How is this hot? This phone has been under £50 at The Carphone Warehouse for quite a long time with free next day delivery + £10 compulsory top up = less than this.

Sim Free handset also. Do the maths ladies and gents.

I thought CPW handset prices were common knowledge on here......seems not.

You previously said you were making fun of those that said it has a lack of apps, now you are saying it is down to the user, what a crock.

We can all attempt to make do without apps, but to say it is 'down to the user' and making fun of those that say it has a lack of apps is hypocritical.

So go on make fun of me as a Windows Phone user that confirms it DOES have a lack of apps, the only funny thing I find is I do not see the joke.....

In my everyday use of Windows Phone this is what I have found I have to make do with (what you eloquently call 'down to the user')

In retail I make do without multiple apps that are not available for the phone in money saving, whether it be in High St stores, Cinema, Restaurants, Motorway services etc. In banking I have to make do without a dedicated bank app, on city breaks I have to make do struggling for change for buses because local governments do not have payment via phone methods for Windows Phone. In electronics without an android tablet I would be inconvenienced in controlling a number of devices such as my Pioneer AV Receiver network streaming music. I have asked Humax (to a vague response) about development for a Windows Phone app to control Freesat for setting up recording away from home. Not to mention my recent visit to The Gadget Show Live where I had to make do with a map layout instead of an interactive map because there was no app in development for Windows Phone.

Where ever you turn, often in an environment you do not pre-think, you find yourself alienated by the device you have chosen due to lack of an app.

Not to mention Microsoft back peddling, Edge browser has been cripplingly frustrating browsing websites. Maps simply is not equal to what Here Drive was, and the removal of MixRadio is a crying shame...nothing else that is free on any device simply can replace its brilliance in creating offline mix playlists for free....MS shooting themselves in the foot.

I gather you did not read the link to the other thread on the flagship Lumia 950, others not impressed with MS track record. I am giving MS another year at best, I have little in the way of optimism that things will improve. It has already taken them 6 months longer than anticipated to roll out Windows 10 to devices, and even then I have had to force 'upgrade' via the insider route as how long it will take before the networks/MVNO's get it is another issue. How long Microsoft will take to fix Windows 10 is another matter, let alone app development.

In before "lack of apps" brigade.

Really poor excuse for such a severe lack of Apps. Nothing in Windows Store to do with most of the features that make a smart phone 'smart' nowadays. Absolutely nothing to work with my home automation system, remote security and multiroom audio system let alone things like tasker and servers apps. If you consider smart phones to be able to browse the internet, check you emails, take pictures and use skype then it is smart. For me this is 'ancient smart'.

Uh oh.... don't use Siri then iRomek!!!

Anything wrong with stating the fact? Sounds like you are trying to be patronising for some odd reason.


And is there anything wrong with stating as a user what is wrong? You are saying it has enough apps for you....so what is your problem with myself commenting otherwise?


Not my fault people choose to argue when I constructively add argument to the nonsensical statement in this thread attempting to make fun of the fact that it is wrong to suggest Windows Phone lacks apps.....I speak from experience.

Wow, shock, horror, MS don't have a good track record, tell us something we don't know....old news.

As a user of this phone it does have enough Apps, for me....so I must be right....[cough]....you obviously can't get through the day without your addiction to Apps so obviously not for you....and methink MS don't care how long you give them, your influence in your mind is much bigger then in reality....they don't care what you think and no one else should either....as it's only one persons opinion....people should just buy it, try it, if you don't like it, buy something else, it's hardly rocket science.

All this crying/whinging over a phone is a little sad.

Good deal OP, cheap phone that does what it says on the tin, mostly....

Just pay the little bit extra for the superior in every way Smart Ultra 6

I feel as though Windows 10 is far superior to the previous OS, the apps have definitely improved with Facebook bringing UWP apps such as Instagram and messenger. There's apps for pretty much anything big and a lot of the third party offerings are superior to the official apps! MyTube for example is better than the official youtube app on iOS and android, Reddit app Readit is better than the official and all the other third parties app work. The new maps app is a great replacement for Here Drive and I prefer it as a long time user of Here, though I never used MixRadio so I can't comment on that. If you need access to every app then Windows OS is not for you so don't choose it, don't buy something that is promised to be better in the future, buy it for what it has now, apply that to anything you buy.

Just moved from 5S to this as a stop gap whilst I decide where to head next. Got it for 49.99 from CPW and I must say its much better than I expected. Going to stick it out for a bit whilst I consider my next purchase and not unhappy with using it at all.

Many reviews on the Tesco site are bad. Even some of the 3 star reviews give poor written reviews.

It is all well and good saying there is no point arguing over something you can change but that is not necessarily the reason of wanting the phone in the first place.

I bought a Windows Phone on the promise of all that was meant to be good coming with Windows 10 as well as not being a fan of Apple or for that matter Android, not to mention bang for buck was far superior. At the time of purchasing my Lumia 735 I could not find any phone out there with a OLED Screen, 4G, Wireless charging, NFC etc for anywhere near the same price.

I very much like Windows Phone as an OS, I bought it hoping for a promised improvement in apps, I cannot see that happening. It is not me wanting lots of apps either....its a matter of having choice of apps as and when as I have mentioned previously in the thread where I come unstuck on occasions. Not to mention having to either use third party workarounds (some even paid) for what can be considered essentials such as Youtube.

On the subject of Windows 10 being officially released, yes...and? How many UK network providers/MVNOs are rolling it out as yet? I have not seen any.

I have had to resort to the insider program route to force it through on my phone, been waiting too long as it is, and now I have the displeasure of losing MixRadio and Here Drive, both superior to their replacements.

I have a Lumia 950XL and use bluestacks for the apps I need to use (which is 2) It runs perfectly fine on my system, I can even play games on it with a controller.

As for the whole Windows Mobile argument, it baffles me how people can argue so much over something they have the ability to change. I love my 950XL, in my opinion it is far superior to any other offering for my uses. It has all the apps I use, nothing important is missing. (I use bluestacks for two games that I play when bored). I love Windows 10, everything just works and syncs with my computer, I love the design and UI, the camera is amazing, feels great in the hand and continuum is incredible.

Would I recommend it to people that use a lot of apps? Never. My girlfriend wanted one but uses snapchat and the like daily so I told her to go the iPhone 6 Plus (which is a great device just not my cup of tea). Choose what best suits you, Windows 10 is a great OS, albeit the rocky start. My mum and brother both use a Lumia 640 with Windows 10 and it works flawlessly, Windows 10 is officially released, you do not need to be on an insider program.

Sounds interesting, cannot find anything with googling. Any info on specs?

Bluestacks runs like crap. Android is laggy enough on its own (look at that android x86 and x64 build where a 4th gen i7 only runs 5 times that of a Samsung s6!)

Wife will need to replace the Nokia 1020 soon as battery now barely lasts half a day (not that it was much better to begin with), she has a hudl 2 so no stranger to android, but there's nowt decent for under £150 that could suit her, so I'm waiting for a smart ultra 6 mk2 in august with improved camera for £110.

This is no deal at all .... I bought this great phone for £39:99 at CPW 3 weeks ago!

Forgot to say the phone is crap, a steaming pile of turd, sexless,appless,camerafunctionless,legless and funless excuse for a smartphone.AVOID

They are computers that happen to also make phone calls for many people hence the requirement to support a decent range of software is also a requirement for many which is why Windows Phone is not an option for that camp.

WP 7.5 impressed me but like many things MS in recent years there are just too many regressions and I avoid them where I can.

This is a good phone ,let the kids play.

Nothing wrong with my 640XL and Win phones in general, does everything I need, takes good pics, can make calls, browse the net, play music, has all the basic apps. I have two Android phones collecting dust, one a Sony Xperia and have no desire to use those over the Windows phone as I find it uninspiring. Must admit I don't understand the fuss people make over mobile phones.

You know why its cheap? Windows

It's not just the lack of apps but the support for the already available apps is terrible in most cases. Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, EBay and PayPal were all behind android and iOS versions. I've been away from Windows phones for just over a year and from what I've read the app store is still behind android and iOS.

Funnily enough, I would have once thought that was just daft, but after spending over a year with one, it's not as daft as it sounds.

The Lumias are pretty good hardware imo, and at first my experience with the OS was good. Then I had to send it back three times for repair (the company wouldn't change it and I had no end of problems with it). Then the apps started stopping as the companies turned them off. And then I couldn't get the apps I wanted.

So even at £20, if it doesn't do what YOU want it to, it's not much use to you is it. Except maybe as a spare in the car or something.

Shame really 'cos they could have been great I reckon.

Windows phone has been dead a long time.

It's called Windows 10 mobile now.

RIP Windows phones

http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/28/10864034/windows-phone-is-dead

I've just left WP after 5 years. My biggest gripe wasn't that apps weren't available, it just that the WP versions are years behind the Android and iOS equivalents. Facebook and Instagram are clear examples.

Superb price btw. Voted hot. A decent entry level smartphone for this price is excellent.

It's a very capable phone, and that's a good price.

I think you need to read my post again, aside from not being able to control electronic devices, there are retail apps, local govt apps, social media apps absent...not to mention badly ported or implemented existing apps.

A personal attack when you do not know me or my phone usage


Rubbish, I have both in this thread and the Lumia 950 thread I have previously linked to.


No, I was not comparing a £40 phone with anything, I was commenting on the state of Windows 10 on Windows phones and the app problem. I am very much aware of the value in the phones, it is the execution that needs work.


Sorry that you fail to read up on the terms and conditions of the site of which is moderated.....if you resort to name calling plain and simply you get flagged.

Nope it doesnt all you have said is that you cant control your av receiver.
It seems some people dont have much of a life and their phone is their life.
Get over it and get out and get a life dude.

I asked you what apps and you havent substantiated any of what you say.
I am a systems programmer and write apps now and again and windows phones are pretty good for all i need and i am not your bog standard user. You are comparing a sub £40 phone with an iphone - surely even you can see how assinine that is.
People come on here and look at these bargains cos tghey are skint and need a basic phone and recommendations they dont wantg some Audiophile rodomontad comparing it to an iphone and moaning about a missing app that one in a million folks is going to use.

PS. Thanks for grassing me up - never grassed on anyone in my life - lowest of the low dontya know!
Audiophiles are a real pain in the bum but at least we agree on the Birmingham thing!

I think my post earlier sums it up. Unless of course you want to just simply make do...which anyone arguing that Windows Phone does all they want it to is burying their head in the sand in defiance.

When the 640 can be found now for £3 more, not that good a deal unfortunately.

PLZ DON'T GET THIS! had it last month New from a deal posted here for £20 it is not good.
Bad points:
>Laggy internet browsing
>Laggy Browsing app store
>bad cameras compared to other lumias from Nokia eg: 820 - 1020
>feels too light & cheap..even for £20
>screen is bad for 720p even my iphone 5s screen is better with 650p aha
>navigation

Good points:
> 720p resolution
> microsoft office (need to pay for 365)
>removable battery

just pay £130 for an iPhone 5s or Samsung galaxy S4 to avoid disappointment.

Source: i have owned all of the phones recommended

Android blows Windows phone out of the water I'm afraid.

I bought the Blu Win Jr before Christmas just to try it as a 2nd phone and while yes it ran very will on basic specs, far better than Android would have, the OS just feels almost unfinished and certainly lacking the power of Android. The app situation also seems to be getting worse with current apps not being updated. The windows store is also a complete mess.

The final kick in the balls was that MS after all the advertising and promotion have now pulled the Win Jnr from the Windows 10 update list leaving a lot of angry users out there.

Seems to me even MS have given up on windows phone and it's probably for the best to be fair.

Available cheaper at carphonewarehouse.com, have been posted before here.

This is a super phone.Runs like a dream.

How long has that been for? I purchased a Samsung phone for ee last year from cpw. It's locked.

You previously said you were making fun of those that said it has a lack of apps, now you are saying it is down to the user, what a crock.

We can all attempt to make do without apps, but to say it is 'down to the user' and making fun of those that say it has a lack of apps is hypocritical.

So go on make fun of me as a Windows Phone user that confirms it DOES have a lack of apps, the only funny thing I find is I do not see the joke.....

In my everyday use of Windows Phone this is what I have found I have to make do with (what you eloquently call 'down to the user')

In retail I make do without multiple apps that are not available for the phone in money saving, whether it be in High St stores, Cinema, Restaurants, Motorway services etc. In banking I have to make do without a dedicated bank app, on city breaks I have to make do struggling for change for buses because local governments do not have payment via phone methods for Windows Phone. In electronics without an android tablet I would be inconvenienced in controlling a number of devices such as my Pioneer AV Receiver network streaming music. I have asked Humax (to a vague response) about development for a Windows Phone app to control Freesat for setting up recording away from home. Not to mention my recent visit to The Gadget Show Live where I had to make do with a map layout instead of an interactive map because there was no app in development for Windows Phone.

Where ever you turn, often in an environment you do not pre-think, you find yourself alienated by the device you have chosen due to lack of an app.

Not to mention Microsoft back peddling, Edge browser has been cripplingly frustrating browsing websites. Maps simply is not equal to what Here Drive was, and the removal of MixRadio is a crying shame...nothing else that is free on any device simply can replace its brilliance in creating offline mix playlists for free....MS shooting themselves in the foot.

I gather you did not read the link to the other thread on the flagship Lumia 950, others not impressed with MS track record. I am giving MS another year at best, I have little in the way of optimism that things will improve. It has already taken them 6 months longer than anticipated to roll out Windows 10 to devices, and even then I have had to force 'upgrade' via the insider route as how long it will take before the networks/MVNO's get it is another issue. How long Microsoft will take to fix Windows 10 is another matter, let alone app development.

Great as long as you don't ever want to browse the internet (the default browser is unusable), archive emails (the default app doesn't have this feature - or the snooze feature), listen to music in a format Microsoft disapproves of (e.g. Ogg, Opus, FLAC), log into Instagram (the app doesn't actually work), cast anything to your Chromecast, use mobile banking (most of the banking "apps" are just wrappers for web pages), or use almost any Google service.

I've been using a Windows phone for 6 days while my Android is being repaired and it's driving me mad. Even the things you can do take twice as long, and the apps that do exist for WP are missing nearly all useful features. Even Microsoft's own apps are much better on Android!

I bought this for 24.99 and would still not recommend.
not commenting on lack of apps, although it IS a problem. even existing apps are getting cut off from support e.g. GoPro etc.
but the biggest gripe is that this phone is SLOW. I mean really SLOW.
The single biggest advantage of WP was consistent speed of the phones even at lowend compared to say Androids of the same price range. this is nowhere to be found on 550. at 67 quid I would definitely avoid.

My mistake, you suggested getting a new battery, I was just saying its pretty difficult on that model of phone.

It does have a lack of apps and it is the only thing putting me off. I need and use the following a lot


Three in touch
Kodi
Mobdro
Waze
Proper eBay app
BT sport
Google skymap/ stellarium
Several Dr panda games
Moonlight
Pebble app
Torque pro

And they're just the ones I use everyday, there are another dozen or so infrequent app I couldn't be without.

So the app argument for me still holds true. Its a shame as the actual OS is superior, but then was HD DVD and beta max.

Really poor excuse for such a severe lack of Apps. Nothing in Windows Store to do with most of the features that make a smart phone 'smart' nowadays. Absolutely nothing to work with my home automation system, remote security and multiroom audio system let alone things like tasker and servers apps. If you consider smart phones to be able to browse the internet, check you emails, take pictures and use skype then it is smart. For me this is 'ancient smart'.

In before "lack of apps" brigade.

I didn't ask any questions.

Have fun then. Anyway to answer your question, its a nightmare to replace the battery.

Absolutely! :laughing:

I can't believe people are still picking up other people for spelling and grammar, was it ever funny?

I can't believe nobody's getting this!

Not easy replacing them in the first gen moto g

Its about £60 too much for a phone that uses Bing for search. Looking forward to MS retiring the entire Windows Phone effort later this year... RIP.

I think this phone has a bigger "battrey" :confused:

Yeah it has a fixed battrey. I don't mind the phone only lasting 2 years as i will sell it off to go to a new phone. I know I won't get much better than nothing. What about the apps mentioned does anyone have any knowledge will they have compatible app?

Oh dear...

​Easier said than done. Not everybody has the skills or tools to change the fixed battery.

Looking for a phone for my dad he has the first gen moto g and battrey is draining I think the battrey is going. He has had it for over 2 years and can't complain much he has been happy with speed and performance. Not quite sure if anyone can help does it have HSBC app for money transfer and statements. Also he does a lot of buying and selling on Gumtree dose it have a app for that. Iam guessing there must be a Google Chrome browser or equivalent and youtube. Also a Epson wifi printing app for him to print off his mobiles. I think this is pretty much it for his needs can anyone help out. Thanks in advance

buy another Moto G or the cheaper Moto E around £60 a lot better phone than this ..........being Android (and he's used to it)

Not voting. I'm moving back from windows to android. Can't say I've been at all impressed by the windows phone experience. Great if you only want the basics, terrible if you don't.

Voted hot but if you have virgin or Vodafone sim it's £39.99 upgrade at car phone warehouse.
Very tempted now i just need to find a vodafone number :-)

Not quite.
CPW source there handsets wherever's cheapest, so while in most cases they have Sim Free versions so they need to keep less stock in store, I.e. 2 or 3 not 2 or 3 per variant / network , in some cases they source from the network, and especially if its a networks exclusive for any reason (think the original iPhone, the Palm Pre, the Amazon Fire phone, that were all O2 only for a while, or a networks specific colour) .

For that reason they *DO* sometime have sim locked phones, . While I guess about 90 to 95% of CPW's Stock is sim free its not always the case. I've had locked phones form CPW before, and while the usual way to tell is network branding on the box, and there's no way to know until you get it.

If only this could be hacked and flashed with Android :smiley:.

But it's down to the user, for me personally I have all the apps I need but I can understand, say a teenage girl wanting Instagram for all her trout pout pictures or the casual gaming Milfs that want the latest money pit junk candy castle clicker. But me, I only "need" Twitter, email, eBay/PayPal, one football, ms office apps (that fully support mouse and keyboard) and *cough........ Minecraft.

I've tried android on multiple handsets and I find it to be a bad user experience.

Things redstone broke.
Multiple apps not loading or crashing
Freezing and random reboots
Lock screen numbers not appearing when pressing a notification
Space bar on the keyboard randomly not working
Alarm clock not activating
Not being able to save pictures because it would crash to start screen
Twitter crashing when adding pictures to a tweet
Etc etc etc.......
I could go on but I'm getting bored now lol
In my experience redstone was/is a nightmare and even Windows central have said redstone is like going back 6/7 months in usability.
I'm going to stick to production ring and leave it at that.

"Oh great a Windows Phone"
- No one

I totally disagree, so far Windows 10 is a disappointment...let alone MS dragging their feet rolling it out, the lack of apps is a problem. Giving it a fair shot of another year but can switching back to android most likely will be the only solution. I was 'hopeful' with the Blackberry Playbook, same scenario here, nicely integrated OS backed with feeling like a second class citizen. It is not 'making fun' if you think it does not lack apps you must seriously be in denial.

And I am not the only Windows Phone owner that feels this way. Lumia 950 thread

>>>>>
Didn't say you were not making fun!! Just posting before everyone else starts on the windows V mac app debate! ;-)

Weird you say RS ruined it, mine is much smoother now and think there is now slouch between the live tiles
like on the RC version, putting insider on another BLU win hd soon, as did one yesterday and it is like a rocket
compared to my 640!

I won't vote either way, it has to be underpowered on the specs but like others said it's usable. I fall into the Chinese handset club and will always prefer an android based device with higher specs than this for a few quid more if not the same price. no they may not update the android OS ever if you get a Chinese phone at this price but it will still give you better performance and last at least two years before it becomes obsolete to the point apps no longer run on it or no longer support the older versions of android.

suppose it always depends what your looking for from a device, much like a car everyone has their own needs and hence we don't all choose the same vehicle we also don't buy the same mobile.

I was making fun of the people that say "lack of apps"
You don't have to convince me how good wm10 is, I'm rocking a 640xl, though I have been cursing it the last few weeks.
Redstone is absolutely awful and just about wrecked my phone, I've now rolled back and moved onto production preview and everything is back to being lovely.

Every handset from CPW and their sister companies are 100% sim free regardless of the network sim you purchase along side it, unless it is an iPhone which will lock to the first sim card you put in the phone.

This rule applies to all PAYG and contract handsets.

How is this hot? This phone has been under £50 at The Carphone Warehouse for quite a long time with free next day delivery + £10 compulsory top up = less than this.

Sim Free handset also. Do the maths ladies and gents.

I thought CPW handset prices were common knowledge on here......seems not.

I bought one the other week just for fun, and I think it's fine, to be honest.

As long as you don't expect TOO much from it, then it's perfectly capable. Currently, I have a 5S and I knew that this wasn't going to be as quick, but I, instead, went in with an open mind.

Honestly, it's one of the best sub-£100 phones I've ever bought, because it's the only one I have in the past 5 or so years. How technology has advanced. :man: