Selfie addicts rejoice, the Nokia Lumia 730 has arrived. Since July of this year, Microsoft, which now owns Nokia, has hinted at releasing a smartphone designed for taking selfies. With the introduction of the Lumia 730, Microsoft has finally made good on its promise.
What exactly makes the Lumia 730 the smartphone for selfie-cionados? For one, it boasts a wide-angle 5-megapixel front-facing HD camera. Yes, other phone makers may have 8-megapixel front cameras (HTC comes to mind). But the folks at Microsoft is confident that they will still be able to attract users with a nifty combination of hardware and user-friendly features, especially apps like the Lumia Selfie, which promises to allow people to create their own masterpiece selfies.
Selfie-related features aside, the Nokia Lumia 730 holds its own as a mid-range smartphone offering. Its display screen measures 4.7 inches and has a resolution of 1280 by 720p. Its main rear camera is a 6.7-megapixel beauty of a shooter (complete with LED flash).
Hardware-wise, the Nokia Lumia 730 packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 8 gigabytes of internal storage, and 1 gigabyte of random access memory (RAM). Users can expand storage via the microSD slot. The phone can also support dual sim cards.
But what helps make the Lumia 730 stand out may be its Lumia Selfie app. It is a stand-alone app that helps users fire selfie shots more quickly and easily. With the Lumia 730's predecessor, users had to launch the Lumia Camera and then swipe over to use the front camera. This time around, users can just tap the app whenever they feel like snapping an instant selfie.
Moreover, the Lumia Selfie app includes a wide range of editing options after the selfies are taken. Users can choose between several filter options, skin adjustment tools, and even options for streamlining face shapes and editing backgrounds.
While the app is expected to be loaded already in every Lumia 730 device, it will also be made available for download for other Lumia models. Even users with devices that lack front cameras will be able to use the app.
Positioning the Lumia 730 as a good mid-range choice for youngsters who make up the selfie generation is a wise move for MIcrosoft. By offering a smartphone that appeals to their lifestyle and fits their budget, the company may have found a specific niche that could potentially result to sustainable sales in the future. Of course, it is also a niche that other competitors are trying to penetrate as well. Still, the launch of the Lumia 730 is a nice effort in trying to stay in the competition.
The Nokia Lumia 730 is expected to be available in stores within this month. So far, buyers can choose from the following color options: black, white, red, and green.
