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Why Buying a Windows Phone 8 Right Now Is a Bad Idea

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You’d think now would be a great time to buy a device running Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 operating system. For sure, it’s not the worst time to purchase one of the devices, that award is reserved for mid 2011 and devices like the Nokia Lumia 900.

Microsoft may be promising users updates for two years and Windows Phone prices may be the lowest they’ve ever been with or without a two-year contract. Still, there’s a few things coming over the horizon that make it a terrifically awful idea to buy a Windows Phone right now.

Windows Phone 8.1

Software updates won't bring new hardware features to devices like the Lumia 925.

Software updates won’t bring new hardware features to devices like the Lumia 925.

So far, Microsoft’s own policies towards upgrading Windows Phone users and the leaks about their plans indicate that every user who has a Windows Phone 8 device will get the upgrade. You might think that’s a great reason to purchase a device now but there’s a key thing that a new software update on your smartphone won’t do. It won’t bring you any of the new hardware features that devices built for Windows Phone 8.1 might have.

For example, leaks indicate that the Nokia Lumia 630 will have a camera, but won’t have a physical camera button or any physical Windows keys. In Windows Phone 8.1 users will be able to activate or deactivate a set of on-screen keys at their leisure. The hardware keys found on most Windows Phones can sometimes be mistakenly activated. Getting rid of those keys gives hardware makers more room for better screens and keeps users from accidentally tapping those physical buttons during a video.

Read: Code Indicate Even More Exiting Features Coming in Windows Phone 8.1

Samsung Galaxy S5 and the new HTC One

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is on its way.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is on its way.

Windows Phone 8 doesn’t compete in the smartphone landscape on its own. As such, they’re all always devices running other operating systems for users to consider. Ordinarily, this wouldn’t be a big deal, many of the Android devices released every don’t come close to offering a premium experience. The ironic thing is now there are two of those phones due for a formal release any day now. Before users flock to the store to buy last year’s high-end Windows Phone devices — excluding the Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1020 respectively — they should make sure that their needs aren’t high-end.

If they are, they should hold out until we know the features that users can expect from the new HTC One and possibly the release date for the Galaxy S5. It’s unlikely Apple will be refreshing their device line up until this fall, so users who’ve already decided against the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c are in the clear.

Read: HTC M8 and Galaxy S5 Set to Collide in April

New Devices Makers Are Coming

This photo of the Lumia 620 leaked by Evleaks shows now hardware buttons on than volume and power.

This photo of the Lumia 620 leaked by Evleaks shows now hardware buttons on than volume and power.

Finally, new devices with new processors are expected from Windows Phone’s 9 new partners. Microsoft announced this just a few weeks ago. What these new chipsets mean is that Windows Phone 8.1 buyers can expect a new range of devices from names like Lenovo, LG and ZTE.

In short, many device types at all different price points with the possibility of more designs of notoriety besides what comes from Nokia today. Speaking of Nokia, the sale of its devices and services unit is due to be completed any day now. It’ll take a long time before the sale has an impact on Nokia’s devices, but at some point the switch in design and branding will have to come.

For those reasons, users should really think hard before heading into their local store to pick a new Windows Phone device if they’re planning on signing a two-year service contract. Just waiting a month or two longer for Microsoft to announce the new line up of devices or for the Galaxy S5 or new HTC One could be the best purchasing decision they make all year.

11 Comments

11 Comments

  1. jojo dogboy

    03/07/2014 at 10:59 am

    Those reasons are pretty weak.

  2. TS

    03/07/2014 at 11:21 am

    It is always a good idea to buy a Nokia windows phone.

    What should one do instead ? Buy anoid while over 99% of malware targets anoid ?

    Let’s be frank putting desktop icons on a small phone screen was a stupid idea.
    The windows phone user interface is so much more functional, intuitive and easy to use…

  3. charlesclarke3C

    03/07/2014 at 11:42 am

    The Nokia Lumia Icon is already dominating the S5 in performance tests. Do not buy Android, Google is going to burn at the stake soon as the RockStar Lawsuit is pending. If you are worried about the possibility of Phones coming out in the future being better than what is available today, you will never buy a phone ever. So thats a moronic statement. Grab a cheap lumia 520 or 521 for the same price as a insurance replacement fee on your quote unquote High-End device. It will perform just as well, and have much better features than iOS or Android. Biggest win for Microsoft is Office on Windows Phone, the lack of apps on iOS or Android is astounding to me. How do people ever use those Phones? They don’t have any apps?

  4. nrpl

    03/07/2014 at 12:48 pm

    Why are you even a writer? Horrible reasons not to buy a windows phone. You even left some important details out; it makes you seem as if you hardly know anything the WP.

  5. Pharaohwarrior6

    03/07/2014 at 1:00 pm

    Personally, I prefer having a camera button.

  6. Alfred Soyemi

    03/08/2014 at 3:09 am

    Travis Pope;
    I am very disappointed that you wasted my time with your catch phrase Title to find out the article details has absolutely zero substance. You gave a very moronic reason for people not to buy windows phone now, under what rock have you been living in tech / mobile device world.

  7. AMR1

    03/08/2014 at 9:59 pm

    This article pretty well missed the mark. My 2 year old Nokia Lumia 920 still performs better than every other phone of my friends who have wanted to see how Windows Phones work (Android and IPhone users, some who have now converted to WP). The hardware changes in the new models will make them different, but not necessarily better. That said, I am aware that some users from other platforms which are more reliant on hardware resources may find the new WP models more attractive, which may finally get them to try WP, which will likely convert them over.

  8. akjoshi

    03/10/2014 at 1:30 am

    Total waste of time, poorly written silly article.

  9. emily Kulish

    03/15/2014 at 2:04 am

    These reasons are all silly. You could say the same thing to about any devices. Does upgrading to iOS 7 automatically make your phone screen larger, or add the finger print scanning feature?

  10. JMAN

    06/03/2014 at 8:42 pm

    False. I’m running 8.1 on my Lumia 925 right now and all new features work on it too.

  11. Will Shaw

    06/05/2014 at 3:49 pm

    I have one question:
    Do you ever used a Windows Phone 8.1?
    Because if you do you might be on drugs to write such a horrible and ridiculous review… Why don’t you just say: “I’m a pro-Google and Apple person”?
    BTW next review are you gonna say “Why Buying a Windows 8 Right Now Is a Bad Idea”?

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