as B&H Photo Video, but now that the phone is available from Microsoft itself, we can say that the device has officially launched on US shores.

The unlocked Microsoft Lumia 550 is priced at $139 over at Microsoft.com, which is $10 cheaper than what B&H is asking for the same device. Unfortunately, though, Microsoft only sells the black version at the moment, while B&H also has the white version on sale. As an unlocked smartphone, the device can work with both AT&T and T-Mobile in the US.

At $139.99 with no contractual obligations, the Microsoft Lumia 550 is the cheapest way to get your hands on a smartphone that landed with Windows 10 Mobile out of the box, although you shouldn't expect to get top-class performance at this price point.

Compared to the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL flagships, the Lumia 550 has a much more modest nature. It integrates a 4.7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 720 by 1280 pixels, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 chipset (literally the slowest chip that Qualcomm currently manufactures), 1GB of RAM, 8GB of expandable storage, a 5MP primary camera, and a 2MP secondary shooter on the front.

Microsoft Lumia 550

What do you guys think? Interested in a $139.99 Windows 10 Mobile smartphone?

source: Microsoft

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24 Comments

1. djkhalid

Posts: 156; Member since: Jul 01, 2013

Windows 10 mobile has more bugs than a Louisiana swamp on a hot day

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 11:06 AM 4

9. Bernoulli

Posts: 4361; Member since: Sep 01, 2012

oh, loving the america-only jokes and references lol because you know, "We're all living in Amerika"

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 1:06 PM 0

11. SemiFinal

Posts: 117; Member since: Jul 26, 2014

Maybe he made the joke because he lives in America? He can't joke about another country (at least, not without being called a racist)

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 1:28 PM 5

12. nepalisherpa

Posts: 338; Member since: Jul 17, 2015

Windows 10 mobile has more bugs than where Bernoulli lives. Happy?

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 1:47 PM 1

14. Bernoulli

Posts: 4361; Member since: Sep 01, 2012

Doubtful, since the legendary bernoulli is a couple of meters under ground, decomposing, rotting in a carcass with maggots coming in and out of his eye sockets.

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 3:23 PM 0

16. JunitoNH

Posts: 1946; Member since: Feb 15, 2012

You need chill dude...we well aware is a global crowd

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 8:00 PM 0

2. sip1995

Posts: 1771; Member since: Feb 07, 2014

Fugly, lame OS....Windows sucks, no apps, it lags, its specs are awful, boring design and blah blah blah...i just putt ALL the troll comments into 1.

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 11:08 AM 1

10. Bernoulli

Posts: 4361; Member since: Sep 01, 2012

lol not all of us need something entertaining that's going to drain our batteries and lag, some of us want something productive that has the best in optics, compared to samesung and apple and whatever else is trendy.

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 1:07 PM 0

3. Commentator

Posts: 3723; Member since: Aug 16, 2011

I feel like "literally the slowest chip that Qualcomm currently manufactures" is a bit of an unnecessary dig, especially for a $140 phone... Any word on if this model supports Continuum? I know MS was releasing a low-end model that doesn't (shame considering a cost-effective PC is kind of the point of Continuum, right?), is this that model?

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 11:13 AM 0

13. yoosufmuneer

Posts: 1518; Member since: Feb 14, 2015

Yes. This was announced along with 950 and 950XL at the Windows 10 hardware event in October last year. This won't support continuum.

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 2:42 PM 0

4. xq10xa

Posts: 810; Member since: Dec 07, 2010

I had to switch my dad from WP to Android. He's an old man and even he hated WP.

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 11:15 AM 1

5. Commentator

Posts: 3723; Member since: Aug 16, 2011

MS should make that their tagline: "Old people hate us! Stick it to them, buy Windows!"

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 11:17 AM 0

19. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

My parents went the other way. I couldn't handle their weekly calls of why their phone was messing up. 5 phones later, I adopted them to windows. 2yrs+ now and all clear sailing.

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 11:48 PM 1

6. DirtyDan23

Posts: 280; Member since: Aug 12, 2014

Nifty

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 11:36 AM 0

7. jove39

Posts: 2147; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

Snapdraggon 410 would've been better...but then...why do I care...I won't buy windows/misrosoft phone anyways :)

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 11:38 AM 0

8. xperiaZlover

Posts: 202; Member since: Nov 15, 2015

I have tried out sd200 series and they suck.games of 2016 will lag .and no sort of future proof. Minimum soc that anyone should buy is a snapdragon 410. release it with SD 410 and better camera I will buy it. But seriously lack of apps is a huge problem for windows phone. Buy an old flagship with SD 800 or 801 is better than this.

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 12:26 PM 0

15. geodude074

Posts: 99; Member since: Mar 05, 2013

This phone is about $100 overpriced. Who in their right mind would buy this phone for $140? This is clearly targeted towards budget buyers, but people on a budget would opt for a $60 Lumia 640 instead. Or they'd spend a little more and get a Moto G or ZenFone 2. All of which are superior to the 550 in every aspect.

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 3:41 PM 0

17. Bernoulli

Posts: 4361; Member since: Sep 01, 2012

Jussaying, i have yet to see an Asus zenphone or moto g at a t mobile or att store.

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 8:19 PM 1

18. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

What does Microsoft done right and make a person a fan? I use Microsoft software and some hardware and could never be their fan. In fact some of their business decision infuriate me e.g special firmware Xbox HDD so that customer need to buy their expensive Xbox HDD vs PS3 swappable HDD. No Bluetooth support for audio for their console. Expensive software, buying up PC Game companies to make Xbox exclusive. Therefore I am surprise that Microsoft has fans. Wow..

posted on Jan 04, 2016, 10:04 PM 0

20. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

Lesser of evils, them buying up a company is not because they had a gun to their head. It is because MS had a decent relation, and the people willingly sold out. As well they offer a balance of freedom and closed source. X1 fixed that with external hdd's. I don't need Bluetooth audio for my console, others may. Expensive software is in the eye of the beholder. I paid 30bucks for my windows through MS. I have to use android/apple all day for my job, I am glad I don't use them as my dedicated daily driver.

posted on Jan 05, 2016, 12:00 AM 1

21. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

We still can't swap HDD to SSD with XBone. Besides, i always approach from an angle that would affect me and my wallet. Therefore, i am a lesser fan of Microsoft. I do use and buy their product but i just don't love the company. In fact, i don't like any of the giant tech firm.

posted on Jan 05, 2016, 5:52 AM 0

22. Austiniter

Posts: 22; Member since: Dec 06, 2015

Microsoft is slowly increasing their presence into the mobile smartphone market. MS makes great phones, and now with Windows 10, such is even better. I think the MS Lumia 950 XL has failed miserably as a 'flagship' phone. Too bad MS didn't put better materials into the phone where it didn't feel like a 'disposable' phone. I prefer Windows (10), the OS works flawlessly for me. MS just needs to step up to the plate, manufacture a true FLAGSHIP smartphone made out of good materials, good specifications and come up with a good ad campaign to promote and get the phone into everyone's hands.

posted on Jan 05, 2016, 9:06 AM 1

23. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

Base on reviews, its more about the unstable mobile OS that fail to meet expectation. Hardware spec wise, i think its fine. I also like the phone design. Microsoft should never have release a unstable product and still charge a full price for it. Especially when they don't even have a monopoly in the mobile segment.

posted on Jan 06, 2016, 2:28 AM 0

24. cdgoin

Posts: 614; Member since: Jul 28, 2010

So the 550 is on thier site but still no 950 or 950xl.. That said after getting mine for full price off ebay.. I have to say I now know why.. I would like to downgrade the OS to 8.1, 10 is buggy.. and missing a lot of features 8.1 had.. ( How do you go backwards.. MS really..? ) Hardware isnt bad.. but the USB-C sucks.. it charges fast with the charger that came with it. But use a standard USB connector at the wall with the USB-C cable and its slower than my 930 to charge. Speaker phone is weak as well, Camera is OK but not much better than the 930, and antenna (which is why I bought the phone as I had a international 930) isnt much better if anything in some areas its worse than my 930. Overall not sure why I wasted my money and time. Should have just gotten a "New" 930, overall a better phone, even with the limited bands on T-mobile.