Updated on 08-11-2014 by Malarie Gokey: Microsoft issued a teaser invite for a September 4 event in Berlin, Germany, which hints that the super selfie Lumia 730 is coming.
Microsoft could unveil the super selfie phone on September 4
In early August, Microsoft issued a teaser invite to an event on September 4 in Berlin, Germany. The bright orange invite asks, “Are you ready for more?” and features the round Lumia camera lens prominently in place of the letter “o” in the word “more.”
No further details were offered, but given the prominence of the camera lens in the post and the fact that images of the super selfie smartphone popped up online just a few days ago, it seems likely that Microsoft will show off the Lumia 730 just one day after Samsung plans to debut the Galaxy Note 4.
Superman’s real name could be the Lumia 730
The device currently has the codename Superman, but could end up being released as a sequel to the Lumia 720, making the name Lumia 730 a distinct possibility, particularly as the Lumia 530 was officially announced as the successor to the Lumia 520. There’s a strong chance, according to a leak by NokiaPowerUser.com, that the phone will be made available through both Verizon and AT&T.
Familiar design from Nokia
A leaked picture could have revealed the Lumia 730’s design, and if it’s accurate, it doesn’t look like Microsoft will be messing around with the good work Nokia has already done. The picture shows an unbranded, green device which appears to be made from polycarbonate, complete with a camera lens and LED flash on the rear panel. The screen says the device runs Lumia Debian Red software, which could be an internal codename for the version after Lumia Cyan.
Expect a great selfie camera
Ever since rumors began to gather about the Lumia 730’s existence, it has been linked with a high quality front camera, geared to take great selfies. There aren’t any firm details on the front camera, and it’s referred to only as a “big selfie cam,” which could mean it fits in with the current trend of using a 5-megapixel camera with a wide-angle lens. Expect some of Nokia’s software tweaks, and perhaps a newly designed, dedicated selfie app too. On the rear, we should get an 8-megapixel cam with a Carl Zeiss lens, although an unusual 6.5-megapixel camera has also been rumored, and a few enhancements to the low light performance.
What about the other specifications?
There are conflicting reports on the Superman’s screen size. Early rumors said it would measure 5-inches and have a 720p resolution, while more recently, a 4.7-inch display with the same pixel count has been suggested. The whole device should be powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 400 chip with 1GB of RAM, and a total of 8GB internal memory. Finally, the latest Windows Phone 8.1 software is almost certain to be installed.
We’re told to expect Superman to swoop in during August or September, and it may be part of a whole new Lumia range. We’ll bring you more news on the new Lumia phones as it comes in.
Article updates:
Updated on 08-08-2014 by Andy Boxall: Added in a leaked picture supposedly showing the Lumia 730, and additional spec rumors too.
