As you can probably tell from my Avatar, I've been a long term fan of Android, but decided to jump ship this year and try a Windows phone, and I've got to say I'm really pleased in the OS itself and the speed of the phone, which although similar in spec to my previous Android is a lot faster and less clunky, everything just works.I have to admit, I had the same reservations as you with regards to the app situation, but so far I haven't found that restrictive at all, yes there are a lot less apps in total, but generally the ones available are decent quality.The main reason Android has soooo many, is because they have 100's of similar apps, I mean search for Angry Birds and you get not only the different versions of the game, but 100's of 'clone's, so Angry Gran, Angry Android, Angry customer ...you get the idea.
I do miss Android after 5 or more years, and still have Android tablets, but for the phone I'm glad I made the switch, we'll see what happens when I get Win10.As for a MAP app, I think you'll find the built in HERE & HERE Drive (at least on my MS Lumia) very good, as it also works offline.

is windows 10 update invite automatic (like pcs & laptops) or manual ?

Just received mobile, impressed, good value for the money

Just a bit of info for people I've actually decided to sell my lovely 640 XL and go back to Android :disappointed:. I just thought I'd share my reasons:

My overall experience of Windows Phone has been brilliant. I much prefer the OS, it is smooth and slick. But the issues do come down to App development - even the Microsoft ones.

My main problem has been Skype. Compared to the Android version it is extremely basic. You can't listen to voice messages and worst of all you cannot double tap to zoom out the picture in video calls. The reason this has literally caused me to change phones is because my fiancé currently lives across the other side of the world and Skype is the only way we can easily stay in contact. Because the picture will not zoom out I sometimes only see her shoulder or the bottom of her face. It's extremely frustrating because it's a limitation of their own OS's app and they do not seem to be developing it on-par with other platforms (I know that Skype will be integrated with Messages in Windows Mobile 10 etc but there is no info on whether it'll actually get any new features). Also, this issue was reported on the Skype boards as a bug/missing feature but nothing has been done or said about it. I also tried the WM10 preview in case it handled things better for me but it didn't.

Windows Mobile is so close to greatness but there is this issue with Apps which Microsoft should be pushing much harder.

I remember the days when Android was like this. Its Android Market compared to Apple's App Store at the time was poor. Barely any decent games/apps came out until the sudden explosion of Android. I honestly hope Windows Mobile catches up in this same way and I would happily go back if my issues with it were fixed.

I must say however, overall, the only app I could not find that I would have liked is Clash of Clans. It has however meant I've got more done at work :wink: I'd say 95% of people would be happy with a Windows Phone.

or how inefficient Android is!! worth knowing though, thankyou

Already posted a week ago. http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/blu-windows-8-1-hd-5-4g-dual-sim-free-smartphone-79-99-amazon-2292112

Given your app requirements, I do think Windows Phone would probably be a disappointment for you.
I don't think there is a Gumtree app - and the Ebay app...though good for notifications/bidding etc...is pretty rubbish when it comes to changing Ebay settings etc.
Sat nav whilst listening to music works flawlessly. I also really like the OneDrive integration (I have Office 365 - so I have unlimited storage...which means all of my uploaded music - all 90GB's worth - is available on all my Windows devices).
TuneIn Radio are soon to be releasing a Windows 10 universal app...the current one is pretty average!
WhatsApp has feature parity with Android - and Facebook are soon to be releasing a Universal Windows App - which should be v.v.good indeed.

As ever, the app gap is really frustrating. The Edge browser works v.well on Windows 10 Mobile though - which means I don't actually miss most of the apps that you have listed because the websites work brilliantly anyway.

Basically, I think you'd probably really enjoy using Windows Phone - but I think you may well be disappointed with the app situation. Also, the camera on the Blu Win HD is not very good at all. The Lumia 640 or the 735 would be a much better bet.

(Perhaps delay your phone purchase and see how the universal app thing pans out. There are now 110 million Windows 10 users....so there's every incentive for developer's to get on board!)

thanks for the reply...I mostly use mainstream apps ( ebay,hukd,skype,gumtree,whatsup,fb,gmaps,utube) as well as showbox and mobdro... although there are a couple more rare that i really need them in my phone, MobileVoip (for calling abroad) and Streema/Simple Radio (radio streaming)...almost all the time im streaming radio while im driving and very often use my phone as satnav the same time..,dual sim and good camera are also very important for me(the best camera is the one uv got with u all the time:-) really liked your photos uv linked the other day) do you think a WP will be a disapointing experience for me?...thats again for your time

Make a list of the apps that are important to you. Stick that list on here...and I'll tell you if the apps are available (/any good).
It is the app gap that is the one area of disappointment on Windows Phone. Making a choice on benchmarks though is a real waste of time - this platform simply isn't like Android...and doesn't NEED the bleeding edge of performance to run smoothly.
(With that said, there aren't many devices more powerful than the new Lumia 950XL. Snapdragon 810, liquid cooled, 3GB RAM, 32GB internal memory, micro SD support, QI charging, 2560x1440 display, 20MP Pureview Zeiss, Gorilla Glass 4, 3,300Mah removable battery, Continuum etc etc :smiley: ).

I really want to try a Windows phone, because i think Android is taking the ****, cannot understand how an octa-core with 3gb ram lag running couple of 30mb apps, when my old dual-core laptop with 2gb ram is still quite capable in light multitasking...i would have gone for this phone if the camera was decent...thinking of the 640 as you suggest, somewhere i notice a shocking 12k antutu score,while Android phones of similar price hit 40-50k+ and got also a decent camera..any opinions because i cannot make my mind...

Not sure how 1GB ram performs with a Windows phones but id personally recommend a bit more these days, easy to start running ow on resource

...the IOS vs Android vs Windows debate will continue ad-infinitum, there is No Definitive Answer because everyone's needs are different.
You don't own a Windows phone for Apps, You own a Windows phone because You use Hotmail/Outlook and rely upon a Windows Desktop for Work/Home/Study. When combining these 2 Factors it's perfectly adequate and nothing more.
I use a Lumia 635 because it does Everything I require such as Email, Internet Sharing/Hotspot, What's App, Camera/Cloud Storage for Photos and the Odd Human-to-Human Call.
In short "I don't need a Range-Rover just to go to the shops in every day...." If You want a Gadget Laden Smartphone with access to Endless Apps and Games, I suspect Android is the best bet..??
The Biggest Benefit I found when Upgrading from one Windows Phone to another is once Both Devices are Signed-In together, they essentially Clone Each Other. Consequently, losing a handset is never the same issue it once was plus You can Remote Ring, Locate, Lock and/or Erase from any other Phone/Web-Browser.
I suspect many of the Above features are available on other Platforms too...??

Its nice to see someone give a genuine, balanced and honest opinion. I use both android (Galaxy S5 mini for work) and a window phone (nokia lumia 820 for personal). They both have pros and cons but I would be happy with either phone. Just to throw this in to the mix, it also depends on the specs of the phone to. the phone posted by the OP has good specs especially for the price. I have not owned an apple personally as the prices are a bit scary (contract and to buy) as I tend to break phones but I have used the IOS and the apple phones are really good to.

In a nutshell great deal, and I think phones/operating systems are down to the phone and what you like or are used to.

I've got a Lumia 635 with 1GB ram and had the Lumia 710 before that, my dads got a Lumia 530 were both very happy. These have been our only touch screen phones and all the apps we need are available, what we dont know we dont miss were happy with the cameras results and general experience. My mums now asking about a windows phone just for basic apps, web and calls and camera now the only killing part of this deal is I've seen examples of photos taken with this phones camera it in bright day light it is almost worthless as a camera phone and in mixed light it doesnt appear to do very well, though it does have a camera flash which is hard to come by on a cheaper end of windows phones.

I do hope the 635 with 1GB unlocked model come down in price soon couldnt find them for under £80 I got my phone £70 with £20 of credit earlier this year. Need the 1GB of ram ready to windows phone 10 to make full use of all the software included in the update.

I have been seriously tempted by Windows phones on a number of occasions. The thing that worries me is that I use gmail and I've heard that gmail integration isn't much cop. Don't want to change email provider - does anyone have any experience of gmail on Windows phones?

You can't agree with tobiasrags when he's talking about his Nokia Lumia and this is a BLU Win phone.

Also, I completely disagree with tobiasrags - generalising saying 'don't buy Windows-based phones' is ridiculous. My Lumia 640 XL is ridiculously loud if I want it to be!

Do not buy windows based phones. I'm suffering with my Nokia Lumia. Yes its os is fast, but that's about it. App store is rubbish, touchscreen is rubbish. Starts to lag. Ringtones and alarm aren't loud even at full volume.

I regret selling my Samsung note 3

​Yes that is true. They aren't licensing the HERE apps for new users due to the introduction of the new Windows 10 Mobile maps app.

They will still be licencing the maps and mapping tech to other companies though (Windows 10 Mobile will use HERE data in its maps app, but the app is developed by Microsoft).

I bought one during the last price drop to £79, but I have just returned it for a refund.

The phone is good and is strangely familiar (to a regular iPad user, with an Android phone), but the apps feel much less developed on Windows Mobile, compared to iOS and Android.

I'm not knocking Windows Mobile, but I struggled with a laggy keyboard where at it's worse it will miss every other keystroke, or best case drop one out of eight keystrokes. This made it unworkable for me to use it as my work mobile, due to the levels of email I have to respond to on the fly.

I've gone back to my previous phone which is an Android HTC One M8, although a move to a OnePlus 2 looks close.

I really wanted to like this phone, but either the software keyboard, or the phone's hardware lets it down.

I believe HERE Maps will be owned by the VAG automotive group from next year, perhaps this is an early stage in the transition. 30 years of NAVTEQ technology behind HERE Maps, probably the only mappling app that's as good, if not better, than Google Maps.

Lumia's are the way forward for good cameras.

The 950/XL camera looks AMAZING. I watched Juha from the Microsoft/Nokia imaging team demonstrating it at the Microsoft event. The camera performance was vastly superior to that of the Samsung S6...which is no slouch.

I hadn't been thinking of it before - but I am now contemplating the 950 to replace my 1020. Microsoft came good :smiley:

been this price for at least a week. I want a windows phone was gonna get this but after testing my nokia 625 in water tests and other stuff i want a nokia.

Apps well yea a couple id like but i havent missed those i dont get. But im waiting for hopefully the sales in next couple of months for a windows phone as IMO its better than android just androids are cheaper

got my mum one. should be great for just browsing and calls etc.

It is widely rumoured that Google is actually bringing their apps to windows phone soon...as for the deal this phone is great (bought one to try for a bit) but the camera is horrible!

You won't get much love from Google on Windows Phone!
I personally have an Office 365 subscription....which gives me unlimited cloud storage. I therefore have my iTunes collection automatically syncing to my 'music' folder on OneDrive --- which in turn means whatever music I add to iTunes automatically filters to my music apps on my phone, Xbox, tablet etc.
I prefer this to Google's system. But it obviously does require a 365 subscription. (The subscription cost me £80 for 4 years, for 5 users. So it was crazy cheap)

Had a windows phone last year and really liked it....BUT...I couldn't even get an app for my bank, amongst a few others I needed, so it had to go.
If you don't need too many apps, go for it.

how do these compare to the lumia phones, my daughter is due a upgrade and said that her friend had a 640 and it was really good and fast phone

hi no but u can get spotify and mix radio i prefer mix radio gives out more variation of songs

You're missing something. That deal was expired so this is suddenly a brand new deal that has not ever been posted before and stuff.

Thought I would mention it's not a Full HD screen, other specs look good for the price.

What's the screen visibility in full daylight and more importantly is the call quality good?

Great find thanks :smiley:

​ Many thanks for your reply and to the others too. I might just try a win phone when the right deal comes along. One more thing can you run google music on it ?

I would like to get one of these but what I have heard there are next to no apps. I need it to run a decent GPS programme ie maps or better still HERE.

Hasn't this deal been sitting here for 2 weeks already?

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/blu-win-hd-5-720p-4g-dual-sim-free-smartphone-79-99-amazon-daily-deal-2286416

Or am I missing something?

I was looking at getting a moto G for my mum. Specs on this look identical. Would this be a better buy?

BLU Win JR 4G Dual-SIM-Free Smartphone - £54.99

-4G Dual Sim-Free Smartphone.
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-Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, 1.2GHz Quad-Core, 64Bit architecture and Adreno 306 GPU
-Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, 1.2GHz Quad-Core, 64 Bit Architecture and Adreno 306 GPU
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