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Lumia
November 20, 2015

Lumia 950 sales begin today



On October 6th we told the world the story of a new era of Windows 10 devices from Microsoft, and since then we have seen overwhelmingly positive feedback and demand that is exceeding our expectations. With Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book, we are getting amazing customer feedback and are working to keep up with the high demand. Xbox continues to wow and draw in more fans with the launch of Halo 5: Guardians, special editions and Elite controller. And our new Microsoft Band has launched to strong reviews. We are excited about the momentum across all our devices!

But today is about the launch of the Lumia 950, which goes on sale in the US through AT&T retail and online stores with a starting price of $149 for a standard two-year agreement. With the Lumia 950, as well as the Lumia 950 XL, we set out to create the phone that works like a PC, and we succeeded – and are thrilled for our fans to get their hands on these new and exciting devices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snEIjWR4lQw

As a company, we have obsessed over delivering a more personal computing experience in Windows 10. And since we launched, more than 110 million devices are already running Windows 10 – a very strong start! Today, with the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, we’ve combined the familiar and consistent Windows experience with powerful hardware, stunning displays, innovative experiences like Continuum for Phones and Windows Hello beta for Lumia, and top-of-the-line imaging to deliver our best smartphones yet. These phones were designed to increase your ability to get things done, easier and faster, and are the most productive smartphones on the planet.

Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL

You won’t miss a beat with the same look and feel across Outlook mail and calendar, apps like Microsoft Edge browser, Office, Cortana, Xbox, Photos, and Maps—all kept in synch through OneDrive—so you have access to your stuff, whenever and wherever you are. Of course these devices also have Cortana as your personal assistant, including location-based reminders you can set on your PC that will arrive on your phone at just the right time.

One of the most delightful features of the Lumia 950 is the ability to transform your phone to a PC-like experience with Continuum for Phones and the Microsoft Display Dock. What that really means is that in the absence of a laptop or desktop, you can still use your phone to scale apps beautifully on a bigger screen when connected, or work on an Office document (some Office features require an Office 365 subscription), browse the Internet and even stream full HD movies downloaded from the Windows Store. Plus, you’ll be able to use your phone independently to do something different, for instance, taking a call or sending a text message while you continue to enjoy apps on the bigger screen.

Lumia 950 connected to a large screen, mouse and keyboard with Microsoft Display Dock.

People who love Windows expect performance. Not only does the Lumia 950 provide gorgeous Quad HD display, but the organic LED also helps you stay present with all the critical information at a glance. With the power of Windows 10 and glance screen technology it lights up only the pixels needed, minimizing drain on battery but still providing the critical information you want. We know to be productive you need power, so we have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 1.8 GHz hexa-core processor which can run the most demanding apps without an issue and integrated wireless charging (which takes advantage of an optional wireless charging accessory) and fast charging with USB-C allowing you to get the battery from critical to half full in just half an hour. Additionally, the phone has adaptive antenna technology which optimizes which antenna to use to give you the best connectivity at all times.

Of course these devices have a great camera as we’ve continued to advance the Lumia heritage in photography with a new PureView camera that boasts a 20MP sensor, triple LED natural flash, 5th generation optical image stabilization, and Rich Capture. I can’t take a good picture to save my life. But with this new camera, whether it’s sharper images of fast-moving subjects like my kids, more accurate lighting in darker environments or no blur, it enables you to capture the perfect images and create sweet memories regardless of conditions. And with 4K video, you can capture and preserve any moment in stunning quality. In product making, every detail matters, so we ensured that we kept the dedicated camera button that our fans love.

A close-up shot of Lumia 950 camera lens.

The Windows 10 phone experience has been shaped by hundreds of thousands of our Windows Fans and Insiders who work with us and provide feedback. We’ve incorporated countless pieces of feedback as we’ve evolved the experience, including features some expressed they’d like to see us to try like Windows Hello beta for Lumia, an incredibly personal and secure way to unlock your Lumia phone. To wake up your device just click on the power button and then look directly at the screen and our infrared camera technology automatically authenticates you, bringing that similar, consistent experience from your Xbox with Kinect and Surface Book to your phone.

Don’t just take my word on the new Lumia 950… check out the first impression of one of our fans that we surprised here.

We are also excited that the Lumia 950 and 950 XL will be available around the world over the next few weeks. U.S. Microsoft Stores will have both phones available online on Nov. 25 and in the retail stores on Nov. 26.

While my time working with the Lumia phones has been short, I am inspired by the team. Their passion and creativity to deliver the most productive phones on the planet is incredible. I am excited for what we’re delivering now and in the future. The Lumia 950 and 950 XL are built for and influenced by our fans. If you’re using one of the more than 110 million Windows 10 devices, you are going to love these phones. Get your hands on the Lumia 950 today and tell us what you think.

Panos Panay
@panos_panay