AT&T has announced three new smartphones for release later this week in the Microsoft Lumia 830, HTC One for Windows and the Kyocera DuraForce with rare PTT support. All three will launch online on November 7th, with the Kyocera DuraForce launching in store on November 21st.
AT&T will sell the Microsoft Lumia 830 for $449.99 at full retail cost, $99.99 with a two-year contract, $22.50 per month under AT&T Next 12, or $18.75 per month under AT&T Next 18. AT&T is also bundling a FitBit Flex fitness band with the purchase of the Lumia 830 for free for a limited time with a retail value of $99.99. AT&T will sell the HTC One for Windows for $669.99 outright, $199.99 with a two-year contract, $33.60 per month under AT&T Next 12, or $27.92 per month under AT&T Next 18. Finally, AT&T will offer its first Kyocera smartphone in the DuraForce for $389.99 outright, $49.99 with a two-year contract, $19.95 per month under AT&T Next 12, or $16.63 per month under AT&T Next 18.
The Lumia 830 features a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 5-inch 720p display, 16GB of storage and support for memory cards up to 128GB. It runs Windows Phone 8.1 and the Lumia Denim system update while featuring a PureView 10-megapixel camera with Zeiss optics and optical image stabilization with a new Rich Capture mode that snaps a series of images with/without the flash, so users can later choose to add light to their image for more balanced results. The HDR mode has also been improved so that high-contrast images can be more properly exposed to increase detail. However, the front-facing camera only has a 1.0 megapixel sensor and captures 720p video, unlike the front camera on the 735.
The 830 also features a removable rear cover with wireless charging built-in to power the 2,220mAh battery and Nokia has also announced a new “smart” charging plate for the phone that includes NFC hardware and allows for customized notifications when it senses that the phone’s battery requires charging or detects an incoming call in the same orange, green, and white colors as the phone’s body. The plate will visually notify owners by glowing for either of the aforementioned notifications.
The HTC One for Windows is identical to the flagship Android version of the M8 with a 5-inch display with full HD resolution and also features a two-camera design that lets users create 3D images and add additional effects after the image has been taken, with the main camera using the same 4-ultrapixel configuration as last year’s device, adding a dual-LED flash, newly upgraded ImageChip DSP, and increases the user-facing camera resolution from 2.0 megapixels to 5.0 megapixels. The camera also features an improved Zoe capture mode, HDR mode, the ability to take images using both cameras at the same time, as well as the ability to save camera presets for later use. The One is powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, which is accompanied by 2GB of RAM with support for microSD cards up to 128GB in size and includes support for NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 and dual-band Wi-Fi with LTE.
The DuraForce is a mil-spec 810G and IP-68 certified Android smartphone and keeps with the manufacturer’s current theme of rugged Android smartphones. It is resistant to drops, shock, temperature, dust, and vibration, and it can sit in up to six feet of water for up to 30 minutes. It also uses Kyocera’s Smart Sonic Receiver technology, which makes it easier to hear in noisy environments by using the display to amplify the incoming audio from the earpiece, essentially turning the display into the earpiece. The phone features a 4.5-inch 720p display, 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 3,100mAh battery, and 16GB of internal storage with a microSD slot. The DuraForce runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat, supports AT&T’s LTE network and its Enhanced Push-to-Talk (EPTT) service.
In related news, AT&T has also announced a new device financing option under the AT&T Next handset financing and early upgrade program, whereby customers can upgrade to a new device after making 24 payments, and the device will be paid off after 30 total payments. Customers will still need to turn in their old device when they choose to upgrade after 24 payments. In addition to the new financing option, customers who switch to AT&T and activate a new line of service with a smartphone under AT&T Next will receive a $150 bill credit.
